2017 Summer Newsletter New York Colleges Celebrate Academic Success The Commencement Edition: Congratulating the Class of 2017
Throughout May, June and July, students enrolled in Association of Proprietary Colleges member institutions celebrate at graduation ceremonies, while reflecting on their many accomplishments throughout their educational careers.
Photo Copyright © 2017 Joseph Sinnott
1 Making a Mark on History
The history of proprietary (1886) are still operating The Image is courtesy of colleges in New York is rooted successfully. Many other Plaza College. Plaza College, in tradition and providing proprietary institutions were one of APC’s earliest a quality education, which established in the first half members, held their 100th dates back to the middle of the 20th century; The Commencement on Sun., 1800s. Six of our 12 members College of Westchester was June 25 at the Kupferberg were founded more than 100 founded in 1915, Plaza College Center for the Arts, Flushing. years ago. Bryant & Stratton (1916), Berkeley College (1931), 2,013 attendees were present, College, founded in 1854, and Monroe College (1935) and including 290 graduates. Jamestown Business College LIM College (1939).
Berkeley College Graduates Represent Traditional and Non-Traditional Students
Berkeley College celebrated The Berkeley College Class a graduate who has met the largest graduating class of 2017 comprises graduates high standards of academic to date during the 2017 who exemplify the “new” excellence while overcoming Commencement ceremony at traditional student, as so many personal, professional or Prudential Center in Newark, have overcome adversity after financial obstacles. A resident NJ, on Fri., May 5. More than their families migrated to of the Bronx, De La Cruz 2,900 students have been America. The average age of was 11 years old when he awarded certificate, associate a Berkeley College graduate immigrated to the United and bachelor’s degrees. The in 2017 is 28.5 years. Just over States from the Dominican Commencement ceremony 31 percent of the graduates Republic with his family. also included the first class entered Berkeley as first-time, He maintained a grade- of those receiving Master full-time students; and, more point average of 3.7 while of Business Administration than 81 percent identify as a also having to look after his (MBA) in Management minority. grandfather’s well-being and degrees. The graduating adjusting to his new home class included 175 military Among these graduates was country. and veteran students and Jason De La Cruz, this year’s 200 international students, recipient of the Robert Maher “Being able to take classes representing 42 countries. Award, an honor given to during the afternoon and [cont. on next page] 2 night helped me manage my time effectively, as did having the support of the Berkeley College staff,” said De La Cruz. “I’ve learned that even when facing your biggest challenges and hardships, there will always be a path toward success.”
Despite his loaded schedule, De La Cruz maintained a grade-point average of 3.7 Berkeley College graduates celebrate during the 2017 while pursuing his Bachelor Commencement ceremony at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ of Business Administration held on Friday., May 5. (BBA) in General Business. He also served as a peer tutor for the Berkeley College Center for Academic Success while interning at New York-based Special Materials Company (SMC). He is the first in his family to graduate with a college degree.
One of De La Cruz’s most memorable moments at Berkeley College came when he helped a distraught student Dallas Reed, PhD, Vice President, Student Development and improve her grades in a math Campus Life; Jason De La Cruz, Robert Maher Award recipient; course, ultimately helping and Michael J. Smith, President of Berkeley College, pose before the that student graduate. “I 2017 Commencement ceremony. learned from my grandmother that it is better to give than to receive,” said De La Cruz. New York’s proprietary sector Degrees Conferred by APC Member Colleges, 2015-2016 Academic Year “So when I saw that student of higher education is regulated 340 struggling, I started thinking by the state Board of Regents to (4%) of my grandmother. Seeing ensure academic integrity, placing 856 (11%) her always ready to give back it on par with other higher without waiting for anything educational sectors in the state. 3,285 3,585 (41%) in return taught me how the In the 2015-16 academic year, (44%) more I help others in need, the APC member colleges conferred more I can prosper.” 8,019 associate, bachelor, master, doctorate and certificate degrees. Total: 8,019 Bachelors Certificates Of those 856 were masters and Master & Doctoral Associates doctoral degrees. Source: IPEDS, U.S. Department of Education
3 Island Drafting & Technical Institute Celebrates its 60th Commencement Ceremony
More than 250 graduates, blueprints and work with of all industries on Long guests and staff gathered on architects and engineers for Island. In 1997, IDTI became Thursday, May 11 to celebrate Republic Aviation, IDTI was an accredited college and Island Drafting & Technical established by Joseph P. Di authorized to offer associate Institute’s Class of 2017. Liberto to serve Nassau and degree programs. The college Suffolk counties. ranked 12th in the Forbes This year’s commencement 2017 edition of Top 30 Two- marked Island Drafting & Over the years, the institute Year Trade Schools: Colleges Technical Institute’s (IDTI) has expanded and now offers that Fight the Nation’s Skills 60th anniversary. Born out classes beyond drafting, Gap. of a need for local employees reflecting a broader focus who could draft technical on the technical needs
Island Drafting & Technical Institute President James G. Di Liberto presents Stephen Love with his diploma at the Institute’s commencement ceremony held on Thursday, May 11 at Helen Butler Hall, Amityville. Stephen received an associate degree in Architectural Drafting and Design.
