2019-2020
SUNY Erie Annual Report 2019-2020
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A Message from Board of Trustee Chairman Lenihan When we began the 2019-20 academic year, the Board of Trustees and I, along with SUNY Erie’s faculty and staff, were ready for what promised to be an exciting year for our College. This past fall, we were eager to engage with the County Executive’s office on the Live Well Erie initiative and what that could mean not only for our students, but for the community at large. We celebrated student achievement both in and out of the classroom. We ended the fall semester in service to our students and the community, ready for what was on the horizon in 2020. Or, so we thought. There was only one thing certain about the new year: change was coming. We watched from afar as other parts of the world dealt with the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic. And, as the virus moved through our country, we shifted our focus to keeping our campus community safe, resulting in a mid-semester shift to a virtual learning environment. This was a monumental task and I want to commend our faculty, staff and students for their adaptability. We could not have accomplished it without their perseverance. Another big change for SUNY Erie in 2020 came with the departure of President Dan Hocoy who had been with the College since 2017. We are grateful to Dr. Hocoy for his service to the College and the work he did to move SUNY Erie forward, and we wish him well in his next endeavor. On July 1, we welcomed back to SUNY Erie Mr. William D. Reuter who has been appointed as our Interim President. Mr. Reuter will guide us through this transition until a new President is selected sometime in the future. As we wrap up the 2019-20 academic year, we can reflect on how much we have learned in the past year and use that knowledge to help in guiding the next chapter for SUNY Erie. April 4, 2021 marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of SUNY Erie. So, while uncertainty remains in our community and worldwide, one certainty remains at the College. We are proud to serve the residents of Erie County, and we will continue to provide our students the quality education they deserve.
Leonard Lenihan
Chairman, Board of Trustees 2 SUNY Erie Annual Report 2019-2020
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A Message from Interim President Reuter Since March, so much at our college and in our world has changed. The uncertainty to our students, staff, faculty and community since the COVID-19 pandemic hit continues even today. How will college instruction be provided, what are the K-12 schools doing, how will I provide for child care, will I go to work in person, what happens if positive test cases increase? These are just some of the many questions, without answers, we all face. Our students and employees face personal and professional challenges as we attempt to figure out what the new “norm� will be. Through these uncertain times, SUNY Erie is committed to providing a high quality academic and robust student service experience even if classes are delivered mainly through remote means. We will continue to ensure that the teaching and learning experience is not compromised from an educational or a health and safety perspective. We learned to adapt when the pandemic hit our region, quickly pivoting to deliver courses from in-person to remote. This adaptability and ability to pivot will be of paramount importance as we begin our fall semester on September 4, 2020, making sure we are diligent in monitoring the health and wellness of our college students, staff and faculty. We face continued challenges with our enrollment, which has and is exacerbated due to declining high school graduates and the effect of the pandemic, increasing competition in the local higher education landscape, and reductions in state funding. All of these challenges are nothing when it comes to protecting our community and doing everything within our power to stop the spread of the coronavirus. In closing, over 90% of our students come from Erie County and reside in the community upon graduation, contributing to the economic vitality of the region we call home. We are Erie County’s community college!
William D. Reuter
Interim President, SUNY Erie Community College
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Around Campus 4 SUNY Erie Annual Report 2019-2020
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“How Work has Changed: A Counselor’s Perspective”
By: Aimee Spahn, North Campus Department Chair & Principal Counselor Not long after our school buildings closed to students and staff the week of March 16, 2020, the counselors and mentors of the Student Support Centers at SUNY Erie Community college organized, strategized, and put into place, various new mechanisms to provide one-on-one advisement and referral services.
March 2020: The World Changed and So Did SUNY Erie It was March in Western New York. A time where we are hopeful that winter is coming to an end, and spring is just around the corner. But this was a March like no other. March 2020 marked the change to a world where our classes moved online. Where our staff created offices in corners of their homes to ensure we could stay connected to our students. Where our campuses were no longer a gathering spot. Where phrases like “novel coronavirus” and “social distancing” became part of daily conversation. Getting through the semester seemed almost improbable. But, as often happens in times of crisis, we adapted. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic forced all of us – faculty, staff and students – to be nimble and change our way of thinking. We learned patience. We learned to be creative and resourceful. We learned to support one another from a distance. We persevered. Our campuses and our outlook will likely never be the same in a post-COVID world. But as we enter our 75th year of existence as a college, the one certainty we can count on is that we will move forward. We are #SUNYErieStrong .
