Genesee Community College

Oatka Creek is the target of a clean up project, the first group service project of the academic year for Genesee Community College's Earth Club and Environmental Studies.

It takes place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 25. The students will cover one and a half miles of the Oatka Creek Park on Union Street in the Town of Wheatland.

The Creek Clean Up is part of a national initiative sponsored by the Ocean Conservancy's International Coastal Clean-up and the American Littoral Society's Annual New York State Beach Clean Up.

This is the third time Genesee students and faculty members have volunteered for the cause.

Students and volunteers will break into teams, with each team equipped with a data recording card and a trash bag. Teams will gather trash and record what they find. At the end of the day, the trash will be totaled and weighed.

Last year, the volunteers collected eight bags of trash, totaling 190 pounds of debris. The data will be compiled and will be sent into the national Coastal Clean-up organizers.

"It's wonderful to see these students spend their Saturday helping out for a great cause," said Maureen Leupold, Earth Club member and professor of Biology at Genesee. "Although this may be one small creek clean-up, it is all part of the bigger picture of environmental responsibility."

The Ocean Conservancy is the world's foremost advocate for the oceans. Through science-based advocacy, research, and public education, they inform, inspire and empower people to speak and act on behalf of healthy oceans.

Ocean Conservancy is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and has offices in Florida, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Pacific, with support from more than half a million members and volunteers.

The American Littoral Society is a national, nonprofit, public-interest organization comprised of over 6,000 professional and amateur naturalists, with headquarters in Sandy Hook, New Jersey.

The society seeks to encourage a better scientific and public understanding of the marine environment, provide a unified voice advocating protection of the delicate fabric of life along the shore, and has been protecting coastal habitats since 1961.

Genesee Community College is on the forefront of this exciting and important industry with recent enhancements to its Environmental Studies degree program. This program offers an excellent introduction to the field, with plenty of hands-on learning, and small class and laboratory sizes offering exceptional instruction.

Environmental Studies students have access to an on-campus nature trail featuring plants and other wildlife demarcated with signage along the way. Students also have the opportunity to go out in the field for hands-on experience within the rural region that surrounds the GLOW region.

To find out more about Genesee's Environmental Studies program visit <http://www.genesee.edu >.

For further information about Genesee's Environmental Studies program or to volunteer at the Creek Clean-up, please contact Biology Professor Leupold at 343-0055, ext. 6394.

Three Genesee Community College faculty members recently returned from an English language cultural program in Sao Paulo, Brazil. And the college is getting ready for several more global education and study-abroad opportunities this academic year.

Connie Boyd, Charley Boyd and Susan Drexel spent three weeks teaching English language and cultural immersion to students at FATEC Americana in Brazil.

"I really felt like I was taken in and was a part of a family when I was there," Sue Drexel said. "The people were so protective and we knew we could trust them to show us around their beautiful country."

The three instructors taught students aged 17 all the way to adults in their 50s. They focused on teaching American culture to the students through video clips, show-and-tell style activities and group projects.

Each night they taught a different topic, including holidays, food, families, music and sports. During the sports night, the Batavia Muckdogs were shown to the Brazilian students through YouTube clips to teach them about American baseball.

The Boyds and Drexel were amazed at the dedication of the students, who many times worked all day then attended the cultural immersion classes from 7 until 11 p.m.

 "The students were incredibly dedicated to the program," Connie Boyd said. "They wanted to know about our culture and were very open with us. The Brazilian people are very gracious and have such pride for their country."

Genesee and FATEC Americana hope to expand and develop the program throughout the next academic year.

This fall, director of Curriculum Development, James Goodwin, will visit FATEC and the first group of Business faculty members will travel to Brazil in January to teach business and culture to FATEC students.

Rappelling down a 50-foot climbing wall was all in a day's work for Genesee Community College's executive vice president of Academic Affairs.

Eunice Bellinger, Ed.D, recently returned from a four-day excursion to Fort Knox near Louisville, Ky, where she joined 80 other college administrators for the annual Army ROTC Leader's Training Course.

Professors, deans, administrators and faculty members who traveled from colleges and universities across the nation were arranged into platoons. They were provided Army uniforms, taught marching techniques and given a taste of the physical and mental demands of an ROTC cadet.

