GCC

Local artist Victor Corey brings his talents to Genesee Community College's Lobby Art Gallery with "Watercolor Landscapes." The exhibit will run Oct. 15 through Dec. 1 and feature large-scale watercolor paintings that capture nature and the outdoors in beautiful detail. 

An artist's reception is scheduled from 1 to 2 p.m. when the exhibit opens next Thursday.

Corey is a Batavia native and has worked in the arts his entire life. He previously worked as a technical illustrator and has taken up painting as a hobby over the last few years. His exhibit in the Lobby Art Gallery is his first public showing and will consist of approximately 16 pieces.

His works depict landscapes, various sportsmen-themed panoramas, including fishing and hunting, as well as travel-themed pieces from his travels throughout Germany.

"We're pleased to have Victor's inaugural showing at the Lobby Art Gallery," said Heather Jones, instructor of Fine Arts. "Genesee Community College is a wonderful outlet for our community members to showcase their creative talents. Whether it's a first-time exhibitor, or a seasoned artist, Genesee welcomes an assortment of exhibitors to the gallery."

The Watercolor Landscapes Exhibit is free and open to the public. The Lobby Art Gallery is housed inside the Stuart Steiner Theatre at the Batavia Campus and is open during normal academic hours.

For further information, please contact instructor Jones at 585-343-0055 x6448, or at hsjones@genesee.edu.

This Saturday, September 12th, Care-A-Van will be heading to GCC for their Annual Fall Cookout.

The cookout will be held at the Dorms Parking lot beginning at 4:00 PM until ?.

The cookout will inlcude hot dogs, hamburgs, salads, baked beans, pickles, chips, pop and ice cream cones. The Care-A-Van band will provide music while the students enjoy their food.

All Students are invited to bring their friends  and have a good time.

On Sunday, September 13th we will return at 4:30 for a church service beginning at 4:30 PM. Pastor Dale Gooch from the Emmanuel Baptist Church will bring the message.

During the school year, Care-A-Van visits the dorms on a monthly basis. We knock on 95 dorm rooms and bring them a treat, along with words of encouragement and prayer if needed.  Over the years, we have had the opportunity to build relationships with these students. They look forward to our monthly visits and the little suprise package that we bring them.

If there is any organization or church that would like to partner with us and join in on our monthly visits to the dorms, please contact us at 343-0328.  This is a great outreach opportunity for the community.

May God Bless all the students for the new school year!

Genesee Community College will hold the 2009 Wolcott J. Humphrey III Symposium on Leadership and Community Life on Monday, Sept. 21.

Fred Grandy, television star, radio personality, former CEO and Congressman will deliver the keynote address on the "Art of Change." It will focus on bringing positive change to local organizations and the community.

"We couldn't have asked for a more appropriate topic for this year's symposium," said 2009 Symposium Chair Lori Stupp. "As the economic and political climates have changed recently, our local businesses and community groups must adapt and change as well."

The symposium will be from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Batavia Campus. Tickets are $25 and reservations must be made by Sept.14. For further information, please call the Genesee Community College Office of External Affairs at 585-343-0055 x6234.

A reception with hearty hors d'oeuvres will follow the keynote address.

Although Grandy may be best known for his acting role as the loveable "Gopher" on The Love Boat comedy series, he has an assortment of career experiences that allow him to present poignant messages on importance of giving back and community involvement.

Upon leaving Hollywood, Grandy successfully campaigned for Congress in his home state of Iowa and served eight years in House of Representatives. Afterward, he became president and CEO of Goodwill Industries and spent the next few years rebuilding the nonprofit chain of retail stores and rehab centers.

A magna cum laude graduate of Harvard with a Master's degree in Shakespearean studies from The George Washington University, he has been a visiting professor at the University of Maryland's School of Public Affairs, as well as a consultant to a number of nonprofit organizations.

He now makes his living in talk radio as the host of the popular Grandy & Andy Morning Show on 630 WMAL in Washington, DC, and is the co-host of Retired Living TV's Daily Café, which focuses on news and current affairs and includes viewer participation.

