Strategic Planning Next Steps: Updating the Mission and Vision Statements
Last year, Dr. Bonahue and the Strategic Planning Council (SPC) engaged the college community in identifying a set of shared values, institutional goals and strategic objectives that now form the basis of the college's 2022-2027 Strategic Plan. This year, in addition to aligning our operational planning with these priorities, our community has an exciting opportunity to reimagine both the college's mission and vision statements. These statements were developed in 2005 and reaffirmed with slight revisions in 2012.
Understanding that mission and vision statements help to shape an entity's present and future, the college community will work to revise both statements through a collaborative effort led by the SPC. In addition to conducting a brainstorming session at its October 13th SPC meeting, a mission and vision subcommittee was formed, with members that include administrators, governance leaders, and faculty. The subcommittee has begun considering how we might re-articulate our "mission" (who we are, what we do, and who we serve), as well as our "vision" (our highest aspirations for the college). The group's first meeting was held on Wednesday, October 26th, and a proposed list of outreach activities for the remainder of this academic year was discussed. At its November 10th meeting, the subcommittee finalized the list of outreach activities and engaged in a mission and vision activity based on a toolkit designed by the Society for College and University Planning (SCUP). The responses provided by the subcommittee will form the basis of draft mission and vision statements to be presented to the college community for its input in spring 2023. Similar to last year, all members of the college community will be encouraged to participate in Calls to Conversations and surveys to assist in further crafting the college's new mission and vision statements.
It's crucial to hear from all voices throughout the college community during this process. View the Strategic Plan microsite for updates as they happen.
College Selected by Amazon as an Education Partner for the Career Choice Program
SUNY Suffolk has been selected as an education partner for Amazon's Career Choice Program. Through this partnership, the college will welcome eligible hourly Amazon employees as they start or continue their path to career success through higher education. Amazon's Career Choice program is an education benefit that is available to hourly full-time and part-time Amazon employees who have worked for the company for at least 90 continuous days. Employees can choose to pursue programs in information technology, healthcare, business, and mechanical and skilled trades. The program meets individual learners on their journey through a variety of education and upskilling opportunities, including pre-paid college tuition, industry certifications designed to lead to in-demand jobs, foundational skills such as English language proficiency and high school completion. In the U.S., the company is investing $1.2 billion to upskill more than 300,000 employees by 2025 to help move them into higher paying, in-demand jobs. The program has a rigorous selection process for partner educators, choosing partners that are focused on helping employees through their education programs, assisting them with job placements, and offering education that leads to career success.
Q&A with Shannon O'Neill, College Director of Veteran Services
Q: Military-connected students are an important cohort at Suffolk County Community College. What has the college done this year to honor veterans?
In October, a group from the college met with senior leadership from the 106th Rescue Wing at Francis S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base in Westhampton Beach. This was Dr. Bonahue's first visit to the base, where he was able to tour the base facilities as well as the 102nd rescue wing, which includes pararescue jumpers and special ops teams. This partnership has been in place for the past six years and enables the college to offer its courses on the base, proving to be a consistent source of enrollment for the college, while providing opportunities for the members of the base to be eligible for promotion.
Leading up to Veterans Day 2022, the college hosted numerous events to honor veterans, including a demonstration by pararescue jumpers on how to make a paracord survival bracelet; film screenings of Letters From Iwo Jima; a Vietnam Veterans panel; a demonstration on the life of a service member - their food, their gear and uniforms; as well as a national asset truck from the U.S. Army demonstrating robotics and STEM opportunities in the military. The Student Veterans club also held a very successful boot camp event on both the Ammerman and Michael J. Grant campuses allowing students to complete physical challenges based on the military basic training requirements.
On November 9th, students, faculty and staff gathered to honor all who served at the Veterans Plaza on the Ammerman and Michael J. Grant campuses.
Q: Has SUNY Suffolk been honored for its efforts to assist our student veterans?
I am happy to share that Suffolk County Community College was included in the 2022 Military Times Best for Vets survey for the fourth consecutive year. The College ranked 152 out of 311 recognized colleges from across the country, ranking 16th in the northeast region and 21st among community colleges in the nation. We are so proud to once again receive this designation.
Q: Is there anything new on campus for student veterans?
We recently opened up new Veterans Resource Centers in Kreiling Hall on Ammerman and in Captree Commons on the Michael J. Grant Campus. These resource centers are staffed with professionals who are experts in VA education benefits and are available to assist students with the transition from military to college life and beyond. The space also offers a quiet place to study, a computer lab and a student lounge.
