Alfred University and SUNY Corning Community College joined Tuesday evening, May 12, to celebrate 21 students who have earned Alfred University bachelor’s or master’s degrees through the AUNY program hosted at SUNY Corning.
Mark Zupan, Alfred University president, makes comments during a ceremony honoring 2026 graduates of the AUNY Corning program.
AUNY Corning, through a partnership with SUNY Corning, offers programs that are presented in a format that accommodates individuals who are working full-time and unable to attend traditionally structured degree programs. Classes meet in the evening , weekend or online. The AUNY Corning programs—which include master’s degrees in Literacy, and Inclusive and Special Education, and a bachelor’s degree completion program in Early Childhood/Childhood Education—are offered in an accelerated format, with classes occurring year-round.
Justin Grigg, associate dean of the School of Graduate and Continuing Studies at Alfred University, welcomed nearly 100 guests in attendance at the ceremony at the Radisson hotel in Corning, which included faculty and staff from Alfred and Corning as well as students and their families. Master’s degree students received their degrees Friday, May 15, during a ceremony on the Alfred campus for graduate students; undergraduates received their bachelor’s degrees during the main Commencement ceremony Saturday, May 16.
“A special welcome to the graduates’ families and friends,” said Alfred Mancuso, dean of the School of Graduate and Continuing Studies. “A sincere thank you for everything you do to support our graduates.”
Terence Finley, SUNY Corning president, and Mark Zupan, Alfred University president, also offered comments.
“Thank you to Alfred University for continuing to partner with us on this fabulous program,” Finley said. “This has been a transformative pathway, with more than 125 graduates” since the AUNY Corning started in 2015.
Finley commended the students for choosing to work in the field of education, teaching others.
“Bring a teacher is one of the greatest jobs you’ll ever have,” he said. “My roots started in the classroom. Please embrace this opportunity given to you. You’re shaping the future of this country. Thank you and congratulations.”
Zupan pointed to the mentorship component that comes with being a teacher, noting that mentor-mentee relationships have always been a hallmark of an Alfred University education.
He said when he has spoken to alumni and asked what about their Alfred experience had the greatest impact on them, they often point to a faculty member. “They say someone took an interest in me—usually a teacher—and changed my life for the better. We are proud of our partnership with SUNY Corning, and we salute you in the career paths you have chosen.”
Payton Clark, from Corning, NY, earned a bachelor’s degree in early childhood/childhood education through the AUNY Corning program. She said she is deciding between pursuing a full-time teaching position or substituting for a year “to gain more experience and determine the grade level or role that best fits me, ideally within the Corning-Painted Post School District.”
Payton Clark, who earned a bachelor’s degree in early childhood/childhood development from Alfred University through the AUNY Corning program, following a ceremony recognizing 2026 graduates from the program.
Clark said she was impressed by the AUNY Corning program’s family atmosphere. “What I enjoyed most was the strong sense of community. The professors and peers made the experience feel very close knit; we really became like a family,” she said, adding that she appreciated how the program accommodated her schedule.
“Since I work, attending a program that didn’t require (staying on campus) made it much easier to manage my responsibilities,” Clark commented. “With flexible evening and online classes, I was able to balance work and school effectively. That flexibility made it much more manageable to stay on track without feeling overwhelmed.”
Kristyn Rutledge also earned a bachelor’s degree in early childhood/childhood education through the AUNY Corning program. A resident of Bradford, NY, she has worked the current school year as a long-term pre-kindergarten substitute in the Bradford Central School District. She has accepted a full-time pre-kindergarten teaching position in the Bradford district beginning in the fall.
Rutledge said her instructors at AUNY Corning were dedicated and always showed personal attention to the students.
“I enjoyed how passionate all of my instructors were. Every class I took was led by a person who truly cared about the course material,” she commented. “They took the extra steps to understand the material in depth, continued to alter material to make it current, and were excited to teach us. Their energy was contagious and made everyone excited to learn.”
Kristyn Rutledge, who earned a bachelor’s degree in early childhood/childhood development from Alfred University through the AUNY Corning program, following a ceremony recognizing 2026 graduates from the program.
Like Clark, Rutledge appreciated that her classes could be built around her busy schedule, which includes her teaching job, raising two children ages 9 and 7, and helping her husband with his catering business.
“I can honestly say I would not have been able to complete my degree without this program. Most colleges wanted me to be in in-person classes during the day, but that wasn’t feasible if I wanted to continue working,” said Rutledge, who plans to enroll in the AUNY Corning master’s degree program for literacy education. “I am so grateful for this program because it allowed me to take night courses instead of requiring day courses, and I knew the course schedule dates and times at least a month in advance so I could make childcare arrangements.”
