Cardinal Achievement Program

---

What is the Cardinal Achievement Program (CAP)?

---

The Cardinal Achievement Program is an admissions-based student success program. Our team will help guide you through all aspects of your first year at SUNY Plattsburgh.

Learn more about CAP

• What is an Academic Coach?

  CAP students will be paired with an academic coach during summer orientation who will guide them through all aspects of their first year at SUNY Plattsburgh.

  Academic coaches can assist with a variety of academic topics such as course advisement, time management and test-taking strategies, and can also help with social and life skills like campus involvement, financial literacy, roommate concerns and resume writing.

  CAP students meet with their coach four times per month and will also complete a two-credit CLP 101 course during their first semester that their coach instructs.

• What is CLP 101?

  Choosing Your Path (CLP 101) is a first-semester course that is designed to ease the transition from high school to college academics. It will also help you identify resources on campus that can help you throughout your college career.

  Throughout the semester you will be introduced to campus offices, services and organizations. Topics that will be covered throughout the course include, but are not limited to: learning styles, study skills, time management, diversity, personal safety, wellness, financial literacy, career interests, and resume/cover letter writing.

  CLP 101 is a mandatory class for all CAP students during their first semester and cannot be dropped or withdrawn from.

• What is required of me as a CAP student?

  All incoming CAP students sign a program contract prior to enrollment. Per your CAP contract, you are required to:

  1. Meet with your designated advisor at least four times per month (typically once per week).
  2. Complete your required cardinal core writing class (ENG100 or ENG 101).
  3. Enroll in and complete the mandatory Choosing Your Path (CLP 101) class designed to help assimilate students to the campus culture.
  4. Make acceptable academic progress, with the understanding that your academic record will be judged by the same criteria as those applied to any other student.
  5. Attend a mandatory meeting held after midterm grades are posted to discuss how to better reach academic goals for the academic year.
  6. Allow your CAP advisor to contact your professors or faculty members to discuss my academic and personal acclimation to college.
  7. Allow your CAP advisor to contact your parents/guardians to discuss your academic and personal acclimation to college.
• Can I opt out of CAP?

  No, you cannot opt out of the program. CAP students are admitted to SUNY Plattsburgh through the CAP pathway and their admission to the college is contingent upon their completion of the program during their first year.

• How can I become a teaching assistant (TA) for CAP?

  Students who are successful in CLP 101 may be asked to serve as teaching assistants (TAs) the following year. Students who serve as teaching assistants are able to gain leadership opportunities, three upper-division credits, and mentor incoming CAP students.

  Interested in becoming a TA for CLP 101? Reach out to your CAP academic coach!

Student Profiles

---

Ariel Sookham

• Hometown: Queens, N.Y.
• Class: Sophomore
• Major: Criminal Justice

“Being a part of the Cardinal Achievement Program has been a huge benefit to me throughout my college experience. From this program, I gained the help to adapt from high school to college while connecting with many new people while getting involved on campus. Academic coaching with my advisor has also played a significant role helping balance out my classes by giving me advice on studying tips, internships research, and helping plan my future class schedules. Having academic coaching is something I am very thankful for as it allowed me to build a bond with my advisor who is supportive and keeps me on track with my academics. My college experience has grown as I got the chance to network with different people and become a teacher assistant for CLP101 and a peer mentor working with first-year students. I am grateful to be in this program and to have the support I gained from it.”

Sierra Smith

• Hometown: Peru, N.Y.
• Class: Senior
• Major: Fitness & Wellness Leadership

“Being a part of the Cardinal Achievement Program has given me a chance to continue my education with confidence. Learning how to have time management, connecting with others and allowing me to have opportunities that didn’t seem possible before. This program has helped me with transitioning from high school until the day I graduate at SUNY Plattsburgh. ”

 

Esther Estrada

• Hometown: Bronx, N.Y.
• Class: Senior
• Major: Public Relations
• Minors: Marketing & Journalism

“During my first semester of college, I felt like a lost dog at a park. Since I am the first generation, I didn't know what I was doing in college or anything relating to college. Being a part of the Cardinal Achievement Program helped bring me the support I needed to be successful and helped me learn about all the resources I have to help me in college. Freshmen seminar connected me to many wonderful people who never stopped helping me throughout my college career, and I'm very thankful. They became a great support system that was always there for me.”

