The 2012-13 New York Six ITAP apprentices at their orientation at Hamilton College, from left: Megan Colburn (Hobart and William Smith Colleges), Christina Alexander (Colgate University), Jason Gardepe (Hamilton College), Angelo Gonzalez (Skidmore College), Natalie Cainaru (St. Lawrence University) and Liana Nunziato (Union College).

10/11/12

New York Six Consortium Launches Instructional Technology Apprentice Program

CANTON - The New York Six Liberal Arts Consortium, which includes St. Lawrence University, has launched an apprentice program for students at member institutions who are interested in combining their liberal-arts degrees with paraprofessional experiences in instructional technology.

The Instructional Technology Apprentice Program (ITAP) provides students on each of the six consortium campuses with a year-long apprenticeship that includes workshops, mentoring and hands-on experience, working with faculty and students to incorporate technology into courses, course-related projects and scholarship.

The 2012-13 ITAP apprentices are Christina Alexander (Colgate University), Jason Gardepe (Hamilton College), Megan Colburn (Hobart and William Smith Colleges), Natalie Cainaru '13(St. Lawrence University), Angelo Gonzalez (Skidmore College), and Liana Nunziato (Union College).

Cainaru, of Buffalo, is a government and philosophy major. She studied in London in the spring of this year, through the University's International Program, and is a graduate of City Honors School in Buffalo.

"The New York Six apprentices are providing valuable service to their campuses, and at the same time they are using the problem-solving and critical thinking skills acquired in their liberal-arts studies in a more applied setting," said Jeffrey Wetherill, director of digital learning at Hobart and William Smith Colleges and chair of the New York Six instructional technology working group.

The New York Six Liberal Arts Consortium is a cooperative venture of six upstate New York liberal arts institutions: Colgate University, Hamilton College, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, St. Lawrence University, Skidmore College and Union College. Through the sharing of expertise and resources, the Consortium enhances opportunities for students, faculty, and staff, while reducing colleges' individual and collective operating and capital costs.