The family and friends of Wolcott J. (Jay) Humphrey III, who died suddenly in September 2001, established the symposium in his memory. Humphrey, who served as president of Pavilion State Bank (now part of Five Star Bank) and was chairman of the Board of Trustees for Genesee Community College at the time of his death, was one of the region's foremost civic leaders and a strong proponent of leadership development.

The symposium brings speakers with a national or regional reputation to the college to discuss some facet of leadership. Past speakers have included Syracuse University Basketball Coach Jim Boeheim, Paychex CEO Thomas Golisano, William Hudnut III, a former Congressman, and Paul S. Speranza, chairman of the board of directors of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

The office of Alumni Affairs at Genesee Community College has named Jacqueline Kay Christenson as the new alumni coordinator. "Jackie" began her new position earlier this month after the retirement of Patti Pacino.

Previously, Christenson  was director of alumni programs at Roberts Wesleyan College, where she also served as the assistant director of alumni relations. She was responsible for organizing the Homecoming events, as well as many other alumni initiatives and communication efforts. In addition, she served in other capacities, including office manager and tutor coordinator.

She received her bachelor's degree in organizational management and a master's degree in business from Roberts Wesleyan College. She attended college as a nontraditional-aged student and started her professional career later in life. As an adult student, she had to balance the responsibilities of home and family with her college studies. She enjoyed being around students of all ages. She's eager to hear about the success of nontraditional Genesee students who have graduated and started their own careers.

"I'm really looking forward to connecting Genesee's alumni," Christenson said. "It will be interesting to meet the many different graduates and hear their stories. I hope to bring as many alumni back to campus as possible, so they can see how much the college continues to grow and how their support and involvement with their alma mater adds an incredible dynamic to the life and times at Genesee."

One new opportunity she plans to develop in her first year is an Alumni Mentoring program. Funded by a grant, she hopes to match successful alumni with current students to foster relationships and help to guide students with career advice and possible job shadowing.

Christenson is a resident of North Chili and has two sons, Jeff (34) and Steve (29). She enjoys spending time with her family, especially her two granddaughters, Claire and Maggie. She also enjoys camping, Cajun Zydeco music and swing dancing.

For further information, or to contact the Office of Alumni Affairs, please call 585-343-0055 x6265 or email at alumni@genesee.edu.

Administrators at Genesee Community College and Empire State College have signed an articulation agreement to effectively transfer Genesee Community College credits to Empire State College to earn a prestigious State University of New York (SUNY) bachelor's degree.

As the first formal partner in the new Pathways Program, graduates from Genesee Community College are now able to define an individual degree program tailored to their unique interests, and with the help of a mentor, make a smooth transition to Empire State College to earn a bachelor's degree.

The Pathways Program is a new transfer opportunity where Genesee Community College graduates can take an additional 16 credits of introductory coursework at Genesee to support their bachelor's degree requirements. The remaining 48 credits of required upper division coursework is taken with Empire State College through flexible teaching and learning models. Known commonly as a "5+3 program," students enrolled in the Pathways Program generally take five semesters at Genesee, and three semesters with Empire State College to achieve a bachelor's degree.

With this agreement, students are able to stay within their community and earn a bachelor's degree that is tailored to their career goals. Students are also able to choose a blend of online, independent study and in-person study through one of Empire State College's regional locations, or they can choose to study entirely online.

Pathways Program students not only choose what they want to study, but also how, where and when they want to study. With an Empire State College campus in Batavia, Rochester, Alfred, Canandaigua and Corning, residents across upstate New York can now earn a bachelor's degree with little or no commuting from home.

The flexibility of the Pathways Program includes more than 400 online Empire State College classes, allowing students to continue their studies while fulfilling family, work and community commitments. The joint venture between Genesee and Empire State College reflects a highly individualized approach to degree planning that addresses the varying needs and demands placed upon contemporary students.

"The new Pathways Program increases access to high quality, higher education - meeting the needs of today's adult learners," Alan R. Davis, Ph.D., president of Empire State College. "It offers the flexibility for students to mix and match what they want to take, and where and when they take it. The partnership allows students to hold down a job, stay in their community, continue to fulfill family and community obligations and still earn a SUNY degree."