Counselor: “I just emailed you a link to join me on Webex meeting so that we can see each other live on video, and I can share my computer screen with you, so that we can make a decision together about which courses you’d like to take based on our remaining availability.” Freshman Student: “Alright, I logged into my email on my phone, and am pressing the green “Join Meeting” link now, thank you!” And just like that, with the click of a button, the miles between counselors and our student advisees, melted away. Immediate support became available to students with ease by the implementation of Webex meetings. With physical boundaries removed, we became close again, no masks required. Our eyes could meet, we could pick up on non-verbal cues otherwise hidden to us by phone or email (and later, masks), and wait lines fell by the wayside. To add, our unit became more efficient allowing us to service a record number of student appointments, nearly double those year after year, month after month. We also required that each of our professional staff had their personal office phone lines either forwarded to their home/cell phones, or that they began using Jabber software so that they could answer incoming phone calls on their work computers with the click of a mouse. SUNY Erie Annual Report 2019-2020
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We also removed hurdles for students by creating fillable online PDFs so that any of the processes we typically help students with in the office, could be completed online, including for instance, registering for classes, withdrawing from college, completing “Academic Forgiveness” procedures such as “Academic Appeals” and “Fresh Starts.”
SUNY Erie Celebrates 2020 Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Adjunct Teaching SUNY Erie Community College celebrates Mary Jo Graham, Adjunct Professor in Physics at South Campus, for receiving the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Adjunct Teaching. Graham was named a recipient in March. The Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Adjunct Teaching is in recognition of dedication, expertise and commitment to their students and their colleges. Recipients are models of professionalism while providing the highest quality of instruction.
During April and May, SUNY Erie admissions counselors and the Director of Admissions conducted five hour-long virtual information sessions with WNY guidance counselors. The sessions provided information about critical COVID-19 adjustments taking place in each of our Enrollment Management offices. Information included a simplified remote application and document acceptance process, new remote computerized placement testing and proctoring procedures, and an overview of SUNY Erie scholarships open to applicants. Financial Aid explained how prospective students can use the special circumstance form to report changes in family income due to COVID-19. The virtual sessions provided a forum for guidance counselors and SUNY Erie admissions counselors to have a conversation about college transition concerns and served as a much needed outreach to let our community know we are accessible and available to schools, students, and parents. By the completion of these 5 sessions, we met with 51 counselors and 35 unique high schools! In salutation, I leave you with Dear SUNY Erie Students, We miss you so much. Stay home, stay safe. We are all in this together. Please help stop the spread of Covid-19. Please let us help you. 6 SUNY Erie Annual Report 2019-2020
Certified Master Chinese Chefs Visit With SUNY Erie Culinary Students On Wednesday, October 30, SUNY Erie Community College’s Culinary department in cooperation with the University at Buffalo Confucius Institute welcomed Certified Master Chinese Chefs Ye Yuanlin and Yu Yongbin.
Chefs Ye and Yu held a morning program with 26 students where they demonstrated traditional Chinese cuisine, followed by an afternoon lecture and forum to discuss the differences in the cuisine from their individual provinces. The Culinary students tasted traditional food, practiced knife skills, and assisted with food preparation.
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Chef Ye Yuanlin is a member of the Master Chef Special Committee of the Chinese Cuisine Association with a specialization in Min Cuisine. Chef Yu Yongbin is Chairman of the Qingdao Yongbin Ecological Management Company with a specialization in Lu Cuisine. Both Chefs travel across the country to speak with students about Chinese cuisine and culture. The Confucius Institute was founded in 2004 as a public educational organization under the Ministry of Education of China. The first Institute in the United States was founded in 2005, and today, there are more than 100 locations across the country. Confucius Institutes offer programs to students about language and culture including Chinese calligraphy, painting, cooking, dance, and crafts.
the PGA Tour and Dick’s Sporting Goods. Since its inception more than 100,000 bags have been assembled and donated. This year was SUNY Erie’s second time participating with the previous event taking place at South Campus in March 2019.