SVA Commencement Takes Radio City Music Hall by Storm A sea of students in red held on Tuesday, May 9 Lauren Eve Cantor gowns, as well as guests, at Radio City Music Hall represented this year’s celebrated academic in Manhattan. Some 1,170 Master’s Degree candidates. achievement at the School undergraduate and graduate Graduating with a Master of of Visual Arts’ 42nd students became the Class of Fine Arts in Design, Cantor commencement ceremony, 2017. shared with classmates how [cont. on next page] 4 her bachelor’s degree from At first, this drove me crazy. becoming a science evangelist Columbia University in But now I realize that this is for girls. astrophysics influenced her our greatest skill.” thought process. “As artists, we have the Her thesis project, Quarkey, power to make people listen,” At Columbia, she attended a web program and mobile said Cantor. “We have the exclusive science classes app encouraging young power to make people feel. where she was the only girls to engage in the study Our mission as designers and woman in the room. “One and practice of science, is artists is to inform people on thing I loved about science leading her toward a future of issues in an impactful way. is that there is always a right answer,” said Cantor. Her intellectual ability for finding answers proved useful on Wall Street, where she worked in corporate finance for twenty years. However, Cantor still felt as though she needed more. She enrolled at SVA, seeking answers. “One of my professors at SVA told me with art, there never is a right answer. There’s always room for improvement and interpretation. Change is a constant in the life of an artist.
5 We can promote conversation, ability to appeal to sensations, and through our art leave a even instincts, shared by all door open since we and our humans. “To be universally audience don’t always have understandable is to have the the answers.” potential of bringing diverse people together, undivided by Addressing the students, different languages or degree Gloria Steinem implored of education,” she said. them to realize their power as visual artists, namely, in their
Connect With APC
Feminist icon Gloria facebook.com/APCColleges Steinem raises a fist after being presented with a Doctor of Fine Arts degree @APCColleges by SVA Acting Chairman Milton Glaser (left).
