Message from Dr. Belinda S. Miles: Planning & Positive Impacts – February 15, 2019
Weekly Messages
February 15, 2019
Colleagues,
First, hearty thanks to our Physical Plant team for clearing our campus roads and paths following Tuesday’s storm. Our various spaces are safer because of the terrific and timely work you do!
Our Strategic Planning Team is working in earnest to finalize plans for extensive outreach over the next several weeks to gain input and insight about the college’s strengths and opportunities. The team’s outreach includes surveys and focus groups for students, employees, and external partners. Please look for further announcements with links to surveys and the dates, times, and locations of town hall and other departmental meetings so your ideas and experiences are part of the process.
While we work together paving the way for a better and stronger Westchester Community College, we can be informed by articles like this Inside Higher Ed piece on new research into community college students and the factors that impact their enrollment. It is a reminder of myriad factors that influence student behavior, alongside strategies that might help more students achieve their goals. Among them, our own “15 to Finish” is one of the ideas that is having a positive impact at other community colleges. Our own enrollment data shows an increase in the number of students taking 15 credits, which is a good leading indicator of degree completion.
Finally, thank you to those who gathered in the Gateway Center Thursday afternoon for a photo in support of Wear Red for Women’s Heart Health Month. I know others have shown support throughout the month and we appreciate your gestures and efforts. These two short videos provide helpful information.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTtzzgaEMGw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7wmPWTnDbE
Have a terrific weekend!
Dr. Belinda S. Miles
President