News
M&T Bank Supports Students
![](http://www.sunywcc.edu/cms/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/MT_bank-300x225.jpg)
Once again, M&T Bank grants the Westchester Community College Foundation $10,000 renewing their scholarship support. The M&T Bank Scholarships are awarded to students enrolled in business curricula who demonstrate community involvement, academic achievement, and financial need. Since 2013, thirteen students have benefited from their generosity. This year another four students have been selected for the fall 2018 semester.
Frank Micalizzi, Regional President and Steve Cavazuti, VP for Government Banking presented the donation on behalf of M & T Bank. The WCC Foundation is grateful for M&T Bank’s loyal support.
Westchester Community College provides accessible, high quality and affordable education to meet the needs of our diverse community. We are committed to student success, academic excellence, workforce development, economic development and lifelong learning.
President’s Forum
Hundreds attended the Westchester Community College Foundation’s annual President’s Forum. Leading journalists, academics, and commentators joined WNYC’s Brian Lehrer in analyzing the state of the nation, post-midterm election. See our photo gallery here:
Professor honored at YWCA Mover and Shaker Event
Biology Professor Margaret Eiden was honored at the recent YWCA Mover and Shaker ceremony. Her many local contributions resulted in the Westchester County Board of Legislators proclaiming October 18, 2018 as Dr. Margaret Eiden Day. Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins announced that Dr. Eiden received the same honor on a statewide basis. Senator Shelley B. Mayer honored Dr. Eiden for exemplary service to New York State and the New York State Assembly recognized Dr. Eiden as an outstanding citizen. A Certificate of Achievement was presented to Dr. Eiden by Congresswoman Nita M. Lowey. Meanwhile, the city of White Plains awarded a Certificate of Recognition to the professor for her commitment to eliminate racism, empower women and promote peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all. At the event, Instructor Toni D’Onofrio led a team from the college’s Culinary Arts Department which shared various delectable edibles with the members of the White Plains community who attended the event.
College receives largest federal grant in its history
WESTCHESTER COMMUNITY COLLEGE RECEIVES LARGEST FEDERAL GRANT IN ITS HISTORY; $2.7 MILLION TO TRANSFORM STUDENT EXPERIENCE
Westchester Community College has received the largest federal grant in its history with $2.7 million (over five years) directed toward supporting students in their efforts to succeed academically and move on to careers and further education. Congresswoman Nita Lowey, ranking member of the House Appropriations Committee, made the announcement on October 3, 2018. The federal grant was awarded through the U.S. Department of Education’s Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions (DHSI) Program.
“This historic grant provides much needed resources to transform the student experience to meet the real needs of today’s learners. With this tremendous award for Caminos al Exito (Pathways to Success), we will be able to scale effective high-impact, evidence-based practices to support all students, expand academic support, modernize our approach to counseling and advising, and get students to the credentials they need for the future,” says Dr. Belinda S. Miles, President, Westchester Community College.
The grant to fund the Caminos al Exito (Pathways to Success) Program will empower our faculty and staff to support students who seek to complete their academic programs and transfer to four-year institutions or start their careers after graduation.
The grant will enable the college to:
- Redesign the college experience, moving students from access to completion or transfer.
- Create an Office of First Year Students providing new students with a strong start, enabling them to accelerate their progress toward graduation.
- Put students into pathways based upon individual career or transfer interests.
- Infuse the latest technology thereby creating high-performing and efficient systems supporting student success.
In addition to funding new initiatives, the grant will also empower faculty, staff and administrators to leverage and build upon our innovative and high impact work already underway.
The grant will assist the college as a best-in-class, high-performing higher education institution meeting the demands of the 21st century workforce. This record-breaking grant follows several significant recent investments including public and private grants: Laura and John Arnold Foundation funding for replicating CUNY’s ASAP Program for student completion; CCAMPIS support for student-parents; National Science Foundation grants for STEM students; nearly $1 million from a private donor for technology advancements; and the Westchester Community College Foundation’s recent doubling of scholarship support to $2 million annually. The Department of Education grant will help the college bring several of these efforts to scale in addition to funding new programs.
