2014-2015 Review of Accomplishments
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officer, individuals from the College attended his press conference to bring
attention to the U.S. House of representatives’ effort to freeze Pell funding.
Six of our students attended the press conference, including the Board’s Student
Trustee Gardy Amilcar. Two of our students spoke about the impact such an
action would have on their ability to afford college.
• To gain a better local understanding of this issue, the College hosted a public
hearing in April at the Michael J. Grant Campus. Presiding officer Gregory, and
the Chair of the Legislature’s Higher education and information Technology
Committee, Sarah Anker, received presentations from administrators representing
Stony Brook University and Suffolk County Community College. e elected
officials also heard moving testimony regarding what such aid cuts would mean
to students if implemented. A number of media outlets picked up on the story,
including the local affiliate of National Public radio.
• i was invited by the New York State Assembly republican members from Suffolk
and Nassau counties to provide testimony at a budget hearing on Governor
Cuomo’s 2015-2016 executive Budget proposal.
• in March, i was interviewed by ernie fazio on Long island News radio.
we discussed why Suffolk County Community College is a wise first choice for
graduating high school seniors, the economic impact our institution has on the
local economy, and our contributions to workforce development and meeting
the demands of Long island employers.
• Under the direction of Trustee eresa Sanders, President and Ceo of the Urban
League of Long island and Board of Trustees Chair, and in collaboration with
the New York State Association of Urban League executives, the Urban League
hosted a contingency of Suffolk students as part of the New York State Associa-
tion of Black and Puerto rican Legislators Conference in Albany. During this
event, students had the opportunity to meet legislators and advocate for the College.
• i joined two busloads of students and administrators from the College who
travelled to the New York State Capitol in Albany on March 4
th
, for SUNY
Advocacy Day. our 62 students broke into small groups and covered the
Capitol. ey advocated before members of the state legislature seeking
increased State Base Aid per full-Time equivalent student, support for
community college child care center appropriations, and the reclaiming the
Promise initiative, asking our elected officials to provide the percentage amount
of financial support to community colleges that is written into law. Suffolk was
the only institution to attend with student ambassadors. our students visited
every Assemblyperson from the Long island delegation, as well as most of Long
island’s Senators, including Ken Lavalle, Chair of the Senate’s Higher education
Committee. rough a personal connection, our students were also able to meet
with the Assembly’s newly elected Speaker, Carl Heastie. e students
represented our institution well and they were warmly received.
• During the summer, i joined area higher education leaders and Suffolk County
Legislator Sarah Anker and Presiding officer Duwayne Gregory at a news
conference hosted by the Long island regional Advisory Council for Higher
education (LirACHe) at SUNY farmingdale. is most recent press event is
the latest in a series of public sessions where i have joined elected officials and
other prominent education leaders to discuss the importance of the Pell Grant
program to our students. As part of the event, LirACHe announced its release
of a report on the impact that proposed program cuts or a 10-year Pell Grant
freeze would have on Long island students. To emphasize the impact of this
program, according to the report, at least one of every 100 Pell Grant recipients
in the nation, are from Long island.
Pell
Grants
Student Trustee Gardy Amilcar played an active role in the
College’s advocacy efforts, representing the student body.
An interview on L.I. News Radio featured the total impact
that Suffolk County Community College has on our region.
