News

Jon Webster Joins Auxiliary Services as Executive Director, Hospitality

Associate Vice President of Auxiliary Services Kris Klinger announced this week that Jon Webster has been named to the position of Executive Director, Hospitality. The newly-created position will coordinate all hospitality needs for the Syracuse University community, including residential dining, catering, concessions, and retail operations.

Webster will begin his tenure on June 1, overseeing several Food Services departments transitioning from a year of pandemic-related restrictions and closures to an anticipated return to normal operations next August.

“We are excited to welcome Jon to our team,” says Klinger. “Jon brings a contagious energy and drive, a wealth of knowledge and experience, as well as a passion to build community and enhance the student experience in big and little ways.”

Jon will be charged with exploring new service venues, introducing new products to campus, and incorporating the latest trends in food service into the University.

One of his initial charges will be to continue Food Services’ work with Venue Hospitality Solutions, Athletics, and Stadium Operations to complete the upgrade of eight Stadium concessions stands. The renovated stands will aim to enhance the fan experience through faster checkout times, shorter lines, and new food and beverage options.

Webster comes to Syracuse from South Pasadena, California, where he had been the Resident District Manager for Bon Appetit at Universal Studios Hollywood and Dreamworks Animation Studios since February 2019.

Prior to his time with Bon Appetit, Jon worked for Dining Services at the California Institute of Technology for almost 15 years, advancing to the position of Senior Director. Webster has a bachelor’s degree from the College of Wooster and received his MBA from the University of Redlands.

Webster is ready to hit the ground running and anticipates using food as a way to create an unparalleled Syracuse University experience.

“I believe that food is the ultimate expression of one’s culture and a sociological tool that bridges those cultures to form larger communities,” Webster says. “I look forward to learning about the Syracuse University culture and determining how we can best utilize food to enhance the University’s educational mission and campus experience.”

BFAS Staff Members Among Those Honored During National Student Employment Week

National Student Employment Week is an important recognition of all that students contribute to the campus community. Every year there are over 6,000 student employees in a variety of positions from the Barnes Center at The Arch, Food Services, Syracuse University Libraries and more. Students use these opportunities not only for financial assistance but to gain professional skills and competencies that will assist them in their professional careers.

In recognition of National Student Employment Week, the ’Cuse Works team organized a variety of events to acknowledge and celebrate the hard work and dedication of student employees. Part of those activities included awarding students that went above and beyond within their roles. Nominations were reviewed and winners chosen by the Student Employment Recognition Committee.

Business, Finance and Administrative Services (BFAS) staff members were among those honored: Eric Nemier from the Department of Public Safety was named Student Employment Supervisor of the Year. The Student Employment Department of the Year was the Syracuse University COVID-19 Project Management Office (PMO), which contained two members from the BFAS division – Joe Hernon,  Director of Emergency Management in Campus Safety and Emergency Services, and Urvashi Bhattacharya, BFAS Director of Strategic Initiatives and Project Management.

Read the full story at Syracuse University News.

WAER Wins Two New York State Broadcasters Association Awards

WAER has received two awards from the New York State Broadcasters Association in their 55th annual Awards for Excellence in Broadcasting competition. The awards will be presented to the station in September, at the association’s regional award luncheon.

The first award-winning story was produced by WAER News Director Chris Bolt and aired in February 2020 on a Cornell University program that educates children and young adults about the dangers of vaping. The story can be read and listened to on WAER’s website.

The second story was produced by student journalist Gil Gross ’21 and examined efforts by a local sports columnist to urge the University to retire a jersey worn by a female athlete. Overdue: Retire a Woman’s Jersey can be heard on WAER’s SoundCloud page.

Read the full story at Syracuse University News.

May 2021 Construction Update

Vice President and Chief Campus Facilities Officer Pete Sala released the May 2021 campus construction update today, with information about the summer projects the Campus Development and Facilities Operations team will be undertaking this summer.

Campus Planning, Design and Construction (CPDC) will begin new projects and continue to work on others that are ongoing to improve the student experience and academic facilities.

The full update is available on our website here.

BFAS Offers Training on University Financial Systems

In an effort to build a broad knowledge base among financial systems users across the University, four departments within Syracuse University’s Business, Finance and Administrative Services (BFAS) division are teaming up to offer a series of training sessions for University staff members. The Office of Budget and Planning, the Comptroller’s Office, the Treasurer’s Office and Internal Audit will present their first session on Wednesday, May 12.

