Genesee Community College New Lima Campus Center Engages Community

BATAVIA, NY (04/14/2010)(readMedia)-- Although it is less than a year old, Genesee Community College's new Lima Campus Center is making its mark on the community, Associate Dean Monica H. Mattioli told the Board of Trustees Monday evening. Trustees gathered at the Center, located on Rochester Road (New York State Route 15A), for their regular April meeting.

The heart of the Lima Center's mission is instruction, Dean Mattioli said. Last fall, 145 area students enrolled in professional programs such as health and human services, business and criminal justice classes, as well as a variety of general studies credit courses offered at the Center. General Studies, Business Administration, and Human Services courses have been the most popular during the Center's first year of operation. But the Center will adjust course offerings to meet community needs, Dean Mattioli told trustees. "We are here, first and foremost, to serve the community," she said. "If students need or want a particular course, we make those needs a high priority."

The Lima Center serves far more individuals than students earning college credits there. For example, the Lima Center staff provides guidance and support to many of the 800+ Livingston County residents who are enrolled in classes at Genesee's Batavia Campus, other campus centers, or in area high schools. "Students may come here for course information or advisement, or simply to use the computer lab," Dean Mattioli said.

Education at the Lima Center is more than credit classes, however. The College's BEST ("Business and Employee Skills Training") Center has offered leadership training, driver education, and safety training courses to more than 100 community members and employees of area business organizations – all designed to boost economic development, personal effectiveness, business productivity and growth throughout the region.

The Lima staff has made community outreach a high priority, and have opened the Center's doors for a variety of community-based activities. These included the Center's Fall Field Day, which featured family activities and a picnic lunch; GCC "Nights at the Movies"; and Lima Rotary Club and other organizational meetings. The Lima staff is also working with local school administrators to enhance educational programming for primary school and secondary school students.

The Lima Campus Center also supports academic advancement for students in area high schools by supplementing Genesee's Accelerated College Enrollment (ACE) program. ACE provides high school students with opportunities to earn college credit for college classes taught in high school classrooms. The Lima Campus Center takes the concept to a new level through supplemental coursework that allows students to earn more formal academic credentials, such as the College's Health Studies certificate, Dean Mattioli said. Genesee Promise Plus is particularly exciting, she said, offering the area's 2010 high school grads the opportunity to receive scholarships for two college courses at Genesee this summer. Also, now that new federal regulations permit many college students to use PELL grants for summer study, the Lima staff hopes to see an influx of new summer students, Dean Mattioli said.

In just seven and a half months, more than 500 community residents have walked through the doors of the Lima Campus Center for education, training, or other activities. Visitors to the Lima Center are reminded of the importance of education in their daily lives, Dean Mattioli told trustees. "We hope that many of our newfound friends in the community will attend classes here, and encourage others to do so," she said. "But above all, we want students, visitors, and all residents of our community to place a high value on learning. The more each of us remains committed to learning, whether that happens in an academic setting, a movie night, or a gathering of senior adults, the more we improve our lives."

The Lima Campus Center opened in September 2009. The building is 8,000 square feet and contains classrooms, a computer lab, a distance learning classroom, staff offices, and student gathering space. The Lima Center is one of six campus centers operated by Genesee Community College. Other centers are located in Dansville, Warsaw, Arcade, Albion, and Medina. The College also offers a wide variety of online courses. Campus centers make a wide variety of college courses available in local communities. Centers often give "placebound" students who have demanding work or family responsibilities the opportunity to obtain a college education, President Stuart Steiner reminded trustees.

The Lima Campus Center's telephone number is 585-582-1226. General information about the College, including classroom and online courses, can be found at www.genesee.edu.

