Message from Dr. Belinda S. Miles: Supporting Our Community
April 6, 2018
Colleagues,
This week was marked by several big events at the college. Our successful community conversation in Yonkers merits kudos to Vice President Tere Wisell, Yonkers Extension Center Director Joe Cooke, and the rest of the Workforce Development and Community Education team. Following a tour of the center, guests convened at the adjacent Hyatt Hotel in a meeting room, which was standing room only! We received a warm welcome from Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano, Assemblywoman Shelly Mayer, and Deputy County Executive Ken Jenkins. Dr. Vanessa Morest provided an update on academic programs and areas for growth in the near future. Community members shared perspectives on a wide range of topics including entrepreneurship, business development, youth programming, high school partnerships, and supporting at-risk populations. We took advantage of the opportunity to alert the community that we’re exploring new spaces for our Yonkers Extension Center, which is now running at full capacity. With our current lease expiring soon and at our Educational Opportunity Center also in Yonkers, we are evaluating ways to expand our existing footprint in this dynamic and growing city, the fourth largest in New York State. Our data shows that students from Yonkers perform about the same, or even better in some cases, as our general population. Our improved cohort tracking processes have provided us with an opportunity to really focus on our Yonkers students and increase their college success.
Today we held our highly anticipated Vision and Values Summit. Thank you to all who participated through the committee, completion of the survey, or participation at the summit. Faculty Senate’s Vision and Values Committee has a lot of great information to review in its next steps, which includes disseminating information to those who were not available to engage today or to date.
Also this week, we hosted an extraordinary Film Festival featuring student work on powerful themes ranging from addiction and survival to love, identity, and purpose. And many experienced a standing room only Honors College panel discussion exploring interpretations of truth from various disciplinary perspectives. We also commemorated the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, an advocate of peace. Let us all continue the great dialogue around values and vision as we reflect and reconnect to our personal commitment to peace, justice, and truth.
In closing, please remind students that summer and fall registration is underway. Encourage students to register early to secure the classes they need toward degree or certificate completion.
Thank you for supporting our mission, each other, and our students.
Dr. Belinda S. Miles
President