President's Annual Report 2016 – 2017
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MOVING FORWARD BRONX COMMUNITY COLLEGE Annual Report 2017 Celebrating 60 Years of Service to Our Community BCC | Class of 1964 BRONX COMMUNITY COLLEGE Celebrating 60 years 2 AS TIME GOES BY… 1957 Bronx Community College is established to provide A message from President greater opportunities for Bronx residents. Its first president, THOMAS A. ISEKENEGBE Morris Meister, Ph.D., was the founder and principal of the In 1957, the Russians launched years, higher education was not most, of our full-time Bronx High School of Science. Sputnik, the word’s first artificial viewed primarily as a privilege students to graduate in two satellite. On April 11, 1957, the accessible to only a precious few to three years. The classes we Bronx had a launching of its and not an essential stepping now offer reflect the changing 1959 own when the legal building stone to upward mobility. So world they will enter, from drone Bronx Community College blocks for Bronx Community while the Class of 1961 was photography to our Geospatial begins life in the old Bronx College were set. Today, we overwhelmingly white and male, Center, where students train to High School of Science building are the longest existing CUNY the Class of 2017 is 35 percent create maps from satellite data. and on May 11, it is officially community college. black, 60 percent Hispanic and BCC was born out of a inaugurated. Classes start with This year marks our Diamond 57 percent female. commitment to develop the 123 students enrolled in seven Jubilee Anniversary. An On BCC’s 60th birthday, we look next generation of leaders in our academic programs taught by a occasion such as this is a good back at our accomplishments as city. In the following pages, you dozen professors. time to reflect on the distance we move toward a brighter future will read about the people and the College has traveled over of improving student outcomes. programs that continue 1961 the years. Our 2017 graduating The ongoing expansion of this commitment. BCC is now one of three class was 2,200 strong in CUNY’s Accelerated Study in community colleges that are comparison to the 29 graduates Associate Programs (ASAP) part of the newly founded City of the 1961 class. In those early will eventually help many, if University of New York. Thomas A. Isekenegbe President, Bronx Community College 1967 Dr. James A. Colston is BRONX inaugurated, becoming the first COMMUNITY COLLEGE African-American president in Celebrating 60 years CUNY. 4 BCC’S SWEET 60TH Faculty, students, alumni and When BCC was born six decades body. Today, BCC’s goal is not only friends of Bronx Community ago, it was both a beginning and to open our gates to all who seek a College gathered on the steps of an end — the culmination of degree, but to make sure they earn New York City Hall last April to years of effort by local activists to that degree in a timely manner — mark a special occasion: the official expand the opportunities for higher a challenge being addressed by presentation of a City Council education in the Bronx. Thus, BCC’s our expanding Accelerated Study Proclamation acknowledging BCC’s very creation forged an enduring in Associate Programs (ASAP) 60th anniversary. The proclamation link with the community it would initiative. read in part, “At this great milestone, serve. Over these many years of growth we not only reflect on the incredible That community has changed in the and change, the College has legacy of Bronx Community College, years since, and BCC has changed benefited from an impressive roster but also reaffirm our faith in its with it. Open admissions in 1970 of leaders. Our first president, Dr. equally bright future for generations greatly increased the ethnic and Morris Meister, was founder of the to come.” economic diversity of the student renowned Bronx High School of At this great milestone, we not only reflect on the incredible legacy of Bronx Community College, but also reaffirm our faith in its equally bright future for generations to come.” BRONX COMMUNITY COLLEGE Celebrating 60 years 6 1973 Plans to construct a new campus are replaced by a move to University Heights. The historic campus, previously owned by New York University, boasts structures designed by one of the most prominent Science and Dr. Roscoe C. Brown high above the Harlem River on the on campus walkways, the new figures in the history of Jr., BCC’s longest-serving president, site of New York University’s former BRONXCC Mobile App was unveiled, American architecture, was a member of the Tuskegee uptown campus. In 2012, North Hall and an African Pride Parade Stanford White. Airmen, the legendary black fighter and Library became the first major marched to Colston Hall Patio, pilots of World War II. BCC’s leaders