Agendas and Minutes

Meeting Agenda

Meeting Date: Monday, February 26, 2024
Time: 6:00 pm
Place: Technology Center, Ellipse

1. Roll Call
2. Public Comment
3. President’s Agenda President, Dr. Lester Sandres Rápalo
4. Department Highlights
   
   1. Academic Affairs Provost & Vice President, Dr. Victoria C. Ukachukwu
   2. Enrollment Management and Student Affairs Executive Director, Brian Sondey
   3. Finance & Administration Vice President, Dr. Victor J. Anaya
   4. Institutional Advancement Vice President, Aida E. Rosario
5. Consent Agenda
   1. Approval of the Previous Meeting Minutes: 1/29/24
   2. Approval to Amend the Degree Requirement Policy (Resolution 6-2024)
   3. Approval to Amend the Matriculation Policy (Resolution 7-2024)
   4. Approval of the Creation of an Assessment Policy (Resolution 8-2024)
   5. Approval of the Creation of an Institutional Assessment Committee (Resolution 9-2024)
   6. Approval of the Creation of a Data Governance Policy (Resolution 10-2024)
   7. Approval to Amend the Program Graduation Requirements Policy (Resolution 11-2024)
   8. Approval of Reappointment of Non-Tenured Faculty for Academic Year 2024-2025 Third Year (Resolution 12-2024)
   9. Approval of Reappointment of Non-Tenured Faculty for Academic Year 2024-2025 Fourth Year (Resolution 13-2024)
   10. Approval of Reappointment of Non-Tenured Faculty for Academic Year 2024-2025 Fifth Year (Resolution 14-2024)
   11. Approval for Non-Reappointment of Non-Tenured Faculty for Academic Year 2024-2025 (Resolution 15-2024)
   12. Approval for Non-Reappointment of Non-Tenured Faculty for Academic Year 2024-2025 (Resolution 16-2024)
   13. Approval for Non-Reappointment of Non-Tenured Faculty for Academic Year 2024-2025 (Resolution 17-2024)
   14. Approval for Non-Reappointment of Non-Tenured Faculty for Academic Year 2024-2025 (Resolution 18-2024)
   15. Approval for Non-Reappointment of Non-Tenured Faculty for Academic Year 2024-2025 (Resolution 19-2024)
   16. Approval of the Audit Agreement with The SpyGlass Group, LLC (Resolution 20-2024)
   17. Approving Savings Plan in the Reduction in Expenditure Spending and an Additional Retrenchment Plan (Resolution 21-2024)
6. Board Secretary Report Secretary, Ileana Eckert
7. NYCCT/ACCT Reports Trustee, Lynne Hilowitz
8. Board Community Outreach Report Liaison, Grant Valentine
9. Student Government Report Student Trustee, Emily Ross
10. Old/New Business Board Chair, Martin Wortendyke

Please note: Resolutions & Reports which require action by the Board of Trustees are fully discussed at the monthly Board Workshop. All meetings of the Board are open to the public.

Board Meeting Minutes

The 830th board meeting of the Rockland Community College Board of Trustees was held on Monday, February 26, 2024 at Rockland Community College, Technology Center, Ellipse, 145 College Road, Suffern, NY 10901.

Trustees Present: Martin Wortendyke, Board Chair; Joseph Rand, Board Vice Chair; Ileana Eckert, Board Secretary; Grant Valentine, Community Outreach Liaison; Lynne Hilowitz; Susan Oelkers-Ramos; L’Tanya Watkins; Elana Yeger; Emily Ross, student trustee.

Also Present: Dr. Lester Sandres Rápalo, President; Dr. Victoria C. Ukachukwu, Provost and Vice President, Academic Affairs; Dr. Victor J. Anaya, Vice President of Finance and Administration; Dr. LaToya Blount, Executive Director, Student Engagement and College Life; Dr. Irene R. Delgado, Chief of Staff; Dr. Virginia Melendez, Office of the President; Aida E. Rosario, Vice President of Advancement, Communications and External Relations; Melissa L. Roy, Chief Diversity Officer; Purysabel Uregar, Executive Director, Human Resources; Dr. Kristopher Baker, President, RCC Federation of Teachers; Eric Magaram, President, Faculty Senate; Elizabeth Troutner, President, RCC Federation of Administrators; many members of the campus community.

