Week of March 3, 2014

Communitas 1

Signifying a strong commitment to student success and completion, MVCC is one of 12 institutions selected this year into the Achieving the Dream Na-tional Reform Network. MVCC was welcomed into the network at Achieving the Dream’s DREAM 2014 conference, and will im-mediately begin the challenging work of identifying and implementing evidence-based strategies for closing achievement gaps and increasing student retention, persistence, and completion rates. The selection makes MVCC the first among the State University of New York’s 30 community colleges to participate in Achieving the Dream.

“We are delighted to welcome MVCC into the Achieving the Dream National Reform Network as we celebrate our

10th year of working to improve student success and completion rates across the country,” said Achieving the Dream President and CEO William E. Trueheart. “MVCC represents a diverse group of students whose success means much more than just a personal goal secured. It means improved skills, better employ-ability, and economic growth for their community and our nation as a whole.”

“Achieving the Dream is a nationwide effort to increase community college graduation rates,” said Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente Jr., MVCC class of ’84. “As Oneida County and MVCC continue to prepare the workforce for the future this is an important next step and we are proud to take part in it.”

“Mohawk Valley Community College is proud to be the first of the community col-leges in SUNY to join the Achieving the Dream National Reform Network,” said Randall J. VanWagoner, Ph.D., President of MVCC. “Just as our community is

gaining statewide and even national no-tice for its economic momentum, our col-lege is making the great institution-wide commitment to become a SUNY leader in student success and equity.”

MVCC joins Achieving the Dream initiative

Each new college will commit to the Achieving the Dream Student-Centered Model of Institutional Improvement. Based on four principles, the Model frames the overall work of helping more students, particularly low-income students and students of color, stay in school and earn a college certificate or degree. Each college will approach the work differently, but Achieving the Dream’s five-step process will provide practical guide-lines for helping keep the focus where it belongs and building momentum over time. Throughout the process, Achieving the Dream Coaches will offer customized support and help each college’s core team implement data-informed programs and policies that build long-term, institution-wide commitment to student success. Learn more about the Model at http://www.achievingthedream.org/approach/institutional_change.

Achieving the Dream, Inc. is a national nonprofit leading the nation’s most comprehensive non-governmental reform network for student success in higher education history. The Achiev-ing the Dream National Reform Network, including over 200 institutions, more than 100 coaches and advisors, and 15 state policy teams - working throughout 34 states and the District of Columbia - helps nearly 4 million community college students

have a better chance of realizing greater economic opportunity and achieving their dreams.

Achieving the Dream Colleges • Calhoun Community College (AL)• Cowley College (KS)• Georgia NW Technical College• Grayson College (TX)• McLennan Community College (TX)• Mohawk Valley Community College• North Georgia Technical College• Savannah Technical College• West Georgia Technical College• West Hills College Lemoore (CA)• W. Kentucky Comm & Tech College• Western Technical College (WI)

MVCC is taking big steps to integrate its new initiatives, external trends, and existing programs under a new strate-gic plan that makes student success our No. 1 priority. The outcome: A simpler, more focused approach to leading the college through a period of change, with the plan as the single axis around which all other priorities are aligned.

This is the message of the latest President’s Blog, posted last week by President Randall J. VanWagoner, Ph.D. To learn more about where MVCC is heading under its new strategic planning process, visit http://mvcc-edu.blogspot.com and check back often for regular updates about how Achieving the Dream, increasing graduation rates, and local economic advances fit in.

Blog outlines strategic agenda

What is the Achieving the Dream model?

The Center for Corporate and Community Education and the STEM Center is pleased to welcome the TINES (Teach-ing Inquiry using NASA Earth System Science) program to the MVCC Campus this summer.

Representatives from TINES, Deanna TeBockhorst of Colo-rado State University, and Todd Ellis, Principal Investigator from SUNY Oneonta, conducted their site visit at MVCC on Thurs-day and Friday, February 27-28. TINES is a NASA grant-funded program geared toward K-12 teachers.

This week-long training program provides teachers with cutting-edge NASA resources that they can use in their class-rooms. This specialized training has only been conducted at two other locations in the country: North Carolina and Colorado.

The training program will take place during the week of August 18. During that week, 22

teachers from all over New York State will find their

way to MVCC and conduct their work on

campus. Specifically, the training will focus on remote sens-ing (NASA satel-lites), the GLOBE

program, S’COOL, and My NASA DATA

as well as the NSTA Learning Center. As a part of this grant, teach-

ers will receive room and board at the Radisson, a stipend for completing the projects, which will occur over a year’s time, a travel stipend, and the opportunity to apply for $600 in equip-ment to use in their classrooms.

