News

Syracuse University, Student Association Announce Aggressive New Sustainability Goals, Expedited Net-Zero Emissions Plan

Syracuse University and the Student Association have announced a new set of goals that will substantially enhance and propel the University’s sustainability efforts, including reaching net-zero emissions by 2032, eight years earlier than the previous goal.

The goals are part of the University’s long-term sustainability plans and align with several recommendations made in a report by the Student Association released in December 2022. The report was developed after Chancellor Kent Syverud charged Student Association President David Bruen ’23 in late spring 2022 with making recommendations about the University’s sustainability practices and policies.

Read the full story at Syracuse University News.

Cheryl Fabrizi Named Associate Vice President of Auxiliary Services

Cheryl Fabrizi has been named associate vice president of auxiliary services at Syracuse University. She has more than 15 years of experience in collegiate hospitality, food services, strategic and capital planning, and undergraduate/graduate student marketing communications, and has spent the last five years as assistant vice president of Housing and Food Services for The Pennsylvania State University. Additionally, she has held leadership roles with many globally recognized brands, including Sodexo, QVC, State University of New York (SUNY), Caesars/Starwood, and Gentex Corporation. Fabrizi will begin her tenure with Syracuse University on May 8, and will report to John Papazoglou, Senior Vice President and Chief Operations Officer.  

In this role, Fabrizi will oversee a wide range of mission-critical services aimed at enhancing campus life for students, faculty, staff and guests, Auxiliary Services provides a comprehensive list of services supporting faculty, staff, students, alumni and guests, including dining services, housing, meal plans, lodging, Syracuse University Campus Store, and more.  

“I am thrilled Cheryl is joining us here at Syracuse University,” said Papazoglou. “She is the perfect choice to lead Auxiliary Services onward and upward. Her track record of enhancing the experiences of students and the extended university community though technology and innovation are well known by our peers. We cannot wait for her to get started.” 

During her time at Penn State, Fabrizi oversaw a nearly $300 million annual housing and food services budget and a $21 million annual capital deferred maintenance plan, in one of the largest collegiate housing and dining programs in the U.S. and the largest in Pennsylvania. Her portfolio also includes supervision of the $780+ million East Halls/Pollock Halls capital renovation project. She provided leadership and vision for the housing and dining portfolio that employed over 700 full-time employees and more than 1,800 student employees serving 21 campuses across Pennsylvania.  

Fabrizi also spearheaded such initiatives as Auxiliary & Business Services talent acquisition/hiring events which led to significant boosts in staffing, the development and expansion of the Housing and Dining brand, LiveOn (liveon.psu.edu), and the development, execution, and management of LiveOn Grants — four-year undergraduate student need- based room and board financial aid awards to address housing and food insecurity needs at 12 Penn State residential campuses.   

“I’m excited to the join the Syracuse University community and leverage the breadth and depth of my professional experiences to pursue excellence in service,” Fabrizi said. “I aim to create synergies that positively touch hearts and shape lasting memories of on- and off-campus customers, guests and visitors.” 

Fabrizi earned her M.Sc. of Direct and Integrative Marketing from Mercy College, and holds a bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Penn State. She also served as an adjunct faculty member throughout her career, teaching courses in entrepreneurship and marketing at SUNY Binghamton, Broome Community College, and Mercy College. Fabrizi has earned recognition from the National Association of College Auxiliary Services (NACAS), the National Association of College and University Food Services (NACUFS), the Association of College & University Housing Officers – International (ACUHO-i), and served as a Big10 Senior Housing Officer.  

She is a native of Northeastern Pennsylvania, and resided in Binghamton, New York, prior to her leadership role at Penn State. Fabrizi and her husband, Jim, and daughter, Anya, are excited to join the Syracuse University community where they can explore, experience, and learn more about the campus and Central New York. 

Have a Voice on Climate Issues on Campus! Check Your Inbox for Sustainability Survey This Week

In an effort to gain feedback and insights directly from the campus community with the goal of effecting positive change in our sustainability and climate practices, Sustainability Management has created both a student and a faculty and staff survey which will be sent by email to randomized participants starting this week.

The student survey was created with a Sustainability Management student intern, while the faculty and staff survey was created by staff in Sustainability Management. On both versions, questions seek to assess respondents’ general understanding of sustainability and environmental problems. Some questions are opinion-based while others gauge interest in becoming more involved in sustainable initiatives or programs.

Read the full story at Syracuse University News.

From the Comptroller: Adjustment to Sales Tax Reimbursement Rules; Updated Travel Policy to Be Issued Later in 2023

Effective immediately, Syracuse University staff and faculty members utilizing a University credit card will no longer need to seek sales tax reimbursement from the vendor if the purchase results in less than $25 in sales tax per transaction. Though employees should continue to request tax-exempt purchases every time they utilize their University credit card, this rule change will eliminate some of the retroactive action necessary to correspond with vendors and request refunds for mistakenly-charged sales tax.