Empire State College offers the following 11 areas of study for a bachelor's degree: Nursing (BSN); Social Theory/Social Structure and Change; Science/Mathematics and Technology; Human Development; Historical Studies; Educational Studies; Cultural Studies; Community and Human Services; Business Management/Economics; and the Arts. These bachelor's degree study areas overlap with all of the associate degrees offered at Genesee, but particularly coalesce with Genesee's Business, Human Services, Communications, Criminal Justice, Liberal Arts and Nursing programs.

For more information on the Pathways Program between Genesee Community College and Empire State College, visit www.esc.edu/geneseecc <http://www.esc.edu/geneseecc>  or contact any of the following representatives:

EMPIRE STATE COLLEGE
Ed Warzala, Unit Coordinator/Mentor
                36 Ellicott Street, Batavia, NY 14020

                585-343-2307

                E-mail: ed.warzala@esc.edu
Laura Lee Jezsik, Recruitment and Outreach Specialist
    1475 Winton Road North, Rochester, NY 14609

    585-224-3299

    E-mail: laura.jezsik@esc.edu

GENESEE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Career and Transfer Center
                Priscilla DiRisio

                One College Road, Batavia, NY 14020

                585-343-0055 x 6423

                E-mail: CTC@genesee.edu
 

The BEST Center at Genesee Community College offers two new noncredit community classes this fall.

They are the Library Assistant/Technician Certificate Program and Exploring Your Family History workshop this September at Genesee's Batavia Campus.

The first course, Library Assistant/Technician Certificate Program, is a noncredit professional course sponsored by the New York Library Association (NYLA). It is open to individuals already working or newly hired in libraries, or people interested in working in a library setting.

It is scheduled from 6 to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, Sept. 21-24 and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 26. To receive a certificate, participants must complete the entire 18-hour program, which includes a survey of libraries from their beginnings in pre-history to the dynamic institutions they are today.

Special attention is given to the various aspects of library work and the distinctive role of the library assistant/technician in today's libraries as well as the current employment situation. The course costs $250 and financial assistance may be available to those who qualify.

Additional topics include public/circulation services, reference and technical services.  Public/circulation services will introduce circulation systems, reserves, special collections, shelving, stack maintenance, customer service, public relations, confidentiality and security. The reference topic will tackle organization of information, the reference question and search strategies, electronic reference products, trends, library/bibliographic instruction, information literacy, and the role of a library technician.

Lastly, the technical services topic will provide an overview of technical processing services used in libraries to ensure growth, development and bibliographic control of all collections and materials. In addition, individuals will learn the procedures required to acquire, catalog, process and preserve materials in all formats and impact of computers on technical services in libraries.

The second course, Exploring Your Family History is a noncredit genealogy workshop for those interested in learning about their ancestors.

Not that long ago, genealogy was considered strange and slightly morbid, because it often required trips to cemeteries and delving into the sometimes shady past. In recent years, however, genealogy has gone mainstream and new technology is available to facilitate both the search and the storage of genealogical information.

There is new appreciation for the stories that connect people to their ancestors. Participants in the workshop will learn how to trace their own genealogy and help others trace theirs. Individuals will go beyond names, dates, and places to gather the stories of their ancestors and pass them on to future generations. Topics will also include the proper storage and organization of the materials and artifacts used to develop a family history. This workshop cost is $74 and is offered in eight sessions from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Wednesdays starting Sept. 30 and running through Nov. 18.

Exploring Your Family History is taught by Connie Constantine, who has been exploring the history of her family and helping others do the same since she was 16. After helping friends and acquaintances with their genealogy for decades, she developed a curriculum for a course in Family History at the Larkin Center in Buffalo. She has written a book of family recipes and stories and is currently working on a book based on her mother's diaries. She practices and teaches pre-industrial arts including spinning, cheese and soap making, hearth cooking, butter making and other skills that past generations depended upon.

"These community classes and workshops are designed to serve all people in our region," Ray Chaya, director of The BEST Center said. "Community really is our middle name here at Genesee. Whether it is a professional skill building seminar that may help someone enter a new career, or a community workshop on genealogy - these courses illustrate that there really is something for everyone at Genesee Community College."

