SCENE Fall 2016

SCENE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES Fall 2016 STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK For Friends and Alumni The Connection Center Offers Help when “Life Happens” M ost community college students who drop out do so because they can’t handle the academics, right? Actually, a few years ago, RCC administrators were surprised to discover that most RCC students who withdrew from classes did so for personal reasons such as family, health or financial issues. In the words of Susan Deer, PhD, Provost and Executive VP, “The main reason for students withdrawing is that life happens.” In response to this challenge, RCC applied for and was one of the first three SUNY sites to receive a $500,000 grant from NY state to establish The Connection Center, an on-campus resource that goes beyond traditional college services to connect students and their family members to the resources they need and to help students stay enrolled. Students and family members can visit The Connection Center on campus and speak with a Resource Navigator, who can provide referral information, linking them to assistance in health and human services areas such as: housing, childcare, employment, food, mental health, medical, legal, health insurance, taxes, utilities and more. “Even though we just launched, The Connection Center has already been instrumental in helping RCC students and their family members solve problems when life happens,” said Joseph Falco, Coordinator. “The Connection Center Joseph Falco, Coordinator of the Connection Center (photo by Sophia Wood ’17) bridges the gap between the College and the community.” In addition, because the College partners with United Way on this project, people seeking help can also dial 211 directly for a confidential, free Helpline, available in multiple languages 365 days a year. Callers affiliated with RCC will be prompted to press a specific extension and encouraged to follow-up with staff of The Connection Center for additional support. THE CONNECTION CENTER Technology Center, 3rd Floor, Rm. 8372 845-574-4414 • [email protected] JOSEPH FALCO Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist Coordinator Inside Honoring our veterans 2 Public health degree 3 New faculty 4 Presidential search 5 NYPD Commissioner 6 Student honors 7 Alumni notes 8 New alumni chair 9 Students of note 10 Free career classes 11 SCENE | 1