They were exposed to tactical problem solving and team-building with their platoons and even had to eat M.R.E.'s (Meals Ready to Eat) just like real cadets.

Along with rappelling, the educators also got to test their physical endurance at the obstacle course and rock wall at the Forest Hills climbing complex, and worked on team-building at the teamwork development course and stream-crossing. The stream-crossing featured single- and double-rope crossing techniques, which the platoons used to race against each other.

"The stream-crossing was a really big deal to me," Bellinger said. "I can't swim!"

College administrators climbed walls, participated in a high ropes course, sat in on leadership lectures, attended a semi-formal event and "graduated" from the program in a ceremony on the last day.

"Overall, it was a great experience. The ROTC program has wonderful scholarship opportunities for students looking to serve their country and further their education. I'm looking forward to next year's training course in Seattle!"

Bellinger is no stranger to military life. She was born at West Point Military Academy and has taught U.S. military personnel through the University of Maryland's European Division while living and teaching in Kuwait in the 1990s.

This firsthand experience for college educators was designed to develop advocates for the Army ROTC program. Genesee Community College now has a new ROTC office in its Career Center at the Batavia Campus, which is managed under the direction of SUNY Brockport's ROTC program.

Starting this fall, SUNY Brockport ROTC students will have the opportunity to take four classes at Genesee's Batavia campus. All four classes are offered on Fridays and are leadership focused. Fall classes include Leadership and Personal Development (MSC 101), Military Fitness and Conditioning (MSC 103), Military Conditioning Lab (MSC 104) and Innovative Tactical Leadership (MSC 201).

For further information about the ROTC programs offered at Genesee, please contact Major Daniel Fletcher at 585-395-2769 or e-mail: <http://dfletche@brockport.edu>.

The ROTC Leader's Training Course website is: <http://leadertrainingcourse.com/>.
 

The Genesee Community College Board of Trustees elected Trustee Charles R. Ruffino as board chair for the 2010-2011 year at its annual meeting Monday.

Ruffino has served as vice chair for the last two years. He is a resident of Batavia and a retired New York State Department of Education administrator.

Trustees elected Maureen T. Marshall as vice chair. She lives in Elba, and is owner and operator of Elba-based Torrey Farms.

Diane D. Torcello was named secretary. She resides in Pavilion and works as a Bank of Castile branch manager.

In other business, the board of trustees:

• Heard President Stuart Steiner report that State University of New York Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher sent him a letter expressing her pleasure at serving as Genesee's 2010 commencement speaker in May.

• Heard Steiner report that Genesee will receive $417,424 in Perkins Vocational and Technical Education funding for the coming year. The grant will provide support for career-oriented programs at the college.

• Heard Steiner report that the New York State Education Department has given final approval for the college's new Veterinary Technology degree program and Polysomnographic Technology degree program. The college may now accept students for both programs.

After almost two years of planning, the Genesee Community College Board of Trustees this week approved a new Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree program in Veterinary Technology. It will now be submitted for final approval by the State University of New York and the New York State Education Department.

The program prepares students to work in partnerships with veterinarians as licensed veterinary technicians. Most veterinary technicians work in animal hospitals and clinics, shelters, research labs and zoos.

In recent years, many prospective Genesee students have asked about veterinary technology programs, said Eunice Bellinger, Ph.D, executive vice president for Academic Affairs. The demand for veterinary technologists is expected to grow by 20 percent in New York State over the next six years, and 41percent nationwide.

"This is a very high-demand profession," she told trustees. "The high concentration of farms in our region is one factor in local demand for the veterinary technology profession, and the overall popularity of pets is another."

The college anticipates beginning the program this fall and at least 15 students will be admitted to the first class. That number will more than double during the second year, Bellinger said. It's likely that Genesee will receive many more applications than it can accept.

"We anticipate that this will be a highly competitive program, much like other health care programs at Genesee," she said.

