Sophomores survive and thrive at the Mount

Kathleen O’Keefe (right) of the Mount Saint Mary College Career Center welcomes students to “Sophomores Survive and Succeed,” January 22.

More than 50 sophomores returned to campus a day early at Mount Saint Mary College to get a jump start on the semester and their future.

“Sophomores Survive and Succeed” power sessions included campus leadership and career success, career options for various majors, summer research projects, alumni mentors, and study abroad opportunities, including those for nursing and pre-professional students.

More than two dozen nursing students and two faculty recently travelled to the Dominican Republic on a humanitarian mission providing healthcare services in the poorest communities.

At the Mount, 33 percent of freshmen aim for health professions. The college’s nationally accredited four year nursing degree program features high tech simulator labs, real world clinical experience and community nursing, plus a NYCLEX exam pass rate of 98 to 100 percent. Graduates are working as registered nurses in hospitals in the Northeast and around the country.

The college offers concentrations in criminology, educational technologies, international studies, and web technologies, among others, as well as pre-professional concentrations in pre-law, pre-med, pre-dental, and pre-veterinary.

In addition to strong academic programs, a vibrant campus life includes 30 student clubs and organizations, making the Mount a great living/learning experience.

With the demand for campus living on the rise, Mount Saint Mary College recently renovated the Garden Apartments and has a master plan to add residential space in the newly acquired Dominican Center. Other residence halls, many with river views and suite-style living, have kitchens, cable, study lounges, exercise rooms, and even solar panels.

For students who want more academically, the Mount’s honors program provides field experiences exploring the Hudson River’s historic sites and increased lab time for science majors.

As part of its strategic goal to involve students in applied learning, Mount Saint Mary College offers centers of excellence: the Center on Aging and Policy, the Center for Adolescent Research and Development, and the Catholic and Dominican Institute.

The Center on Aging and Policy promotes an interdisciplinary perspective and is dedicated to excellence in research and scholarship in the field of gerontology. Routinely, Mount students are involved: e.g. through the Aging United student organization. As part of their coursework in social science classes, students are able to assess situations utilizing the center’s resources and offer solutions for the problems people face.

The Center for Adolescent Research and Development assists in appropriate research-based program development for schools, agencies, and families, and hosts an annual conference each spring focused on adolescence in the 21st century, engaging students in real world concerns.

The CDI, rooted in the Catholic intellectual tradition, promotes the college’s Dominican heritage, advances the charism of learning and service, provides a forum for discussion of contemporary ethical issues, and enhances Catholic and Jewish dialogue.