New Scholarships Ensure Enhanced Student Access
This year, nine students are attending SUNY Suffolk thanks to a scholarship donation of $37,500 from Suffolk Credit Union. Since partnering with the college and the Foundation three years ago, the Credit Union has sponsored 23 scholars, through contributions totaling $93,000. Award recipients are selected annually based upon academic achievement, extracurricular activities, community involvement and essays.
Suffolk students Amy Mata and Emily Lucana have been named 2022 Coca-Cola Leaders of Promise Scholars and will each receive a $1,000 scholarship. The pair are among 207 Phi Theta Kappa members selected nationwide from more than 1,300 applicants. These exceptional students were selected based on scholastic achievement, community service, and leadership potential. The Coca-Cola Leaders of Promise Scholarship Program helps new Phi Theta Kappa members defray educational costs while enrolled in associate degree programs and encourages the students to assume leadership roles on campus.
Last this month, the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) announced the establishment of a new community college scholarship program. The LIPA Scholarship is a five-year, $350,000 commitment to provide funding for a total of 50 scholars attending either Nassau or Suffolk County Community College. The scholarship will cover the cost of tuition and fees for full-time students seeking to earn an associate degree or certificate that will help them pursue a career in the electric utility or clean energy sectors. LIPA scholars attending SUNY Suffolk will be able to pursue education and training in careers related to the utility industry, such as cybersecurity, engineering science, electrical technology, HVAC/R, and information technology.
Two EAC Clients Honored by New York State as Entrepreneurs-of-the-Year
Two clients from the college's Entrepreneurial Assistance Center (EAC) have been recognized as Entrepreneurs-of-the-Year by the New York State Entrepreneurship Center of the Empire State Development Corporation. Congratulations to local business owners Joy Lloegbu and Yolanda Valdes.
As a child in Nigeria, Joy Lloegbu fell from her chair, split her tongue, and did not speak for nearly six years. She was eventually left with a lifelong speech impediment that made it difficult for people to understand her. However, her spirit was not deterred, and she resolved to work "150% harder" to achieve success. In 2017, Ms. Lloegbu sought counsel from the college's EAC. In relatively short order, she became certified as a Minority and Women Owned Business Enterprise (MWOBE) and her company grew from $30,000 to $300,000 in revenue. Her company is now on track to become a million-dollar business by the end of this year. She describes the technical assistance that she received through the EAC as "magical." Now, as the owner of Baldwin-based Professional Home Care Services, she uses her voice and skills to provide intentional and compassionate companion care for hospice patients and those with developmental disabilities.
Inspired by the scale of the rebuilding necessary following Hurricane Sandy, Yolanda Valdes started Empower Contracting, Inc., a full-service general contracting firm with one employee and one contract worth $7,384. In 2019, she enrolled in a 60-hour entrepreneurial training program offered through the college's EAC and tied for first-place in the program's Business Plan Competition. Fast forward to 2022, and the Bay Shore-based business has expanded to six employees and $1 million in revenues. As an alumna of the EAC and SUNY Suffolk, Ms. Valdes honors her community by actively mentoring others and participating in EAC-sponsored panels aimed at inspiring women and helping local entrepreneurs.
The college is proud to note that in 2019 and 2021, two other EAC clients were similarly recognized.
The Entrepreneurial Assistance Program is a 60-hour training program created to assist entrepreneurs with starting or expanding their businesses. Special effort is made to recruit and select minorities, women, dislocated workers and persons with disabilities. Click this link to learn more about the college's Entrepreneurial Assistance Program.
New Certificate Programs Now Available at Suffolk
SUNY Suffolk has a well-earned reputation for helping Long Islanders enhance their careers. In response to employer demands to build the pipeline of trained workers, the college is actively developing a series of short-term, employment-oriented certificates. The newest certificates being offered by the college are programs in Medical Assisting and Solar Installation.
Medical Assisting Program
Partnering with Catholic Health and the Suffolk County Department of Labor, SUNY Suffolk has launched a new Clinical Medical Assistant Program that provides students with a great opportunity to earn a certificate and enter a rewarding health care occupation. Delivered through a 380-hour curriculum of four modules offered primarily online-inclusive of an 80-hour internship-students are able to complete this program in seven-and-a-half months. The program, offered through the college's Office of Continuing Education, has the lowest cost-and shortest time to completion-for any Medical Assistant program available in our region. Upon completion, students are be eligible to sit for the NHA (National Healthcareer Association) Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) exam for certification as a Medical Assistant, able to work in a private medical office, clinic, hospital or other ambulatory care setting. Catholic Health will actively recruit graduates from this program and students could be employed as a Medical Assistant at Catholic Health within months of program completion. The program, which has garnered tremendous attention, launched in November with a class of 13 students. For more information, visit sunysuffolk.edu/ma.
