BREAKING THROUGH: CREATING THE FUTURE 2019 State of the College & NOW Foundation Annual Report Table of Contents 3 President’s Letter 4-5 Student Success 6-7 Focus on the Future 8-9 Building Bridges 10-11 Leading-Edge Education 12 Student Demographics 13 College Board of Trustees 13 College Financials 14 Westchester Community College Foundation 16-17 Grants, Donors, and Federal/State Investments 2 18-19 Scholarships 20 Volunteer Program 21 Native Plant Center 22-23 Special Events 24-25 Alumni Community College Westchester 26 Foundation Financials 27-29 Foundation Donors 30 Foundation Board of Directors 30 President’s Council 30 Hartford Hall Society 31 Giving Letter from the President As a comprehensive community college in one of the nation’s largest metropolitan areas, we hold a very particular standing in the community. Our size and scope puts us in a position to make a tremendous impact on the lives of many local residents. We offer credit classes to approximately 13,000 students annually. Additionally, our Workforce Development and Community Education Division offers noncredit classes to a similarly large number of students many of which lead to targeted industry certifications. The paths we offer lead our students to succeed in many ways: starting their Community College Westchester careers, transferring to four-year institutions, pivoting to 3 new roles in their fields, and finding new opportunities in growing industries. With the world around us changing at an unprecedented rapid pace, we must continuously consider how best to prepare students for teamwork, technology adaptations across industries, resilience, innovation, continuous learning, and other demands they will face in the e have experienced a number of signif icant workplace and during future learning. breakthroughs this past year at Westchester Community College, working continuously to W Our students are graduating more quickly and at a higher improve learning, services, and opportunities for students. percentage than at any time in our recent history. As New funding resources, new partnerships, and new we look forward to our future, including the up coming approaches to how we work together position us well for our anniversary, we hope you will enjoy this report of our recent forthcoming 75th anniversary in 2021, and makes this the achievements and our exciting plans to achieve even more. perfect time to consider the future of our institution. OUR SIZE AND SCOPE PUTS US IN A POSITION TO MAKE A TREMENDOUS Dr. Belinda S. Miles IMPACT ON THE LIVES OF MANY President LOCAL RESIDENTS. Westchester Community College ICHOLAS SINGH immigrated to the United States from the Ntwin islands of Trinidad and Tobago in 2016. In his first semester, he earned a perfect 4.0 grade point average and began his involvement in student activities, hosting a segment featuring Caribbean music on the college radio station, WARY 88.1. He became a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and later was elected to the college’s Board of Trustees, representing the student body on the governing board of the institution. “My main objective on the board was to encourage the holistic development 4 of all students. I believe in helping them achieve excellence by provid- ing a suitable environment and in giving them a true voice,” he says. Nicholas earned his associate degree in Engineering Science in May of last year and then moved on to the University at Buffalo, a four-year State University of New Westchester Community College Westchester York institution where he is working toward a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering. After that, he plans to earn a master’s degree in Structural Engineering. “Ultimately, I would like to establish an engineering firm in the United States and travel to developing world countries to help expand their infrastructure,” he says. STUDENT SUCCESS The college’s increased focus on student success has resulted in dramatic inroads which have positively affected the graduation rate. There has been a 42% increase in this key metric over the past three years. Efforts that have contributed to this marked increase include: Westchester Community College Westchester Establishing systems and resources to identify A new privately funded 12th grade “Step Up and support targeted cohorts of students closest to College” initiative allowed our faculty to 5 to completion including: consult and align high school exit criteria with 2 college entrance standards. k new completion scholarships k additional resources such as completion coaches k the institution of a winter completion ceremony 1 Analyzing and reducing time to degree completion, k new reverse transfer process students are placed in math and English courses k an increase in the number of transfer through participation in a Community College agreement pathways to four-year institutions. 