To coordinate the project, CCED is working closely with the STEM Center, Marketing and Communications, and Sodexho. Assistant Professor Lindsey Geary will also help out with in-structing some field-based portions of the program.

To participate in the program, teachers must complete a simple application, due by the end of May 2014. For more in-formation, contact Carolyn DeJohn, Coordinator of Community Education, at 315.792.5300 or at cdejohn@mvcc.edu.

2 Communitas

Erin Hamlin will deliver the keynote address at Mohawk Val-ley Community College’s Spring Commencement, which will be held Friday, May 16 at 4 p.m., at the Utica Memorial Auditorium. A three-time Olympian, Hamlin is the first-ever American to medal in singles luge. The theme of Hamlin’s remarks to MVCC graduates and their families will be, “You’re never too small to hit the big stage.”

“Erin Hamlin is a great local success story and an inspira-tion,” said MVCC President Randall J. VanWagoner, Ph.D. “We are honored that she will be speaking to reflect on the accom-plishments and potential of our graduating class of 2014.”

Hamlin opened her luging career in 2005. Her first major international victory was the gold medal in the women’s singles event at the 2009 FIL World Luge Championship in Lake Placid, NY. Hamlin’s victory marked the first time in 99 races that a German woman was not the top finisher. Hamlin finished 12th in the women’s singles event at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin. She was selected in December 2009 to compete at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, and named Athlete of the Year by USA Luge multiple times. Her bronze-medal finish in Sochi was part of an historic seven-medal haul by the USA sliders, a high-water mark for the team that has set even loftier goals for the 2018 Winter Olympics.

Hamlin is a native of Remsen, New York. Her parents, Eilleen (’81) and Ron (’86) Hamlin, are MVCC alumni.

More information on Erin Hamlin can be found at Twitter@ErinHamlin, Facebook.com/OfficialErinHamlin, and ErinHamlin.com.

Olympian Erin Hamlin to address 2014 Commencement

MVCC Welcomes NASA TINES Program

Fall-to-fall retention of 1st-time, full-

time, matriculated students dropped

from 58.8% for Fall-2007 to 52.4% for

Fall-2011?

Did You Know?

Communitas 3

The New York Region of Phi Theta Kappa hosted its annual convention in Corning on February 28-March 2. The Lambda Beta chapter from MVCC trav-eled there to celebrate the year’s hard work with other chapters and share ideas for continued growth in the four hallmarks of the organization; scholarship, leader-ship, fellowship and service.

At the convention two MVCC students, Kaitlyn Nortz and Madeline Mazloom finished their terms as regional officers as did MVCC alum Carlos Pulquerio. Elizabeth Brigham, a recent inductee, was elected to a term as Regional Vice Presi-dent for the Northern District for 13-14.

Additionally, the chapter was recog-nized as once again maintaining its five-star status and being one of the top chapters in the region. Lambda Beta was recognized as having the top Yearbook and Digital Media (their Facebook page), and having the third most distinguished

College Project and third most distin-guished officer team in a field of more than 50 chapters. Their award-winning college project was the “From Course to Career” event they hosted in November, which connected students with local busi-ness leaders for advice and guidance on majors and career preparation. Finally, Steve Frisbee was honored as the most distinguished advisor in the region for his over 10 years of dedicated service.

This year’s outstanding chapter is led by officer-team Keari Little (President), Nina Nguyen (VP of Fellowship), Ariana Pajazetovic (VP of Leadership), Alyssa Ursi (VP of Scholarship), and Madison Vitale (VP of Service). The chapter is continuing this semester with several service projects, scholarship workshops, an honors in action project, a trip to the International Convention in Orlando, and hosting the Honors Brunch the morning of May Commencement.

MVCC’s Brigham elected as Regional Vice President at PTK convention

There is a lot cooking on the Rome Campus of Mohawk Valley Community College as the Hospitality Management Program heats up its annual Spring 2014 Dinners with Distinction Series.

The dinner cuisines are designed to give MVCC’s culinary arts students a cre-ative outlet for their classroom work. The themes, menus, recipes and food pro-duction are the endeavors of the Banquet and Catering class, Dining Room Service class, and the Baking class. Students will be creating food to delight the palate and an ambiance to soothe the spirits. The Dinners with Distinction dates and themes are:

• Wednesday, March 26, featuring a Ft. Stanwix Local Heritage theme.

• Wednesday, April 16, featuring an East Coast Cuisine theme.

• Wednesday, April 30, featuring a West Coast Cuisine theme.

The cost for each of these dinners, which includes several courses, is $23 per person and reservations are required. Seating begins at 5:45 p.m. with dinner service beginning at 6 p.m.

