The State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) is a

public In public relations and communication science, publics are groups of individual people, and the public (a.k.a. the general public) is the totality of such groupings. This is a different concept to the sociological concept of the ''Öffentlichk ...

research university A research university or a research-intensive university is a university that is committed to research as a central part of its mission. They are the most important sites at which knowledge production occurs, along with "intergenerational kn ...

in Syracuse, New York focused on the environment and natural resources. It is part of the State University of New York (SUNY) system. ESF is immediately adjacent to Syracuse University, within which it was founded, and with which it maintains a special relationship. It is classified among "R2: Doctoral Universities – High research activity". ESF operates education and research facilities also in the

Adirondack Park The Adirondack Park is a part of Forest Preserve (New York), New York's Forest Preserve in northeastern New York (state), New York, United States. The park was established in 1892 for “the free use of all the people for their health and pleasur ...

(including the

Ranger School The United States Army Ranger School is a 62-day small unit tactics and leadership course that develops functional skills directly related to units whose mission is to engage the enemy in close combat and direct fire battles. Ranger training wa ...

in Wanakena), the

Thousand Islands The Thousand Islands (french: Mille-Îles) constitute a North American archipelago of 1,864 islands that straddles the Canada–US border in the Saint Lawrence River as it emerges from the northeast corner of Lake Ontario. They stretch for abo ...

, elsewhere in central New York, and Costa Rica. The college's curricula focus on the understanding,

management Management (or managing) is the administration of an organization, whether it is a business, a nonprofit organization, or a Government agency, government body. It is the art and science of managing resources of the business. Management includ ...

, and sustainability of the environment and natural resources.

History

Founding

The New York State College of Forestry at Syracuse University was established on July 28, 1911, through a bill signed by New York Governor

John Alden Dix John Alden Dix (December 25, 1860 – April 9, 1928) was an American businessman and politician who served as 38th Governor of New York from January 1911 to January 1913. A native of Glens Falls, New York, Dix attended Cornell University befo ...

. The previous year, Governor Hughes had vetoed a bill authorizing such a college. Both bills followed the state's defunding in 1903 of the New York State College of Forestry at Cornell. Originally a unit of Syracuse University, in 1913, the college was made a separate, legal entity. Syracuse native and constitutional lawyer

Louis Marshall Louis Marshall (December 14, 1856 – September 11, 1929) was an American corporate, constitutional and civil rights lawyer as well as a mediator and Jewish community leader who worked to secure religious, political, and cultural freedom for a ...

, with a summer residence at

Knollwood Club Knollwood Club is an Adirondack Great Camp on Shingle Bay, Lower Saranac Lake, near the village of Saranac Lake, New York, USA. It was built in 1899–1900 by William L. Coulter, who had previously created a major addition to Alfred G. Vanderb ...

on Saranac Lake and a prime mover for the establishment of the Adirondack and Catskill

Forest Preserve (New York) New York's Forest Preserve, comprises almost all the lands owned by the state of New York within the Adirondack and Catskill parks. It is managed by the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). , the Forest Preserve covers nearl ...

, became a Syracuse University Trustee in 1910. He confided in Chancellor James R. Day his desire to have an agricultural and forestry school at the university, and by 1911 his efforts resulted in a New York State bill to fund the project: the aforementioned appropriation bill signed by Governor Dix. Marshall was elected president of the college's board of trustees at its first meeting, in 1911; at the time of his death, eighteen years later, he was still president of the board. Syracuse University, College of Forestry (Bray Hall)

Syracuse University, College of Forestry (Bray Hall)

The first dean of the college was William L. Bray, a Ph.D., graduate from the University of Chicago, botanist, plant ecologist, biogeographer and Professor of Botany at Syracuse University. In 1907 he was made head of the botany department at Syracuse, and in 1908 he started teaching a forestry course in the basement of Lyman Hall. Bray was an associate of

Gifford Pinchot Gifford Pinchot (August 11, 1865October 4, 1946) was an American forester and politician. He served as the fourth chief of the U.S. Division of Forestry, as the first head of the United States Forest Service, and as the 28th governor of Pennsy ...

, who was the first Chief of the

United States Forest Service The United States Forest Service (USFS) is an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture that administers the nation's 154 national forests and 20 national grasslands. The Forest Service manages of land. Major divisions of the agency in ...