3 Research Center Multiple Measures study. In addition to the various additional resources and institutional changes that have resulted in a higher graduation rate, the college has also implemented new efforts to increase engagement with incoming students. For example, the Admissions Office now hosts “Accepted Student Day” events to help students acclimate to the college. The expansion of our orientation program, which includes a variety of programs intended to give new students an overview of the institution, assures that those facing college for the first time are empowered with the knowledge they need to succeed. FOCUS ON THE FUTURE The past year brought new activities and projects to the table, as the college, our faculty, and our students received recognition for their achievements. 6 In April, more than 100 individuals gathered for the college’s Professor Anne D’Orazio led a group of students to Rome, Westchester Community College Westchester first Vision and Values Summit. Faculty, staff, students and where they explored the culture and political atmosphere of administrators met in the college’s gymnasium for a review the Italian capital. The student led “Making a Difference Club” of possible focus areas for the future. This ongoing process volunteered their break time to serve food in soup kitchens of reflection is set to continue as the college community around the county. Meanwhile, eight students presented collectively evaluates the direction of the institution. their scholarly work at the prestigious 26th annual Beacon Conference for two-year colleges in the mid-Atlantic region, One topic discussed at the summit was our ability to affect held at Montgomery College in Germantown, Maryland. both the lives of our students and the larger community Students Paula Abila, Nancy Elsohafy, Clorissa Gioscia, Jason through special projects. Over spring break, students focused Gregory, Julia Guyon, John Kelley, Avery Kendall and Kenneth on alleviating food insecurity as well as enrichment through Sandoval showcased their academic writing in the topics of international travel and academic development. business, literature, and philosophy. HRISTINE FILS AIME has her sights set on a bachelors, Cmasters, and ultimately a doctoral degree in Industrial-Organi- zational Psychology. This path began with her associate degree here in Valhalla. One of several Westchester Community College student winners of a prestigious State University of New York Chancellors Award, she pursued her passion for community involvement and personal growth through a variety of activities here. A first-generation Haitian-American student, she credits Gandhi’s “Be the change you want to see in the world” quote for inspiring her to affect her environment. “So many opportuni- Community College Westchester ties have enabled me to pursue my 7 lifelong goal of committing to positive change. Growth within me results in growth in others around me, because if I act as a catalyst to change, then my peers will be affected also. Together, we can then unleash unlimited possibilities in this world,” she says. While at the college, Christine worked with Rotary International, served as the Multicultural Chair on the college’s student events board, and was also a member of the senate of the student government association. In addition, she created an entrepreneurial inde- pendent study program for students. Christine graduated in May ‘18 and is continuing her studies at Howard University. NGEL CABRERA PEREIRA is an international student Afrom Paraguay pursuing a career in medicine that will bridge his love for science and helping others. “At Westchester Commu- nity College, I started by tutoring classmates, a stepping stone that helped me grow my confidence as an educator. Then I worked as a peer mentor for students with learning disabilities. I later volunteered as a peer tutor through the college’s Science Tutorial, and I became a teaching assistant and peer tutor for college-level English,” he says. “I am proud of who I am. I have always worked hard to accomplish 8 my goals, and the many opportu- nities offered to me as a student helped me tremendously. I hope my passion, determination, and discipline will lead to future success. I start each day determined to do what I am most passionate about: to learn and teach,” he says. A Phi Theta Kappa All-New York Westchester Community College Westchester Academic Scholar, Angel graduated in May ‘18 and received a full-tuition transfer scholarship, where he is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry. Angel hopes to become a neurologist or a cardiologist. BUILDING BRIDGES The college entered a multi-year partnership with Berkeley College and Guizhou University of Finance and Economics (GUFE) in China. 68 students from Guizhou resided in White Plains to earn part or all of their Bachelor’s degrees through study at Berkeley College. Westchester Community College offered English as a Second Language (ESL) courses to those students who required ESL instruction. Community College Westchester 9 Song Zhao, Vice President of GUFE and Party Secretary at GUFE, and his team visited Westchester Community College. They discussed the benefits of the educational collaboration between GUFE and Berkeley College and Westchester Community College.