Westchester Community College, State University of New York

Recruitment for Fall 2024 is open! If you are interested in joining the Viking ROADS program, please fill out our online: Application here.

Leonore Rodrigues (Director) has been an educator for over 20 years, working as an ESL instructor in various schools before coming to Westchester Community College in 2004. She has worked mainly as an adjunct professor in the Department of English, Reading, and ESL, and in the Academic Support Center before becoming an academic counselor and director of Viking ROADS in 2018. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Linguistics from the University of Florida, and an M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction and a TESOL Certificate from the University of Pittsburgh. She is dedicated to helping students succeed in achieving their goals at WCC.

Michelle Velasquez (Counselor) has been working at Westchester Community College as an Academic Counselor since 2014. She attended John Jay College of Criminal Justice where she received an Associates in Criminal Justice and a Bachelor's in Forensic Psychology. She then attended Long Island University where she completed her Master's degree as a Bilingual School Counselor. She has been working in the Viking ROADS program since 2019. She enjoys working one on one with students and getting to know each one personally. She finds it gratifying to see her students grow and graduate from the Viking ROADS program.

Alexandria Schaefer (Counselor) has been working at Westchester Community College as an Academic Counselor since July 2022. She attended SUNY Oneonta where she received her Bachelors of Science in Adolescent Education (Social Studies) and then completed her Masters of Arts at Stony Brook University in Higher Education Administration. She loves supporting and helping students navigate through their college journey, and find success in all their endeavors.

Kathleen de la Garza (Counselor) has been working in higher education for over ten years as a counselor and adjunct professor. She holds a BA in History, an MA in International Relations, and an MS in Education. Kathleen has worked with a variety of student types including service members deployed to the Middle East. She loves connecting with students and helping them achieve their personal and educational goals.

Marcela Insuasty (Counselor) joined the Viking ROADS team recently after working with non-traditional students at LaGuardia Community College in Queens for 8 years. She holds a bachelor's degree in Social Work from Cundinamarca University in Colombia and studied English as a Second Language at Hunter College CUNY (IELI) program. She really enjoys supporting students from diverse backgrounds on their academic goals in college.

Christine Rogers (Counselor) has been working at Westchester Community College as an Academic Counselor since January 2024. She attended Central Connecticut State University where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and her Master of Science in School Counselor Education. She enjoys helping students gain the skills needed to be successful for their future and supporting them throughout their educational experience.

• A dedicated academic counselor
  You will be assigned to a Viking ROADS counselor for your entire time at WCC. Your counselor will be your first resource for academic guidance as well as general support to keep you on track to graduate on time.
• Financial assistance with tuition
  If you receive some money from the federal or state aid programs but it doesn’t cover your tuition, VR will cover the rest. Note: if you do not qualify for Financial Aid, you are still eligible for Viking ROADS.
• An annual textbook voucher
  A stipend of $500 per year (split between Fall and Spring) from our college bookstore is offered to all Viking ROADS students, regardless of financial aid status.
• A monthly transportation stipend
  Financial assistance for transportation is offered in the form of a monthly $50 voucher to be used at the college bookstore to purchase a gas card or a Metro card. This voucher is offered during the Fall and Spring semesters.
• Reserved seats in classes in the first year
  Seats in select first-year courses are reserved especially for Viking ROADS students. This helps ensure enrollment in necessary classes and also allows students to form connections to other Viking ROADS students and professors who work closely with Viking ROADS counselors.
• Opportunity to take part in the Mercy STEM Scholars program
  WCC has partnered with Mercy College to support students interested in STEM careers, and to guide students towards transfer opportunities for students in specific majors. See “Mercy STEM Scholars” tab for more information.

• Meet with the dedicated counselor regularly
  It is important to establish a connection with your counselor early and continue regular contact throughout your time at WCC. Viking ROADS students meet with their counselor twice a month during their first semester. After that, the number of required meetings will be determined according to students’ needs.

• Fulfill any required developmental coursework within the first year
  Completing development courses in the first year ensures you can keep making progress towards your degree. If you need to take a developmental course in Math and/or English, your counselor will make sure you are enrolled in these classes in your first semester and are connected to our Academic Support Center for required tutoring.

• Attend mandated tutoring for developmental courses and failed credit courses
  In the case you do not pass an English, Math, or Science class, it will be necessary to enroll in that class in the following semester and get support from our Academic Support Center tutors to ensure you pass the second time.

• Enroll in full time study until completion
  To ensure you can graduate on time, it is necessary to maintain full-time enrollment. We encourage Viking ROADS students to take 15 credits in the Fall and Spring semesters, and to enroll in summer classes when possible.

• Attend regular workshops
  Attendance at college workshops or ROADS-sponsored events is a way to get important information about the college, help arrange your financial aid/transfer/career plans, and meet other Viking ROADS students. They may sometimes fulfill a counselor appointment for that month.

• Apply for financial aid each year
  Your financial aid application allows us to determine who is eligible for our tuition assistance. It is also how you can be considered for college scholarships.

Check Your Eligibility Here

Potential Viking ROADS students must:

1. Be a New York State resident
2. Be a first-time student in college or a continuing/ transfer student with no more than 18 credits and at least a 2.0 GPA
3. Enroll in an eligible major (see below):
4. Need no more than two developmental courses
5. Willing to enroll in full-time study

The Viking ROADS program is open to students in all A.A., A.S., and A.A.S. degree programs except the following:

• Nursing
• Paramedic
• Radiologic Technology
• Respiratory Care
• Veterinary Technology

Click here for information about WCC’s academic programs

To apply to Viking ROADS as a new or transfer student:

1. Apply to Westchester Community College as a first time or transfer student
2. Determine your Math and Writing course placement. Most students will do this by taking the Self-Directed Placement Questionnaire. However, you can also determine placement if you have waiver based on course grades, transfer credits, or qualifying SAT, ACT or regents scores. Please submit your official high school transcripts and college transcripts (if applicable) as well as any College Board scores to help identify any waivers.
   
   If you do not have any waivers, please do the Questionnaire as soon as you can. You can find information about remote testing procedures here.
3. Fill out a Viking ROADS application form
4. Attend a Viking ROADS information session or speak with a ROADS Team member to check eligibility and learn about next steps. (See Updates tab for any scheduled information sessions. If there is no information, please check your college email for any communication or contact vikingroads@sunywcc.edu)
5. Attend the ROADS New Student Launch (held in August or January) and sign the program contract.
6. Financial aid: while submitting a FAFSA it is not a requirement to join ROADS, we cannot offer our tuition assistance if you do not receive some financial aid. It is recommended that you submit your FAFSA and TAP applications as soon as possible.

If you are a continuing student with no more than 18 credits and at least a 2.0 GPA:

1. Fill out a Viking ROADS application form
2. Attend a Viking ROADS information session or speak with a ROADS Team member to check eligibility and learn about next steps. (See Updates tab for any scheduled information sessions. If there is no information, please check your college email for any communication or contact vikingroads@sunywcc.edu)
3. Attend the ROADS New Student Launch (held in August or January) and sign the program contract.
4. Financial aid: while submitting a FAFSA it is not a requirement to join ROADS, we cannot offer our tuition assistance if you do not receive some financial aid. It is recommended that you submit your FAFSA and TAP applications as soon as possible.