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Hi everyone.
My name is Gretchen and I'm a student here at Binghamton University.
Now your student is about to embark on their college journey and there will be services that they'll need.
Binghamton University is the perfect place to learn and grow.
They've made the right choice.
Now, Dining Services offers all kinds of different options for your student, whether that be in resident dining halls, retail dining or in community cafes.
Now, let's talk to Jim Ruoff, a manager of Dining Services, to learn a little bit more.
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Gretchen: So, Jim tell us a little bit about Dining Services and kind of some fun facts about it.
Jim: Ah. That's a great question.
Jim: The first thing I'd like to tell people, whoever cooks for you, we're not it.
Jim: On most days, we serve 7,000 meals [wow!] at lunch.
Jim: Grandma don't do that.
Jim: We serve 373,816 gallons of milk.
Jim: All from New York State cows, with no growth hormones and no antibiotics given to them.
Jim: We're pretty proud of that fact.
Gretchen: Now, let's get into the features of a resident dining plan.
Gretchen: Could you break that all down for us?
Jim: Here's the first thing I'll tell you about our meal plans.
Jim: They're different.
Jim: They're not your traditional meal plans you see at most colleges.
Jim: Here's the rules.
Jim: If you got money, you can eat.
Jim: It's the most flexible meal plan I know of in the country.
Jim: But here's the thing about it.
Jim: Your students have to manage their money.
Jim: And, guess what? They're adults.
Jim: Every time they use their card, they'll get their balance and they'll get to see how our meal plan works.
Gretchen: So Jim, we know that a lot of parents are wondering, what dining plan should they get for their kid?
Gretchen: Can you let us in on the secret?
Jim: Well, there is no secret, but here's one secret I'll tell you.
Jim: I'm a parent too.
Jim: So, here's what I"ll tell you.
Jim: Sign up for the C Meal Plan.
Jim: "Oh, my son eats a lot."
Jim: It doesn't matter.
Jim: If they run out of money, you can add more money to it later in the semester.
Gretchen: Alright, Jim.
Gretchen: Could you tell us a little bit about the specialty offerings you have for the campus community?
Jim: Something that we started a few years ago but we've really ramped up in the last year, is our Kosher Dining Program.
Jim: Another big question we hear about is allergens.
Jim: We have our Simple Servings platform which doesn't have food, with any of the eight major allergens in it.
Jim: So, your students can go somewhere and eat safely on our campus.
Gretchen: That's great!
Gretchen: So Jim, we know a lot of students are looking for different employment opportunities and we know Dining Services is a huge employer on campus.
Gretchen: So, tell us a little bit more.
Jim: No. Absolutely.
Jim: We're the second largest student employer on campus.
Jim: Our student jobs are very popular.
Jim: We hire over 500 students a year.
Jim: And, they're not all dish room jobs.
Jim: A lot of it's catering. A lot of it's service.
Jim: There's a lot of opportunities and a very flexible schedule.
Jim: We do understand that they're students first.
Gretchen: Well, thanks for talking with us Jim!
Gretchen: I think it's going to give parents a lot of peace of mind, knowing more about the dining services for their students, coming this fall.
Jim: Yeah. Well, thanks for the opportunity. And, let me tell you parents, your sons and daughters have made a great choice coming to Binghamton University.
Jim: But now, I've got to feed them for four years.
Jim: Take care!
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Gretchen: M&T Bank is proud to be a member of the Binghamton University community.
With a branch located centrally in the University Union and ATMs all over campus, your student will have access to all of their banking needs.
Gretchen: Now, let's talk to Michelle DiGiacomo, an M&T Bank employee. [Music]
Gretchen: So, we're really lucky to have an M&T Bank branch right on campus.
Gretchen: Can you tell us a little bit about the different checking account options there are for students, on campus?
Michelle: Sure. So, the student would want to talk with their banker about how they are planning on using the account, so that way, we can pick the best option for them.
Michelle: One that usually ends up being the most ideal for students is our EZChoice Checking.
Michelle: There's no minimum balance requirement and the only thing they need to do to avoid the monthly fee, is to just use it, at least one time per month.
Gretchen: Perfect.
Gretchen: So, for anyone who's unsure of what comes with a checking account at M&T Bank, what could someone expect?
Michelle: So, they'll get a VISA debit card.
So, they can use that anywhere that VISA is accepted.
Michelle: And, you'll want to enroll in web banking, so you can keep track of your transactions and your balance online.