Genesee Community College Veterinary Technology students will complete courses in Anatomy and Physiology, Veterinary Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Veterinary Nutrition, Techniques in Laboratory Animals and Exotics, Small Animal Pathology and Nursing, Large Animal Pathology and Nursing, Surgical Nursing and Anesthesiology, Veterinary Radiology and Dentistry, Parasitology, as well as general education courses that include communications and mathematics. Students also complete three "externships" – supervised experience working with animals in a clinical setting.

The entire program consists of 72-credit hours, and can be completed by students pursuing full-time study in two years. Nine of the program's courses include extensive lab work, and the college will develop a veterinary lab at the Batavia Campus, Bellinger said.

The program will prepare students to complete the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE), which is required for veterinary technician licensure in New York State. Genesee will apply to have the program accredited by the American Association of Veterinary State Boards.

Genesee graduates with an A.A.S. degree in veterinary technology will also have the opportunity to deepen their education in the veterinary management field or even become veterinarians, Bellinger told trustees. The college plans to develop transfer agreements with colleges and universities offering baccalaureate and other advanced veterinary programs.

SUNY Canton, which offers a degree in Veterinary Management Services, and SUNY Delhi, which offers a Bachelor of Business Administration in Veterinary Technology, have both expressed interest in developing a transfer program for Genesee graduates. Cornell University and Ross University School of Veterinary Science have also both expressed interest in developing transfer programs for students wishing to become veterinarians.

The new Veterinary Technology Program will be a deep source of pride to Genesee, Bellinger said.

"Our health care programs have long been regarded as among the very best in the northeastern United States," she said. "In our heavily agricultural region, an academic program focusing on animal health is a natural outgrowth of our mission and expertise. We look forward to developing a veterinary technology program that will be held in high esteem by students, the entire veterinary profession and the community."

Genesee Community College's Board of Trustees on Monday evening approved a new Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree program in Polysomnographic Technology -- the evaluation and diagnosis of more than 100 sleep disorders.

The degree is the first of its kind in any college or university in New York State.

With the Board's approval, the program will now be submitted to the State University of New York for approval, and later, to the New York State Education Department. The college expects the program to begin this fall and anticipates 35 students to be enrolled, according to Eunice Bellinger, Ph.D, executive vice president for Academic Affairs.

Full-time students can complete the intensive 66-credit program in four semesters. Graduates will be eligible to sit for the national Registered Polysomnographic Technologist (RPSGT) examination. New York State is expected to soon require licensing of polysomnographic technologists, and Genesee graduates will be eligible for licensure.

Polysomnographic technology is one of the fastest growing fields in medicine. Its technicians work closely with physicians to diagnose sleep-related problems and provide support services to patients. They usually work in "sleep laboratories," where patients with sleep problems spend one or more nights under intensive clinical observation. Technologists monitor patients' breathing, blood oxygen levels, brain waves, eye movements, muscle tone and other clinical variables. They use a variety of highly specialized clinical equipment, such as electroencephalograph, electrooculograph, electromyograph and electrocardiograph machines to assist in diagnosis. Technologists also counsel patients in the use of respiratory and sleep devices that aid in sleep hygiene.

Courses include Anatomy and Physiology, Physiology of Sleep Medicine, Sleep Study Instrumentation, Sleep Disorders, Environmental Chemistry, General Psychology, as well as four courses in Polysomnography and general education courses. The academic program also includes two clinical practice courses giving students the opportunity practice their skills in a sleep lab.

Sleep disorders are getting increased attention throughout the medical community. Bellinger told trustees that "sleep disorders are often associated with other medical conditions, such as obesity. Medical technology has given us a variety of ways to assess and diagnose neurological, cardiac and muscular problems during sleep and, ultimately, help patients lead healthier lives. We are looking forward to adding this Polysomnographic Technology program to our academic offerings, and making valuable new contributions to the health of people in our local communities."

Genesee Community College is accepting nominations for Honorary Associate degrees that are conferred at the annual commencement ceremony each May. Any person is welcome to make nominations. Nominations are due by Feb. 1.

Genesee seeks individuals associated with the college who have achieved business, professional, civic and scholarly accomplishments, as well as made notable contributions to the college or to academic disciplines taught at the college.

Recipients of honorary degrees are individuals whose accomplishments, contributions or leadership are well beyond ordinary standards, and serve as an inspiration to members of the college community and as role models for students and citizens of the region.

