Viking ROADS
Last updated on April 8th, 2022 at 09:17 am
Viking ROADS is an opportunity program that helps motivated students graduate with an Associate Degree in three years or less. In exchange for full-time study and fulfilling program requirements, students will receive personalized advising, financial, and academic support.
If you are interested in Viking ROADS, please contact us vikingroads@sunywcc.edu.
Under the guidance of state and local health officials, and to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19, the Viking ROADS Team will be providing part-time services on campus while continuing to work remotely to assist our students, their families, and our community. Please check with us by phone or email to check our in-person hours.
See our Academic Calendar for registration deadlines: https://www.sunywcc.edu/academics/academiccalendar/
Payment deadlines from the Bursar’s office: https://www.sunywcc.edu/admissions/bursars-office/drop-dates/
Leonore Rodrigues (Director) has been an educator for over 20 years, working as an ESL instructor in various schools before coming to Westchester Community College in 2004. She has worked mainly as an adjunct professor in the Department of English, Reading, and ESL, and in the Academic Support Center before becoming an academic counselor and director of Viking ROADS in 2018. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Linguistics from the University of Florida, and an M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction and a TESOL Certificate from the University of Pittsburgh. She is dedicated to helping students succeed in achieving their goals at WCC.
Michelle Velasquez (Counselor) has been working at Westchester Community College as an Academic Counselor since 2014. She attended John Jay College of Criminal Justice where she received an Associates in Criminal Justice and a Bachelor's in Forensic Psychology. She then attended Long Island University where she completed her Master's degree as a Bilingual School Counselor. Michelle had the pleasure of starting in the Viking ROADS program 3 years ago and it has been such a fun ride for her. She enjoys working one on one with students and getting to know each one personally. She finds it gratifying to see her students grow and graduate from the Viking ROADS program.
Ashlee Pierce (Counselor) has been working at Westchester Community College since November of 2014 as an Academic Counselor. She attended SUNY Stony Brook University where she received her Bachelor’s of Arts in Sociology. She then attended Long Island University at the Post Campus where she earned her Master’s of Science in School Counseling. Ashlee was excited to join the Viking ROADS team in 2019. She loves working with students and especially enjoys our recruitment periods where she can expand her caseload and get the opportunity to help guide more students towards completion.
Kristin Johns (Data Analyst) has been working at Westchester Community College since November of 2018 as a data analyst. She attended Florida Atlantic University and Canisius College where she received a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Information Systems and Psychology. She then attended Pace University where she will earn her Master of Science in Information Technology/Cyber Security in 2022. Kristin is passionate about working with student data, including data analysis of student success. She collaborates with different staff across campus providing them with data support, ensuring that the work of the Viking ROADS program is efficiently and effectively supported by the most relevant information systems, and she also performs data analysis for monthly, semester and annual reports.- A dedicated academic counselor
You will be assigned to a Viking ROADS counselor for your entire time at WCC. Your counselor will be your first resource for academic guidance as well as general support to keep you on track to graduate on time. - Financial assistance with tuition
If you receive some money from the federal or state aid programs but it doesn’t cover your tuition, VR will cover the rest. Note: if you do not qualify for Financial Aid, you are still eligible for Viking ROADS. - An annual textbook voucher
A stipend of $500 per year (split between Fall and Spring) from our college bookstore is offered to all Viking ROADS students, regardless of financial aid status. - A monthly transportation stipend
Financial assistance for transportation is offered in the form of a monthly $50 voucher to be used at the college bookstore to purchase a gas card or a Metro card. This voucher is offered during the Fall and Spring semesters. - Reserved seats in classes in the first year
Seats in select first-year courses are reserved especially for Viking ROADS students. This helps ensure enrollment in necessary classes and also allows students to form connections to other Viking ROADS students and professors who work closely with Viking ROADS counselors.
- Meet with the dedicated counselor regularly
It is important to establish a connection with your counselor early and continue regular contact throughout your time at WCC. Viking ROADS students meet with their counselor twice a month during their first semester. After that, the number of required meetings will be determined according to students’ needs.