While the initial targeted audience members are budget and finance managers in University departments, the presenting staff members view these sessions as good building blocks for new employees, administrative staff, and any other staff members who interact with the University’s various financial systems.

“Our first session in particular will include a broad overview of the University’s financial departments,” said Victoria Budnik, training specialist in the Office of Budget and Planning. “Later sessions will include deeper dives into each of those departments and the policies and processes for which they are responsible.”

Budget managers have received an invite to sign up for the upcoming session. They are encouraged to share the invitation with any other interested members of their staff.

Interested staff members with questions should contact the Office of Budget and Planning at bfastraining@syr.edu.

University to Debut New Meal Plan Options for All Students in Fall 2021

he Housing, Meal Plan and I.D. Card Services Office will introduce a block meal plan system, offer unlimited meal plans and combine campus funds into one account starting in the 2021-22 academic year.

The overhaul of the meal plan system was driven by student feedback, says Kris Klinger, associate vice president of Auxiliary Services, which includes the Housing, Meal Plan and I.D. Card (HMPID) Services Office. Students and their families often expressed confusion over the number of meal plan options, the weekly “reset” and the difference between the SUpercard FOOD and PLUS accounts, Klinger says. With the assistance of a nationally-recognized college meal plan consultant, HMPID conducted stakeholder meetings and student focus groups over the course of several months, which guided planning for the new system.

Read the full story at Syracuse University News.

Campus Community Invited to Consultative Sessions for Chief Search

Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:

With the search for the University’s new chief, campus safety and emergency management services (CSEMS) underway, members of the campus community are invited to attend a consultative session with members of the search committee and our partner, Spelman Johnson, on Thursday, April 29, from 4 to 4:45 p.m. ET and Friday, April 30, from 1 to 1:45 p.m. ET. Two sessions will be offered to allow multiple opportunities to attend and participate; it is not necessary to attend both sessions. Those interested can register for either session. A Zoom link will be shared with registrants prior to the session.

These sessions will give students, faculty and staff the opportunity to provide input on the characteristics, experiences and background you feel should be included in deliberations on the University’s new chief. Specifically, the committee would like to hear your thoughts on the challenges and opportunities facing the Syracuse University community, higher education and the incoming chief.

If you are unable to attend the consultative session, you may also submit feedback or nominate a candidate for the new chief by emailing hjl@spelmanandjohnson.com.

We look forward to the feedback and collaboration of the campus community in conducting a robust national search for our new chief.

Sincerely,

Amir Rahnamay-Azar
Senior Vice President for Business, Finance and Administrative Services and Chief Financial Officer

 

WAER Student Journalists Among Winners at SPJ Mark of Excellence Region 1 Contest

Two WAER student journalists were among a group of Newhouse School students who earned more overall wins and honors than any other school competing in this year’s Society for Professional Journalists (SPJ) Mark of Excellence Region 1 competition.

The competitive contest recognizes college media work produced by students at schools throughout the Northeast, including Columbia Journalism School, the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY, the Roy H. Park School of Communications at Ithaca College, Harvard University, Boston University College of Communications and Pennsylvania State University, among others.

Read the full story at newhouse.syr.edu.

WAER Launches Afro Futures Podcast

Out of a need for authentic conversations about issues facing the black community comes a new podcast from WAER, Afro Futures.  Hosts Yusuf Abdul-Qadir and Latavius Murray bring context and nuance to important conversations. The podcast aims to cover culture, politics, sports, and everything in between from a Black perspective.

In this pilot episode, they discuss what brought them together, why they feel this project is important in today’s culture, and what we can expect from the show in the future. Afro Futures will be available soon on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher.

Listen to the pilot episode at WAER.org.

Alumni Provide Support to WAER Students at the NCAA Tournament

When the Syracuse University men’s basketball team ended its NCAA Tournament run last month, it also marked the end of a long season for the student media broadcast team at WAER.

Newhouse School of Public Communications seniors Corey Spector, Cooper Boardman and Gillon Gross traveled to Indianapolis to broadcast the men’s basketball game against San Diego State, and then, following the team’s first round win, its game against West Virginia.

Read the full story at Syracuse University News.