Photo Copyright © 2017 apc-colleges.org Joseph Sinnott
Meet the Professor Bachelor’s Degrees in included support in the Health Communication Arts, English and Wellness department, and Women’s Studies from administrative support in the The College of New Rochelle; international division, and Master’s Degree in Mass editor of the “React” column. Media and Communication I also published one feature from Fordham University article during my tenure there. After earning my Q: What brought you to Master’s degree, I wanted to Monroe College? be able to give back. I decided to apply to become an adjunct I began teaching at Monroe at Monroe after a friend College as an evening adjunct. told me about her positive At the time, I was a full-time experience working there. I Kathryn M. MacDonald employee for Reader’s Digest was hired, and that led to a Professor and Coordinator of magazine. I was an editorial full time position in 2010. The the Monroe College Honors assistant, whose duties rest is history. Program,
[cont. on next page] 6 Q; What is your favorite class social and interpersonal Washington in October 2016, to teach and why? activities to develop the whole have found that social media person. Honors students is a distraction! However, they I am the Coordinator of the possess a thirst for knowledge, have also concluded it is a Honors Program. In this and the Honors Program way of life for Generation Y. capacity, I get to teach a provides them with courses Therefore, as Coordinator, I curriculum that is unique and that are just for them. have embraced it. I regularly designed for students who update the Monroe College have a desire to look beyond These courses explore history, Honors Program Facebook their major area of study. the arts, science, technology, Page, and we have started I must admit, it is hard to politics, sociology, math, and our own Instagram page (@ choose one course! But I would more to make our students monroecollegehonors). As a choose our Honors Program well-rounded in their professor, I use Blackboard capstone course—HN450: learning. But the Honors (our e-learning system) Honors Program Research Program also strives to instill regularly, and I connect to Study. a sense of community through my students personally by volunteerism and service. allowing them to contact me This course prepares our Students participate in through WhatsApp. Honors students for graduate community service activities, study. It is a requirement joint projects with other I believe instructors must for Honors baccalaureate Honors Programs, and more. embrace technology and candidates. Most of them do students will then use it want to study further. The The students also have the meaningfully. The distractions course teaches students about opportunity to showcase their will lead to learning. graduate level research— work at regional and national the difference between Honors conferences. Our Q; When you are not at secondary and primary Honors Program is a member Monroe, where can you be research and how the two of both the National Collegiate found? methods are connected. It Honors Council and the ignites in them a passion Northeast Regional Honors I am usually at home with for study and research. And Council. These organizations my four-year-old daughter, their transformation over 15 advance student learning and Victoria—although she is quite weeks is impressive. They achievement, which echoes familiar with coming with write meaningful, significant the mission of our Honors me on community service research proposals. And when Program. ventures and social activities they graduate and apply to that take place outside of graduate school, they write Q: How have the rapid “business hours.” me to thank me for the skills advances in technology, learned in HN450. It is so including social media such As a coordinator, there is gratifying. as Twitter, Facebook and no such thing. I live for my Snapchat, influenced the students—seeing them in Q; Tell me about the Honors classroom? evenings, weekends, and on Program? overnight travel. But when it’s My Honors students have just my time, I’m home with The Honors Program is studied this! Three students, my daughter and husband, a unique experience for attended the National Damian. students. It combines an Collegiate Honors Council advance d curriculum with Conference in Seattle, [cont. on next page] 7 Q; Which three people Hillary Clinton—she performs Q: A book found on your (famous or otherwise) would very well under pressure! nightstand. you most likely invite to be a guest speaker in your Q; Two truths and a lie. I just finished reading The classroom? Girl on the Train by Paula I love country music. I was Hawkins. It was a real Steven Johnson would be a a lifeguard when I was in page-turner. I can’t wait top pick—his writings about high school and college. I to see the movie. Now I’m the usefulness of technology have travelled to Europe. (I’ll onto to Telling Lies by Paul are so poignant. admit…I’m not a good liar. I’ve Eckman. Don’t read too much never been to Europe. But into that. It’s just for fun, Sir Ken Robinson—my it’s on my Bucket List. I’d love although nonverbal language students LOVE his TED Talks. to visit England, Italy, and continually fascinates me. Germany).
Kathryn M. MacDonald Monroe College Profession and Honors Program Coordinator is pictured with Hilary De Silvia of the Honors Program. De Silvia participated in Monroe College’s 84th annual commencement on Tuesday, June 6.
This year, the college conferred 460 master’s degrees; 1,169 bachelor’s degrees; and 1,130 associate degrees this year, as well as awarded 43 professional certificates.
Monroe College Confers Degrees on 2,800 Students Representing 68 Countries at 84th Annual Commencement Monroe College, a national associate, bachelor’s or leader in educating urban and master’s degrees and international students, held its professional certificates. 84th Annual Commencement on Tuesday, June 6 at the New York City Council Theater at Madison Square Member Annabel Palma Garden. and New York State Assemblymember Michael Two separate ceremonies Blake gave commencement were held to accommodate addresses. the families and friends of the 2,800 students receiving
8 The College of Westchester Celebrates its 101st Commencement Three hundred and fifty- five graduates shared their excitement and the importance of their academic accomplishments with fellow classmates, family and friends as they took part in The College of Westchester’s 101st commencement ceremony.