. In 1911, in addition to assuming the deanship of forestry, Bray organized the Agricultural Division at Syracuse University. He remained at Syracuse until 1943 as chair of botany and Dean of the Syracuse Graduate School. In 1915, the same year that Dr. Bray published ''The Development of the Vegetation of New York State'', he became one of the founding members, along with

Raphael Zon Raphael Zon (December 1, 1874 - October 27, 1956) was a prominent U.S. Forest Service researcher. Early life Raphael Zon was born in Simbirsk in the Russian Empire in 1874, to parents Gabriel Zon and Eugenia Berliner. A schoolmate of Lenin's ...

and

Yale School of Forestry Yale School of the Environment (YSE) is a professional school of Yale University. It was founded to train foresters, and now trains environmental leaders through four 2-year degree programs ( Master of Environmental Management, Master of Environ ...

's second dean, James W. Toumey, of the

Ecological Society of America The Ecological Society of America (ESA) is a professional organization of ecological scientists. Based in the United States and founded in 1915, ESA publications include peer-reviewed journals, newsletters, fact sheets, and teaching resources. I ...

. In 1950, the 1917 "activist wing" of that Society formed today's

The Nature Conservancy The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is a global environmental organization headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. it works via affiliates or branches in 79 countries and territories, as well as across every state in the US. Founded in 1951, The Nat ...

. Most of the professors in the early years of the College of Forestry at Syracuse and the Department of Forestry at Cornell's New York State College of Agriculture were educated in forestry at the

. The forestry students at Syracuse but not at Cornell were referred to as "stumpies" by their classmates. Fifty-two students were enrolled in the school's first year, the first 11 graduating two years later, in 1913. Research at the college commenced in 1912, with a study of New York state firms using lumber, including from which tree species and in what quantities.

Expansion

In 1912, the college opened its

in Wanakena, New York, in the

Adirondacks The Adirondack Mountains (; a-də-RÄN-dak) form a massif in northeastern New York with boundaries that correspond roughly to those of Adirondack Park. They cover about 5,000 square miles (13,000 km2). The mountains form a roughly circular d ...

. The college began enrolling women as early as 1915, but the first women to complete their degrees—one majoring in landscape engineering and two in pulp and paper—graduated in the late 1940s. In January 1930, Governor

Franklin D. Roosevelt Franklin Delano Roosevelt (; ; January 30, 1882April 12, 1945), often referred to by his initials FDR, was an American politician and attorney who served as the 32nd president of the United States from 1933 until his death in 1945. As the ...

, recommending an allocation of $600,000 towards construction of the college's second building, in honor of Louis Marshall, recently deceased, noted that: "under arshall'sleadership and the leadership of its late dean, Franklin Moon, the School of Forestry made giant strides until it became recognized as the premier institution of its kind in the United States". The cornerstone of Louis Marshall Memorial Hall was laid in 1931 by former Governor and presidential candidate Alfred E. Smith who was elected to assume the presidency of the college's board of trustees.

Affiliation with SUNY

With the formation of the State University of New York (SUNY) in 1948, the college became recognized as a specialized college within the SUNY system, and its name was changed to State University College of Forestry at Syracuse University. In 1972, the college's name was changed yet again to State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry. Unlike other state-supported degree-granting institutions which had been created at private institutions in New York State, the New York State College of Forestry at Syracuse University was an autonomous institution not administratively part of Syracuse University. In 2000, SUNY System Administration established ESF's "primacy" among the 64 SUNY campuses and contract colleges for development of new undergraduate degree programs in Environmental Science and Environmental Studies.

Campuses

Syracuse

ESF's main campus, in Syracuse, New York, is where most academic, administrative, and student activity takes place. The campus is made up of nine main buildings: * Baker Laboratory: Named after Hugh P. Baker, dean of the college from 1912 to 1920 and again 1930–33. The building is the location of several computer clusters and auditorium-style classrooms. It is home to the Department of Environmental Resources Engineering, the Department of Environmental Studies, and the Division of Environmental Science. The building underwent a $37 million overhaul in the early 2000s, providing updated space for the Tropical Timber Information Center and the

Nelson C. Brown Nelson Courtlandt Brown (born 1885) was an American forester. Early life Brown was born on March 1, 1985, in South Orange, New Jersey. He graduated from Yale University with a bachelors of Arts degree in 1906 and a Master of Forestry degree in 190 ...