SUNY Erie City Campus Takes Part in Random Act of Kindness Week
SUNY Erie City Campus Participates in SUNY’s Got Your Back SUNY Erie City Campus participated in the SUNY’s Got Your Back program this past November. During the event students, faculty and staff gathered to assemble comfort bags that contained much needed personal items for survivors of sexual and interpersonal violence across New York State. In a three-hour time block, volunteers assembled 1,000 bags to be donated to hospitals, women’s shelters, and non-profit agencies.
The City Campus Student Government Association encouraged students to do random acts of kindness both on and off campus during Random Acts of Kindness Week, February 10-14. Acts of kindness carried out by students included taking out the trash for their neighbor, shoveling a sidewalk, picking up groceries for friends and passing out candy to fellow students. The SUNY’s Got Your Back program began in 2016 and was initially a year-long program. It has since grown to partner with national sponsors such as
The main event of the week was a Stand for Kindness event. Students, faculty and staff gathered in the atrium to lock arms in a circle to show solidarity against bullying. President Dan Hocoy spoke about SUNY Erie Annual Report 2019-2020
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the importance of being kind to one another and encouraged students to continue with kind acts. Students shared their random acts of kindness on social media for a chance to win prizes from the City Campus Student Government Association.
SUNY Erie Learns the History of Apollo 11 with Captain Bruce Johnson
SUNY Erie Community College welcomed Retired Naval Captain Bruce Johnson for a special presentation celebrating his role in the 1969 Apollo 11 moon landing.
Captain Johnson offered a presentation to the public on October 24 at City Campus with a second presentation at North Campus the following day geared toward students in the Engineering and Science programs.
SUNY Erie Nursing Students Achieve Perfect Pass Rate on Licensure Exam BUFFALO – SUNY Erie Community College’s City and North Campus Nursing programs achieved perfect pass rates on National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) for the first and second quarters of 2020. The 100% pass rate at each campus is higher than the passing rates for both the state and the nation. Approximately 86.3% of nursing students passed the NCLEX-RN exam in New York, while almost 86% passed nationwide. The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), which is the College’s nursing accrediting body, requires an 80% pass rate for the programs to maintain their accreditation.
Splashdown: The Recovery detailed Captain Johnson’s first-hand account of the recovery mission of Apollo 11’s command module Columbia once it splashed down in the central Pacific Ocean. A naval aviator and the co-pilot of the Apollo 11 recovery helicopter, Captain Johnson shared the triumph of ensuring astronauts Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Buzz Aldrin completed their momentous voyage. SUNY Erie President Dr. Dan Hocoy said the College was excited to host someone who played such a pivotal role in American history. “Captain Johnson’s story is a compelling tale of bravery and American pride during a time the country was breathing a collective sigh of relief in welcoming home the astronauts,” Hocoy said. “We are proud to offer an opportunity like this to our students and the community.” 8 SUNY Erie Annual Report 2019-2020
SUNY Erie’s Executive Dean of Nursing, Dr. Patricia Losito, RN, MS, ANP, attributes the programs’ success rate to the dedication of the students to their chosen field. “I could not be more proud of our students on their acheievement. Their hard work to graduate from our programs paid off ten-fold with every student passing the licensing exam ,” Dr. Losito said.
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Losito also paid tribute to the faculty and staff of the program, as well as the College’s Administration and Board of Trustees, for their support of the students. “Our faculty and staff are second to none, and work tirelessly to ensure that our students are fully prepared for the rigors of the exam, as well as the profession,” she added. “And, of course, none of it would be possible without the support of the College’s Administration and Board who are committed to providing a first-rate experience for our students.”
Under the direction of SUNY Erie Associate Professor Nate Witkowski, CNC students Colin May and Ryan Speidel were eager for the chance to compete using their backgrounds as the inspiration for their work. “Both students drew from their personal experience to create parts that have meaning to them,” Witkowski said. “Their winning designs are a great example of students applying classroom knowledge to a real world practical application.”
All data is based on the number of students who took the exam between Jan. 1 and June 30, 2020. A total of eighty seven (87) students completed SUNY Erie’s programs and sat for the licensing exams this year.
SUNY Erie Students Place in National Competition Two CNC Machining students from SUNY Erie Community College placed in the 2019 Mastercam Wildest Parts Competition. Mastercam, an industry leader in Computer Numerical Control (CNC) software since 1983, challenges high school and college students, as well as professionals to create an original item using Mastercam software while letting their imagination go wild in this annual competition.
