State University of New York at New Paltz
EN-9: Community Partnerships

SUNY New Paltz and the Mohonk Preserve, the largest not-for-profit nature preserve in New York State, have had an ongoing formal institutional agreement since 1998 for which a fee is paid by the College to the Preserve. Under this agreement, faculty and their students schedule the use of Mohonk Preserve lands for teaching and research in their classes. Classes in art, biology, business, education, English, modern languages, literature & cultures, geography, geology, math, physical education, psychology, and sociology have visited the Preserve. The Honors Center and Residence Life have requested visits. In addition, personnel from the Preserve have been invited to give guest lectures in classes at SUNY New Paltz. Six faculty members have become Research Associates at the Preserve and engage their undergraduate and graduate student in their own research. These faculty have access to archival data at the Preserve. Since 1998, ten students from the Geography Department have had internships in Conservation Science at the Preserve. SUNY New Paltz and the Mohonk Preserve have held informational meetings with faculty to familiarize them with the opportunities under the institutional agreement, and have also co-sponsored events at the College. These events have included a lecture by Richard Louv, author of "Last Child in the Woods" and "The Nature Principle," celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Wilderness Act in 2014. At commencement in May 2014, Paul Huth, Director Emeritus of Conservation Science at the Preserve and recipient of both BS and MA degrees from the College, was awarded an honorary doctorate and gave the commencement address. http://www.newpaltz.edu/commencement/paul_speech.html http://mohonkpreserve.org/