Westchester Community College, State University of New York

President’s Weekly Messages

Colleagues,

As we leave today for a long weekend, we are reminded that Monday is Juneteenth, which commemorates the day in 1865 when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to inform the last of the enslaved people in the Confederacy that they were free – two years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. Sadly, the impact of slavery did not end on that day. Generations in the U.S. have continued to face persistent racism that creates inequities and injustices in many areas of daily life. The Juneteenth holiday brings attention to an essential part of U.S. history and sparks critical conversations about what work we have left to do for a more just society.

SUNY Westchester Community College has many resources to help our college community learn about and understand the world around us. If you are interested in learning more about Juneteenth, please be reminded of the Juneteenth Resource Guide, created by Professor Don Simmons Jr., which features digital content on the history of Juneteenth, scholarly articles, academic videos, and more.

It is our mission to provide open, equitable access to a high-quality education to meet the needs of our diverse community. We place intentional focus on social justice, promoting an environment of racial equity, and cultural competency. Our strides toward equality and opportunity are hallmarks of the community college mission. Our work includes encouraging students to learn, grow, and use their voices to be heard, to advocate for issues that are important to them, and to ensure success for all. SUNY WCC provides a range of learning opportunities that gives us cause for celebration and reflection as we focus our individual and collective calls for action to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion within our college, regionally, nationally, and globally.

SUNY WCC is here to provide a high-quality, affordable education and professional development to EVERYONE in our community, and an education here is still one of the most cost-effective ways to advance academically and professionally. So, while remembering the significance of Juneteenth, take a moment to celebrate our milestones. And remember, we are #WCCHereForYou!

Dr. Belinda S. Miles
President

2023 Weekly Messages

2022 Weekly Messages

2021 Weekly Messages

2020 Weekly Messages

2019 Weekly Messages

2018 Weekly Messages

2017 Weekly Messages

2017 - 2018 Summer Reading Resources

2016 Weekly Messages

2015 Weekly Messages