May earned first place in the Postsecondary Division with his aluminum V8 engine block. Coming from a family that has been in the manufacturing industry for more than 50 years, May has long had an interest in creating an aluminum engine block. An avid rider, Speidel earned a third-place finish in the Postsecondary Division with his BMX stem. He long had a goal to create bike parts that were the perfect combination of strength and weight. Speidel credits his knowledge of the Mastercam software to help him to accomplish that. May and Speidel’s winning designs will be featured in Mastercam’s booth at the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) CareerTech VISION conference in Anaheim, CA later this year. May and Speidel each earned a cash prize along with Mastercam Entry with Art software and a certificate. May will also receive a plaque for his first-place finish. SUNY Erie Annual Report 2019-2020
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Commencement in a Virtual World With restrictions in place for large events, SUNY Erie created a virtual celebration of the Class of 2020 that live-streamed on our Facebook and YouTube feeds on May 20. The ceremony featured messages from SUNY Erie President Dr. Dan Hocoy, Board Chairman Leonard Lenihan, Senator Charles Schumer, SUNY Chancellor Kristina Johnson, Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz, and Erie County Legislature Chairwoman and 2020 Commencement speaker April Baskin. President Hocoy presented the 2020 President’s Medal, while SUNY Erie Provost Dr. Doug Scheidt recognized this year’s annual award winners for the SUNY Chancellor’s Awards, All New York Academic Awards and the Veteran Service Award. Additionally, faculty and staff provided congratulatory messages to round out the program.
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2019-2020 2020 President’s Medal
The 2020 President’s Medal to Liberal Arts and Sciences was presented to graduate Jordan Reiner, who through hard work and perseverance demonstrated excellence in the areas of academic achievement, co-curricular activity and citizenship/community service. This award truly demonstrates what SUNY Erie is all about … providing an educational setting that fosters the holistic growth of its students. As a Student Government Officer, Jordan was committed to enhancing the student experience here at SUNY Erie. He actively engaged in student life activities planning events for other students to enjoy, while also working as a tutor at the College. And, in addition to holding a job working with young children in his role as a camp counselor in Orchard Park, Jordan volunteered his time as an active member of Phi Theta Kappa at SUNY Erie. Jordan truly represented SUNY Erie well.
2020 SUNY Chancellor’s Awards for Student Excellence
SUNY continually endeavors to recognize the efforts of students who combine academic excellence with significant contributions to the university community. They accomplish this through the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence Program.
This year’s awardees are: Kirsten Furness, Medical Assisting Misbah Hussain, Natural Science Sean Matuszewski, Business Administration Azimah Mohamad Jalil, Social Science Lauren Ramsey, Humanities Jordan Reiner, Liberal Arts & Sciences General Studies
This year, this prestigious award has been bestowed upon six outstanding SUNY Erie students. These students have integrated academic excellence with other aspects of their lives, including leadership, campus involvement, community service, creative and performing arts, athletics or career achievement.
2020 All-New York Academic Awards
USA Today and Phi Theta Kappa—the sponsors of the All-New York Academic Awards—recognize and encourage academic achievement. Phi Theta Kappa provides opportunities for individual growth and development by participating in honors, leadership, service and fellowship programming. This year, three SUNY Erie students were among the students chosen statewide to represent SUNY’s two-year community colleges’ best and brightest. The nominees are ranked and placed onto academic teams to compete for individual $5,000 scholarships, or on a track to receive $100,000 in total scholarship awards.
This year’s awardees are: Joshua Wardak, Information Technology Lynn Adams-Gilden, Social Science Maria Agustina Sosa-Lazcano, Communication and Media Arts In addition to having these scholarship opportunities, team members are featured in USA Today and are presented at the annual convention of the American Association of Community Colleges.