new campus construction since where there was food, music and, of have been as diverse as they are it became BCC — completing the course, a huge birthday cake. 1975 BCC’s associate degree nursing inspiring, hailing from Cuba, Nigeria, vision of our central quad begun by But in a sense, Bronx Community program is the largest in the Poland and Puerto Rico, as well as the legendary architect Stanford College has celebrated itself every nation, enrolling more than far-flung locations in the U.S. White, who designed its earliest day for the last 60 years through 1,700 students. Launched at the old site of the Bronx structures 120 years ago. the miracle of self-invention and High School of Science at Creston In May 2017, Bronx Community discovery that takes place in its Avenue and 184th Street, BCC College celebrated its Diamond classrooms — business as usual at 1977 had spread across eight different Jubilee. Flags and banners BCC, six decades ago, today and six Dr. Roscoe C. Brown Jr., a locations by 1972. One year later, decorated the grounds, students decades hence. distinguished World War II hero, the College moved to its new home chalked their thoughts and images is named president. In a sense, Bronx Community College has 1978 celebrated itself every day for the last 60 years The first BCC 10K Run takes through the miracle of self-invention and place. discovery that takes place in its classrooms — business as usual at BCC, six decades ago, 1979 today and six decades hence. The Automotive Technology BRONX COMMUNITY program is initiated. COLLEGE Celebrating 60 years 8 Faculty and Administration Dr. Roscoe C. Brown Jr. was already Valerie Capers, dean emeritus of poet and magazine editor. Upon a hero when he became the third the Department of Art and Music, his retirement in 2009, a student president of BCC, serving from 1977 is a former BCC faculty member scholarship was established in his to 1993. During World War II, he and chair of the Department of Art name. He died in 2015. rose to Captain as one of the famed and Music from 1987 to 1995. The SIXTY YEARS “Tuskegee Airmen” fighter pilots first blind person to graduate with Dr. Morris Meister, the founding who received a 2007 Congressional bachelor’s and master’s degrees principal of the Bronx High School Gold Medal for their wartime from the Juilliard School of Music, of Science, was named the first exploits fighting for democracy. Dr. she remains an internationally President of BCC in 1957. Dr. Meister OF SERVICE Brown also fought for democracy acclaimed jazz pianist and retired in 1966 and died in 1974. at home, as a civil rights activist composer. Over the past six decades, many people, Dr. Herman Stein, built the Liberal and adviser, distinguished scholar Arts and Science options at BCC programs and organizations have helped and a founder of the organization Dr. Alice Fuller, dean emeritus of Faculty/Academic Affairs, dedicated and was instrumental in developing advance the College’s mission. This includes 100 Black Men. As our president, the chemistry curriculum. As a he launched the run and walk in over 45 years to BCC, serving as alumni, community partners, donors, as an instructor, chair of the Nursing result, students with no chemistry 1978 that today is known as “Run or science background now have well as retired and former faculty and staff, the Bronx.” President Brown greatly Department, associate dean and College Personel and Budget (P&B) a path to a STEM-based major or expanded the College’s programs career. some of whom remain friends of the College and our community outreach — so secretary. She was also chair of the Irish Committee and the BCC Picnic to this day. The names of many people it is only fitting that the community Dr. Carolyn G. Williams, president paid tribute to his life this year by Committee. emeritus, became the fourth who deserve to be honored have been lost naming the post office on nearby Claude D. Grant (’72) was a president of BCC. The capstone of to history. Following is but a small sample Jerome Avenue in his honor.. BCC alumnus, faculty member, President Williams’ leadership was of some who we recognize for providing administrator and published securing the funding and approval for North Hall and Library. critical institutional support, enhancing our reputation and standing in the community and, most important, for contributing to the success of our students. BRONX COMMUNITY COLLEGE Celebrating 60 years Valerie Capers Alice Fuller Claude D. Grant Morris Meister Herman Stein Roscoe C. Brown Jr 10 Alumni *Dr. Diana Bontá (‘72) president *Annabel Palma (‘91) is a member Roscoe C. Brown Jr., one of the three Joel Weiss is an American actor Harriet and George Blank are The Burberry Foundation, 1982 of the Bontá Group, is a nationally of the New York City Council founders of Run the Bronx.