Michelle: And, you'll also be able to do different things like pay bills on there, use checks and you also might want to order checks, depending on whether you are going to be using them or not.
Gretchen: Let's say your family member is looking to transfer funds into their student's account.
Gretchen: How would they go about that?
Gretchen: Because I know there's a couple different ways they could.
Michelle: Right. So, if they are planning on transferring money from a different bank, they'll want to check and see what options are available to them, through the bank.
Michelle: I can tell you though, that for a bank to make transfers, M&T will not charge the student to receive a balance.
Michelle: They also have the option if there's an M&T near them, they can deposit money into their student's account with the account number.
Michelle: They can also become a joint owner of the account, so if they want to be able to check the balance, to make deposits, to pay bills on their behalf, then that will help out a lot with that.
Gretchen: So, this isn't the only ATM we have on campus, but how many are there again?
Michelle: So, we have four total.
Michelle: There's this one and the branch that are next to the bookstore.
Michelle: We also have an ATM in the Old Student Union, the Events Center and the Library, so wherever you might be on campus, there's one that's usually pretty convenient for you.
Michelle: And, if you do need to go to the branch here, it's open Monday through Friday, 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Gretchen: Perfect.
Gretchen: Thanks so much Michelle, for letting us know all about the different services that M&T Bank has to offer.
Michelle: Well, of course.
Michelle: And, if anyone has any additional questions, definitely feel free to look at the website or stop by our branch on campus.
Gretchen: Perfect.
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Gretchen: The University Bookstore is operated by Barnes and Noble College and serves as your student's one-stop shop for text books, course materials, Bearcat gear and more.
and serves as your student's one-stop shop for text books, course materials, Bearcat gear and more.
Gretchen: All with the convenience of being located right in the MarketPlace.
Gretchen: Now, let's go talk to Heather Sheffer, the bookstore manager, to learn more.
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Gretchen: Hi. Heather. Thanks for joining us.
Gretchen: Now. We know that buying textbooks is usually a pretty big stress for incoming students, whether they be transfers or freshmen.
So, can you kind of let us in on the secrets of how there's different cost saving options?
Heather: Sure. The easiest way is to order straight through the bookstore website.
Heather: Binghamton.bncollege.com.
Heather: There, you have all your options.
Heather: And, we also price-match, which means we'll price-match to both Amazon and BNN.com, so you're guaranteed the best price for your textbooks.
Gretchen: Alright. So, we discussed the cost-saving options for textbooks.
Gretchen: But now, let's say, I need to make a return.
Gretchen: Kind of walk us through that.
Heather: Sure. During the first week of classes, you can return anything for any reason, with your receipt.
Heather: Now say after the first week of classes, you drop a class, add a class, switch classes.
Heather: As long as you bring a proof of schedule change and your receipt during the first 30 days, we'll happily take your books back; help you find your new books.
Heather: That way, you're set for your new classes.
Gretchen: Okay.
Gretchen: Now I've heard that throughout the year, there's a couple other fun events that happen in the bookstore, so tell us a little bit more.
Heather: We like to be your bookstore family and family doesn't mean just shopping.
Heather: We like to have fun events in the store, so we do VIP night, Student Appreciation Day, de-stress events, wellness events, grad events.
Heather: We have all sorts of fun things, so there's always prizes and free food.
Heather: And all sorts of activities just to make it a lot more fun than just shopping for your textbooks.
Gretchen: So, as we can see here, we know that the bookstore offers lots of different merchandise options, as well as textbooks, but what are some other kinds of items that someone could find in the bookstore?
Heather: We try to be a one-stop shop for our students, so "yes" there's textbooks, "yes" there's clothing.
Heather: There's water bottles and coffee mugs, your usual.
Heather: But we also make sure we have a full set of school supplies, text supplies; so if you forget your I-Phone charger, etc.
Heather: And, we're also, your convenience store.
Heather: So, there's laundry detergent, there's cold medicine, there's snacks and soda, etc.
Heather: So that way, you don't have to go off-campus, if you don't want to.
Heather: We have everything here for you.
Gretchen: Awesome.
Gretchen: Is the bookstore one of the places on campus that offers student employment?
Heather: Yes. And, the nice thing about working for the bookstore, is you don't have to work for Work Study.
Heather: We are actually a regular-pay job.
Heather: We hire tons of students, especially at the beginning of the semester.
Heather: The easiest way to apply, is to go to our bookstore website: binghamton.bncollege.com
Heather: And, click "Work for Us."
Heather: And, fill out an application.