2020 Veteran Service Award
In this extraordinary time, we are especially grateful to those students who were called to active duty in support of the COVID-19 crisis. It is for that reason, SUNY Erie dedicated the 2020 Veterans Achievement Award to those SUNY Erie students who are actively serving to keep our communities safe during this pandemic. SUNY Erie Annual Report 2019-2020 11
Equity and Diversity 12 SUNY Erie Annual Report 2019-2020
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Equity & Inclusion at SUNY Erie The SUNY Erie Office of Equity & Diversity places strong importance on expanding the boundaries of inclusion at the college. Along that vein, the SUNY Erie Diversity Academy was formed to strengthen our resolve to make SUNY Erie a more welcoming space for everyone. Initially, during the Spring of 2019, a group of faculty and staff participated in five discussion sessions focused on barriers to equality, whether perceived or real. The group discussions examined discrimination, power relationships and values that shape our lived experiences. Talking about social inequalities can be difficult and stressful however, equality can only happen when we identify the barriers and actively work toward change. The Academy enabled the campus community to advance in our delivery of racial and equitable performance. SUNY Erie’s Chief Diversity Officer, Tracy A. Archie, believes that creating the Diversity Academy was the first step in opening a long-term dialogue about equity issues on campus. “One of the biggest issues organizations face in talking about racial equity is starting the dialogue. The perceived sensitivity surrounding the subject can paralyze your group,” Archie said. “We formed the Diversity Academy at SUNY Erie as a way to create a foundation for meaningful conversation and the success we saw with our initial group encouraged us to keep moving forward.” To piggyback on the success of the Spring Academy, a series of events were planned during the 201920 academic year to continue the conversation and further expand our views on equity.
Hello, Privilege. It’s Me, Chelsea and SUNY Erie Reads SUNY Erie hosted a screening of the documentary Hello, Privilege. It’s Me, Chelsea on each of its campuses in October shortly after its September release. The documentary explores the concept of white privilege and how it impacts American culture. The documentary screenings led to a broader dialogue on the concept of white privilege and kicked off the SUNY Erie Reads discussion of Waking Up White and Finding Myself in the Story of Race by Debby Irving in November. Faculty, staff and students participated in a meaningful dialogue about the book and its undertones in our society. This dialogue paved the way for the author’s visit to begin the spring semester. Welcoming Author Debby Irving The SUNY Erie Diversity Academy presented An Evening with Debby Irving, racial justice educator and author of Waking Up White, on Wednesday, January 22 in the Minnie Gillette Auditorium at City Campus. Attendees joined together to hear a presentation from Irving as she bravely described her journey from white oblivion to white awareness in an honest way that is designed to inspire others to do such transformational work on themselves. Irving grew up in Winchester, Massachusetts in what she describes as a ‘blissfully sheltered, upper middleclass suburban childhood.’ After working from 19842009 in urban neighborhoods and schools in Boston, Irving wanted to understand racial dynamic. In 2009, she attended a class at Wheelock College, ‘Racial and Cultural Identity,’ which lead her on a journey from white oblivion to white awareness. Waking up White is Irving’s attempt to overcome racial ignorance. The event was sponsored by the SUNY Erie Offices of Equity and Diversity; Human Resources; Institutional Research, Assessment, Accreditation and Planning (IRAAP); and the Department of Social Sciences. SUNY Erie Annual Report 2019-2020
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SUNY Erie Community College presents ...
Retention & Success of Students of Color in Higher Education Platinum Sponsors
Continuing the Dialogue with a Day-Long Conference SUNY Erie hosted a one-day conference titled “Retention & Success of Students of Color in Higher Education” on Friday, February 28 at City Campus. The conference brought together stakeholders from all walks of life to discuss the challenges faced by students of color in higher education impacting their ability to persist and graduate. Themes discussed included retention of underserved and disadvantaged students, mentoring and its effects on student achievement, school engagement and 14 SUNY Erie Annual Report 2019-2020
belongingness and their impact on student success, social and community engagement mindset for student success and more. Columnist, author and journalist Roland S. Martin provided the keynote address. Martin, originally from Houston, has a career that spans two decades and includes radio, print, television and digital content. His journalism has been recognized with over 30 awards including 4 NAACP Image Awards and the 2008 President’s Award by the National Association of Black Journalists. Martin is the host and managing editor of the daily digital show #RolandMartinUnfiltered.
