State of the College / Foundation Annual Report

SUNY GUIDED PATHWAYS GRANT The SUNY Guided Pathways initiative is a small grant with a big vision: to implement coherent academic and career pathways and learning experiences in Business, STEM, Health, and Liberal Arts. The college is implementing a first-year seminar to support students in their transition to college and in their future career and transfer opportunities. When complete, the project will transform students’ learning experiences by helping them to choose a path and to complete that path through graduation. STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK APPLIED LEARNING GRANTS A major investment of $170,000 from SUNY is yielding exciting benefits for students by providing hands-on, experiential career-based learning opportunities through the college’s new Center for Applied Learning and Career Education. The initiative is initially strengthening school- based pathways in Health Sciences. Non-clinical internships in health are being developed to support a proposed new Community Health Worker certificate program. Expanded applied learning opportunities in Business, Criminal Justice, Environmental Science and Paralegal are also being developed alongside a program designed to facil- itate job readiness. The expansion of credit-bearing and approved non-credit internships, in conjunction with a robust career-focused first year student experience, will better prepare graduates to enter the workforce. NEW YORK STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT PERKINS IV GRANT The Perkins grant provides program enhancements for students in career and technical majors in fields such as health science, business, computer information systems and cybersecurity, applied engineering, fashion design and culinary studies. Funded at $629,000 in 2018-19, the grant supports students in career and technical programs, empowering them to stay enrolled and complete their degrees, acquire industry relevant skills, and prepare for job placement or transfer. This grant also ensures support is available for career and technical students with disabil- ities or who are pursuing careers non-traditional for their gender. This year the Perkins grant formalized a calendar for monitoring student success and providing at-risk and on-track support for career and technical students, provided special supports for those with disabilities, and provided targeted counseling and coaching for students pursuing business, cybersecurity, and health care majors. 2020 State of the College & Foundation Annual Report 12 www.sunywcc.edu 13 STRENGTHENING CAREER-FOCUSED OFFERINGSTHROUGH NEWGRANTS