Message from Dr. Belinda S. Miles: A Dynamic and Committed Community – October 2, 2020
Colleagues,
Our fall semester is off and running with students acclimating to the session that best accommodates their needs – the 15-week semester, the 14- or 12-week session, or the first of two 7.5-week sessions. Data from a recent student re-recruitment survey administered by Institutional Research, Planning, and Effectiveness indicates interest in the remaining 7.5-week session that will begin on October 26, and the Strategic Enrollment Management Team is working to contact these students and to assist in the enrollment process. Please contact Dr. Ruben Barato directly to help these outreach efforts.
As we continue our focus on enrollment, I encourage you to participate in the many events and programs designed to keep our college community connected. There were several events just this week focused on checking in and checking on students and each other. For example, this week’s Center for Teaching and Learning segment focused on supporting struggling students and taking a deeper dive into how and why they may be struggling. Our Mental Health Task Force hosted a forum for faculty and staff to learn more about the services, programs, and resources available to students. Professor Kristy Robinson from Personal Counseling shared this following Wednesday’s forum:
Building community is a priority of Westchester Community College. The Mental Health Task Force is committed to creating a culture that normalizes mental health and fosters a sense of connection and community as a shared responsibility. We all play a role and we cannot do it alone… Anxiety, hopelessness, and fear about the future are just some of the feelings students have shared in groups, workshops, and individual sessions. Supporting students and each other right now is essential. Leading with empathy and recognizing that we are all human is a great place to start in creating a caring and connected community. This short video highlights this message. For more information about services for students, please visit www.sunywcc.edu/personalcounseling or e-mail PersonalCounseling@sunywcc.edu.
Remaining in touch with colleagues is also important, especially as we continue our remote work. Staff Council met this week for a check in with staff members and to touch base on the work they did over the spring and summer semesters. I appreciate Staff Council President Allan Seward and Council officers planning this opportunity for staff to spend time together.
The Westchester Community College Foundation hosted an event for donors so that they too are engaged and connected to the work that we do. Donor support of the college and our students is so vital to our mission-driven work and it is important to share with them their impact on student success.
We can all participate in community building and belongingness by joining or supporting the Westchester Community College Team in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s this Sunday, October 4 at 10 am. Find details here. Another great show of college spirit would be to sponsor one of the golfers in the college’s Viking Classic Golf-a-Thon next week supporting scholarships for student athletes.
Thanks for all that you do to make Westchester Community College a dynamic and committed community!
Dr. Belinda S. Miles
President