For more program information, course descriptions, or to register online, please visit www.bestcenter.org <http://www.bestcenter.org> . For enrollment information, contact The BEST Center at 585-345-6868.

 

Modern Think, a national research firm, and The Chronicle of Higher Education, have named Genesee Community College as one of the nation's "Great Colleges to Work For." 

GCC was the only community college in the State University of New York system to be included in the "Great Colleges to Work For" list.

As part of the "Great Colleges" project, faculty and staff members at Genesee and almost 250 other leading colleges and universities across the nation described their attitudes toward their positions and their institutions in a lengthy survey.

Modern Think, the research firm, tabulated the results on behalf of The Chronicle of Higher Education, the nation's leading higher education professional periodical. As part of the survey process, the college also had to complete a detailed institutional profile.

Chronicle editors used the survey results and institutional profiles to identify several dozen colleges and universities as "great places to work." Genesee scored exceptionally high in the quality of facilities, and the safety and security of the campus environment.

Genesee faculty and staff ranked the college highly in numerous categories, including institutional pride, relationships with supervisors, and overall job satisfaction.

Six members of the College's Buildings and Grounds staff were on hand, and applauded, at the Board of Trustees meeting last month to hear the survey report given by Associate Vice President of Human Resources Gina M. Weaver.

They included: Timothy Landers, director of Buildings and Grounds; Martin Cross, senior custodial worker; Jason Reardon, senior groundskeeper; Erik Will, senior custodial worker; Diane Marchese, Buildings and Grounds secretary; and Wayne Gruendike, Buildings and Grounds supervisor.

Board of Trustees Chair Laurie Miller said that she was pleased with the survey results. 

"We know we're a great college, but it's very nice to be recognized nationally," she said.

Eight new faculty and staff members will join Genesee Community College this fall semester.

They are: 

• Monica H. Mattioli, associate dean, Lima Campus Center. She has worked as executive director of the Roman Catholic Community of Downtown Rochester, senior director of marketing and public relations for Genesee Country Museum, and director of marketing and recruitment for the Division of Business Management at Roberts Wesleyan College. Mattioli holds a B.A. degree from St. Bonaventure University and a M.S. degree from Roberts Wesleyan College. She is a resident of North Chili.
• Michelle E. Tomaszewski, systems and electronic services librarian. She has worked as database administrator for Upstate NY Go Local Project, and in library positions at Finger Lakes Community College, Hobart and William Smith colleges, Pennsylvania State University at Altoona, and Centre County Library and Historical Museum in Bellefonte, Pa. Tomaszewski holds a B.A. degree from SUNY Geneseo and a M.L.S. degree from SUNY Albany. She is a resident of Scottsville.
• Jodi S. Harvey, instructor of teacher education. Harvey comes to Genesee from Pavilion Central School District. She has also taught at Genesee Valley BOCES and Genesee Valley Academy in Leicester. She holds a B.S. degree from SUNY Brockport and a M.E. degree from Roberts Wesleyan College. She is a resident of Geneseo.
• Derek D. Maxfield, instructor of history. He comes to Genesee from Capital Community College in Hartford, Conn. He has also taught at Western New England College in Springfield, Mass., Niagara County Community College, SUNY College at Fredonia, the University at Buffalo, and Canisius College. He holds a B.A. degree from SUNY Cortland and a M.A. degree from Villanova University. He is a candidate for a Ph.D. degree from the University at Buffalo. He is a resident of Dundee.
• Donna A. Lee LaMura, temporary instructor of chemistry and mathematics. She has served as a member of Genesee's adjunct faculty. She has also taught at Monroe Community College, Rochester Institute of Technology, and Nazareth College. She also has been a high school teacherl. LaMura holds B.A., B.S., and M.S. degrees from the University of Bridgeport, Conn. She resides in Fairport.
• Roshani Shrestha, temporary instructor of computer technology. She comes to Genesee from John Wood Community College in Quincy, Ill. She has also taught at Monroe Community College and Bryant & Stratton College. Shrestha holds a B.S. degree from Quincy University, IIl., and a M.S. degree from the University of Illinois. She is a resident of West Henrietta.
• Susan M. Chiddy, learning specialist. She has served as a member of Genesee's adjunct faculty for 10 years. She holds a B.S. degree from D'Youville College and a M.E. degree from the University at Buffalo. Chiddy is a resident of Elba.
• Glenn E. Taplin, academic advisor. He has served as a member of the staff of East High School in Buffalo, retention coordinator for the University at Buffalo's Student Support Services program, and assistant men's basketball coach at Buffalo State College. He holds a B.A. degree from Canisius College and a M.S. degree from Buffalo State College. Taplin resides in East Amherst.