2019-2020 Retention and Success of Students of Color in Higher Education: A Conference Attendee’s Perspective By: Jerome Williams, Graphic Artist Marketing and Communications
Seated in the Minnie Gillette Auditorium, I waited in anticipation for the message that Roland Martin would bring to the college and wondered how he would tie things together and what he would focus on concerning various challenges within the African American Community but in particular the “Retention and Success of Students of Color in Higher Education.” His message turned out to be a call to action for the Buffalo community. Pointing out the problem of systemic racism and oppression but also giving solutions to combat them. He called for everyone in opposition of the current failing system to mobilize, tear down and reconstruct it into a system that would no longer have traps and barriers but would encourage success for all.
energized only a few months later with the murder of George Floyd. Overall, we must stop focusing on the symptoms and get to the root of the problem. The question becomes what is it that we as a community are willing to do to bring about positive and impactful systemic change in higher education and specifically here at SUNY Erie. We must continue to have events like this that challenge us but at the same time encourage useful, impactful dialog and action. We must stand unapologetically for diversity, inclusion and belonging to be implemented in our behavior as well as policies. There seems to be a new energy around diversity and inclusion within this institution and I really appreciate it. I thought this event was a breath of fresh air and look forward to the possibilities of things to come. Lets keep it going!
Between the breakout sessions and Roland Martin’s presentation, this conference displayed a clear direction for the Buffalo community as well as our country to move toward in order to fight for the rights of people of color and the health of our nation. The messaging was so timely that it ultimately foreshadowed the tidal wave of global protest and support for the Black Lives Matter movement that would be
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Athletics
The KITC RibbonCutting Ceremony SUNY Erie President, County Executive Officially Open South Campus Indoor Training Center The Kats Indoor Training Center (KITC) at SUNY Erie Community College’s South Campus officially opened for business after a ribbon-cutting by SUNY Erie President Dr. Dan Hocoy and County Executive Mark Poloncarz on February 18. The 12,320 square foot training facility includes a field built using re-purposed turf from New Era Field. This project has been a collaboration between public and private entities with Erie County facilitating the donation and installation of the turf from the Buffalo Bills to the SUNY Erie Foundation last year. 16 SUNY Erie Annual Report 2019-2020
“The Kats Indoor Training Center highlights the true spirit of public and private partners working together to create a meaningful space for community groups. This space would not be possible without the cooperation of the Buffalo Bills’ organization, in addition to the team from Erie County, who worked with our Foundation to coordinate details on the installation through local company A-Turf,” SUNY Erie President Dan Hocoy said. “I would like to thank all who were involved in the collaboration on this project, which helps provide improvements to the facilities made available to SUNY Erie students as well as athletes from various community organizations. By now offering a turf playing surface for practices, games and tournaments for a variety of different men’s and women’s sports
2019-2020 12 months a year we have expanded the athletic facilities available at the college’s South Campus and it is something that should benefit Erie County as a whole,” said Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz. Dr. Hocoy noted that in addition to giving community groups and sporting organizations an option for indoor training, the space will also provide rental income for the College.
4.0 grade point average. The Erie men’s bowling, men’s soccer and softball teams received NJCAA Academic Team of the Year recognition for having a team cumulative GPA above 3.0, including softball’s impressive 3.47 team GPA. Visit https://www.njcaa. org/general/2019-20/releases/20200710epyyec for the complete list of honorees.
The KITC can accommodate multiple sports yearround for training and league play including football, soccer, baseball, field hockey, and lacrosse. According to SUNY Erie Athletic Director Steve Mullen, “interest for the use of the space has been high from organizations like high schools and colleges, to clubs and travel teams. In addition to training, the space is perfect for league play and tournaments.”
The College hosted the 2020 National Junior College Athletic Association’s Men’s and Women’s Bowling Championships from March 5 to 7, 2020 at Airport Lanes in Cheektowaga. SUNY Erie plans to host the 2021 NJCAA Men’s and Women’s Bowling and Swimming and Diving Championships. The NJCAA Bowling Championships are scheduled for April 7 to 9, 2021 at Airport Lanes in Cheektowaga. The NJCAA Swimming and Diving Championships dates are set for April 28 to May 1, 2021 at the Burt Flickinger Athletic Center at the downtown City Campus.