Gretchen: Awesome.
Gretchen: I've really been at a lost today to get my mom a birthday gift.
Gretchen: Do you guys have any ideas?
Heather: Oh. I have lots of new mom stuff.
Heather: Let's go check it out.
Heather: Okay.
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Gretchen: Binghamton University's transportation services are easily accessible, and range from buses to bicycles.
Gretchen: Students can get around the campus as well as outside in the community, all with a scan of their University ID.
Gretchen: Now. For us to learn a little bit more, let's talk to Dave Husch, the director of transportation.
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Gretchen: Well, thanks for talking with us today, Dave.
Gretchen: Now, I know that there are a lot of different transportation options for students.
Gretchen: So, how about you break down for us all of the bus options there are for students.
Dave: Sure. There's both OCC Transport, which is a student-run and operated bus company.
Dave: And, B.C. Transit, which is a county bus system.
Dave: And, current students, faculty and staff can ride either one of the bus companies at no additional cost, simply by using their student ID card.
Dave: It's not free.
Dave: Students do pay a transportation fee that allows them to utilize that function, but they can ride anytime on either bus system, at no cost.
Gretchen: So, where are students likely to find the buses on campus and where that they can be picked up or dropped off?
Dave: It's really convenient.
Dave: The OCCT has a contract with ETA spot, which students can find on the B-Mobi app.
Dave: And, they can download that and then they have access to seeing where the buses are, at any time.
Dave: They just have to click their location where they are at and it will give them the estimated time of arrival of the next OCCT bus.
Gretchen: Now, it tends to snow a lot in Binghamton.
Gretchen: And, how can a student get from Point A to Point B, a little easier?
Dave: Well here on campus, OCCT has a second set of buses.
Dave: They are smaller and greener, as opposed to the big blue ones that run off campus.
Dave: The OCCT shuttle program runs throughout campus, throughout the day.
Dave: So, does the Transportation Department offer any student employment opportunities?
Dave: The OCC Transport?
Gretchen: Yeah.
Dave: They are all student drivers.
Dave: We are always giving lessons on driving a bus.
Dave: So, if you ever want to drive a bus, now's the time to learn.
Dave: Their training is free.
Dave: It lasts about 6 weeks, throughout the beginning of a semester.
Dave: And, at this point we have about 90 drivers.
Dave: So, it's a great way for students to get involved.
Gretchen: So, we've discussed where the buses go in and around campus.
Gretchen: But, where are some of the places that they go off-campus?
Dave: Well, the big blue buses, they do have a very healthy schedule.
Dave: They run to ITC, which is an adjacent campus.
Dave: They go to the University Downtown Center.
Dave: They pick up students who live off campus.
Dave: Basically, mostly in the Johnson City/Vestal, but mostly on the West Side of Binghamton and the Downtown Binghamton area.
Gretchen: Now, are there easy ways for students to get home during breaks or holidays?
Dave: There are a few.
Dave: There's Escape, which is a student-run organization that provides transportation for students to get to the Downstate area during breaks.
Dave: They go to Long Island/New York City areas.
Dave: There's a host of stops.
Dave: And, then there is also the Greater Binghamton Transportation Center, which is located in Downtown Binghamton . . .
That every BC Transit buses starts and end there.
Dave: So, any student who needs a ride can get there and get a Trailways, a Shoreline or a Greyhound Bus to get home.
Gretchen: So, other than the bus system, can you talk about some of the different alternative transportation options there are for students on campus?
Dave: Sure. Students can use Zipcar, which we are very happy to have on campus.
Dave: Students can become a member.
Dave: They have to go online and do that.
Dave: You can't just all of a sudden decide you want a Zipcar tomorrow, if you are not a member already.
Dave: We currently have a large fleet.
Dave: We're looking to increase it.
Dave: And, students can rent it for as low as $7.50 an hour.
Dave:That includes their insurance, that includes their gas.
Dave: And, we also have a Bike Share program, where students can take a bike and ride around campus, ride off-campus; get a little exercise, enjoy the nice weather (when we have nice weather).
Dave: But, it's a great way to get around campus.
Gretchen: Thanks for talking with us today Dave.
Gretchen: I know that there are so many different kinds of transportation options that I know all the students will be happy to know and use.
Dave: Thanks for having me on board.
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Gretchen: Your student will have access to all of the resources they need to succeed and to feel at home during their time at Binghamton University.
Gretchen: We hope that you're enjoying your time at Orientation and we also want you to know that your student is in great hands for the next four years.