Absent Was: none

Chair Wortendyke announced that there were 27 people signed up to speak. He requested that speakers keep their comments to under three minutes, and to please refrain from repeating what earlier speakers have said.

The meeting was called to order at 6:30 pm by Chair Wortendyke.

Roll call was taken.

Chair Wortendyke announced the following resolutions will be tabled:

1. Approval for Non-Reappointment of Non-Tenured Faculty for Academic Year 2024-2025 (Resolution 15-2024)
2. Approval for Non-Reappointment of Non-Tenured Faculty for Academic Year 2024-2025 (Resolution 16-2024)
3. Approval for Non-Reappointment of Non-Tenured Faculty for Academic Year 2024-2025 (Resolution 17-2024)
4. Approval for Non-Reappointment of Non-Tenured Faculty for Academic Year 2024-2025 (Resolution 18-2024)
5. Approval for Non-Reappointment of Non-Tenured Faculty for Academic Year 2024-2025 (Resolution 19-2024)
6. Approval of the Audit Agreement with The SpyGlass Group, LLC (Resolution 20-2024)
7. Approving Savings Plan in the Reduction in Expenditure Spending and an Additional Retrenchment Plan (Resolution 21-2024)

Public Comment

• Kris Baker spoke on behalf of the RCC Federation of Teachers, expressing deep concern about the financial decisions being made, specifically how it impacts the faculty and staff.
• Christopher Plummer, Director of the Cultural Arts Theater (remarks included)
• Patricia Maloney-Titland discussed the importance of the arts. (remarks included)
• Several students spoke of the impact RCC has had on their lives (remarks included)
• Student Ryan McNeill led the group in singing “Stand by Me.”
• Chris Plummer announced that Rock of Ages will be the Spring semester show, performances are April 25-27, 2024.
• Elizabeth Troutner spoke on behalf of the RCC Federation of Administrators (remarks included)
• Professor Josephine Coleman spoke (remarks included)
• Stacey Casden spoke (remarks included)
• Burton Louis Charles, President, Administrator and Staff Assembly (ASA), spoke of fostering an environment of collaboration.
• Professor Kevin Barrett spoke about how the College has moved away from a student-centered approach, and the new administration is cutting faculty without getting to know the people.
• Associate Professor Jeff McLean noted that in the past few months there has been a lack of collaboration and “community”.
• Eric Magaram, President, Faculty Senate, recognizes that there is a lot to be done and is looking forward to working together with the Board.
• Julie Brown, Director, English Skills Academy (ESA), spoke of the importance of ESA noting that in one year the English Skills Academy has grown 90% and there is a 600-student waiting list.

Chair Wortendyke thanked all the speakers.

President’s Report

• Dr. Lester Sandres Rápalo
  • Invited Melissa Roy and Matt Matcovich to speak about the Middle States process. There will be a group of approximately 70 people working on Middle States for the next few years. The Self-Study design is the first deliverable. Our Middle States evaluator will be visiting campus on April 2, 2024.
  • Invited Dr. Ukachukwu to discuss the Strategic Transformation Plan.
  • Represented RCC at the CUNY/SUNY Caucus luncheon, advocating for additional aid.
  • Attended the ACCT National Legislative Summit in Washington, DC, where he met with Congressman Mike Lawler. There is a follow up meeting scheduled to discuss RCC’s financial situation.
  • Reported that the SUNY Board Chair Merryl Tisch visited the campus on February 8.
  • Thanked Melissa Roy and Virginia Melendez for facilitating a Quilt Exhibition hosted by RCC in honor of Black History Month.

Department Highlights

1. Finance and Administration Vice President, Dr. Victor J. Anaya
   • Reported that tuition is up compared to last year and spending is down, but there is a lot of work to do.
   • Stated that in August 2016 our cash balance was 10 million and there was 5 million in the restricted fund. Today, our cash balance in the operating account is close to 0 and there is one million in the restricted fund.
   • The auditors project that there will be a $3.6 million deficit by August 31, 2024. We have 4.1 million in unpaid bills; the majority is owed to Ellucian. We have asked SUNY for help in paying these bills.
   • Answered trustees’ questions.
2. Academic Affairs Provost, Dr. Victoria C. Ukachukwu
   • Highlighted the following:
     • 1062 course sessions are offered this spring semester, down 111 from last spring. This is significant because it shows that we are streamlining classes with low enrollment to improve efficiency.
     • The Nursing program and Occupational Therapy Assistant program have passed the accreditation process.
   • Reported that 10 international students have registered in the fall semester.
   • The library has distributed 140 laptops to students.
3. Advancement, Communications and External Relations Vice President, Aida E. Rosario
   • Highlighted that the Foundation received a $10,000 gift from Toyota and they distributed emergency funds to several students.
   • Launched a new alumni webpage.
   • Fourteen students were selected for the spring cohort of the President’s Society.