The commencement was held at the Westchester County Center in White Plains.
Alejandra Rojas addresses her peers at The College of Westchester’s 101st Commencement Ceremony, which was held on Thursday, June 1 at the Westchester County Center, White Plains. Rojas received her associate degree in Applied Science.
9 Five Towns College Honors Graduates at 43rd Annual Commencement
Five Towns College conferred professor, gave to her after 133 degrees at its 43rd graduating high school: commencement ceremony, “Just get yourself organized Number of held on Saturday, May 20th at and do it.” She elaborates on Five Towns Half Hollow Hills High School the theme of seizing every East in Dix Hills, NY. opportunity at success by College Degrees: telling the recent graduates, 133 Commencement speaker “When I say ‘do it,’ it doesn’t Diana J. Cherryholmes, film mean waiting for your turn. It and cultural affairs director means you have control when 7 associate for Suffolk County, reflects that turn will happen because degrees on and shares the words of you are in charge.” wisdom that her father, a 119 bachelor’s degrees
6 master’s degrees
1 doctorate
Meet Brian Settles, The College of Westchester Class of 2017 Bachelor’s in Business Administration “When I came for an sold me on CW. They were interview at The College of more than just informative Westchester (CW), the small, advisors; they knew each comfortable setting suited student by name and showed me. And it was the way the extreme care about what was staff, the way the professors, going on with each student, interacted with students that professionally and personally.”
10 President of Hudson’s Bay and Lord & Taylor, Liz Rodbell, Gives Keynote Address at LIM College’s 78th Commencement More than 500 students were presented with master’s, bachelor’s and associate degrees on May 25 at Carnegie Hall in Manhattan. The Class of 2017 is the largest in the college’s history.
This year’s commencement included the first group of graduates from LIM College’s online Master of Professional Studies (MPS) degree programs, as well as the first graduates of the MPS program in Global Fashion Supply Chain Management. LIM College is focused employers actively Liz Rodbell, president of exclusively on the study sought LIM College Hudson’s Bay and Lord & of business and fashion. students for internship, Taylor, advised the graduates, The following figures are a employment and volunteer “More than anything, always testament to the exceptional opportunities. seek to evolve. It will be the education LIM College key to your success in the provides: • In the 2015-16 academic world of fashion, where year, LIM College change is the only constant. • Of LIM College’s Class of students completed 1,062 There will be times when your 2016, 91.5 percent were internships with fashion career growth and evolution employed within six and related companies – are going to be uncomfortable. months of graduation. including Chanel, Christian It will rarely be in a straight Louboutin, Elle magazine, line, and often, it is not in the • According to the U.S. Saks Fifth Avenue, and direction you expect. Learn to Department of Education’s NBC Universal. embrace it.” College Scorecard, the median salary of LIM • LIM College alumni have Ms. Rodbell received College graduates 10 years gone on to excel at top an honorary Doctor of after entering college is 41 companies including: Saks Commercial Science degree percent higher than the Fifth Avenue, Barneys at the ceremony and was national average. New York, Chanel, Macy’s, presented with LIM College’s and Neiman Marcus. Distinguished Achievement • During the 2015-16 Award. academic year, 854
11 More Than 1,000 Students Participate in Bryant & Stratton College Commencement Ceremonies at Campuses Across New York
This year marked the 160th coursework in May 2015. Now working. Considered one of graduation season for Bryant that they have graduated, the fastest growing careers, & Stratton College. More than students will be qualified to OTAs are ranked as the top 1,000 students participated in take the national certification healthcare support job in commencement ceremonies exam, making them eligible 2016 by U.S. News & World across the state, in Albany, for licensure to practice in Report. What’s more, demand Syracuse, Rochester and New York and all other states. for OTAs is expected to grow Western New York. by 40 percent over the next OTAs help patients develop, decade, due in large part to an The Class of 2017 included recover, and improve the skills aging population. Bryant & Stratton needed for daily living and College’s inaugural class of Occupational Therapy Assistants, with the Syracuse and Rochester campuses conferring 37 Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) associate degrees.