Read the full story on Syracuse University News.

Comstock Avenue to Close to All Traffic Except Shuttles Following Red Hot Chili Peppers Concert

Syracuse University’s Parking and Transportation Services (PTS) will make a temporary change to campus traffic patterns following the conclusion of the Red Hot Chili Peppers concert at the JMA Wireless Dome on Friday, April 14.

As the concert ends, PTS and the Syracuse Police Department will close Comstock Avenue to all traffic except parking shuttles, which will travel between the College Place bus stop, the Colvin Street and Comstock Avenue lots, and the Skytop Lot.

Read the full story on Syracuse University News.

Traffic and Parking Updates Regarding JMA Wireless Dome Events

Springtime is busy with events on and around campus that will impact parking and traffic.

Monster Jam: With Monster Jam taking over the JMA Wireless Dome, parking changes are set to be in effect on Saturday, April 8. All campus parking lots will be restricted to Dome event permits, so if you need to park for academic reasons, Syracuse University parking permits will be honored at the University Avenue Garage, Comstock Avenue Garage, and Harrison lot. For the event itself, your Syracuse University permit will be honored in the Comstock lot, Colvin lot and Skytop lot.

Read the full story on Syracuse University News.

Temporary Disruptions to Campus Transportation Services

In an effort to proactively communicate with the campus community, the University’s Office of Parking and Transportation Services (PTS) is asking its riders to prepare for short-term disruptions to its usual trolley and shuttle services for the remainder of the Spring 2023 semester.

Due to an ongoing CDL driver shortage, PTS is struggling to consistently fill its planned shifts, leading to last-minute changes to trolley and shuttle routes. In the past few weeks, this has led the office to delay the start of the Blue and Orange ’Cuse Trolley loops until the afternoon hours or reduce service to one or more shuttle routes.

Read the full story at Syracuse University News.

Claire O’Boyle Downey Named Director of Catering

Syracuse University Food Services announced today that Claire O’Boyle Downey has joined the hospitality team as the department’s new Director of Catering. She began her tenure at the University on February 16, 2023. Claire brings advanced education and years of experience from all areas of the hospitality industry. She studied at the Dublin College of Catering in Dublin, Ireland and relocated to the United States in 1988. Locally, Claire owned and operated her own catering business, “The Secret Ingredient,” serving the greater Syracuse area from 2005-2015. Additionally, Claire has served as the Director of Advancement at Bishop Grimes Jr./Sr. High School, the Director of Development at Most Holy Rosary School, and was most recently the Director of Catering for the Sherwood Inn in Skaneateles.

“I am ecstatic that Claire has chosen to lead the Syracuse University catering department,” says Eamon Lee, Executive Director of Hospitality. “Her dedication to grow and develop the team, oversee the onboarding of new catering and customer relationship management software, and refine operational processes — all while bringing her ‘hospitality first’ philosophy to each campus partner relationship — will help her to elevate catering services to new heights in the years ahead.”

Claire will spend this semester familiarizing herself with catering stakeholders, facilities, events, operations, and production. Long term, Claire’s focus will be on building strong campus relationships while aligning every aspect of campus catering with Food Services’ goals for hospitality excellence.

Claire will report to Executive Director of Hospitality, Eamon Lee, and will be based at the Campus Catering office at 201 Ainsley Drive.

New Addition to Campus Skyline: JMA Wireless Dome Sign Installation to Begin

The campus and greater Syracuse communities will start to notice a new distinctive element being added to the campus skyline. Workers are beginning today to install the official JMA Wireless Dome signs on the facility’s crown truss and exterior.

In May, Syracuse University and JMA Wireless (JMA) announced a 10-year partnership for naming rights of the University’s iconic on-campus stadium. For the first time since the venue opened its doors in 1980, the stadium has a new name, only the second in its history—the JMA Wireless Dome, referred to as the JMA Dome.

Read the full story at Syracuse University News.

Parking and Transportation Services Makes Updates to New Late-Night Euclid Loop to Include Warehouse Stop

In response to feedback provided by students and faculty members who commute to and from the Warehouse, Parking and Transportation Services will adjust its new late-night shuttle route to include a stop at the Warehouse.

Beginning today, the newly established late-night Euclid loop, which runs seven days a week from 7:45 p.m. to 3:15 a.m., will make stops at the Warehouse as part of its regular route. As before, shuttles will arrive at the Warehouse every 40-45 minutes and will transport students or faculty members back to Main Campus. Campus community members will only need their SU I.D. to board and ride for free, as with all other University shuttle routes.

Read the full story at Syracuse University News.