Center for Ultrastructure Studies. Baker Lab is the site of ESF's NASA-affiliated Research Center. Baker Laboratory houses two multimedia lecture halls, a "smart" classroom outfitted for computer use and distance learning, and two construction management and planning studios. It also has a full-scale laboratory for materials science testing, including a modern dry kiln, a wood identification laboratory, shop facilities (including portable sawmill) and

wood preservation Wood easily degrades without sufficient preservation. Apart from structural wood preservation measures, there are a number of different chemical preservatives and processes (also known as "timber treatment", "lumber treatment" or "pressure treat ...

laboratory. * Bray Hall: The building is the oldest on campus, completed in 1917, the largest building devoted to Forestry at the time. It is named after William L. Bray, a founder of the New York State College of Forestry at Syracuse University and its first dean, 1911–1912. It is the location of most administrative offices and the Department of Sustainable Resources Management. The State University Police department is in the basement. * Gateway Center: The campus' newest building, opened in March 2013, "sets a new standard for LEED buildings, producing more renewable energy than it consumes," according to

Cornelius B. Murphy, Jr. Cornelius ("Neil") B. Murphy Jr. is Professor of Environmental and Sustainable Systems at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY-ESF). From 2000 to 2013, he was the third President of SUNY-ESF.

The building is "designed to achieve LEED Platinum Certification". The ESF College Bookstore, Trailhead Cafe, and Office of Admissions are in the Gateway Center. * Illick Hall: The building was completed in 1968, and is home to the Department of Environmental and Forest Biology. It is named after

Joseph S. Illick Joseph S. Illick (September 16, 1884 - August 31, 1967) was Dean of the New York State College of Forestry at Syracuse University, from 1944 to 1951. He was a graduate of Lafayette College (1907), and the Biltmore Forest School (1913); he studied ...

, a dean of the State University College of Forestry at Syracuse University. There is a large lecture hall (Illick 5) on the ground floor. Several greenhouses are on the fifth floor. The Roosevelt Wildlife Museum is also in the building. * Jahn Laboratory: Named after

Edwin C. Jahn Edwin C. Jahn (September 6, 1902 – June 13, 2001) was Dean of the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry at Syracuse University from 1967 to 1969. He received his B.S. ''cum laude'' (1925) and M.S. (1926) from t ...

, former head of the New York State College of Forestry at Syracuse University. The building was completed in 1997. Home to the Department of Chemistry. * Marshall Hall: Named after

, one of the founders of the New York State College of Forestry at Syracuse University. The Alumni ( Nifkin) Lounge and Marshall Auditorium are within. Twin brass plaques in the entryway commemorate the contributions of Marshall and his son, alumnus Bob Marshall. (Under renovation.) * Moon Library: Dedicated to F. Franklin Moon, an early dean of the college. Completed in 1968, along with Illick Hall. A computer cluster and student lounge are in the basement. * Walters Hall: Named after J. Henry Walters, who served on the college's board of trustees. Completed in 1969. Home to the Department of Chemical Engineering. The pilot plant in the building includes two paper machines and wood-to-ethanol processing equipment. *Centennial Hall: ESF's on-campus student dormitory, commemorating the college's 100th anniversary. The facility is capable of accommodating 280-300 freshman (in double or triple studio rooms with private bath), 116 upperclassmen (in single bedroom suits with private bath), and an additional 56 upperclassmen (in 4-bedroom, 2-bath apartments). A $31 million project, Centennial Hall opened in 2011. Bray Hall, Marshall Hall, Illick Hall, and Moon Library border the quad. Other buildings on the Syracuse campus include one for maintenance and operations, a garage, and a greenhouse converted to office space. Among planned new buildings is a research support facility. The historic Robin Hood Oak (photo below) is behind Bray Hall. The tree is said to have grown from an acorn brought back by a faculty member from the

Sherwood Forest Sherwood Forest is a royal forest in Nottinghamshire, England, famous because of its historic association with the legend of Robin Hood. The area has been wooded since the end of the Last Glacial Period (as attested by pollen sampling cor ...

in England. It was the first tree listed on the National Registrar of Historic Trees in the United States. Image:ESF-Gateway-Bldg-2014.jpg, Gateway Center Image:Jahn Laboratory.jpg, Jahn Laboratory Image:ESF-Illick-Hall-Aug-2014.jpg, Illick Hall Image:Baker-Lab-PVC-array-2014.jpg, Baker Laboratory Image:ESF-Marshall-Hall.jpg, Marshall Hall Image:ESF-Walters-Hall-2017.jpg, Walters Hall Image:Moon-Library-SUNY-ESF-July-2014.jpg, Moon Library

Wanakena

Students in the forest and natural resources management curriculum may spend an academic year (48 credits) or summer at the

, in Wanakena, New York, earning an

Associate of Applied Science An associate degree is an undergraduate degree awarded after a course of post-secondary study lasting two to three years. It is a level of qualification above a high school diploma, GED, or matriculation, and below a bachelor's degree. The f ...