In other business this evening, the Board of Trustees:

  • Adopted a new fee schedule for non-College use of the soccer/lacrosse turf field and other fields, upon the recommendation of the Board's Policy Committee. Fees cover field preparation, maintenance, and lighting costs.
  • Adopted several technical revisions to the College's computer use policies, also at the Policy Committee's recommendation.
  • Heard Vice President for Student and Enrollment Services Virginia M. Taylor report that 2,814 individuals have applied for admission as full-time students as of March 30 for the Fall 2010 semester, up 23% from the 2,289 individuals who had applied one year earlier. Seven hundred thirty-five individuals had applied for admission on a part-time basis, up 33% from the 554 individuals who had applied a year earlier.
  • Heard President Stuart Steiner report that 6,030 students have attended Genesee Community College courses during the Spring 2010 semester, up 5.5% from the 5,716 students enrolled during the Spring 2009 semester. This is the first time that spring semester enrollment exceed 6,000 students, Dr. Steiner noted. Full-time enrollment increased from 2,896 to 3,220, or 11.2%, between Spring 2009 and Spring 2010.
  • Heard Dr. Steiner report that Eileen P. Blackwell will join the faculty this fall as Instructor of Psychology and Human Services. Ms. Blackwell, a Hemlock resident, has been serving on a temporary, one-year appointment. She has served as an addiction therapist at Unity Healthy System of Rochester, diversion counselor for pre-trial services of the Monroe County Bar Association, and psychologist at Monroe Developmental Center. She has also served as Assistant Dean of Women at Elim Bible Institute in Lima. She holds a B.A. degree from Gettysburg College and a M.A. degree from Marywood College, both of Pennsylvania.
  • Heard Director of Development and External Affairs Richard Ensman report that 80 individuals attended the Alumni Hall of Fame induction ceremony at the Batavia Campus March 24. Inducted were James D. Fraser of San Antonio, TX ('73), CEO of Population Health Consulting Services, Inc. of Texas; Cecelia A. Stearns of Byron ('80), nurse practitioner/midwife at Women's Care Center in Batavia; and Dorothy A. Wentland ('91), former Executive Director of the Genesee County Mental Health Association and longtime advocate for people with mental illness. The three honorees join 13 other distinguished Genesee alumni recognized in the Hall of Fame for their accomplishments and service. The Alumni Hall of Fame is located on the second floor corridor leading to the Conable Technology Building.
  • Heard Mr. Ensman report that the College's Branding and Identity Committee will begin to analyze the results of a recent community perceptions survey about Genesee during an afternoon-long focus group in early May. The results of the perception survey, conducted over the last month by an independent research firm, will also be available in early May. Trustees Kenneth A. Dodd, Glenn R. Morton, and Marcia H. Noonan are members of the Committee, and will participate in the focus group.
  • Heard Vice President for Finance and Operations Kevin P. Hamilton report that the athletic upgrade project is nearing completion. Work on the women's locker room is complete, and new lockers will soon be installed in the men's locker room. Concrete is being poured in the bleacher area adjacent to the soccer/lacrosse turf field.
  • Heard Student Trustee Lori A. Mould, Student Government Association Vice President David F. Dodge, and Student Government Senator Mark L. Farley report that nine Genesee students participated in "Alternative Spring Break," helping a New Orleans homeowner rebuild her home damaged during Hurricane Katrina. Ms. Mould called the project "an amazing experience," and told trustees that students expect to revisit the homeowner this summer to assist her and other New Orleans residents. "I would encourage any student to give of themselves in this manner," Mr. Farley said.
  • Heard Ms. Mould, Mr. Dodge, and Mr. Farley report that a group of Genesee students visited members of the New York State Assembly and New York State Senate to express concern about proposed cuts in Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) and SUNY funding. "We knew we might not accomplish exactly what we wanted, but we wanted to tell them [legislators] exactly what we think," Mr. Dodge said. Mr. Farley recounted a one-to-one visit with a member of the Assembly from Long Island who had graduated from SUNY Brockport and used PELL and TAP grants to help pay for his education. "He listened carefully," Mr. Farley said.

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