SUNY Ulster and Seven21 form Media Arts and Technology Alliance

The Seven21 Media Center, SUNY Ulster, and Central Hudson to create the Media Arts and Technology Alliance at Seven21 Media Center on Broadway in Kingston. Seven21 is comprised of 20 independent boutique media companies in an incubator-like setting with state of the art equipment including: live studio and remote webcasting capabilities, multi-camera live-switched HD production, satellite transmission services of HD quality video, and the largest and most advanced green screen technology north of New York City.

Central Hudson will provide up to $84,000 in funding over the next four academic years to enable SUNY Ulster to lease state of the art digital media equipment and editing tools at Seven21 Media Center as well as to upgrade the editing classroom at the Stone Ridge Campus. The Central Hudson assistance will be matched by existing SUNY Ulster support for the program. The Alliance is expected to be sustainable within four years with conservative estimated increases in student tuition from the program. In addition, the Central Hudson funding will enable the equipment to be used by the broader business community to rent by the project, by the day, or by the hour.

The Alliance will provide numerous benefits. Students will gain real world experience working on state of the art equipment in an actual production facility with access to private sector mentors. The partnership will create internships that are really “internal” and which create a direct pipeline to private sector jobs. SUNY Ulster will have access to the best available technology at a fraction of the cost and will not bear the costs associated with equipment upgrades or maintenance.

“This major educational and business development initiative which partners Central Hudson’s funding and Seven21 Media Center’s hosting of the Media Arts and Technology Alliance further demonstrates the strong potential to create an educational corridor along Broadway in Kingston. Ulster County is home to a number of digital media companies such as Ellenbogen Group that is growing jobs in a difficult economy. This program will allow SUNY Ulster to train students for direct entry into a growing field of employment,” said County Executive Mike Hein.

“Central Hudson is pleased to assist County Executive Hein in supporting this growing industry. Digital arts build on the high technology history of our service territory. It is imperative that our community colleges train students for entry into the job market of today,” said Central Hudson President and CEO Steve Lant. “The Media Arts and Technology Alliance is a true public-private sector partnership that will enhance educational and business opportunities.”

“The Media Arts and Technology Alliance will allow SUNY Ulster students to access the most cutting edge technology for training and provide entry in to the digital media workforce without the high cost of purchase, maintenance, and continuous upgrading which often exceeds the College’s return on investment,” said SUNY Ulster President Don Katt. “I applaud Central Hudson’s investment in these critical educational resources. This furthers County Executive Hein’s larger plan for an educational corridor in Kingston.”

Utilizing the state of the art equipment located at Seven21, and adapting that equipment to serve the needs of a classroom and the business community, the Media Arts and Technology Alliance will create a professional production environment for student learning.