Genesee Community College is offering of a new criminal justice course in forensics this fall.

CRJ161 -- Introduction to Forensics -- is being added to the criminal justice curriculum.  Along with the current CRJ118 Forensic Anthropology course, the new forensics course will enhance student preparation in the CSI field (crime scene investigation).

The class is offered on Monday and Wednesday afternoons from 12:20 to 1:15 and on Friday from 12:25 to 2:25 p.m..

Taught by criminal justice faculty member Karen Wicka, Introduction to Forensics is a three-credit course that will familiarize students with the basic principles of CSI and the scientific concepts and techniques used in a forensic laboratory.

Students participate in crime-scene analysis, evidence collection and evidence preservation. They also work in a number of forensic crime labs involving various branches of forensic science including fingerprinting, toxicology, serology (the study of blood serum) and impression evidence.

Specific forensic labs include blood spatter analysis, chromatography and handwriting analysis, blood typing, DNA fingerprinting and developing fingerprints using multiple methods such as Super Glue fuming.

Wicka has taught criminal justice full time at GCC for the past year and has been an adjunct faculty member since 2001. She has also taught criminal justice and forensics with Genesee Valley BOCES for 10 years, where she set up simulated crime scenes for students to solve. She has a law degree from Albany Law School and remains current on the latest innovations in the field by attending continuing-education training sessions with top forensic experts.

In Forensic Anthropology CRJ118, students examine human skeletal remains in the context of medico-legal issues. They analyze the scientific evidence of skeletal or badly decomposed remains to establish circumstances of death, and identify the decedent by estimating age, gender, racial affinity, stature, pathologic conditions, and traumatic injury.

The course also introduces human osteology (the study of bones), and presents methods and techniques used in forensic anthropology. The course discusses case reports, contexts in which human remains are found, and methods of recovery. Forensic Anthropology is taught by Dr. Jennifer Prutsman-Pfeiffer and will be offered on Thursday evenings from 6 to 9 this fall.

Prutsman-Pfeiffer is a pathologist's assistant at the University of Rochester Medical Center in autopsy pathology. She is also an adjunct assistant professor at the School of Nursing. In addition to her work at Genesee, she teaches at St. John Fisher College, and is a National Institute of Forensic Nursing faculty member.

Prutsman-Pfeiffer has served as a consulting forensic anthropologist in counties throughout western and central New York State since 2000, and she is a former member of the Disaster Mortuary Operations Response Team, assisting with identification of victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.

Students in her CRJ118 Genesee class this fall will see and learn about actual cases she has consulted on locally, and possibly participate in some aspect of real case studies that may occur during the semester.

Genesee's growing criminal justice program will soon offer a course called Emergency Management. The program will also soon be adding special concentrations within its Associate's in Applied Science curriculum. Homeland Security/Emergency Management, Forensics, Policing, Corrections Counseling or the traditional general concentration will be among the options for students to consider.

"Genesee's Criminal Justice Program has a strong history of excellence." said Barry Garigen, professor of Criminal Justice and program coordinator. "The new courses and concentrations will enhance learning and allow students to focus on emerging areas within the field while still continuing to receive the traditional educational foundation necessary to become successful criminal justice professionals."

Students can still enroll for the fall 2009 semester for any of the following three Criminal Justice degrees at Genesee Community College: an Associate's degree (A.S.), an Associate's in Applied Science degree (A.A.S.), or a certificate. The A.S. degree program prepares students to successfully transfer to a four-year institution for a baccalaureate degree in Criminal Justice or a related field. The A.A.S. degree program is designed for students preparing to enter the workforce upon graduation for a career in law enforcement, corrections, emergency management, community service or private security. The Criminal Justice certificate program prepares students for employment opportunities, or helps develop a deeper background in the field for those who are already employed within the criminal justice system.

