Message from Dr. Belinda S. Miles – Showcasing our Successes – January 27, 2017
Throughout the college, in every department and office, there are stories of our success. Our award-winning students, faculty, and staff compete in national competitions, speak at professional conferences, publish books and articles in scholarly journals or popular magazines, and create and perform eclectic art and music. They compete in athletic and academic competitions, participate in forums, and consult with businesses, healthcare organizations, and other sectors in our region. This is only a snapshot of who we are as a college and what we do within our various fields to introduce and integrate paradigms, generate knowledge, and advance learning. This talent and vibrancy allows us to provide a rich multifaceted learning environment for our students.
Congratulations to Professor John Watkins and his students on the WCC CYBER Team who are emblematic of this spirit and talent. On January 21, Westchester Community College’s Cyber Team qualified at the regional level in the National Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition. We were the only community college in the event competing against several four-year institutions in the northeast including Harvard, University of Massachusetts, Alfred State, and the United States Coast Guard Academy. Please extend congratulations to Professor Watkins and our fabulous students for a job well done!
Kudos to Ed Tatton for creating Westchester County’s first TEDX talk at Westchester Community College: TEDXWCC. This series promises to be a thought provoking and inspiring event, which will spark conversation, spread information, and offer ideas on local and national issues. There is still time to propose a talk for this event. The deadline to submit a proposal is February 1, 2017: TEDxWCC.com
Thanks to the phenomenal teaching and counseling faculty members, curriculum chairs, deans and the Strategic Enrollment Management Team whose focus and commitment contributed to an increase in our three-year graduation rate, which has increased five percentage points in just two years. This was a highlight of my midyear update to the Board of Trustees at their January meeting. This work signals our increasing momentum in degree completion.
Please mark your calendar for the State of the College Address on February 9 at 4 p.m. in the Hankin Academic Arts Theatre. We will discuss several accomplishments as well as plans for the coming months. After the address, we will celebrate our faculty who are currently displaying their artwork in the gallery. The evening promises to be a great time to catch up, share ideas, and view some great artwork.
As we continue to share our successes and discuss our challenges in a collaborative and inclusive environment, I ask each of you to share the many things happening in your various areas. Our collective stories, especially stories highlighting our student success, are tangible artifacts of our work that goes far beyond mere data points. Sharing internally and with our surrounding community may beckon others to join us in our continuous journey of Building Minds and Building Futures.
Thanks for making it a great week!
Dr. Belinda S. Miles
President