Page 16 - Annual Report 2011-2012

­including­graduation­from­a­New­York­high­school­or­GED­program,­to­pay­the­
in-state­tuition­rate.­At­its­June­meeting,­the­College’s­Board­of­Trustees­passed­a­
memorializing­resolution­asking­the­New­York­State­Legislature­to­enact­the­Dream
Act­and­establish­the­New­York­State­Dream­Fund­Commission.­e­Board­took­this
action­because­it­believes­in­providing­all­students,­regardless­of­their­immigration­
status,­with­an­opportunity­to­study­at­the­college­level­and­meet­their­career­goals.
Across­New­York­State,­the­concept­of­equitable­access­has­been­formally­approved­by
the­State­University­of­New­York,­the­City­University­of­New­York,­the­New­York
City­Council­and­numerous­advocacy­groups.­
is­past­spring,­14­Suffolk­County­Community­College­students­were­selected­to­
receive­the­SUNY­Chancellor’s­Award­for­Student­Excellence.­is­is­the­highest
number­of­recipients­named­at­any­single­SUNY­institution­and­I­am­proud­to­report
that­the­number­of­students­recognized­with­this­honor­has­been­consistent­over­time.
I­joined­colleagues­from­across­the­country­for­AACC’s­release­of­“Reclaiming­the
American­Dream:­Community­Colleges­and­the­Nation’s­Future,”­a­report­by­the­
21st­Century­Commission­on­the­Future­of­Community­Colleges.­Since­its­
formation­in­July­2011,­the­commission­has­examined­the­opportunities­and­
challenges­confronting­the­nation’s­largest­and­fastest­growing­higher­education
sector.­Community­colleges­currently­enroll­close­to­half­of­all­U.S.­
undergraduates;­the­ratio­is­even­greater­at­SUNY,­where­more­than­half
(246,000)­of­the­system’s­students­are­enrolled­at­30­community­colleges.
AACC­has­convened­a­nationwide­implementation­team­to­move­the­
recommendations­from­this­report­forward.­­I­am­honored­to­serve­as­a
member­of­this­team.
In­July,­I­was­invited­to­attend­a­meeting­with­Carl­McCall,­Chairman­of
the­SUNY­Board­of­Trustees­to­discuss­possible­areas­of­collaboration­
between­SUNY­and­the­Government­of­Trinidad­and­Tobago,­represented
by­Fazal­Karim­the­Minister­of­Tertiary­Education­and­Skills­Training,­
Ambassador­Rodney­Charles­and­Consul­General­Nan­Ramgoolam.­is­
meeting­was­arranged­on­short­notice­to­take­advantage­of­the­Minister's­visit­to
New­York­City.­e­meeting­concluded­with­an­agreement­to­schedule­an­official
delegation­visit­with­the­intention­of­working­to­share­curriculum­and­to­transfer
knowledge.­In­addition,­the­Trinidad­and­Tobago­Government­would­consider­sending
a­delegation­to­the­SUNY­conference­in­the­fall­of­2012­and­similarly,­a­delegation
from­SUNY­will­visit­Trinidad­and­Tobago­at­a­conference­to­be­arranged­and­held­in
2013.­I­was­selected­by­Chairman­McCall­to­organize­the­delegation’s­visit­and­to­serve
as­the­liaison­between­SUNY­and­the­Trinidad­and­Tobago­government­representatives.
As­we­celebrate­another­successful­year­we­recently­learned­that­the­College’s­
Ammerman­Campus­Chapter­of­Psi­Beta,­the­national­honor­society­in­psychology
for­community­colleges,­has­earned­the­2011-2012­Chapter­Excellence­Award.­is
award­challenges­chapters­to­engage­in­activities­reflecting­Psi­Beta’s­mission­priorities
of­leadership,­scholarship,­community­service­and­research.­Few­of­the­nation’s­
Psi­Beta­chapters­achieve­this­level­of­distinction.­e­achievement­is­acknowledged
on­the­Psi­Beta­website­(see­the­awards­page­at­http://psibeta.org).­­
Campus­speech­and­debate­teams­on­both­the­Ammerman­and­Michael­J.­Grant­
campuses­enjoyed­national­and­international­success­at­various­competitions,­
including­the­Phi­Rho­Pi­National­Forensics­Championship­in­Schaumburg,­Illinois,
the­International­Forensics­Championship­in­Rome,­Italy­and­the­National­Forensics
Championship­at­Ohio­University.
14 ❘ 2011-2012 Review of Accomplishments