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KCC Welcome Wagon Visits New Students at Home BY DR. ANTHONY E. MUNROE PRESIDENT, ESSEX COUNTY COLLEGE
Essex County College:
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s president of Essex County College, one of the
largest in New Jersey,Rodríguez, I have long known that CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Kingsborough Community (KCC)played President Dr. Claudia Schrader, theCollege institution a key role in V. the life of the and incoming Kingsborough freshmen brothers Ahsan Ali and communities we serve, especially in the city of Newark, Qasim Ali, two of three siblings, attending KCC in the fall the most populous in the state. Last year, nearly 20,000 (their sister, Aailia Naz, is not pictured)
Photos: Courtesy of Kingsborough CC
Creating a Student First Path Amid The COVID-19 Pandemic
credit and non-credit students took advantage of 70 degree and certificate programs as well as numerous offerings leading to professional, career, vocational, and personal improvement. In addition, the businesses of Essex County have come to rely on the College for cusUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez joined tomized training. All of this at a tuition rate far below Kingsborough Community College (KCC) Presithat charged at most colleges and universities. dent Dr. Claudia V. Schrader for a surprise visit of Now that the COVID-19 pandemic has upended nearthe KCC Welcome Wagon at the home of three incoming ly all aspects of our society, the higher education sector freshmen. The trio, all members of the same Brooklyn must adapt to meet the changing needs of our commufamily, will enroll at Kingsborough in the fall. nities. And, we need to do it with significantly reduced Since June, Dr. Schrader has surprised and welcomed resources since we are expecting greatly diminished 29 incoming freshmen and transfer students and their parenrollment in the summer and fall as well as a sharp cut ents at their homes or jobs across the five boroughs and in state appropriations. No sector in higher education Long Island, bearing a bag of KCC swag. The visits take is better situated to do that than are the community place outdoors and follow all social distancing protocols. colleges - our basic mission is to meet the education and “Part of the goal of these visits is to make the students training needs of our neighbors. feel welcome as they start a new educational chapter,” exEssex County College knows very well that its neighplained Dr. Schrader. “As a result of the coronavirus panbors are among those hardest hit by the pandemic since demic, we don’t know what their first semester will look it very much mirrors the communities it serves: It is a like… They may be taking classes remotely or the campus Predominantly Black Institution as well as a Hispanic classrooms may be open. But, whatever the situation, I Serving Institution (the only public college in New Jerwant them to feel welcomed and at ease.” sey to have that dual designation) with 45% and 26% of “I applaud Dr. Schrader for this unique, caring, and its student body self-identifying as Black/African Ameriinnovative approach, especially during a time of so much can and Hispanic/Latino, respectively. To provide all uncertainty and concern during the coronavirus crisis,” of the support possible, the College offers top STEM said Chancellor Matos Rodríguez.
programs, was the first college in New Jersey to be part ofKingsborough the NASA Community College Aerospace Scholars Community College President Dr. Claudia V. Schrader, right, was and joinedhas by NYC Council Member Alicka Ampry-Samuel of Program, made a large investment in a virtual Brooklyn’s 41st (left) for a recent Welcome Wagon event to dissection tableDistrict for our biology, health science, and precongratulate and greet incoming freshman Daquan, who lives in the med students. The results are evidenced by the fact that council member's district. our students have won more Jack Kent Cooke scholarships than any other community college in the region. Even Ivy League universities (with their multi-billiondollar endowments) are unsure of how to plan for an uncertain future. Our community colleges, well known New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo learned of as efficient and adaptable institutions, are developing and mentioned Dr. Schrader's new tradition in one of his initiatives for the "new normal," while seeking to cut recent coronavirus updates. More local elected officials expenses to keep our offerings affordable for all. The are planning to join Dr. Schrader to welcome new KCC county is being ravaged by unemployment, especially students from their districts. among women and people of color. Essex County ColSince taking over as KCC president in August 2018, lege is working with the County Workforce Development Dr. Schrader has made it her mission to personally Board to identify what will be the top in-demand jobs meet and chat with KCC students on the first day of and is modifying existing programs and creating new each semester and daily on campus. She greets stuones to meet that demand. dents at the front gate as they arrive on campus for It will manage to present these even while recognizthe first day of class; and pops into classrooms, special ing its need to further the development of its commustudent events, and the cafeteria, surprising students nity. It is inviting the essential workers in the county, with lunch for the day. our modern-day heroes, to attend without adding to During the KCC Welcome Wagon visits, she talks with their economic stress. For those with qualifying income students about their educational goals and answers queslevels, and after applying for available financial aid, the tions they may have about college life. Dr. Schrader began College will make up any shortfall that exists. All of the the surprise visits on June 5 and will continue visiting new faculty, staff, and administration have joined together to students through August 2020. meet the changing needs of the community and I am so Founded in 1963, Kingsborough Community College proud that I get to be the face of a community college is Brooklyn’s only community college and is part of the seen as a remarkable resource and pledged to be availCity University of New York (CUNY). able to all.
CUNY Chancellor Joins College President to Meet Students
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24 16 The The Positive Positive Community Community
Summer June 2020 2020
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