Initiatives
The Entrepreneurship Summer Academy (ESA)
The Entrepreneurship Summer Academy is another exceptional program held at the Mount Vernon Extension Center. Its primary goal is to expose underserved youth to entrepreneurial and community college environments through a meaningful six-week summer learning experience focused on the basic principles of business planning and management. The program consists of an award winning curriculum, exposure to a college environment, field trips, guest speakers and a concluding business plan competition.
Student Support Services Program/TRIO
Westchester Community College is currently in its second four-year cycle of funding for the federally sponsored program. The Student Support Services/TRIO program at the college provides support services to students identified as having academic need (need of remediation), who are low income, first generation in college or disabled. The program provides students with one-on-one tutoring, personal counseling and mentoring, academic advisement, career and transfer assistance, and study skills workshops. Retention, graduation, transfer to four year institutions, and good academic standing are measured annually with results exceeding program goals in every area.
Workplace Culture Coaching
Business-curriculum students are provided a training program and personal work experience with a professional business leaders within the local community through the Workplace Culture Coaching program. The mission is to give each mentee the opportunity to develop professional behavior and envision realistic career goals. This program provides an opportunity to experience a business environment and acquire the knowledge and workplace behavior skills that will help them to be successful. Examples of topics include communication styles, confidence, business etiquette, professional meetings, business communication and work/life balance. Contact the Volunteer Center for additional information on this program.
Job Success through Academic Resources (JobSTAR)
In 1990, the college entered into a collaborative agreement with Westchester County Department of Social Services (DSS)to provide assessment, skill enhancement training programs, credit-bearing certificate programs, job placement and other vocational career training services to select Temporary Unemployment customers, TANF (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families) recipients and TANF services eligible customers. This collaboration, known as JobSTAR, continues to the present day and its goal is to foster self-sufficiency and financial independence for participants. Participants employed at minimal paying jobs are able to acquire the skills necessary to obtain better paying employment while unemployed participants learn basic skills for entry level jobs. Both groups strive for self-sufficiency, ultimate case closure and long-term ability to support their families. The program is provided in a case management format with ongoing contact with students’ caseworkers at DSS. The program provides tutoring support, a computer lab, Metro cards for participants using public transportation and child care for students in Saturday training programs. JobSTAR program staff maintains constant contact with local organizations regarding recruitment and often do presentations throughout the county.
Bridges
Westchester Community College has a number of partnership programs with four-year colleges to support underrepresented students who want to continue their studies in fields such as science and math. Participants are provided additional academic support and mentoring within their discipline and participate in a summer internship conducting scientific research at the participating four-year college.
Scholarships
Each year the Westchester Community College Foundation provides more than $1.6 million in scholarships to its students with many of the scholarships targeted towards underrepresented groups.