Leading journalists on Nov. 11 State of the Nation panel
Former White House spokesperson joins discussion on current political climate.
View the details here: http://www.sunywcc.edu/events/presidents-forum/
If interested in attending visit: http://www.sunywcc.edu/about/foundation/foundation-special-events/presidents-forum/
President Miles among Westchester’s most influential people.
In a recent article on the City and State New York magazine website, President Dr. Belinda S. Miles made the top ten in a list of the most influential people in Westchester:
Listed as #9: President, Westchester Community College
Belinda Miles is president of Westchester Community College, which serves more than 26,000 students in one of the nation’s largest metropolitan areas. Miles is deeply committed to student success and completion, having worked with faculty and staff to achieve a 42 percent increase in the community college’s three-year graduation rate and has overseen the largest graduating classes in its 72-year history. Since taking the reins of the SUNY school in 2015, her leadership has contributed to WCC being selected as a member of the Achieving the Dream network of community colleges committed to improved student outcomes and as one of two institutions selected nationally for a $1 million award in support of accelerated associate degree programs.
Miles is deeply involved in the community as well, serving on many boards, including The Business Council of Westchester and the Westchester-Putnam Workforce Development Board. Miles has been described as a great motivator who gets results. She is a highly regarded regional and national presenter on a range of topics, including community colleges as a disruptive innovation in academia that fosters an equitable and inclusive democracy.
New Workforce Certification Programs
Are you someone who works as a Contractor, Painter, General Renovator, Electrician, Plumber, Carpenter, Cabinet Installer, or a Property Manager?
If so, you may be interested in Westchester Community College’s Workforce Development and Community Education certificate or licensing programs:
- NYS EPA Lead Certification
- NYS Mold Assessor, Remediator, & Worker Licensing Courses
- Mold Abatement Worker license
- Mold Remediator Contractor
- Mold Assessor
Library Adds Graphic Novels
Ka-pow! . . . Patrons may browse these books next to the Paperback Collection, or search for individual titles in the Library Catalog: Collection Graphic Novels, 1st Floor. See a growing list here.
And, for the uninitiated, we now present a primer on the world of sequential fiction/non-fiction . . .
Manga, Comics, or Graphic Novels?
You may use the Japanese term manga interchangeably with the American term graphic novel. Manga is typically published in series, which may include many volumes to tell a complete story. A majority of English translations of manga carry over the original artwork, only replacing the words.
Isn’t this “kid stuff”?
Not necessarily. The themes in graphic novels can be highly sophisticated, portraying complex historical events and philosophical ideas. They also employ literary devices like allusion, satire, understatement, hyperbole, etc. . . .
Should I read a graphic novel or a regular one?
Both are recommended! Each genre has its own unique qualities. The visual aspects of storytelling, including time and motion, story closure (the idea that a reader fills in unspoken blanks), and the psychology of line styles and color make graphic novels appealing as a hybrid format.
Who drew the first graphic novel?
Shrugs . . . maybe it was the Egyptians and their hieroglyphs?
For information or to make title suggestions, please contact Librarian Josh Weber at joshua.weber@sunywcc.edu; x6819.
Further Reading:
Kraska, Jake. “The Psychology of Comic Books: Why We Worship Superheroes.” Lateral Magazine, 3 Aug. 2015.
McCloud, Scott. Understanding Comics. William Morrow, 1994.
Mitchell, W. J. T., de Almeida, Eduardo, and Reynolds, Rebecca. “Theories of Media Glossary: ‘Graphic Novel,‘” University of Chicago. Feb. 2004.
Osicki, Jody. “Sequential Art Proliferates: Spotlight on Graphic Novels.” Library Journal, Library Journal , 19 June 2018.
Thomas, Grant. “Thinking Inside the Boxes: The Importance of Comic Books and Graphic Novels in Visual Arts Education.” Visual Arts Research, vol. 38, no. 1, 2012, p. 64+. Academic OneFile.