Kats Basketball Wins Third Region 3 Championship
Kansas City Chief Jody Fortson Visits Campus
The SUNY Erie men’s basketball team won its third straight Region 3 Championship on March 1, 2020 and qualified for the National Junior College Athletic Association’s Championship Tournament in Danville, IL. The team was unable to participate and play in the tournament as it was canceled due to COVID-19. In addition, Ahamadou Fofana was named the Region 3 MVP and signed a Letter of Intent to play basketball at Canisius College next year. Congratulations to the 54 SUNY Erie student-athletes who were recognized on the Western New York Athletic Conference All-Academic Team for having above a 3.3 GPA during the 2019-2020 academic year. 27 Erie student-athletes received NJCAA AllAcademic recognition for having above a 3.6 GPA in 2019-2020. Five students, Christopher Jackson (men’s bowling), Maria Bonfilio (women’s soccer), Annabelle MacIntosh (women’s soccer), Ian Bochynski (men’s basketball) and Daniel Aguilar (baseball) had a perfect
SUNY Erie athletes benefitted from the wisdom of football alumni Jody Fortson, who paid a visit to campus in November. Fortson signed with the Kansas City Chiefs this past year and came back to SUNY Erie to share his story. In his hour-long presentation, he talked about the dedication and perseverance it took to make an NFL roster, noting that his time at SUNY Erie helped to prepare him to stay hungry, while remaining humble. SUNY Erie Annual Report 2019-2020
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Elementary & High School Engagement 18 SUNY Erie Annual Report 2019-2020
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SUNY Erie Culinary and Pastry Arts Students Participated in Childhood Nutrition Day More than 80 children from Buffalo’s Waterfront Elementary School visited the SUNY Erie Learning Garden at Canalside for a morning of instruction and fun on October 8. Activities included culinaryfocused stations, assisting in planting vegetables, learning about the dangers of sugars and soft drinks, and dancing on the great lawn. Culinary and Pastry Arts students from SUNY Erie prepped each activity during their classes, set up the event stations, and instructed the children as they visited each activity. Childhood Nutrition Day is celebrated in October and is sponsored by the American Culinary Federation (ACF) and the Chef and Child Initiative. ACF asks each of its local chapters to reach out to the community to help kids understand how important nutrition is. Childhood Nutrition Day also brings to light childhood hunger and childhood obesity.
Students Teach Students at Tech Conference What better way to integrate technology into the classroom than to get students involved? A group of schools and Western New York Regional Information Center staff from BOCES took that question to the next level by asking, what can students teach other students? SUNY Erie hosted the 1st annual Western New York Information and Technology Conference at the North Campus’ STEM Building on January 10. Nearly 40 student and adult technology experts presented work sessions to nearly 150 student technology leaders.
SUNY Erie President Dr. Dan Hocoy presented a lunchtime keynote address focused on the need for students to be change agents in their schools. Through a partnership with Erie 1 BOCES’ E-Team, along with students from Alden’s Atlas Team, Lancaster’s Techsperts, Holland’s Student Help Desk and Depew Student Technology Ambassadors Team (STAT), the original idea of collaborating with one another grew into this first-of-its-kind full day event. Students presented on topics ranging from video and artwork programs to data safety, hardware maintenance and impacting the school and community through technology. The mission of the conference was to inform students and teachers of the technology available in their classrooms and to make sure that the technology they already have available in the classroom is utilized to the fullest.
SUNY Erie Takes Part in WNY Construction Career Days SUNY Erie was on hand at the WNY Construction Career Days event in October. The event is designed to expose high school students to employment opportunities in various trades. Over 1,200 high school juniors and seniors from 27 school districts in Western New York attended this event. The annual event takes place at the International Union of Operating Engineers’ (IUOE) Local 17’s Training Center south of Buffalo. Attendees can test, ask questions and learn about 18 different trades utilizing a hands-on approach. Featured trades include welding, brick laying, electrical, roofing, sheet metal and more. Some students were even lucky enough to try their hand at driving and operating construction equipment such as a backhoe or a crane under the watchful eye of the Union tradesmen. SUNY Erie Annual Report 2019-2020
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SUNY Erie Foundation Buffalo Bills Hall of Fame Running Back Thurman Thomas and his wife Patti Thomas
SUNY Erie Foundation, Hall of Fame Running Back Continue Collaboration The SUNY Erie Foundation continued its longstanding relationship with Buffalo Bills Hall of Fame Running Back Thurman Thomas and his family foundation. In November, SUNY Erie President Dr. Dan Hocoy and Buffalo Bills Hall of Fame Running Back Thurman Thomas announced the addition of another full scholarship to benefit a disadvantaged student to the prior year’s commitment. The Thurman Thomas 20 SUNY Erie Annual Report 2019-2020
Family Foundation currently supports up to five disadvantaged students per year with full tuition, fees, books and related costs upon entering the second year of their program. This equates to approximately $5,000-6,000 per award. Current and former Bills’ greats walked the red carpet to kick-off the 2nd annual celebrity red carpet ‘Holidaze’ fundraiser on December 13 in the SUNY Erie City Campus Atrium to benefit the Thurman Thomas Family Foundation and the SUNY Erie Scholarship fund.