All of Genesee's criminal justice programs may be taken in a distance-learning format.

For more  information on Genesee's Criminal Justice program, please contact Barry Garigen, Criminal Justice professor and program coordinator at 585-343-0055 x6307 or visit www.genesee.edu/legal/crimjust <http://www.genesee.edu/legal/crimjust>.

Fall semester at Genesee Community College is quickly approaching and students are taking full advantage of financial-aid opportunities. As economic times get tougher, it is imperative for all students to be able to apply for and receive financial aid.

The federal government has recently launched a campaign to encourage people to attend higher education institutions, especially community colleges, and is now informing current and prospective students of the financial aid opportunities that they may not be aware of.

A letter from Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, was sent to Genesee President Stuart Steiner outlining financial aid opportunities. As an instructor at a community college herself, Jill Biden is helping to spread the word about financial aid for people who have suffered during the current economy.

Her letter highlights financial-aid opportunities that many students may be unaware of, including:

• Students or family members of students who have had a change in financial circumstances and are collecting unemployment insurance may have their financial aid adjusted in order to help finance the cost of higher education.
• Pell Grants and Federal student loans are available for tuition and books, but also can be used for the costs associated with transportation and living expenses that help students attend their classes.
• Students may have their incomes adjusted to zero for financial aid purposes if they are now receiving unemployment insurance.

There are  a variety of programs including federal Pell Grants, New York State TAP fund, fiscal loans, and numerous college scholarship programs available. Approximately 84% of Genesee's students receive some form of financial aid.

"Last year, students at Genesee received $19 million in financial aid," Joseph Bailey, director of Financial Aid at Genesee, said. "There is money available, and we hope we can reach students of all ages and backgrounds to let them know that college is more affordable than they think."

To receive more information, or to apply for Federal Student Aid, visit www.genesee.edu/financial/apply <http://www.genesee.edu/financial/apply> .

The fall 2009 semester starts on Aug. 24, at all Genesee Community College campuses, with the exception of the new Lima Campus Center, which will start classes on Sept. 21.

For further information, please contact Genesee's Financial Aid office at 585-345-6900 or at www.genesee.edu/finaid <http://www.genesee.edu/finaid>.

Lewis J. Serventi was named the 2009 recipient of Genesee Community College's Alpha Medal of Service at the 41st Commencement Ceremony in May. The recipient is selected annually by the college's foundation board.

The Alpha Medal of Service medallion is encased in a crystalline sculpture. It  recognizes individuals whose philanthropic or volunteer support has deeply influenced GCC.

Serventi has demonstrated longstanding support of the college, especially with his early and generous support for the construction of the Conable Technology Building and the Humphrey Student Union. Financial contributions have been recognized with plaques in the south foyer of the Conable Technology Building and in one of the Humphrey Student Union vestibules.

Serventi retired as CEO and chairman of the former Lew-Mark Baking Co. of Perry, where he lives. He's well known for his involvement with civic and volunteer activities in the Genesee-Livingston-Orleans-Wyoming region.                              

"Lew and his wife Clelia have worked tirelessly to make our region a better place to live, and they have been unwavering in their support of Genesee Community College," college President John C. Dwyer said.

"They have given their time and financial resources very generously and very humbly. We are proud to recognize them with the Alpha Medal of Service. We hope and believe that they will be an inspiration for the entire College community, especially our students who will be tomorrow's leaders."

Past recipients of the Alpha Medal of Service include Lynn E. Browne (2006), Jerry and Carm Reinhart (2007), and John F. Andrews (2008).

The Genesee Community College Foundation is a charitable organization that marshals financial and volunteer support for the college. It is governed by a 30-member Board of Directors comprised of many of the region's leading civic and business leaders. The Foundation has funded more than 2,000 scholarships over the last decade, and was instrumental in securing support for the construction of two new buildings on the Batavia Campus and the acquisition of student housing at Genesee.