Consent Agenda – Board Chair Martin Wortendyke

The resolutions were voted on individually.

MOTION
A motion by Trustee Valentine, second by Trustee Yeger to approve the previous meeting minutes: 1/29/24.

ACTION
Yeas: Wortendyke, Rand, Eckert, Valentine, Hilowitz, Ramos, Watkins, Yeger and Ross.
Nays: none
Motion passed: 9 yeas, 0 nays, 0 abstentions

MOTION
A motion by Trustee Valentine, second by Trustee Yeger to approve Resolution 6-2024, Approval to Amend the Degree Requirement Policy

ACTION
Yeas: Wortendyke, Rand, Eckert, Valentine, Hilowitz, Ramos, Watkins, Yeger and Ross.
Nays: none
Motion passed: 9 yeas, 0 nays, 0 abstentions

MOTION
A motion by Trustee Watkins, second by Trustee Valentine to approve Resolution 7-2024, Approval to Amend the Matriculation Policy

ACTION
Yeas: Wortendyke, Rand, Eckert, Valentine, Hilowitz, Ramos, Watkins, Yeger and Ross.
Nays: none
Motion passed: 9 yeas, 0 nays, 0 abstentions

MOTION
A motion by Trustee Yeger, second by Trustee Valentine to approve the Resolution 8-2024, Approval of the Creation of an Assessment Policy

ACTION
Yeas: Wortendyke, Rand, Eckert, Valentine, Hilowitz, Ramos, Watkins, Yeger and Ross.
Nays: none
Motion passed: 9 yeas, 0 nays, 0 abstentions

MOTION
A motion by Trustee Yeger, second by Trustee Valentine to approve Resolution 9-2024, Approval of the Creation of an Institutional Assessment Committee

ACTION
Yeas: Wortendyke, Rand, Eckert, Valentine, Hilowitz, Ramos, Watkins, Yeger and Ross.
Nays: none
Motion passed: 9 yeas, 0 nays, 0 abstentions

MOTION
A motion by Trustee Valentine, second by Trustee Yeger to approve Resolution 10-2024, Approval of the Creation of a Data Governance Policy

ACTION
Yeas: Wortendyke, Rand, Eckert, Valentine, Hilowitz, Ramos, Watkins, Yeger and Ross.
Nays: none
Motion passed: 9 yeas, 0 nays, 0 abstentions

MOTION
A motion by Trustee Valentine, second by Trustee Watkins to approve Resolution 11-2024, Approval to Amend the Program Graduation Requirements Policy

ACTION
Yeas: Wortendyke, Rand, Eckert, Valentine, Hilowitz, Ramos, Watkins, Yeger and Ross.
Nays: none
Motion passed: 9 yeas, 0 nays, 0 abstentions

MOTION
A motion by Trustee Valentine, second by Trustee Watkins to approve Resolution 12-2024, Approval of Reappointment of Non-Tenured Faculty for Academic Year 2024-2025 Third Year

• Richard Ahrens
• Rose Frowd
• Marci Manela
• Karen Schaffer
• Matthew Siciliano
• Theodore Terry
• Dr. Kamil Woronowicz

ACTION
Yeas: Wortendyke, Rand, Eckert, Valentine, Hilowitz, Ramos, Watkins, Yeger and Ross.
Nays: none
Motion passed: 9 yeas, 0 nays, 0 abstentions

MOTION
A motion by Trustee Rand, second by Trustee Watkins to approve Resolution 13-2024, Approval of Reappointment of Non-Tenured Faculty for Academic Year 2024-2025 Fourth Year

• Amy Burgess
• Dr. Alexander Brown
• Nancy Chiocchi-McMorrow
• Jeannine Kennedy
• Martha Krawczyk
• James Lee
• Joseph Migliaccio
• Clare O’Dowd
• Nancy Rosen
• Dr. Rebha Sebharwal
• Dr. Egbert Shillingford