(A.A.S.) degree in forest technology, surveying, or environmental and natural resources conservation. The campus, established in 1912, is on the east branch of the

Oswegatchie River The Oswegatchie River ( moh, Kaniatarahòn:tsi) is a river in northern New York that flows from the Adirondack Mountains north to the Saint Lawrence River. The Oswegatchie River begins at Partlow Lake in Hamilton County, New York. The river co ...

that flows into Cranberry Lake, in the northwestern part of the

. It includes the James F. Dubuar Memorial Forest, named after a former director of the Ranger School.

Field stations and forests

;New York

* ''Cranberry Lake'': The college's environmental and forest biology summer field program is at the Cranberry Lake Biological Station, on Cranberry Lake in the

. * ''Newcomb'': The Adirondack Ecological Center and Huntington Wildlife Forest, a field station in the central

Adirondack Mountains The Adirondack Mountains (; a-də-RÄN-dak) form a massif in northeastern New York with boundaries that correspond roughly to those of Adirondack Park. They cover about 5,000 square miles (13,000 km2). The mountains form a roughly circular ...

, are near Newcomb, New York. The site includes the Arbutus

Great Camp __NOTOC__ The Great Camps of the Adirondack Mountains refers to the grandiose family compounds of cabins that were built in the latter half of the nineteenth century on lakes in the Adirondacks such as Spitfire Lake and Rainbow Lake. The ca ...

, bunkhouses, and a dining center, among other facilities. * ''Syracuse'': The Lafayette Road Experiment Station is in the City of Syracuse. * ''Thousand Islands'': The Thousand Islands Biological Station and Ellis International Laboratory are in the

, New York. * ''Tully'': ESF's Tully Field Station and the

Svend O. Heiberg Memorial Forest Svend O. Heiberg Memorial Forest is a research forest located in parts of Onondaga County, New York, Onondaga and Cortland County, Cortland counties, and within the towns of Truxton, New York, Truxton, Preble, New York, Preble, Fabius, New York, F ...

, a research forest, are in Tully, New York. * ''Warrensburg'': The Charles Lathrop Pack Demonstration Forest and NYS Department of Environmental Conservation's Environmental Education Camp are near

Warrensburg, New York Warrensburg is a town in Warren County, New York, United States. It is centrally located in the county, west of Lake George. It is part of the Glens Falls metropolitan area. The town population was 4,255 at the 2000 census. While the county is ...

. ;Costa Rica * The Arturo and Maria Sundt Field Station, ESF's first international field station, is used for research and teaching. A former farm, it is near the town of Coyolito, in the province of Guanacaste, Costa Rica, approximately from the

Gulf of Nicoya The Gulf of Nicoya ( es, Golfo de Nicoya) is an inlet of the Pacific Ocean. It separates the Nicoya Peninsula from the mainland of Costa Rica, and encompasses a marine and coastal landscape of wetlands, rocky islands and cliffs. The first Spanish ...

on the country's west coast.

Academics

The ESF mission statement is "to advance knowledge and skills and to promote the leadership necessary for the stewardship of both the natural and designed environments." ESF is a "specialized institution" of the State University of New York, meaning that curricula focus primarily on one field, the college's being environmental management and stewardship. Students may supplement their education with courses taken at Syracuse University. ESF has academic departments in the fields of chemistry; environmental and forest biology; environmental resources engineering; environmental studies; sustainable resources management; landscape architecture; and

chemical engineering Chemical engineering is an engineering field which deals with the study of operation and design of chemical plants as well as methods of improving production. Chemical engineers develop economical commercial processes to convert raw materials int ...

. Environmental science programs offer students integrative degrees across the natural sciences. The admission rate for applicants to ESF is 65 percent (Fall 2021).College Navigator
National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed: 27 September 2021. ESF is ranked at 48th in the 2022 ''US News & World Report'' rankings of the top public national universities. Furthermore, ESF is tied for 105th in the 2022 ''US News & World Report'' list of the best National Universities (both public and private). ''U.S. News & World Report'' ranked ESF as 64th best graduate school in Environmental/ Environmental Health Engineering category in 2016. The ''Washington Monthly College Guide'' ranked ESF No. 49 among the nation's top service-oriented colleges and universities for 2012 (and sixth in "community service participation and hours served")."National University Service Rankings (2012)," ''Washington Monthly''.
Accessed: September 22, 2012. ESF-Marshall-Hall-front-door

