Annual Report 2021-2022

Previous year committee membership, including year when each member’s term ends

  1. Cimino, Alison, English (2024) - Chairperson 2021-2022
  2. Akcay, Zeynep, Math and CS (2023)
  3. Friedman, Elaine, Speech Communication (2023)
  4. Shin, Jun, Chemistry (2024) 
  5. Srivastava, Anuradha,Biology (2022);
  6. Lataianu, Gabriel, Social Sciences, Secretary (2022) 

 

Previous year liaisons, designees

Dr. Hui Yin Hsu, Dean of Continuing Education and Workforce Development, President's Liaison

Dr. Jannette Urciuol, Academic Senate Steering Committee liaison (2022)

Dr. Agnieszka Tuszynska, Steering Committee Designee (2022)

Clara Wajngurt, Mathematics and Computer Science, COC Liaison 

 

Upcoming year committee membership, including year when each member’s term ends

Armstrong, Daniel, Health and Physical Education, (2025)

Taibu, Rex, Department of Physics, (2025)

 

Previous year committee officers

Cimino, Alison, English (2024) - Chairperson 2021-2022

Lataianu, Gabriel, Social Sciences - Secretary 2021-2022

Upcoming year committee officers

TBD

Committee Meeting Dates and times

September 29, 2021, Zoom Meeting, TIME:  12-1 PM

December 8, 2021, Zoom Meeting, TIME:  1-2 PM

February 9, 2022,  Zoom Meeting, 1-2 PM

May 4, 2022, Zoom Meeting, 1-2 PM 

 

List of Bylaws charges and notation of “completed” or “not completed” with reasoning for incomplete items

Completed

List of Steering Committee charges and notation of “completed” or “not completed” with reasoning for incomplete items

Recommendations from Academic Senate:

  • Present our work to the Academic Senate: Choose 1-2 people to share what we are doing on our committee. Next semester this meeting will be Tuesday, February 8, 3 PM (Contact the committee two weeks prior to the meeting.)
  • Share update reports with the Academic Senate
  • Continue to update our website
  • Ask a committee member to review the bylaws and our annual report goals and share these with the committee.
  • Consider using a file sharing and communication system such as Microsoft Teams to share and communicate as a committee.

Response to Recommendations:

  • Anuradha Srivastava (QCC, from our committee) presented at the Academic Senate Meeting on February 15, 2022, 3:10 PM, regarding her work, supported by the mayor’s office, on the Community Health Committee to train and help vaccinating staff receive jobs.
  • CEWD Chair, Alison Cimino, presented at the Academic Senate Meeting on May 10, 2022, 3:10 PM with Dr. Philip Pecorino of the Pre-College Committee about the benefits of offering students credit for prior learning and the initiative to streamline this process so that potential students understand the process for receiving credits for prior learning. She also shared the committee’s work on micro-credentials and stackable credits, so workers create a pathway to higher education and higher education creates a pathway for better jobs.
  • Committee Member Zeynep Akcay and Chair Alison Cimino reviewed the committee bylaws with the committee at our February meeting.

