Message from Dr. Belinda S. Miles – December 18, 2015
Dear Colleagues,
We’ve achieved an important milestone. We’re setting a new high standard for Westchester Community College. The graduation rate for our 2012 cohort is 15%, and it’s never been higher in our history! This great outcome is the result of a lot of dedication and hard work, and most of it by our students who strived to accomplish this life-changing milestone. We helped them along the way, through our teaching and mentoring, our encouragement and support, and our belief in their ability to succeed. This record high represents only first-time college students who have earned a degree or certificate. So many more of our students are continuing their studies here or have transferred to a four-year college, both of which contributes to our overall success rate of 44%. This result is proof positive of our ability to improve ourselves and our community. Our efforts included, scheduling and advising, referral to services, and reverse transfer. Special thanks to curriculum chairs, counseling faculty, and all others included in this work.
I’ve been in meetings with the Board of Trustees, Westchester Community College Foundation, and others, and in every meeting, our discussion turns to student success. I am encouraged by reports from PRESS—the President’s Roundtable for Executing Student Success—focusing on areas where we can continue to improve our practices and remove barriers to student learning and success. I look forward to seeing how action plans from this group will align all of our college initiatives for greater student success.
With the fall semester coming to an end we can look back on 2015 in reflection as we prepare to refresh ourselves for the New Year and new semester. I look forward to 2016 as a time for renewal and new accomplishments.
Thanks for making it a great week.
Warm regards,
Dr. Belinda S. Miles
President