''Forbes Magazine'' ranked ESF #54 in its listing of "America's Best College Buys" for 2012. Forbes.com has also ranked ESF at No. 3 on its 2010 list of the 20 best colleges for women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). ESF is listed at No. 2, ahead of top programs like Duke, Cornell and Yale, among the best college environmental programs in the nation by Treehugger.com, a website devoted to sustainability and environmental news."Rankings and Ratings," ESF.
Accessed: September 10, 2012. In 2007, ''DesignIntelligence'' magazine ranked ESF's undergraduate and graduate programs in "Landscape Architecture", respectively at No. 12 and No. 9 in the United States. The ''Online College Database'' ranked ESF at No. 6 on its list of "50 Colleges Committed to Saving the Planet" for 2013. The ranking relates in part to one of the school's newest programs, Sustainable Energy Management. Launched in 2013, the program focuses on energy markets, management, and resources. Global issues such as responsible energy use and development of sustainable energy sources are critical focal points in the STEM major.

Research

ESF is classified as a "Carnegie R2 Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity" institution. The first research report published in 1913 by the College of Forestry was the result of the above noted USDA Forest Service supported study of the wood-using industries of New York State. Since that time, the research initiatives of the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) have expanded greatly as faculty and students conduct pioneering studies, many with a global reach. ESF researchers delve into topics well beyond the boundaries of central New York. Recent international sites of research interest include Madagascar, the Amazon floodplains, Mongolia and the Galapagos Islands. Vermont and the Sierra Nevada are other locales within the US where recent research has focused. Current research efforts include the

Willow Biomass Project The Willow Biomass Project is a collaborative effort by members of the Salix Consortium to grow willow and other sustainable woody crops in upstate New York. The project, funded through the U.S. Department of Energy's Biomass Power for Rural Develo ...

and th
American Chestnut Research and Restoration Project
which produced the

Darling 58 The Darling 58 is a genetically engineered American chestnut tree. The tree was created by American Chestnut Research & Restoration Program at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, to restore the American c ...

chestnut tree.

Campus life

Many students identify themselves as a "Stumpy" (or "Stumpie"). The nickname was given to students by their neighbors at Syracuse University, probably in the 1920s, and most-likely refers to forestry "stump jumpers". Although originally used as an insult, today, most students embrace the nickname with pride. Students at the Syracuse campus enjoy many activities on and off campus. There are a number of student clubs and organizations at ESF, including the Mighty Oaks Student Assembly (formerly United Students Association), Graduate Student Association, the Guy A. Baldassare Birding Club, the Student Environmental Education Coalition, the Woodsmen Team, Bob Marshall Club, Alpha Xi Sigma Honor Society, Soccer Team, Sigma Lambda Alpha, ''The Knothole'' (weekly newspaper), Papyrus Club, ''The Empire Forester'' (yearbook), Landscape Architecture Club (formally the Mollet Club), Forest Engineers Club, Environmental Studies Student Organization, Habitat for Humanity, ''Ecologue'' (yearly journal), the Bioethics Society, Green Campus Initiative, Baobab Society, and the Sustainable Energy Club. Wanakena students have their own woodsmen and ice hockey teams. A number of professional organizations are also open to student membership, including the

Society of American Foresters The Society of American Foresters (SAF) is a professional organization representing the forestry industry in the United States. Its mission statement declares that it seeks to "advance the science, education, and practice of forestry; to enhance t ...

The Wildlife Society The Wildlife Society (TWS) is an international non-profit association involved in wildlife stewardship through science and education. The Wildlife Society works to improve wildlife conservation in North America by advancing the science of wildlif ...

, Conservation Biology club, American Fisheries Association, and the (defunct) American Water Resources Association. ESF has an agreement with adjacent Syracuse University that allows ESF students to enjoy many amenities offered by SU. ESF students take courses at their sister institution, can apply for admission to concurrent degree and joint certificate programs, and may join any SU organization except for NCAA sports teams. SU students are also welcome to enroll in ESF classes. Because of this, students feel a certain degree of integration with the Syracuse University community. Every May, ESF holds a joint commencement ceremony with Syracuse University in the Carrier Dome. ESF's baccalaureate diplomas bear the seals of the State University of New York and Syracuse University. Students also enjoy a variety of shops, restaurants, museums, and theaters in Syracuse, and nearby Marshall Street and Westcott Street.

