Message from Dr. Belinda S. Miles-October 25, 2019
October 25, 2019
Colleagues,
Another week, another celebration of student success and achievement: Natarsha Brewton received a 2019 Norman R. McConney, Jr. Award for EOP Student Excellence. Chancellor Kristina Johnson presented certificates at a reception at the SUNY Global Center in Manhattan to 42 EOP students who have overcome significant challenges to achieve their educational goals. We wish Natarsha continued success in her academic journey.
Our student athletes are blazing trails, too. Our women’s volleyball team earned a spot in the Mid-Hudson Conference Championship Tournament earlier this week. Our men’s soccer team won their fifth consecutive Mid-Hudson Conference Championship and finished their season as a top-four team in the 2019 NJCAA Region XV Championship. And, Cross Country team member Franci Kocaj finished seventh in the Mid-Hudson Conference Championship race and was named to the All-Conference team. I hope that your schedule permits you to attend a game, go to a Common Hour student event or show your Viking spirit in some other way during this academic year. Check Events and team sport information on our website.
Westchester Community College Board of Trustees Vice Chair and former Board Chair for the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) Dr. LeRoy Mitchell presented on affordability at New York’s community colleges and the impact of New York State’s Excelsior Scholarship at the ACCT’s Leadership Congress. Impact at the state’s community colleges has been limited with the Excelsior program’s emphasis on full-time college attendees.
I joined colleagues at the New York Community College Association of Presidents (NYCCAP) meeting to discuss the future of community colleges in the context of social, economic, and competitive dynamics. Our Strategic Plan’s focus on options to sustain our future fits squarely with this increasingly urgent conversation.
The cold and flu season is upon us and our Health & Wellness Office will offer flu vaccines (free for college students) next week. Check your email for information from Health Services.
This week we faced the loss of a valued colleague. In his year of service to the college, Gregory Sullivan offered compassionate, caring treatment of students and colleagues that set a positive example for the rest of us. For those who wish, clinicians from the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) are available to provide individualized support. Please contact EAP at 914-995-6070. As a college community we will keep Mr. Sullivan’s family in our thoughts and prayers.
Dr. Belinda S. Miles
President