Summary of actions not covered by above

Annual Report 2021-22

Certified Recovery Peer Advocate (CRPA) Conference
  • The first virtual CRPA (Certified Recovery Peer Advocate) Conference was launched by Queensborough Community College, entitled, “Cultivating New Beginnings Through Peer Recovery: Advocating for CRPA Career Pathways in the Post-Pandemic Landscape.” The virtual conference was held on Friday, June 10th through Saturday, June 11th.
  • The Certified Recovery Peer Advocate position is situated in hospitals, health care centers, treatment centers and clinics to advocate for people with a Substance Use Disorder (SUD) diagnosis. CRPAs have been through recovery and serve as advocates and supporters for current clients in crisis.
  • QCC’s Dr. Andrea Salis, Dr. Anuradha Srivastava, Hui-Yin Hsu and Ms. Lori A. Conkling presented at the conference.
  • Keynote speaker is Dr. Kelly McGuire, Medical Director of Emblem Health
Department of Labor (DOL) / Strengthening Community Colleges (SCC) Grant: $5 million: 2021-2025:
  • Aims to reach adult learners, untapped talent, New Yorkers who need jobs, CUNY alumni, to help economic recovery and to prepare people for the labor market.
  • 4-year grant
  • Stackable credentials so that students can receive credits to help them in employment and attain a college degree
  • Working with major corporations such as Amazon, Google, Cisco to foster employer engagement and commitment to hiring students who have successfully completed SCC grant Training Programs
    • Strengthening Community Colleges SCC Grant
      • $10, 000 stipend to track data and see how many students are enrolled in the course and how many want to receive credits for prior learning.
      • We have 5 training programs to offer in the Spring, but we still need approval by the Faculty Senate and faculty support proceed confidently.
      • Career Pathway Program, Credit for Prior Learning Courses: Cybersecurity (AWS Solutions Architect). Students who complete the Cybersecurity Career Pathway can go on to AAS in Internet or Information Technology.
    • Sixteen workforce development program offerings
      • CEANY (Continuing Education Association of New York)
      • QCC Professor Michael Lawrence, in Engineering Technology, a QCC faculty, was recognized and received the CEANY award.
  • Anuradha Srivastava led the training of NYC COVID-19 staff, in collaboration with several CUNY community colleges, to transition to careers as Community Health Workers, which was funded by a grant from the NYC Department of Small Business Services.
  • CEWD was awarded $162,060 from CUNY Central through its ACE Upskilling Opportunity Initiative to launch six Software Engineering Micro-Credential Career Track in Web Development Boot Camps in the high-growth field of Software Development, between April 1, 2021 and March 31, 2022, to train a total of 150 students. The targeted population includes CUNY degree and non-degree students, alumni and the broader NYC population, including middle-skilled workers, including degree-holders, who have been displaced by the pandemic, and low-skilled/low-income workers.
  1. CEWD New York Jobs CEO Council: $199,686.51: QCC, along with partner CUNY community colleges, has received funding from the New York Jobs CEO Council, a consortium of 27 New York City leading corporations, whose mission is to foster collaboration among business, education, and community leaders to prepare New Yorkers in diverse, low-income communities for the future of work and meet employer needs. QCC has been funded to offer 6 Software Engineering Micro-Credentials Career Track Boot Camps to 150 CUNY students, between January-March of 2021, as well as 21st Century Workplace Skills Workshops in Communication & Collaboration, Critical Thinking & Resilience and Leadership to students, in preparing them for Internships and careers in Technology. In December 2021, CEWD was awarded an additional $134,228.00 to offer 4 programs in January 2022. CEWD also trained four additional Software Engineering Boot Camps from July-August 2022.
Credit for Prior Learning
  • Removes barriers for our students
  • CEWD must go through the senate to get approval and work with faculty to develop a systematized method for offering credit for prior learning
  • Have more courses align with credit for prior learning
  • Recruit more adult learners by offering them credit for their military and other life experiences
    • 16 Workforce Training Programs
      • 5 programs across 4 colleges
      • 1,011 students enrolled so far
      • Of those students, 673 responded to our study
      • 396 students expressed an interest in receiving credit for prior learning
      • 164 students wanted more information, telling us that students are interested in receiving credit for prior learning.
Cannabis Workforce Development
  • A new initiative to apply for grants to support cannabis workforce development
  • Create job opportunities and destigmatize cannabis production
  • Create Certificates for
    • Apprenticeship
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Dispensary Associate Certificate
  • We are in the initial phases of creating the program
  • Two-way bridge: Students in the program may take certificates to be employable and to enter a credit bearing course

 

Committee recommendations for upcoming year

  • Present our work to the Academic Senate: Choose 1-2 people to share what we are doing on our committee. Next semester this meeting will be Tuesday, February 8, 3 PM (Contact the committee two weeks prior to the meeting.)
  • Share update reports with the Academic Senate
  • Continue to update our website
  • Ask a committee member to review the bylaws and our annual report goals and share these with the committee.
  • Consider using a file sharing and communication system such as Microsoft Teams to share and communicate as a committee.

Individual member contributions and thanks

Dean Hsu and the Committee also thanks Dr. Anuradha Srivastava and Dr. Gabriel Lataianu for their service to the committee, as their terms end at the end of April. Thank you both for your service and commitment to Continuing Education and Workforce Development.

Anuradha Srivastava (QCC, from our committee) presented at the Academic Senate Meeting on February 15, 2022, 3:10 PM, regarding her work, supported by the mayor’s office, on the Community Health Committee to train and help vaccinating staff receive jobs.

We are especially grateful to Dr. Lataianu for serving as secretary this past year. Dean Hsu and the Committee also thank Alison Cimino for her service as Chair of the CEWD Committee, as she has declined to run again.

As chair, Alison Cimino, presented at the Academic Senate Meeting on May 10, 2022, 3:10 PM with Dr. Philip Pecorino of the Pre-College Committee about the benefits of offering students credit for prior learning and the initiative to streamline this process so that potential students understand the process for receiving credits for prior learning. She also shared the committee’s work on micro-credentials and stackable credits, so workers create a pathway to higher education and higher education creates a pathway for better jobs.

Additionally, the Committee thanks Dr. Agnieszka Tuszynska for her service as Steering Committee Designee and Dr. Jannette Urciuoli for her service and assistance as Academic Senate Steering Committee liaison. The committee welcomes Dr. Zivah Katz who will serve as the new Academic Senate Steering Committee liaison. 

Respectfully Submitted,

Alison Cimino

Campus Cultural Centers

Kupferberg Holocaust Center exterior lit up at nightOpens in a new window
Kupferberg Holocaust Center Opens in a new window

The KHC uses the lessons of the Holocaust to educate current and future generations about the ramifications of unbridled prejudice, racism and stereotyping.

Russian Ballet performing at the Queensborough Performing Arts CenterOpens in a new window
QPAC: Performing Arts CenterOpens in a new window

QPAC is an invaluable entertainment company in this region with a growing national reputation. The arts at QPAC continues to play a vital role in transforming lives and building stronger communities.

Queensborough Art Gallery exterior in the afternoonOpens in a new window
QCC Art Gallery

The QCC Art Gallery of the City University of New York is a vital educational and cultural resource for Queensborough Community College, the Borough of Queens and the surrounding communities.