Gateway Center

ESF has launched several programs, within the confines of campus and other locations, to reduce its

carbon emission Greenhouse gas emissions from human activities strengthen the greenhouse effect, contributing to climate change. Most is carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels: coal, oil, and natural gas. The largest emitters include coal in China and larg ...

s. The Gateway Center utilizes sustainable energy resources to generate power and heat utilized across the campus. The building includes a state-of-the-art, combined heat-and-power (CHP) system, producing 65% of campus heating needs along with 20% of its electrical needs. The CHP system uses biomass to drive a steam turbine and produce electricity, while natural gas is used for steam heating along with additional electricity. It has been estimated this building alone is responsible for reducing ESF's carbon footprint by 22%. ESF-Gateway-Green-Roof-2014

Increased global awareness of global warming and reduced nonrenewable resources has driven ESF to invest in biomass. Biomass is a renewable resource that draws light energy, carbon dioxide, and water from the environment; in return oxygen is released. It can be harvested without negatively affecting the environment. For this reason, ESF launched a program to grow its own biomass, known as the ''

''. Benefits of woody willow include, high yields and fast growth times, quick re-sprouting, and high heat energy is produced when burned. Woody willow also increases habitat diversity significantly contributes to carbon neutrality. The Gateway Center was one of the final stages in the school's ''Climate Action Plan'', that encompasses the vision of

carbon neutrality Carbon neutrality is a state of net-zero carbon dioxide emissions. This can be achieved by balancing emissions of carbon dioxide with its removal (often through carbon offsetting) or by eliminating emissions from society (the transition to the "p ...

and reduced fossil fuel dependence by 2015. Currently, the school rests in Phase III of the program and is on track to reach its goal. Included in Phase III is the opening of The Gateway Center, retrofits to Illick Hall, and rooftop greenhouse replacement. One other advancement towards carbon neutrality can be seen on top of the campus's buildings. Rooftop gardens provide reduced energy consumption and water runoff. Shrubbery, soil thickness, and moisture content all can contribute to increased

energy savings Energy conservation is the effort to reduce wasteful energy consumption by using fewer energy services. This can be done by using energy more effectively (using less energy for continuous service) or changing one's behavior to use less service (f ...

. Gateway and other buildings on campus utilize rooftop gardens to reduce energy consumption and

water runoff Water (chemical formula ) is an Inorganic compound, inorganic, transparent, tasteless, odorless, and Color of water, nearly colorless chemical substance, which is the main constituent of Earth's hydrosphere and the fluids of all known living ...

Athletics

The SUNY ESF athletic teams are called the Mighty Oaks. The college is a member the

United States Collegiate Athletic Association The United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) is a national organization for the intercollegiate athletic programs of 72 mostly small colleges, including community/ junior colleges, across the United States. The USCAA holds 15 natio ...

(USCAA), primary competing in the Hudson Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (HVIAC) since about the 2004–05 academic year. ESF competes in 11 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include basketball, cross country, golf, soccer and track & field; while women's sports include cross country, soccer and track & field; and co-ed sports include bass fishing and timber sports.

Cross country

The school's men's cross-country team are three-time USCAA national champions 2011 to 2013. The women's cross-country team came in second or third in the same tournaments, respectively. The men's soccer team was invited to the 2012 USCAA National Championship Tournament in Asheville, North Carolina, making it to the semifinals.

Woodsmen

ESF has a long tradition of competing in intercollegiate woodsmen competitions in the northeastern US and eastern Canada. The team came in first in both the men's and women's divisions of the northeastern US and Canadian 2012 spring meet. Students at the SUNY-ESF Ranger School, in Wanakena, compete as the Blue Ox Woodsmen team.

Club sports

In addition to the intercollegiate USCAA and woodsman teams, ESF students participate on club sports teams at both ESF and Syracuse University, including ESF's competitive bass fishing team, and SU's

quidditch Quidditch is a fictional sport invented by author J.K. Rowling for her fantasy book series ''Harry Potter''. It first appeared in the novel '' Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone'' (1997). It is a dangerous but popular sport played by wi ...

team. Students at the Ranger School participate in the Ranger School Hockey Club.

Athletics history

In one notable part of the college's history, Laurie D. Cox, professor of Landscape Architecture, was responsible for establishing Syracuse University's renowned lacrosse program in 1916, including players from the New York State College of Forestry.

Affiliation with Syracuse University

ESF was founded in 1911 as the

New York State College of Forestry The New York State College of Forestry, the first professional school of forestry in North America, opened its doors at Cornell University, in Ithaca, New York, in the autumn of 1898., It was advocated for by Governor Frank S. Black, but after just ...

at Syracuse University, under the leadership of Syracuse University Trustee

, with the active support of Syracuse University Chancellor Day. Its founding followed several years after the cessation of state funding to the earlier New York State College of Forestry at Cornell. ESF is an autonomous institution, administratively separate from Syracuse University, while some resources, facilities and infrastructure are shared. The two schools share a common Schedule of Classes; students may take courses at both institutions, and baccalaureate diplomas from ESF bear the Syracuse University seal along with that of the State University of New York. A number of concurrent degree programs and certificates are offered between the schools. ESF receives an annual appropriation as part of the SUNY budget and the state builds and maintains all of the college's educational facilities. The state has somewhat similar financial and working relationships with five

statutory college In United States, American higher education, particular to the state of New York (state), New York, a statutory college or contract college is a college or school that is a component of an independent, private university that has been designated b ...

s that are at Alfred University and

Cornell University Cornell University is a private statutory land-grant research university based in Ithaca, New York. It is a member of the Ivy League. Founded in 1865 by Ezra Cornell and Andrew Dickson White, Cornell was founded with the intention to tea ...

