Message from Dr. Belinda S. Miles: Strengthening our Momentum – August 7, 2020
August 7, 2020
Colleagues,
Last week, I described how at Westchester Community College we support our students and each other. You exemplified this with your response to the call-to-action to reach out to students from Dr. Ruben Barato and the Strategic Enrollment Management team. To date, your efforts have contributed to contacting 5,766 continuing students and close to 75% of prospective students. These calls and messages have provided reassurances and prompted referrals to Counseling, Financial Aid, and Bursar, as well as enrollments in classes! While we are approaching our fall enrollment target, we could still be at risk of having insufficient resources to support students who need education for personal gain and regional recovery. Accordingly, we must strengthen our momentum for the next three weeks to close the remaining enrollment gap.
This outreach is happening at a difficult time for many as they continue to struggle with lost power and internet connectivity in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Isaias. We did not expect, nor did we invite the succession of calamity and injustice that has been thrust upon us with the pandemic, race discrimination and social upheaval, economic loss, and severe weather. But we can have tremendous pride and resolve in our response. We especially thank our Physical Plant and IT teams for their speedy response in clearing the campus and resolving our own technical issues.
Our work is purpose filled, and Westchester Community College makes a difference, sometimes the difference, in students finding their way. We are guided by our vision to empower every student to create a personal success story that supports a lifetime of learning, growth, and an opportunity to contribute in meaningful ways to our community and our ever-changing world. Every personal outreach we make matters to students and assures them that we care and are here to help them overcome barriers to their success. Many of you have shared how much students appreciate the contact, conversation, support, and nudge our calls provide. Students also appreciate knowing they are part of our Viking Community. Your knowledge, offer of assistance, and friendly voice are just what some students need to act on and finalize their enrollment so they can complete, transfer, and find their place in the workforce.
Thank you for reaching out to students and helping them gain confidence that they can succeed in new remote learning modalities and that we are here for them. Let’s keep our connection moving. Email Ruben.Barato@sunywcc.edu to get your list of students to contact. You do make a difference in so many ways.
Dr. Belinda S. Miles
President