Solar Installer
This 50-hour course takes only four weeks to complete and is offered on the Michael J. Grant Campus. Our first cohort of 13 students began on October 18th and finished on November 10th. Tuition for all these students was fully covered as part of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) grant received from the Department of Labor, which has already agreed to fund the next class, as well. That class begins in early March.
Program participants learn the latest in solar technology from industry experts and earn both an OSHA 10 Certificate and a Suffolk County Community College Certificate of Completion. Participating partner companies include SUNation, Empower Solar, Greentech Renewables, and NYSEIA. Several other companies have indicated they would like to participate in a "job fair" for students who complete the program.
Information Technology Staff Recognition
The SUNY Suffolk Enterprise Applications team received the Student Information and Campus Administrative Systems (SICAS) Award for innovation and collaboration at the SICAS conference this past October. Christopher Blake, Director of Enterprise Applications, and Adam Bailey, Assistant Director of Enterprise Applications, were awarded the Bette Frisino Award, which is presented to those who provide the highest level of campus support to SICAS that translates into resolution of issues for all Banner campuses. Our team members worked diligently to troubleshoot instances where Brightspace data was not uploading using the script provided by SICAS. For days, SICAS was unable to resolve the issue, but our team prevailed, delivering a resolution to SICAS they were able to incorporate into a patch for by all Banner campuses.
Dr. Edward Martinez Selected for SUNY 2023 Hispanic Leadership Institute Class
Dr. Edward Martinez, Associate Dean for Student Affairs and Deputy Title IX Coordinator on the Ammerman Campus, has been chosen as part of nine emerging Hispanic/Latinx leaders within the SUNY System and will serve on the 2023 Hispanic Leadership Institute (HLI) class. It is the sixth class since the program began in 2018.
HLI is a rigorous six-month experience for SUNY leaders of Hispanic descent that provides an opportunity to further develop higher education leadership skills and proficiencies. Dr. Martinez will participate in training sessions, engage in conversations with national and statewide Hispanic leaders, and use personal assessment tools. HLI creates a pipeline for professional opportunities across SUNY, and ensures alumni are networking and receiving ongoing support and mentorship.
The college congratulates Dr. Martinez on being appointed to this program of distinction.
MicroMesters Motivate Students
During the fall semester, students continued to register for classes offered in the new MicroMester format.
MicroMesters are a great way to earn credits in a compressed time frame. The college is currently offering two 7.5-week MicroMesters within a traditional 15-week semester and some students may find MicroMester course material easier to recall for assignments and exams. Looking back through 15 weeks of notes and remembering key material can be stressful and time-consuming. With a MicroMester, students may more easily recall information for assignments and exams.
MicroMesters are offered in a variety of modalities, including blended, online and in traditional classroom settings. Students are encouraged to meet with an academic advisor before registering.
The new MicroMester format provide an opportunity for students to earn credits faster, focus on fewer courses and stay on track to graduation. During the fall 2022 semester, hundreds of SUNY Suffolk students were enrolled in MicroMester courses.
Wind Turbines on the Horizon
Last month, New York State Governor Kathy Hochul visited the Michael J. Grant Campus in Brentwood to announce a $9 million competitive opportunity to expanded offshore wind workforce development and training initiatives meant to prepare New Yorkers for high-growth jobs in this emerging clean energy industry. Her announcement also included details regarding acquisition of state-owned property near the college's Brentwood campus that will house a National Offshore Wind Training Center (NOWTC) funded by a $10 million investment by Sunrise Wind (a joint venture of Ørsted A/S and Eversource Energy), in partnership with Suffolk County Community College, the Long Island Federation of Labor/AFL-CIO, the Nassau and Suffolk Building and Construction Trades, International Brotherhood of Electric Workers, the Utility Workers Union of America, BlueGreen Alliance and Minority Millennials.
New Digital Sign Installed at Nicolls Road Entrance
A new digital LED sign has been installed near the Nicolls Road entrance to the Ammerman Campus in Selden. The costs associated with the new sign and its installation were covered as part of the multi-year naming rights agreement currently in place with the college, the Foundation and our partners at Suffolk Credit Union. The new sign provides the college the opportunity to share important news and event information with our students, as well as drivers and passengers in the estimated 80,000 vehicles that drive past the campus on Nicolls Road each day. The digital LED sign is supported by a newly designed structure that features the college's Sharks logo.