, although unlike ESF, these statutory institutions are legally and technically part of their respective host institutions and are administered by them as well. ESF faculty, students, and students' families join those from Syracuse University (SU) in a joint convocation ceremony at the beginning of the academic year in August and combined commencement exercises in May. ESF and SU students share access to library resources, recreational facilities, student clubs, and activities at both institutions, except for the schools' intercollegiate athletics teams, affiliated with the USCAA and NCAA, respectively.

Traditions

The best known tradition among ESF students is that walking across the quad is shunned. The tradition, which dates back to at least the early 1960s, is intended to inhibit tracks from being worn into the lawn. Hecklers have been known to yell and even tackle people walking across the quad. However, other activities such as frisbee and soccer are encouraged on the Quad. Eustace B. Nifkin, ESF's previous mascot, is an unofficial student. He first appeared in the 1940s after a group of students summering in the Adirondacks thought him up. Ever since, he has appeared on class rosters, written articles for ''The Knothole'', and sent mail to the college from around the world. He has a girlfriend, the lesser-known Elsa S. Freeborn. SUNY granted him a bachelor's degree in 1972. The Alumni Lounge in Marshall Hall is dedicated to Nifkin. Another well known legend is that of Chainer or Chainsaw who supposedly graduated in 1993. Traditional events include: * Earth Week events * Spring Banquet * December Soiree * Friends and Family BBQ * Coffee Haus * Festival of Places * Paper run * Donut Hours * Waste Audit * Free Movies Nights * Insomniacs * Woodsmen Team (Forestry Club) * ESF Day of Service * Quadstock Music and Arts Festival

Notable alumni

More than 19,000 have graduated from ESF since its founding in 1911. The college's Alumni Association was founded 14 years later, in 1925. Notable alumni include: * Reginald E. Balch, MS '28, Canadian photographer and scientist * Bruce C. Bongarten, BS '73, former Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, ESF * Joseph Buongiorno, MS '69, Class of 1933 Bascom Professor of Forest Economics, University of Wisconsin-Madison * Roger Donlon, first man to receive the Medal of Honor in Vietnam * Christopher Dunn, BS '76, Director of Cornell Plantations * Ronald J. Eby, BS '69, PhD '74, National Medal of Technology award, 2007 for his work in pediatric medicine. A polysaccharide / carbohydrate chemist whose career was devoted to vaccine development. *

Frank Edwin Egler Frank Edwin Egler (April 26, 1911 – December 26, 1996) was an American plant ecologist and pioneer in the study of vegetation science. In addition to his groundbreaking research, he assisted Rachel Carson in preparing ''Silent Spring''. Early l ...

, plant ecologist and pioneer in the study of vegetation science * Patrick Flood, BS '74, Maine state legislator * Sol Feinstone, '15, historian, businessman, conservationist * Jean Fréchet, MS '69, PhD '71, Henry Rapoport Chair of Organic Chemistry and Professor of Chemical Engineering, UC Berkeley - Dendritic Polymers: Dendrimers; 2013 Japan Prize Laureate His PhD student, Will Dichtel professor of chemistry at Cornell, earns MacArthur 'Genius Award' 9/2015 * Delfin Ganapin Jr., PhD '87, Global Manager, Global Environmental Facility Small Grants Program, United Nations Development Program * William M. Harlow, BS '25, MS '26, PhD '28, SUNY ESF Professor in the field of wood technology * Avery Yale Kamila, American journalist, vegan columnist and community organizer * Stephen Kay, BLA '73,

golf course architect A golf course is the grounds on which the sport of golf is played. It consists of a series of holes, each consisting of a tee box, a fairway, the rough and other hazards, and a green with a cylindrical hole in the ground, known as a "cup". Th ...