Kiara Mapp

• Hometown: Hollis, N.Y.
• Class: Senior
• Majors: English Writing Arts & English Literature
• Certificate: Professional Writing

“The transition from high school to SUNY Plattsburgh was disparate, but through CAP advisement (Rachel Day), freshman seminar (CLP101), and TRIO Student Support Services (SSS), I was not only able to adjust to the big change in workload and the choices I would have to make but was also introduced to campus offices, organizations, personal safety, and diversity. Looking back as a senior, I would strongly recommend this program to all freshmen coming in blind to realize how useful this program will be throughout your college career — resumes/cover letters, financial literacy, time management — and everything in between.”

Lindsey Connor

• Hometown: East Greenbush, N.Y.
• Class: Junior
• Major: Childhood/Special Education B.S./M.S.Ed

“It has been an excellent experience working with CAP! I have managed to be introduced to so many awesome people while working within CAP. The support I have received to keep pushing myself to try new things, make new friendships, and establish professional rapport with faculty is unmatched! If you are in CAP, you learn how to create study skills, build a schedule that works for you, and work on the path you want to take in life! I had Issac Eshun for freshmen seminar back in the fall of 2020 and he was the biggest supporter in helping me with the transition from high school to college life. ”

 

Meet the Staff of CAP

---

Isaac Eshun

CAP Program Coordinator
Office: 020 Macomb Hall
Phone: 518-564-2810
Email: [email protected]

“I am a fellow SUNY College at Plattsburgh alumnus who received my Bachelor of Arts in criminal justice and sociology. I then went on to SUNY University at Albany for my Master of Arts in criminal justice. From there, I traveled the world a little bit and my feet found their way back to SUNY Plattsburgh.

“As the program coordinator for the Cardinal Achievement Program, I am here to help you with all your academic needs. Your progression is our goal and we plan to make sure that it happens.”

Hobbies/Personal Interest: “I am a huge soccer fanatic. I love waking up on Saturday mornings to watch the English Premier League. If I am not watching soccer, then I am playing soccer to stay fit. I also love to travel when I have the time. It is my goal to see 40 different countries before my 40th birthday. Wish me luck.”

Allison Beebie

Academic Coach
Office: 021 Macomb Hall
Phone: 518-564-2810
Email: [email protected]

“I started my college journey as a first-generation student at SUNY Plattsburgh, and then went on to earn my Bachelor of Science in hotel, resort and tourism management at Paul Smith’s College. I am currently working toward my master’s degree in student affairs and higher education at SUNY Plattsburgh as well. I grew up just a few blocks from campus and have been working here since 2019.

As an academic coach, I am here to help you with anything you need as you transition from high school to college. This can include assisting you with things like time management and organization, study skills, building your class schedule, communicating with faculty, and finding ways to get involved on campus!"

Hobbies/Personal Interest: “Health and fitness are really important to me. When I’m not in the office you can usually catch me at the gym, or prepping a new vegetarian recipe. Additionally, I've trained as a musician for over two decades, and I love playing music with friends at several of the local Plattsburgh restaurants — I even had the chance to perform at the Centre Bell in Montreal, QC a few years ago!”

Autumn Esposito

Academic Coach
Office: 022 Macomb Hall
Phone: 518-564-2810
Email: [email protected]

“Hi! My name is Autumn and I graduated from SUNY Plattsburgh in 2018 with a Bachelor of Arts in art history. I also took classes in anthropology, sociology and history, to name a few favorites. During my undergraduate career, I worked part-time off-campus and also stayed actively involved on-campus as a member of Theta Phi Alpha. I am currently taking classes to earn my Master of Science in student affairs and higher education. I have stayed involved with Theta Phi as their professional staff advisor and by sitting on the chapter advisory board as a member at large. SUNY Plattsburgh has made a profound impression on me throughout my undergraduate, graduate, and professional careers and I hope to reciprocate this positive impact to current and future SUNY Plattsburgh students.

As your academic coach within CAP, I will assist you to the best of my capabilities in your own unique college success story. Organization, study skills, time management, class selection, career/major exploration, and applying for scholarships are all areas in which I would love to help you.”

Hobbies/Personal Interest: “A few of my personal favorite things to do are bake, watch movies, walk trails, and travel. I spend the majority of my free time with my family and pets. I also love all things relating to beauty and have a passion for interior/exterior home design!”