Westchester Community College, State University of New York

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.

If you are interested in Viking ROADS, please contact us vikingroads@sunywcc.edu.

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.

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.

Check Your Eligibility Here

Potential Viking ROADS students must:

1. Be a New York State resident
2. 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
3. Enroll in an eligible major (see below):
4. Need no more than two developmental courses
5. Willing to enroll in full-time study

Eligible majors:

1. Art and Design
2. Accounting
3. Business Management
4. Business Technologies
5. Communications and Media Arts
6. Computer Information Systems
7. Criminal Justice: Police
8. Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management
9. Cybersecurity
10. Digital Filmmaking
11. Fashion Design
12. Fashion Merchandising
13. Health Studies
14. Human Services
15. Interactive Technologies
16. Liberal Arts and Sciences/ Childhood Education (all concentrations)
17. Liberal Arts and Sciences/Humanities (all concentrations)
18. Liberal Arts and Sciences/Math and Science (except Health Science)
19. Liberal Arts and Sciences/ Social Sciences (all concentrations)
20. Marketing
21. Paralegal
22. Performing Arts

Click here for more information about these majors.

To apply to Viking ROADS as a new or transfer student:

1. Apply to Westchester Community College as a first time or transfer student

2. 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.

3. Apply for financial aid

4. Attend a Viking ROADS information session (see schedule)

5. Fill out a Viking ROADS application form (to be provided to eligible students at information sessions.)

6. Meet for a one-on-one intake session with the Viking ROADS counselor

7. 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:

1. Attend a Viking ROADS information session
2. Fill out a Viking ROADS application form
3. Meet for a one-on-one intake session with the Viking ROADS counselor
4. Attend the Viking ROADS program orientation

Sign up for an information session here: https://forms.gle/zJZsyJY6VbAi5FfM9*