Nomination forms can be retrieved online at the following Internet address: http://marketing.genesee.edu/images/HonoraryForm.pdf

For Honorary Degree guidelines, please go to:http://marketing.genesee.edu/images/HonoraryGuidelines.pdf

The completed forms should be submitted to: Cathy Costello, executive assistant to the president and secretary to the board of tustees, Genesee Community College, One College Road, Batavia, NY 14020. For further information, please call Cathy at 585-345-6812 or email: cecostello@genesee.edu. <http://cecostello@genesee.edu.>
 

Patrick Walter has been selected to replace Priscilla DiRisio, who is retiring after serving for more than 20 years as transfer coordinator at Genesee Community College.

His responsibilities include: creating smooth transitions for students interested in earning bachelor's (or higher) degrees; establishing and retaining articulation agreements with baccalaureate granting institutions; and guiding students through course selections to help ensure a smooth transfer process.

"I hope I can help any student who walks through my door make a seamless transition to a four-year institution without any hiccups," Walter said. "I anticipate continuing the great transfer programs we have here, along with facing the challenges of preparing students to select the appropriate courses and programs of study to be able to transfer without the loss of credits."

He will also focus on the unique educational needs of veterans going back to school.

"Genesee needs to be 'vet friendly' to troops returning from abroad and to our vets who served several years ago," Walter said. "I am working with various departments to make sure we are recruiting, retaining and assisting many different types of veterans."

Walter hails from Hilton, NY, but has lived in Tennessee for the last 18 years. For the past six years, he has worked at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville as an educational specialist and a student-athlete mentor and tutor. His work with high school students, veterans and student-athletes has prepared him to take the position of transfer coordinator at Genesee's Career and Transfer Center.

Walter began his education and career in the hospitality and restaurant industry. He earned a Bachelor's degree from Penn State and worked as a professional chef for five years. He later moved into the food sales industry where he was an account executive until 2003. He enjoyed training and educating the people through his sales position, but the corporate environment wasn't as appealing. As a result, he turned to the educational arena, and went back to school and earned his Master's of Science in Educational Psychology from the University of Tennessee.

He lives Rochester, while his wife, Deanna, is still living in Tennessee with their three hound dogs Nutmeg, Mandy and Augustine. Together, the Walters enjoy rescuing and fostering dogs as well as hiking, canoeing and other outdoor activities. Patrick also likes cooking and entertaining and visiting his family now located in Rochester and in the Finger Lakes region. Plus, he restores old cars.

Patrick Walter can be reached at (585) 343-0055 x6430.

An innovative new program called "Pathways" is offered by Genesee Community and Empire State colleges. It gives Genesee students the opportunity to earn bachelor's degrees by spending an extra semester at Genesee and three semesters pursuing study at Empire.

Jonathan R. Franz, Ph.D., dean of Empire State College's Genesee Valley Learning Center, told the Genesee Community College Board of Trustees about Pathways on Monday evening.

Under the program, Genesee students can earn up to 83 credits toward a bachelor's degree at the Batavia Campus, at any of the college's six campus centers or via the online  equivalent of five semesters of study. Most Genesee associate's degrees require between 62 and 64 credits of study.

Students then enter Empire State's program of individualized study for the balance of their baccalaureate education. They can complete their studies at Empire through independent study, group studies or online studies, all guided by highly qualified local mentors. Those who have gained college-level learning through the workplace or other experience may apply for college credit by evaluation.

Although Empire does not offer traditional "classes," the Empire program is rigorous and requires a high level of academic commitment.

"We expect a lot of writing and a lot of reading," Franz told the trustees. "Students are expected to engage in critical thinking, and participate in discussions with mentors and other students, whether face-to-face or online."

The program is especially appropriate for students who may not have the flexibility to drive to a distant campus for classes or participate in a fixed class schedule, Franz said. Students will be able to complete coursework in their own communities, usually on their own schedules. They will participate in designing their own Empire degree programs. The most popular degrees are in Community and Human Services, Business Administration, and Human Development.