For more information or to make a res-ervation, contact the Hospitality Manage-ment Program at 334-7702 or by email-ing jschuler@mvcc.edu.

MVCC hosts Spring Dinners with Distinction

MVCC is hosting NanoDays, a nation-wide festival of educational programs about nanoscale science and engineer-ing, on Friday and Saturday, March 28 and 29, and we need volunteers! NanoDays engages people of all ages in learning about this field of science, which holds the promise of developing revolutionary materials and technologies. No prior nano knowledge is required! A fun training session will be available for volunteers. The event will take place both days from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the IT Building Lobbies on the Utica Campus. Volunteers can sign up for as many half-hour time slots as they wish. To volun-teer, register at the link below. Please use your full first and last name when signing up. For more information email Bob Decker at Rdecker@mvcc.edu.

http://doodle.com/vxc298stizcpxb8e

Volunteers needed for NanoDays

CCED implemented its first Healthcare Leadership Institute. The institute offers healthcare providers a chance to remain current on topics and network with other healthcare providers.

Gail Warchol, Healthcare Careers Coordinator, met with various community health-care educators to discuss the needs in the community and together developed the content as discussions prevailed. This 10-month institute is designed to help healthcare facilities enhance leadership at all levels from Doctor’s, RN’s, Therapist, and Case Managers to Bookkeepers, Coders, IT Specialist, Medical Assistant and Recreational staff. The goal of this program is to have our community offer the best healthcare it can by improving customer satisfaction. More and more, reimbursement depends on customer satisfaction; therefore providing an enriched, safe environment that is effective and efficient is crucial.

Institutions are able to send different employees each month (up to 2 people per session). The institute started in October 2013 and will end July 2014. The institute will start again in the fall 2014.

Healthcare Leadership Institute implemented

As the winter athletic season begins to wind down, it was announced that the Mohawk Valley Community College Hawks are in second place after the fall sports season in the NATYCAA Cup. Initiated in 2004, this award recognizes excellence and diversity in two-year college athletics at the na-tional level.

MVCC won the inaugural cup and has never finished lower than eighth place in the history of the award.

The Hawks scored 53 points at nation-al championship events during the fall sports season and trail only Glouces-ter County College in the standings. Ocean County, SUNY Delhi, and Fash-ion Institute of Technology round out the top five colleges.

The National Alliance of Two-Year College Athletic Administrators is the only professional organization that represents all two-year institutions of higher education in the United States for athletic administrators.

Established in 1987, the organization is dedicated to the con-tinuing growth and development of two-year college athletics and the individuals involved through an exchange of informa-tion, monitoring of legislation, promotion of academic excel-lence, increasing communication between organizations, and encouraging a high degree of integrity in all endeavors.

Communitas4

Justin Shaver is throwing himself into the MVCC record books as he qualified for the NJCAA National Indoor Track Championships last week at the Region III Championships.

For this accomplish-ment, Shaver was named MVCC Athlete of the Week for February 23.

Shaver qualified in the 35-pound weight throw with a distance of 51 feet, 2 ¼ inches. The NJCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships will be held at the Armory in New York City the weekend of March 7 and 8.

Shaver is a Carpentry and Masonry major who graduated from Honeoye High School.

Athlete of the Week

Shaver

Hawks Secondin NATYCAA Cup

“I always enjoy this one,” lauded Joan Marquette, Employ-ment Coordinator at Rome Memorial Hospital.

Marquette was referring to Mohawk Valley Community Col-lege’s Career Services’ Rome Campus Career Fair that took place on Thursday, Feb. 27, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. in the Plumley Complex Atrium.

This event provided an opportunity for students and job seek-ers to connect with potential employers. There were more than 15 employers on hand to discuss employment opportunities within their organizations, benefits, job requirements, skills be-ing sought, prerequisites and much more.

Employers who were on hand included Turning Stone Ca-sino, Rome City Hall, Midair USA, and many more.

Kelly Roman, a Park Ranger at Fort Stanwix National Monu-ment, had glowing reviews about the event. “The Fair was fun! It was totally worthwhile for Fort Stanwix National Monument to participate,” said Roman.

Furthermore, Roman was equally impressed with the eager-ness and excitement of students and community members who showed interest in getting involved: “I talked to more than 20 interested people…they were equally interested in volunteering as they were finding a job.”

Rome Student Services and Career Services look forward to building on this event next year.

The campus community should keep their eyes out for Career Services next event “Job Fair Extraordinaire” on April 2, from 3:30-6:30 p.m. in the Jorgensen Athletics and Events Center.

Rome Career Fair connects job seekers with employers

Submit information for Communitas

to rhaubert@mvcc.edu