Message from Dr. Belinda S. Miles: A Rich Constellation
August 23, 2019
Colleagues,
Early this week, I had the pleasure of attending two days of professional development at IBM’s Planet P-Tech conference in NYC alongside several vibrant academic and business representatives from 20 countries and current P-Tech students and alumni. P-Tech brings together high school, college, and industry to reimagine the way students prepare for high-wage, high-skill, and high-demand Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) jobs. Students who successfully complete the program earn a high school diploma and an Associate of Applied Science degree, and are also first in line for a job with the participating industry partner(s). Since 2015, we have partnered with the Yonkers Public Schools (YPS) to offer P-TECH programs in cybersecurity and electrical engineering at Riverside High School, civil engineering/architecture at Saunders High School, and Health Information Technology at Gorton High School.
I ended the week with a different “pipeline population” attending a community summit for the My Brother’s Keeper (MBK) initiative. MBK provides support, mentoring, and other services to improve the academic, social, and career opportunities to all students including boys and young men of color. MBK seeks to close and ultimately, eliminate opportunity gaps and help participating students reach their full potential.
These initiatives and others focus our efforts to create pathways to and through college and beyond. Promising research on dual enrollment by the Community College Research Center (CCRC) will expand what we know about these specialized high school-to-college efforts.
I gained and shared insight during an in-depth discussion with several leaders of our dedicated CSEA staff. I always appreciate the opportunity to communicate and brainstorm ideas for improving our work together to support the college and our students.
Tomorrow we welcome adjunct faculty to campus for a professional development opportunity focused on Intercultural Competencies and Teaching Practices. This pre-semester forum is an opportunity to welcome adjuncts as a vital part of the college community. Their experience provides crucial insight and valuable workplace knowledge to students exploring potential career paths.
We prepare to welcome the new academic year as a rich constellation of people and programs. I look forward to welcoming new and continuing students as well as new faculty, staff, and administrators and to greeting the new semester and each of you. See you soon!
Dr. Belinda S. Miles
President