Empire State College, a college of the State University of New York, was founded in 1971 to serve motivated adult learners. Originally dubbed a "college without walls," Empire has become widely recognized as an innovative and respected college focusing on the needs of mature students.

Empire State College has about 19,500 students enrolled statewide but does not have traditional "campuses." Instead, it houses operations in seven "learning centers" located throughout the state. In turn, these centers sponsor local "units," which bring Empire services to their respective service areas.

The Genesee Valley Learning Center, which Franz leads, is based on the east side of Rochester and has about 1,200 enrollees. It sponsors units in Canandaigua, Alfred, Corning and Batavia.

The Batavia Unit was originally located at Genesee Community College's Batavia Campus, but moved to Ellicott Street three years ago due to space constraints. It serves almost 200 students each year.

"The quality of GCC students is excellent and GCC students who come to Empire are very well prepared," said Edward Warzala, Batavia unit coordinator. "I feel great confidence when I see a student with a Genesee Community College transcript. I know that if they can succeed at Genesee, they can succeed at Empire."

Warzala noted that Steven Schutt, Genesee's student trustee, will be one of the first students to enter the Pathways Program after graduating from Genesee next month.

Just in time for the holiday season! Genesee Community College's Collegiate Entrepreneurs Organization (CEO Club) has expanded its SCHOLARS brand line of products to include the brand new Apple Cinnamon Pancake Mix.

The pancake mix is sold as a gift pack with the popular Apple Cider Syrup that was developed last year. The two products combine not only as a delicious meal, but as a great holiday gift.

The syrup and pancake mix gift packs retail for $14.99 and can be purchased from local retailers as well as the Barnes and Noble Book Store at Genesee Community College. The Apple Cider Syrup alone retails for $9.99. Profits from the syrup and gift pack sales will be put back into the program, as well as used to fund student scholarships.

The Apple Cider Syrup project began over two years ago to produce and market a gourmet food product that would provide practical, hands-on business and entrepreneurial learning opportunities for Genesee students. The club developed and now markets SCHOLARS brand Apple Cider Syrup; an apple pie flavored syrup used over pancakes, waffles, French toast, pork recipes and even ice cream. The Apple Cinnamon Pancake Mix is an expansion of their line, and a complimentary product to the Apple Cider Syrup.

"The goal of the SCHOLARS brand was to give students hands-on experience marketing and selling a product in the real-world," said Barbara Shine, professor of business and advisor of the CEO Club. "The expansion of the line is doing just that, and at a perfect time for holiday gift giving."

For further information, please contact Professor Shine at 343-0055 x6319.
 

Genesee Community College's Alumni Office has been awarded a $1,000 from the State University of New York Council for University Advancement (SUNYCUAD) to develop an Alumni Career Network program. Led by Alumni Coordinator Jackie Christenson, plans call for the inaugural program to be up and running next year.

The Alumni Career Network will be a career mentoring program to assist students with career planning and goal setting. The mentor program will match students with alumni who have similar academic interests, career goals, personal interests and hobbies for the purpose of encouraging, supporting, advising and motivating. Alumni mentors will guide students in understanding their field of interest and sharing various levels of expertise.

The goals include helping students develop professional, interpersonal and networking skills critical to their success, and also keeping students informed about career choices through consultations with alumni volunteer mentors. Mentoring can be done in person; through e-mail or by phone; shadowing opportunities at a workplace, or a short- or long-term internship. The key is to begin a small program to guide students toward being successful both academically and professionally and to build the network in years to come.

Students involved in the program can expect to develop a clearer understanding of their career choice, be comfortable with it, possibly make a career change and/or continue their education. Alumni mentors can expect an opportunity to share experiences and to guide a student, which fosters personal and professional skills such as listening, coaching, guiding and teaching.

"We are very excited about developing the Alumni Career Network at Genesee," Christenson said. "Especially during tough economic times and ever-changing employment prospects, there is a real need for a mentoring program to connect our successful alumni and our current students who need career advisement. This is a perfect fit for our alumni and students."

Alumni interested in volunteering in the Alumni Career Network program at Genesee Community College should contact Jackie Christenson at 585-343-0055 x6265 or at jkchristenson@genesee.edu.