News from Genesee Community College

For more information contact: Donna Rae Sutherland, 585-343-0055 x 6616

Genesee "WIRED" Grants Fund Unique Business-Building Scholarships

Application Deadlines Approaching Fast

BATAVIA, NY (08/05/2008; 1049)(readMedia)-- Two grants under the WIRED program recently awarded to Genesee Community College are fostering local entrepreneurial efforts, Genesee staff members reported to the Board of Trustees Monday evening.

WIRED stands for "Workforce Innovation and Regional Economic Development." The federally funded program is guided by a consortium of business and educational leaders in nine Finger Lakes counties, including Genesee. The program is designed to foster business growth and development on the grassroots level.

Lina LaMattina, BEST Center Director of Skills Training, and Barbara Shine, Assistant Professor of Business and Entrepreneurship, told trustees that 90 "Wired Emerging Entrepreneur" (WEE) scholarships for entrepreneurial education are available to area students interested in starting their own businesses. Each of the scholarships will pay $500 for tuition, books, and fees for Exploring Business Opportunities and Entrepreneurship, two Genesee courses that provide education in business start-up skills. Students are eligible to apply for two scholarships, totaling $1,000. "This means that a prospective entrepreneur can pretty much have the entire cost of a high-quality business training program covered," Ms. Shine said.

Genesee staff members hope that, by participating in the program, WEE scholarship recipients will obtain the skills and confidence they need to launch or expand their businesses. "Most business growth in the United State today is the result of entrepreneurial efforts," Ms. LaMattina said. "Local entrepreneurs with an idea are fast becoming the driving force behind economic growth. We want to tap into that entrepreneurial spirit, and help local citizens turn their business ideas into reality."

In addition to the two entrepreneurship courses, participants will be able to work with Small Business Development Center counselors at no charge. SBDC counselors can help residents develop business plans and investigate business financing options.

Area residents wishing to learn more, or apply for scholarships, can visit the College's WEE Web site: http://www.genesee.edu/gcc/wee/.

This summer, another WIRED grant program, developed by Genesee Community College and the Genesee County Economic Development Center, is acquainting 40 area high school students and recent high school graduates with the field of biotechnology, said Edward Levinstein, Associate Dean of Accelerated College Education programs.

The participating students, selected from 120 applicants from GLOW region schools, are participating in three Genesee Community College courses this summer: Fundamentals of Cell Biology, Introduction to Biotechnology, and College and Educational Planning. Students also gain exposure to the biotechnology and life sciences field through visits to the United Memorial Medical Center labs, Gaymar Industries in Orchard Park, Pyramid Prosthetics in Batavia, Syntec Optics in Pavilion, and the University at Buffalo. Students will earn seven college credits. The WIRED grant pays for tuition and books, as well as a small hourly stipend.

Eighty additional high school students will attend Introduction to Biotechnology and College and Educational Planning through Genesee's Accelerated College Enrollment program this fall. These students will also participate in field trips, internships, and job shadowing programs.

The purpose of the biotechnology scholarship program is to guide high school students toward the biotechnology and life sciences field. "Western New York is becoming a center for biotech research and product applications," Dean Levinstein said. "Right across the road from the Batavia Campus, the Genesee County Economic Development Center is building a biotech park that will house new and growing businesses, and eventually employ hundreds of workers in high-paying jobs. If we are going to be successful in building a strong biotech industry in our region, we need skilled workers. That's what we're trying to foster."

High school students and parents wishing to learn more about Genesee's Accelerated College Enrollment programs may visit the College's Web site: http://www.genesee.edu/depts/advanced/.

In other business this evening, the Board of Trustees:

• Approved the Board of Trustees meeting schedule for 2008-2009. The Board will meet the second Monday of each month in September, November, December, January, March, April, May, June, July (annual meeting), and August.

• Approved the granting of 139 degrees and certificates to students this month, subject to students' satisfactorily completing their studies. The College plans to award three Associate in Arts degrees; sixty-eight Associate in Science degrees; fifty-seven Associate in Applied Science degrees; and eleven certificates.

• Approved a resolution designating five providers of tax-sheltered annuities for employees: TIAA-CREF, AIG Retirement, ING, MetLife, and Fidelity. The resolution brings Genesee into compliance with a new SUNY directive limiting the number of companies authorized to provide tax-sheltered annuity programs.

• Authorized President Stuart Steiner, at the request of the Buildings and Grounds Committee, to retain the architectural firm of Joy, McCoola & Zilch, P.C. to design athletic field and gymnasium repairs and renovation, subject to the State University of New York Board of Trustees' approval of the $4.1 million project.

• Heard Board Chair Laurie Miller appoint members of Board of Trustee committees for the 2008-2009 year: Buildings and Grounds Committee (Kenneth Dodd, Chair; Laura Bohm; Mrs. Miller); Personnel Committee (Dr. Melvin Wentland, Chair; Marcia Noonan; Glenn Morton); Policy Committee (Charles Ruffino, Chair; Maureen Marshall; Diane Torcello). Dr. Wentland was appointed Board liaison to the Association of Community College Trustees and the New York Community College Trustees Association. Mrs. Noonan and Mr. Ruffino were appointed trustee representatives on the Genesee Community College Foundation Board of Directors. Mrs. Miller will be the trustee representative on the Genesee Community College Association Board of Directors.

• Heard Dr. Virginia Taylor report that 3,221 prospective students have applied for admission to Genesee on a full-time basis this fall, up 2.1% from the 3,153 prospective students who had applied one year ago. President Stuart Steiner reported that course registrations for the Fall 2008 semester are currently running 3.5% ahead of last year, but cautioned the Board that final registration statistics - not summertime trends - are what counts. Dr. Steiner also reported that 1,484 students attended summer classes at Genesee this year, a new summer enrollment record.

• Heard Cathy E. Costello, Executive Assistant to the President, report that 110 Genesee staff members participated in the annual College Mini-Summit. The two-day event - June 5 and 6 - featured 28 in-house training workshops focusing on technology, office procedures, communication, and other topics of concern to staff members. The event also featured a keynote address on effective communication, delivered by Ernest Hicks, Manger of Corporate Diversity at Xerox Corporation.

• Heard Kevin P. Hamilton, Vice President for Finance and Operations, report that the Board's no-smoking policy - prohibiting smoking within 50 feet of College buildings - will be strictly enforced. No-smoking signs, cigarette butt receptacles, and smoking huts will be relocated beyond the 50-foot perimeter. The College plans to continue offering smoking cessation programs to staff and students.

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