Diversity & Multicultural Programs (Community Colleges)
Today's Leadership Team, Rockland Community College
Program Effectiveness
The program has been developed and active since September of 2003. The participation level has reached an average of approximately 5 members per academic fiscal year. In total, we have had 24 active participants. Of the 24 students, we have 7 graduates, 9 transfers, and 8 matriculated RCC students. The 24 active participants have contributed the following to the RCC community and abroad:
- 2 Students have become student ambassadors at RCC
- 2 Students developed their own club on campus (Music Industry & Momentum)
- 1 student joined the Honors Business program at RCC. That student graduated RCC and transferred to Baruch College. He joined the Inroads Program, the Caribbean Club, and modeled. He later graduated Baruch College with a degree in Business Administration. He currently works as a Finance Manager for General Electric Company. Last but not least, he was our keynote speaker at RCC's "African American Achievement Award Ceremony" in February 2007.
The cost of the program is no more than $500.00 per semester for the food and beverages.
The co-facilitators Brian Merritt (Director of the Haverstraw Extension Center) and Nilda Aragones (Faculty Counselor - Student Development Division) have volunteered/dedicated their time to this initiative to promote non traditional student engagement models. In short, the program has been quite effective and cost effective. The human capital invested in this program is of no additional charge.
Program Collaboration
Student Development Division agents of the college are periodically and intentionally used to assist the co-facilitators. For example, Kathy Carroll (Career Counselor) is utilized for the purpose of providing personal/career inventories to position our student leaders to make well informed choices in regard to their interests and skill sets. Len Gersten (Transfer Counselor) is also used to position our students for Higher Education opportunities beyond Rockland Community College.
Last but not least, we formally have each student at the end of each semester meet with an agent from the Student Involvement office to learn how they can make a meaningful and organized impact as leaders at the RCC campus. As they transition from the "Today's Leadership Team", we have the majority of our students either become active in the college community and/or their local community. The process is primarily effortless because these students normally are "self motivated" at this point.
Program Outcomes
Upon "full" completion of the program, all students will receive a certificate of completion that is signed by The Dean of Student Development (Dr. Suzanne Phillips), Nilda Aragones (Co-facilitator of the "Today's Leadership Team"), and Brian Merritt (Co-facilitator of the "Today's Leadership Team").
We have had 24 active participants over a four year period. The results are as follows:
- 7 graduates from RCC.
- 9 transfer students.
- 8 current matriculated students at RCC.
- 2 Students became student ambassadors at RCC.
- 2 Students developed their own club on campus (Music Industry & Momentum)
- 1 student joined the Honors Business program at RCC. That student graduated RCC and transferred to Baruch College. He joined the Inroads Program, the Caribbean Club, and modeled. He later graduated from Baruch College with a degree in Business Administration. He currently works as a Finance Manager for General Electric Company. Last but not least, he was our keynote speaker at RCC's "African American Achievement Award Ceremony" in February 2007.