Page 3 - Annual Report 2012-2013

Message from the President
in 2010, i pledged to serve as the sixth President of this distinguished institution. it remains an
honor for me to stand at the helm today, preparing to lead this exceptional college into its 54th
year. As you review last year’s accomplishments, you will clearly see that the organizational
structure that has been implemented and the team of professionals who have been appointed to
leadership roles, have enabled the College to be responsive, creative, decisive and transformative.
As the largest community college in the state of New York, our work is frequently challenging
and can be complicated. is year was no exception, with our collective efforts being influenced by
the impact of the storms we endured and by our internal focus on accreditation, strategic
planning and assessment.
i am seeing our College advance as a result of its willingness to embrace change. rough change
comes evolution, which is a key component of transformation – a hallmark i have pressed
forward as president, and one we will continue to emphasize. while our annual accomplishments
reflect the variety of factors that came into play over the course of the past year, it is important to
note that my vision for this institution remains forward-focused. Along with support from our Board of Trustees, the College is fostering an
environment that engenders new ideas. we are growing where we need to expand in areas like philanthropy and facilities, and our entire
community remains dedicated to student success. it is clear that we have developed strategically throughout the institution’s history, however,
2012-2013 provided us with a head start toward where our vision leads: Suffolk County Community College will be recognized as a global force
and a model of excellence.
it is truly invigorating to witness our momentum. To attain the goal of excellence, our students, our faculty and our College have established
pathways toward prominence by securing local, statewide and national achievements. expectations are high, and this is precisely the moment
when we need to recognize change as a catalyst toward achieving greater success.
for several years now, the condition of our state and local economies has been a source of challenge. our County has generously supported our
capital programs, but has asked us not to request any increase to our operational funding for three years. in response, the college community
found ways to function with less. is included our faculty’s willingness to re-invest into the stability of the College by re-opening their
contract and working with us to deliver a contract modification that strengthened the institution through 2013 – enabling us to maintain
our operations without cutting programs or staff. i promise to continue working with my many colleagues to leverage our resources in order
to sustain our success.
Now, more than ever before, affordable, high quality education and training are essential to our region and to preparing individuals for
competitive careers that will pay the salaries necessary to live and raise a family on Long island. with approximately 90% of all new high-
wage jobs requiring a college degree or post-secondary training, our continued contribution as an economic engine is vital to the success of
our state and local economies. As the County’s community college, we are uniquely positioned to address the educational and training demands
of our region, and under my leadership we will continue to meet those demands. To accomplish this, i will remain both at the forefront of our
efforts and behind the scenes to ensure that our students reach their educational goals.
i take great pleasure in providing you with an overview of these most recent accomplishments. Most importantly, i am confident in our ability
to build upon our past success as we remain committed to attaining our vision for the future. i am proud to collaborate with faculty, administrators
and staff as we work collectively to advance the mission of this fine institution by providing education that will transform the future.
Sincerely,
Dr. Shaun L. McKay
2012-2013 Review of Accomplishments ❘ 3