It is with respect for our rich history, pride in our current accomplishments and anticipation of a promising future that I bring you greetings from Queensborough Community College. I am eager to continue the work that has positioned this educational institution as one of the finest–and most diverse–community colleges in the country.
And we have much to be proud of as members of Queensborough’s large, extended family.
At the aptly named Milestone event this spring, Queensborough recognized those students in the Freshman Academies who have completed their first year and are half-way toward earning their degrees. Indeed, it is quite a milestone to consider that last fall over 3,300 first-time, full-time students were welcomed into the institution-wide initiative. Our aim is for each student to experience what Queensborough does best: provide a student-centered learning environment with our exceptional faculty. An integral part of all six Academies are the High Impact Learning Strategies, such as e-Portfolio and service learning, designed to further inspire and engage students with the goal of improving retention and graduation rates. Next year at this time, we will be celebrating the first Freshman Academy graduating class!
Our exemplary faculty–over half hold doctorates compared with 21% of faculty in other community colleges nationwide–present their work at national conferences and conduct pedagogical research on the learning approaches of our student body. Additionally, our faculty members are tireless mentors to our ever-increasing number of students actively involved in undergraduate research
The College’s three cultural beacons, the Kupferberg Holocaust Center, the QCC Art Gallery and the Performing Arts Center, are a source of intellectual enrichment for our own students as well as the entire community which we serve. They help to broaden our view of the world, offer our faculty access to world-class resources, and provide our students with the tools they need to successfully navigate the society they live in today.
Many of Queensborough’s students go on to earn bachelor’s degrees while others will go directly into the work world, seeking local jobs in the health professions, technology or business. Regardless of what path our students choose, they all share one thing in common: no matter how daunting the obstacles may seem, they never lose sight of their aspirations.
Dr. Diane Bova Call
Interim President
