GCC Start-Up NY Campus Plan introduced to Board of Trustees

Press release:

The Genesee Community College Board of Trustees has reviewed the State University of New York (SUNY) Start-Up New York Campus Plan, along with the criteria that will help guide the College's review and evaluation process of potential project proposals seeking the tax-free designation. The multi-page plan includes designation of two key locations within or in close proximity of GCC's current campuses which present ideal development opportunity.

Specifically cited were approximately 30 acres of flat land within the Upstate New York Medical Tech Park across from the Batavia Campus, and 30,000 square feet of classroom and office space available at the Dansville Campus Center located within the old middle school at 31 Clara Barton St. In addition, 14 other locations were listed as potential sites including eight in Orleans County and three in Wyoming County.

If the Board approves the plan, a 30-day public review process would begin. Copies of the plan would be mailed directly to the legislators and economic development agencies of Genesee, Livingston, Orleans and Wyoming counties, as well as the various union and student leadership organizations.

Upon their review and approval, the College will then submit the Plan to SUNY for further review, and finally to the Empire State Development for final approval.

Start-Up New York Tax-free Areas to Revitalize and Transform Upstate NY program is a statewide initiative introduced by Governor Andrew Cuomo last year to encourage potential developments on or within one mile of each of SUNY's 64 campuses by offering tax-free status to both the company and new employees for up to 10 years. Each SUNY institution can designate up to 200,000 square feet of space for Start-Up New York projects to create new jobs associated with the academic curriculum offered by the connected campus.

"This effort does not supersede the other processes currently in place [with county industrial or economic development agencies]," College President James Sunser said to the trustees. "We will rely on those other processes. For those companies who want to work with us, the first filter the business must meet is an alignment with our academic programs."

The Campus Plan cites GCC's mission and lists the following 11 academic programs that would align with many different business proposals: Business Administration, Biotechnology, Computer Information Services, Computer Support and Operations, Computer Systems and Network Technology, Web Design, Entrepreneurship, Engineering, Food Processing, Healthcare and Supply Chain Management.

For further information about Start-Up NY go to: http://startup-ny.com/

In other business, the Board of Trustees:

•    Heard Kevin Hamilton, vice president of Finance and Operations, report on the results from the request for proposals for the College's food and vending services. After careful committee review and with Board of Trustee approval, American Dining Creations will be GCC's new food service contractor starting July 1 and continuing through June 30, 2017 with an option for additional two one-year periods. Among the new opportunities students and staff will enjoy in the coming years are: a Batavia Campus Subway; increased use of locally grown produce; online ordering and payment of catering services; a smartphone app featuring nutritional guidelines; and the creation of a Campus Dining Advisory Board.

•    Heard Kathleen Schiefen, GCC provost and executive vice president of Academic Affairs report that 10 more academic programs have been carefully reviewed against the SUNY Seamless Transfer criteria and will now meet the 64 credit hour limit. Fine Arts AS, Administrative Assistant AAS, Individualized Studies AAS, Computerized Drafting and Design AAS, Computer Support and Operations AAS, Fashion Business AAS, Polysomnographic Technology AAS, Tourism and Hospitality Management AAS and Entrepreneurship AAS now meet the credit hour limit largely through minor adjustments with the number of electives or physical education credit requirements. Schiefen also explained that GCC's Economic Crime Investigation AS degree has altered its focus and has shifted from the Criminal Justice to the Business and Commerce cluster of programs. The new Economic Crime Investigation degree concentrates more on accounting procedures and financial forensics such as deciphering inconsistencies in record and inventory, insurance fraud, data collection and inappropriate business practices.

•    Heard the following employee appointments:

Michele McKay, joins GCC's nursing faculty after teaching LPN to RN transition course as a GCC adjunct faculty member last fall. Previously, she taught pediatrics, maternal-child health, and peri-operative nursing at Niagara County Community College. She also worked at Starpoint and Clarence Central school districts as the school nurse, the VA Medical Center in Buffalo, nursing homes and she has experience as a clinical research nurse. She earned her Nursing M.S. from California State University Sacramento and her B.S. from SUNY Binghamton. She resides in Clarence Center.

Amy Churchfield is now the permanent, full-time associate dean at the Dansville Campus Center after serving as the interim dean since last August. She joined GCC in 2004 as a technical assistant and was promoted in 2010 to technical specialist. She earned her bachelor's degree in Speech and Hearing Education from Elmira College and a master's degree in Higher Education Student Affairs from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. She began her career as director of Student Activities at Medaille College. She resides in Groveland.

Diane Palmer has shifted from the Albion Campus Center where she has been a part-time associate since 2008, to the Batavia Campus where she will now serve as a technical assistant and academic advisor. She will also continue teaching as an adjunct faculty member. She earned her M.A. from The SUNY College at Brockport, and her B.A. from Houghton College. She resides in Albion.