- Fulfill any required developmental coursework within the first year
Completing development courses in the first year ensures you can keep making progress towards your degree. If you need to take a developmental course in Math and/or English, your counselor will make sure you are enrolled in these classes in your first semester and are connected to our Academic Support Center for required tutoring.
- Attend mandated tutoring for developmental courses and failed credit courses
In the case you do not pass an English, Math, or Science class, it will be necessary to enroll in that class in the following semester and get support from our Academic Support Center tutors to ensure you pass the second time.
- Enroll in full time study until completion
To ensure you can graduate on time, it is necessary to maintain full-time enrollment. We encourage Viking ROADS students to take 15 credits in the Fall and Spring semesters, and to enroll in summer classes when possible.
- Attend regular workshops
Attendance at college workshops or ROADS-sponsored events is a way to get important information about the college, help arrange your financial aid/transfer/career plans, and meet other Viking ROADS students. They may sometimes fulfill a counselor appointment for that month.
- Apply for financial aid each year
Your financial aid application allows us to determine who is eligible for our tuition assistance. It is also how you can be considered for college scholarships.
Potential Viking ROADS students must:
- Be a New York State resident
- Be a first-time student in college or a continuing/ transfer student with no more than 18 credits and at least a 2.0 GPA
- Enroll in an eligible major (see below):
- Need no more than two developmental courses
- Willing to enroll in full-time study
The Viking ROADS program is open to students in all A.A., A.S., and A.A.S. degree programs except the following:
- Nursing
- Paramedic
- Radiologic Technology
- Respiratory Care
- Veterinary Technology
To apply to Viking ROADS as a new or transfer student:
- Apply to Westchester Community College as a first time or transfer student
- Determine your Math and Writing course placement. Most students will do this by taking the college placement exam. However, you can also determine placement if you have waiver based on course grades, transfer credits, or qualifying SAT, ACT or regents scores.
If you do need to take the exam, please do so as soon as you can. You can find information about remote testing procedures here.
- Apply for financial aid
- Attend a Viking ROADS information session (see schedule)
- Fill out a Viking ROADS application form (to be provided to eligible students at information sessions.)
- Meet for a one-on-one intake session with the Viking ROADS counselor
- Complete any summer requirements (if applicable)
If you are a continuing student with no more than 18 credits and at least a 2.0 GPA:
- Attend a Viking ROADS information session
- Fill out a Viking ROADS application form
- Meet for a one-on-one intake session with the Viking ROADS counselor
- Attend the Viking ROADS program orientation
Sign up for an information session here: https://forms.gle/zJZsyJY6VbAi5FfM9*
Staff and Location
Leonore Rodrigues
Director, Viking ROADS
Student Center, Room 221
leonore.rodrigues@sunywcc.edu
Michelle Velasquez
Counselor for Viking ROADS
Student Center, Room 211
Michelle.velasquez@sunywcc.edu
Ashlee Pierce
Counselor for Viking ROADS
Student Center, Room 211
ashlee.pierce@sunywcc.edu
Kristin Johns
Data Analyst for Viking ROADS
Administration Bldg, Room 111
kristin.johns@sunywcc.edu
Contact us by email at vikingroads@sunywcc.edu
Instagram Feed
Instagram for Viking ROADS: @vroads_wcc
For Current Students
How to I make an appointment with my ROADS counselor?
Students will use Viking Success to connect with their counselor. You can find more information, How-To guides, and a link to Viking Success here: https://www.sunywcc.edu/student-services/viking-success/
What ROADS workshops are available this semester?
The Fall 2021 schedule will be available in September.
How do I get my textbook voucher?
Viking ROADS textbook vouchers are redeemable at the WCC college bookstore: https://sunywcc.bncollege.com/shop/suny-wcc/home Students have $250 in the Fall semester and $250 in the Spring semester. When ordering books online, please choose “Financial Aid” as a payment method and then enter your nine-digit student ID number. Please be sure to enter your ID number correctly or the purchase might not be processed properly to your Viking ROADS textbook account.
