Message from Dr. Belinda S. Miles: Making a Difference
August 9, 2019
Colleagues,
As September nears, we are in our most critical period of student enrollment. The college has been active all summer and these next few weeks leading up to the start of the fall semester will be especially busy. I appreciate the work you are doing to get students through the application, financial aid, registration, and other processes required for them to begin or continue their academic journey.
Especially during this critical time, every day counts and every interaction counts. No matter your role, what you do can make a difference for students. Always remember that every interaction with a student, parent, or any visitor to campus makes an impression. I frequently witness how you engage with colleagues, students, and others and am often impressed by your compassion, your willingness to help, and your genuine enthusiasm for the work we do. Thank you for greeting students with a warm Westchester welcome as they come to campus to register or call for assistance. It is so meaningful!
I am pleased to report that following heightened scrutiny regarding enrollment, the County Board of Legislators passed the college’s 2019-2020 budget. Although it’s not unusual for enrollment to dip at community colleges when the economy is strong, we are unique in Westchester because the county’s population is growing. In addition to new high school graduates, there are adults within our county with some college experience but no degree. Our business and industry partners also have an ongoing need to educate workers. With such a diverse pipeline to higher education, our enrollment has great potential to grow. As we continue our work on the college’s next strategic plan, we all must be responsible stewards of resources and look for innovative ways to welcome more learners now and well into the future.
Dr. Belinda S. Miles
President