* Edwin Ketchledge, BS '49, Distinguished Teaching Professor of Botany and Dendrology, ESF * Robin Wall Kimmerer, BS '75, author of ''Gathering Moss: A Natural and Cultural History of Mosses''; Professor of Biology and Director, Center for Native Peoples, ESF * Michael Kudish, PhD '71, author, historian, forester and professor * Meyer Laskin... "Dad loved his work, but he was most himself and most alive in the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York that he fell in love with while in forestry school. I was 10 the first time we went backpacking." * Raymond (Ray) Leonard, Ph.D., skipper of the ill-fated sailboat ''S. V. Satori'' made famous in the book and movie, '' The Perfect Storm''; a pioneering forest ecologist at Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest in W. Thornton, NH. * Moshe Levy, PhD '55, professor of chemistry, discoverer of

living polymerization In polymer chemistry, living polymerization is a form of chain growth polymerization where the ability of a growing polymer chain to terminate has been removed. This can be accomplished in a variety of ways. Chain termination and chain transfer ...

, and solar energy researcher *Mark Marquisee, in the seminal 1965 'Science' paper describing the structure of alanine transfer RNA, linking DNA and protein synthesis for which Robert W. Holley shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1968 a member of his team was Mark Marquisee. He graduated from SUNY ESF (NYS College of Forestry) in forest chemistry in either 1959 or 1960 coming to Cornell for his PhD in biochemistry. * Bob Marshall, BS '24, forester, writer and wilderness activist * Joe Martens, MS '81, former Commissioner, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation * Donald E. Moore III, BS, PhD '76, animal behaviorist, zoo-based wildlife biologist, associate director of Animal Care Sciences,

Smithsonian National Zoo The National Zoological Park, commonly known as the National Zoo, is one of the oldest zoos in the United States. It is part of the Smithsonian Institution and does not charge admission. Founded in 1889, its mission is to "provide engaging exp ...

, Washington, DC * James D. Morrissey, BS '58, "first American to climb the east face of Mt. Everest" * Clarence Petty, BS '30, forest ranger, conservationist and outdoorsman *

Harry Frederick Recher Emeritus Professor Harry Frederick Recher RZS (NSW) AM (born 27 March 1938, New York City) is an Australian ecologist, ornithologist and advocate for conservation. Recher grew up, in the United States of America. He studied at the State Univer ...

, ornithologist * Bruce Shelley, BS '70, computer game designer * Sgt. William Shemin, Ranger School 1914, BS after the war, Medal of Honor recipient for bravery in World War I * Earl Lewis Stone, Jr., BS '38, In 1948, he became the first endowed Charles Lathrop Pack Professor of forest soils at Cornell University. Retired 1979 * Lissa Widdoff, BS '79, executive director, Robert and Patricia Switzer Foundation

Environmental leadership

From soon after its founding, ESF affiliated individuals have been responsible for establishing and leading prominent scientific and advocacy organizations around the world focused on the environment. Others have provided leadership to governmental environmental agencies. * Adirondack Council – Clarence Petty, '30, co-founder, 1975, director *

Adirondack Park Agency Adirondack may refer to: Places *Adirondack Mountains, New York, US **Adirondack Park, a protected area in the US, containing a large portion of the Adirondack Mountains *Adirondack County, New York, a proposed county in New York * Adirondack, New ...

– Ross S. Whaley, former ESF President, chair, 2003–07
Association for the Protection of the Adirondacks
–

, President, ESF Board of Trustees, trustee; Paul Schaefer, Trustee and V.P. for 50 years *

– Dean William L. Bray, and Professor Charles C. Adams, co-founders, 1915 * Finger Lakes Land Trust – Summer 2011: Cornelius B. Murphy Jr. named to Advisory Council along with Lynn Leopold, widow of A. Carl Leopold, Founding President * National Parks Association – Bob Marshall, '24, board member, 1930s *

– Dean William L. Bray, co-founder, 1950 * Onondaga Environmental Institute — Ed Michalenko, PhD '91, President *

– Ross S. Whaley, former ESF President, president, 1991 * Taiwan Environmental Action Network – Wen-ling Tu, MS '96, co-founder * Union of Concerned Scientists – Howard "Bud" Ris, Jr., MLA '75, executive director, president, 1984-2003 * United States Society for Ecological Economics – Dr. Karin Limburg, ESF faculty member, president, 2006–07; Dr. Valerie Luzadis, ESF faculty member, president, 2012-14 * The Wilderness Society – Bob Marshall, '24, co-founder, 1935

References

External links

*
Official athletics website
{{authority control 1911 establishments in New York (state) Educational institutions established in 1911 Environment of New York (state) Environmental research institutes Environmental studies institutions in the United States Forestry in the United States Forestry education Science and technology in New York (state) State University of New York USCAA member institutions Technological universities in the United States Environmental