If you do not spend the entire $250 in the Fall semester, the remainder will carry over to the Spring textbook account balance. If there is a balance at the end of the Spring semester, however, it will not transfer to the following Fall semester.
How do I get my transportation voucher?
While we are working remotely, students will receive a link to an online form during their scheduled meetings with their ROADS counselor. The form asks for your student information and a mailing address. At the end of the month, a list of students who have filled out the form will be sent to the bookstore to fulfill their request for either a gas card or a Metro card. The cards are then mailed to the students’ address provided on the form.
The transportation vouchers are offered monthly from September to May, and are given to students who have met their counselor for the required meeting(s) for that month.
What happens if I get a flag in Viking Success?
If you receive notification from Viking Success that a professor has flagged a concern, you should first contact your professor to discuss the problem. Your ROADS counselor also receives a notification of the flag and will contact you to discuss any steps that you have already taken to resolve the issue with your professor. If you are not sure what to do, contact your ROADS counselor for guidance.
How can I use Degree Works?
Degree Works is a web-based advising tool to help students, faculty and counselors track a student’s completion of academic program requirements, determine course selections, track progress toward graduation, and use “what-if” scenarios to see how courses already taken would apply to a different major. Viking ROADS students will work together with their counselor to ensure they are able to use Degree Works to plan out their academic pathway, choose classes each semester, and keep on track for graduation.
You can access Degree Works by logging into your MyWCC portal and clicking on the link for Degree Works, or you can link directly to it here: http://www.sunywcc.edu/degreeworks.
What do I need to know about my financial aid?
The Financial Aid website has important information, links, and deadlines, and ROADS students should refer to it first when you have questions. https://www.sunywcc.edu/admissions/finaid/
Here are links to the most common questions:
FAFSA (Federal): https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa
School FAFSA code:002881
TAP(New York State): https://www.tap.hesc.ny.gov/totw/
TAP for Dream Act students: https://www.hesc.ny.gov/dream/
School TAP Code: 2160
What do I need to know about paying my bill?
The Bursar’s office is where you go to pay your tuition or to ask about refunds. https://www.sunywcc.edu/admissions/bursars-office/
Important payment due dates and drop dates: https://www.sunywcc.edu/admissions/bursars-office/drop-dates/
If you live outside of Westchester County, you must submit a Certificate of Residency in order to get resident tuition. As a reminder, the Viking ROADS program cannot provide tuition assistance unless the student is eligible for resident tuition.
The Bursar’s office is also where you can access your IRS form 1098-T for your taxes: https://www.sunywcc.edu/admissions/bursars-office/irs-1098-t-tax-form/
I missed orientation and now I can't register for classes. What do I do?
All first-time, full-time students who are new to Westchester Community College for fall 2021, are REQUIRED to participate in and complete New and Transfer Student Orientation. If you did not sign up for and attend one of the New and Transfer Student Orientation sessions a hold will be placed on your student account, preventing you from registering for spring 2022 classes, accessing transcripts, etc.
If this is the case, you will need to complete the Full Online Orientation within the first half of the semester. To access this option, a student must log into their MyWCC and click on the link (within the upper left hand corner of the screen). The Online Orientation will save the student’s progress and will pick up wherever he/she/they left off upon their return if they decide to step away. Once you have completed the online orientation, the hold will be released within 24 hours.
How can I join a club?
The Department of Student Involvement offers a number of ways to get involved in campus that give students the opportunity to make friends, gain leadership or academic skills, meet others with similar hobbies, and more. There are more than 40 student clubs that you can join or you can start your own club. You could also be part of the Student Government Association (SGA), the college newspaper (Viking News) or radio station (Power 88.1), or the Westchester Events Board (WEB) which plans events for your fellow students.
Visit their website for more information: https://www.sunywcc.edu/student-services/getinvolved/clubs/