Message from Dr. Belinda S. Miles: Re-emerging with Notable Activities
March 4, 2022
Colleagues,
Legislative Partnerships
Last week, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, County Executive George Latimer, County Economic Development Director Bridget Gibbons, and others visited our Valhalla Campus to announce the Senator’s Made in America Manufacturing Communities Act of 2022, a bill that would utilize federal resources to support domestic manufacturing. This week, state legislators attended a briefing on the college’s innovative approaches to degree and workforce programs in high-demand fields, underscoring our appreciation for their support of state funding for community colleges. Strong partnerships like these are often the foundation for vibrant academic and career pathways throughout our region that are aligned with industry and workforce needs.
WCC Celebrates
We celebrated American Heart Month with a photo showing our WCC Go Red spirit. Thanks to colleagues who gathered outside the Gateway Center in support of heart health – and to our nursing students who were on hand to share heart healthy information and provide blood pressure screenings.
We also enjoyed a robust month of programming in celebration of Black History Month. Congratulations to Ms. Georgianna Anderson, Dr. Raymond Houston, Prof. Glenetta Phillips, Prof. Cynthia Robinson-Williams, and student Helary Benedith, who received Dr. Julius Ford Outstanding Service Awards in recognition of their dedicated service to our students and the college.
Dr. Tia Brown McNair, Vice President in the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Student Success and Executive Director for the Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation (TRHT) Campus Centers at the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) kicked off this year’s Women’s History Month (March) with a keynote discussion, From Equity Talk to Equity Walk: Providing Healing and Promoting Hope Through Racial Justice in Higher Education. We look forward to additional special programming in celebration of women and ask that you check our web calendar of events, share information with students, and consider attending one or more events with your classes or colleagues.
The diverse and informative Black History Month and Women’s History Month programming educate, enlighten, and entertain our students and college community. They also extend learning beyond the classroom. Thanks to all involved in planning and executing these co- and extracurricular opportunities that engage students in such meaningful ways.
Covid-19 Protocol Information Update
The Pandemic Response Team (PRT) announced earlier this week that the college’s mask mandate remains in effect for now. We join other public-serving institutions like the Westchester County Bee-Line and a number of SUNY institutions in keeping our masks on while we review incoming data on COVID infections and updated advice from local healthcare professionals. PRT is reviewing this information daily and will communicate any college policy changes as they occur.
While we can anticipate a new period marked by more personal agency in assessing health risks and making individual choices, we are prioritizing the health and safety of our entire college community. As the broader community expands with mask-optional policies, we should take to heart WCC’s values, like respect and empathy, as we support students and colleagues who continue to wear their masks and make other personal choices related to their health and wellbeing.
WCC is a Caring Community
Finally, I share a brief op-ed by our colleague and Pace University president Marvin Krislov that reminds of us of the value of compassion and empathy and taking time to check in, especially as we continue to emerge from the pandemic and increase our presence and interactions with students and colleagues on campus. Resources for students from the college’s Mental Health & Counseling Services, including the newly launched TAO (Therapy Assistance Online), and employee support through the county’s Employee Assistance Program provide counseling and other services while helping remove the stigma in talking about mental health and asking for help. As students prepare for midterm exams and continue to work through challenges they may be facing on and off campus, let’s be sure to take the time to check in with them, show patience and empathy where needed, and do our part to provide the college experience they deserve.
Dr. Belinda S. Miles
President