Discover Connect Change DUTCHESS COMMUNITY COLLEGE NONPROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE FOUNDATION PAID 53 Pendell Road NEWBURGH, NY Poughkeepsie, New York 12601-1595 PERMIT NO. 44 DUTCHESS COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION 2011 DUTCHESS COMMUNITY COLLEGE ANNUAL REPORT Discover Connect Change Dear Friends and Alumni t has been another exciting and rewarding year, and those of us at Dutchess Community College feel privileged to be part of a storied Iinstitution that continues to positively and significantly shape the local higher education landscape. We are very proud that in both fall 2010 and 2011, record numbers of students – more than 10,300 – attended DCC, and 39% of college- bound Dutchess County high school students chose to enroll at DCC directly after graduation. The College’s 52nd commencement in May also was a record-breaker, with associate degrees and career certificates conferred on 1,201 graduates. More DCC graduates than ever are transferring to four-year colleges, which report that Dr. D. David Conklin our students are motivated, well-prepared and successful. College President The fact that DCC is the area’s college of choice – both for those who want an enriching, affordable start on a bachelor’s degree, as well as those interested in pursuing a career after earning an associate degree or career certificate – reflects both the quality of the education provided and the national prominence to which community colleges have risen. As the largest sector of higher education in America, community colleges are poised to play a pivotal part in preparing the work force of tomorrow. At DCC, we welcome this responsibility and opportunity. The College has earned a reputation for providing an outstanding education while, for the 12th consecutive year, charging the lowest tuition in New York state. While this makes DCC more accessible than most other colleges, many of our students are facing difficulty in these challenging economic times. You can make a very real and lasting difference in the lives of deserving students by making a donation in support of Foundation scholarships. Through the gener- osity of our alumni, faculty, staff, community and others who are committed to educating the next generation of DCC graduates, we hope to continue to expand our scholarship program. Together, we have the power to change lives. Thank you for your support of our students, DCC and the Foundation. 201 1 ANNUALREPORT 1 1 education is discovering “If you want to build a ship, don't drum up people together to collect wood and don't assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea.” - Antoine de Saint-Exupery Dear Friends of DCC s another year of quality education has begun at Dutchess Community College, we at the Foundation continue to be an agent of positive assistance A and change for our students, faculty and staff. We are so very thankful to our donors, volunteers and staff for making it possible for us to continue our work of providing scholarships to our students and having a significant impact on the stake- holders here at DCC. Susan Doyle We do this through direct donations, planned giving and special events held through- Chair out the year. At the forefront of all that we do is the knowledge that Dutchess DCC Foundation Community College makes a difference in the lives of our residents, whether it is the Board only college they will attend or by providing an affordable stepping stone to other educational opportunities. Enrollment at DCC has been up consistently and we have increased the number of scholarships given out each year, knowing the need is greater than ever. We also have been mindful of the costs associated with our events and our staff has worked diligently to keep costs to a minimum while still providing enjoyable fundraising events to help our efforts. Please keep us in mind as you consider where to make the most impact with your generous donations this year. I have seen first-hand the difference that can be made in a person’s life with the scholarships we provide. Many students, either because of financial or work considerations, could not attend college if it were not for DCC and the work your Foundation does for the College community. We truly can say that scholarships given to our students can help them suceed in their educational pursuits and in their lives. In addition to considering a contribution, no matter how large or small, please plan on attending our Gala in March, Golf Tournament in May and Craft Fair in November. These events not only are important to our Foundation’s financial goals but are a lot of fun too. We also provide for other special events and lectures all of which are open to the community at no cost. We hope to see you soon! With Warm Regards, Sue Doyle, Chair Dutchess Community College Foundation Board 201 1 ANNUALREPORT 3 3 “When someone shares something of value with you and you benefit from it, you have a moral obligation to share it with others.” - Chinese Proverb educationconnecting is Dear Friends of DCC Keeping our Promise ndowments are the backbone of the DCC Foundation. They are integral to the financial health of our educational institution and your funds provide the EFoundation with the ability to award almost $400,000 in scholarships, to honor faculty with endowed chairs and contribute to special projects needed at DCC. As donors look for ways to help our students they frequently choose to endow a fund and name it for a loved one. Endowment funds are the Foundation’s promise to our students that we are committed to helping them every step of the way. Six donors set up endowed chairs at DCC to award faculty members for teaching Patricia L. Prunty excellence. As part of this program faculty bring well-known speakers to the Executive Director College to give our students and the community the opportunity to learn, DCC Foundation experience and enjoy all they have to offer. These special endowments have enriched our campus community and provided the chance to learn from national figures who are experts in their field. The Foundation has many endowment funds and some were set up during a time when only a small amount was needed to create a fund. Today, scholarship funds need $15,000 to become an established endowment. The original amount donated cannot be touched, therefore the Foundation uses only interest and earnings to award scholarships. We promise our students that we always will award our scholarships. In many cases, when there is not enough earning from the endowment, we must raise money to cover the award amount; that is where the annual fund comes into play. Your generosity to our annual fund goes directly to help support student scholarships. With your assistance, we are able to keep our promise to our students. So, I thank you, on behalf of everyone who has benefitted from your generosity. Please keep giving and please encourage others to do so as well. 201 1 ANNUALREPORT 5 5 education is changing “You are not here merely to make a living. You are here in order to enable the world to live more amply, with greater vision, with a finer spirit of hope and achievement. You are here to enrich the world, and to impoverish yourself if you forget the errand.” - Woodrow Wilson Student Government President Dear DCC Alumni and Friends, llow me to introduce myself; I am Tony Beaudoin. I am honored to have been voted this year's Student Government Association (SGA) President and Student Trustee on the Dutchess ACommunity College board. I am a non-traditional student pursuing an associate degree in Liberal Arts. I came to Dutchess Community College by way of western N.Y. where I started my secondary education at a small private college. I was thinking about where to continue my education when a close friend who is a graduate of DCC took me to the campus on my first exploration trip. I was sold on the campus and the friendly staff that helped me through the transfer process. I started in the fall of 2010, and after a few weeks of little interaction with my peers outside of class, I found myself quietly exploring the campus one day when I wandered into the cafeteria lounge where there was a campus job fair going on. I came across the Admissions Department looking to hire student ambassadors to give tours of the campus to potential students. A match was made. I quickly learned about the campus and all the great things DCC has to offer. I realized that the best way to get connected was to become involved in a club. I found myself in the Dutchess Radio club and became its Vice President during my second semester. I also was voted into SGA as a senator. This opened many doors to getting involved with not only the community here on campus but also the community around us. In student government we got involved with the Hudson Valley Heart Walk, the Hudson Valley AIDS Walk, and I also was the chairperson for DCC's very own Community Day held in the spring of 2011. This year as student government president, I continue to encourage the student body to give back to our community. We have raised money for several charities, including the Twin Tower Orphan Fund and Make a Wish Foundation. We collected coats for Dutchess Outreach, food for several local food pantries, and currently we are planning many other events to help our Tony Beaudoin community.