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This scholarship fundraiser transformed the Atrium at the SUNY Erie City Campus into a winter wonderland. Guests included Thurman and Patti Thomas, Steve Tasker, Josh Allen, Jerry Hughes, and Lorenzo Alexander. The Thurman Thomas Family Foundation and the SUNY Erie Community College Foundation have been working together since 1994 during Thomas’ playing days.
but we believe that it is our responsibility since day one to invent new ways to manage the consequences of widespread automation in the food and leisure industry. The automation stipend is not intended to be a welfare solution. Rather, it is a way for companies to have a positive social impact, without stopping innovation, while preparing people for the professions of the future.”
SUNY Erie Participates in Makr Shakr Bartending Automation Pilot
Makr Shakr, the world’s leading producer of robotic bartending systems, has launched the world’s first “Automation Stipend” pilot program in collaboration with SUNY Erie Community and the SUNY Erie Foundation. Through the program, which leverages automation to produce positive social impact, Makr Shakr sponsored a student enrolled in the College’s Brewery Science and Service Certificate program for the Fall 2019 semester. The Automation Stipend is inspired by the idea that, as robotics enter into the workspace, every person might end up having a robotic counterpart that is working in her or his stead - producing an income that in turn allows that person to upskill and get ready for tomorrow’s professions. For every bartending robot sold, the company assigns a $1,000 monthly stipend to a selected person whose profession might be impacted by automation. This stipend is meant to support the individual in a specific training program with special attention to the relation between tech and the food and leisure industries. “If we are able to handle the issues of transition and redistribution, the future will be brimming with opportunities,” says Emanuele Rossetti, CEO of Makr Shakr: “Makr Shakr is a young and small company,
SUNY Erie student Brian Townsell is the first recipient of the stipend. Mr. Townsell grew up working in restaurants and hotels but has been unable to pursue his dream to work in the brewery field while also struggling to support his family. SUNY Erie President Dr. Dan Hocoy believes students like Townsell are exactly who the stipend is designed to assist. “With constant changes in technology, workers are often concerned with losing stable employment to automation. Makr Shakr’s program is designed to allow workers the opportunity to upskill and prepare for the future of their chosen field. This kind of forethought is welcome for our students as they seek family sustaining employment,” President Hocoy said. “This stipend provides students like Brian with the assistance needed to follow their dreams, while also providing him with an opportunity for training in a growing field. This collaboration is a win-win for the student and the College.” SUNY Erie Annual Report 2019-2020
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SUNY Foundation In Erie the Community
Live Well Erie Initiative
In October, President Hocoy joined County Executive Poloncarz and other local leaders to kickoff the County’s Live Well Erie initiative. With a focus on children, working families and seniors, SUNY Erie is a natural fit as a partner in this initiative.
SUNY Erie: Giving Back From food and toy drives to service learning, a spirit of service is woven throughout the college experience, and the faculty, staff and students at SUNY Erie Community find ways to give back to the community.
A Season of Giving
At no point is that spirit more prevalent than through the holiday season. Each year, the SUNY Erie community kicks off a Season of Giving starting
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with volunteer opportunities and culminating with a donation opportunity. In the spirit of volunteerism this past year, SUNY Erie staff along with a group of students from the Men of Merit program helped to prepare a Thanksgiving meal at the Matt Urban Hope Center in Buffalo. A few short weeks later, staff and students, along with our Culinary and Baking & Pastry Arts faculty and students, rolled up their sleeves to volunteer at the Thurman Thomas Family Foundation’s annual Holidaze fundraiser at City Campus. To wrap up the holiday season, SUNY Erie faculty & staff held a holiday gift gathering celebration to support our students through the holiday season. Admittance to the event was either a donation to our campus food pantries or a new, unwrapped toy to enable our students to provide gifts for the children in their families.
2019-2020
SUNY Erie Annual Report 2019-2020
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NORTH CAMPUS 6205 Main St. Williamsville, NY 14221
CITY CAMPUS 121 Ellicott St. Buffalo, NY 14203
SOUTH CAMPUS 4041 Southwestern Blvd. Orchard Park, NY 14127