The program, accredited in 2016 by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), will serve a great need in upstate New York.
The inaugural class of Bryant & Stratton Celebrates its Inaugural Class of Occupational students began their academic Therapy Assistants
APC member colleges employ more than Did You 6,000 New Yorkers APC member colleges provide students with Know? more that $92 million in grants, scholarships and institutional aid
12 Meet Katelyn Camp, Elmira Business Institute Class of 2017 Katelyn Camp, a single mother me to attend college three of three, knew she wanted semesters per year so I could a career in the medical field; graduate sooner.” what she didn’t know was how to make it happen. Camp obtained her degree within 16 months. Graduating “I knew going in that if I was sooner enables graduates to going to go to college, I needed move ahead with the careers to be all in,” said Camp. “I with lower student loan debt. didn’t want the traditional breaks that many colleges have. I couldn’t afford them. Elmira Business Institute (EBI) fit my schedule and allowed Meet Sally Gall, Elmira Business Institute Class of 2017
Sally Gall discovered Elmira Business Institute (EBI) while researching colleges for her daughter, Katilyn Gall (Class of 2016). Both liked EBI because of its small class sizes and individual attention.
As her daughter worked toward her associate degree in Medical Assisting, Sally was inspired. She enrolled in the Medical Billing and Coding program at EBI and graduated July 20th.
“My course work and (From left) Katilyn Gall (Class of 2016) and her mother Sally externship have been intense, Gall (Class of 2017) credit Elmira Business Institute’s Externship however I knew it was going program, included during the final semester, for providing them to be worth it in the end,” with an opportunity to gain practical experience in their field of said Gall. “I kept a positive study, making them immediately marketable. attitude and am grateful to EBI for guiding me through this process.”
13 Jamestown Business College’s 131st Commencement Ceremony
Jamestown Business College market primarily sells organic, and educating the community (JBC) celebrated its 131st vegan and gluten-free foods. on the benefits of knowing annual commencement where your food comes from. ceremony at the First She receives her products Lutheran Church in from local farmers, so all of “I love that I can give back to Jamestown on Saturday, the goods are community my community through my June 3. One hundred and based. business and I really enjoy the two students graduated – 15 personal attention I’m able to earned bachelor’s degrees, and Ayers was inspired to open give to my customers.” 87 received associate degrees. her own business because of Business Administration/ her passion for organic food Marketing and Management graduate, Morgan Ayers, has taken what she learned at JBC to the real world, having recently purchased M’Organic Market in Allegany. The
A trio of Jamestown Business College graduates pose for a celebratory photo.
Did You Know? Morgan Ayers (Class of 2017) pictured behind the counter at New York’s degree M’Organic Market in Allegany. granting proprietary Ayers purchased M’Organic in colleges have higher on- March of this year. The natural time associate graduation food store offers local residents rates than other sectors the opportunity to shop for of higher education organic, vegan and gluten free foods.
14 We’re proud to represent 12 degree granting colleges
Berkeley College - Est. 1931 Bryant & Stratton College - Est. 1854 The College of Westchester - Est. 1915 Elmira Business Institute - Est. 1858 Five Towns College - Est. 1972 Island Drafting & Technical Institute - Est. 1957 Jamestown Business College - Est. 1886 LIM College - Est. 1939 Monroe College - Est. 1933 Plaza College - Est. 1916 School of Visual Arts - Est. 1947 The Swedish Institute - Est. 1916 We’ve been helping students succeed for more than 90 years.
The Association of Proprietary Colleges (APC) represents 12 fully accredited, degree granting colleges operating on 25 college campuses in New York State offering associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs.
Our colleges are located across the state from Buffalo to Long Island, Jamestown to Rochester, Syracuse to Albany and the entire NYC metropolitan area.
There are more than 40,000 students enrolled in proprietary colleges throughout New York State and APC member colleges serve more than 35,000 of these students.
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