No tags yet.
Faculty Spotlight: Tim Morse
Tim Morse is the Director for Academic Advising and Support here at SUNY Potsdam. Tim’s job is just what it sounds like: he plays a large role in supporting a large base of students in need. Specifically, he works with groups of students like first year students, students studying in summer programs, students who may have been a bit disadvantaged coming into college, students who may have not made as great of decisions before arriving here on campus, and many other different students. Right from the start, it’s apparent that Tim is doing great things for this campus that may go unnoticed to students who have never met him. He is helping and serving as a strong support for some students who may need it more than others.
Another aspect of Tim’s job is that he works closely with the Bridges Program. The Bridges Program is a program that gives admission to students who may have just been short of the admissions requirements for SUNY Potsdam. But giving admission is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of what the program does for students. This is where Mr. Morse comes into the picture. The Bridges program provides services for those students with that potential that may not have fully come to fruition yet. The staff members in this program like Tim, Donnita Firnstein, and Kristin Jordan, work closely with students to ensure that they make a smooth transition from High School to College, while also giving them the skills to reach their full potential after their two semesters in the program. Tim and the other incredible members of the staff that work with the Bridges Program, like Donnita and Kristin, become mentors and advisors to some students who just need that little extra push to get to make the transition.
On top of all of the advising and involvement with the Bridges Program, Tim also teaches a First Year Success Seminar Course. As I took one of these courses myself as a freshman, I can attest to how important FYSS is. In the class, Tim really puts an emphasis on meta-skills and motivation. This is admirable, as many students don’t get the opportunity to really learn these skills that are vital to any profession. When speaking on his courses and what he wants people to learn, Tim explains how “It’s not just about the diploma.” What he means is that the piece of paper isn’t the only thing you get out of college. It’s imperative to value the knowledge and skills that you're gaining as well.
If he could give one piece of advice to all students, Tim says it’d be “Work harder than you think you have to.” This advice is so useful as taking the extra step could be what sets you apart from the competition, it could help you achieve a goal that you didn’t think you could achieve, and it could even open you up to a world of possibilities you wouldn’t have access to if you just did what you had to do without that extra effort. Nowadays, Tim is constantly embodying that advice. He’s always working to improve the Student Success Center and benefit the students he is mentoring. His newest project has been implementing a new software that helps with advising, auto appointments, and supporting students in new ways. For a man who is already doing so much for this campus, he sure is going above and beyond in terms of doing more! If you haven’t met Tim Morse, we at the Center for Applied Learning highly suggest that you do!