ACTION
Yeas: Wortendyke, Rand, Eckert, Valentine, Hilowitz, Ramos, Watkins, Yeger and Ross.
Nays: none
Motion passed: 9 yeas, 0 nays, 0 abstentions

MOTION
A motion by Trustee Watkins, second by Trustee Yeger to approve Resolution 14-2024, Approval of Reappointment of Non-Tenured Faculty for Academic Year 2024-2025 Fifth Year

• Dominic Dimare
• Kristian Dougherty
• Christopher Flatley
• Sara Macel
• Dr. Zenya Richardson

ACTION
Yeas: Wortendyke, Rand, Eckert, Valentine, Hilowitz, Ramos, Watkins, Yeger and Ross.
Nays: none
Motion passed: 9 yeas, 0 nays, 0 abstentions

Board Secretary Report

• Ms. Ileana Eckert
  • none

NYCCT/ACCT Reports

• Lynne Hilowitz
  • There is an ACCT conference in March that Dr. Rapalo should attend and report back to the Board what transpired. Dr. Rapalo agreed.

Board Community Outreach Report

• Grant Valentine
  • Represented the College at various events.
  • Is working with NYCCT to advocate for funding.

Student Government Association Report

• Emily Ross
  • Announced that she is working with the Student Government Association (SGA) president, Sundari Ruth on various projects such as reviewing new student orientation.
  • Reported that students have expressed concern to student government about the financial problems at the College and suggested a student only Town Hall.
  • Provided an update on various SGA initiatives.

Old/New Business

• none

MOTION & ACTION
By Trustee Yeger, second by Trustee Valentine, and unanimously approved by trustees: Wortendyke, Rand, Eckert, Valentine, Hilowitz, Ramos, Watkins, Yeger and Ross to adjourn at 9:01pm.

Public Comments

Good evening Mr. President, Board of Trustees, Colleagues, Students, and Friends.

My name is Christopher Plummer. I am the Director of the Cultural Arts Theatre and I am immensely proud of what we have accomplished during my tenure in the theatre…especially with only two people! (There used to be a staff of five).

I am also a long-standing adjunct in the Visual and Performing Arts, having taught and created myriad courses in the department including most of the Cinema Studies courses and all of the popular Theatrical Stage Combat courses. Together with SUNY Distinguished Professor Patty Maloney-Titland, we also created the in-house Rockland Shakespeare Company that has been running non-stop at the college for nearly 30 years.

Just like Kris (Baker), I am also a proud alum of RCC (and have spent my entire adult life as a loyal employee of this institution).

I have stood before you previously to espouse the virtues and critical importance of the Arts in education, and to that end, I remain a staunch and passionate advocate.

However, at this moment, I stand before you to also ensure that it is widely known and understood that the Cultural Arts Theatre is a thriving rental facility on campus. I made a statement at the President’s recent Town Hall meeting that I never thought would need to be made, but alas there was some confusion as to the status of the rental facilities at RCC.

Therefore, for this record, the Cultural Arts Theatre is most certainly being rented out to paying clients on a regular basis. (Even with a skeleton crew of two). During my tenure, revenue has increase over 1000%. Our biggest challenges are twofold: 1) There are simply not enough weekends on the calendar, especially during certain months. Those are the most popular days to rent the space. It pains me to turn paying clients away, but I always make every attempt to offer alternative dates, when possible, to maximize our rentals and revenue.

We have contracts with clients signed sometimes over one year in advance and there is not a month in the year that goes by that we do not have bookings in the space.

Just last year was our most lucrative. After the end of the last fiscal year, we
increased our rental fees. Therefore, it follows that we will continue to increase
our revenue generation.

So again, for the record, we are open for business and business has been good.

I did say, however, that our biggest challenges are twofold. The other challenge
that could help bolster rentals even further is advertising and promotion. If more people knew about the Cultural Arts Theatre, there would undoubtedly be even more inquiries to rent the beautiful (and recently renovated to the tune of over a quarter million dollars) space. I do all I can to promote it, but more can be done to help promote the entire college and what we offer!

Further, if people knew what is being offered in the space for public consumption by the college, such as the Visual and Performing Arts productions, additional revenue would be generated. I know this because we have seen it done in the past. For decades, the student productions sold out for days because of the Cultural Arts Series brochure that was sent to all homes in Rockland and also because of the word of mouth those brochures generated.

To this day, I still receive questions from theatre clients and members of the community, asking why they no longer receive that advertisement. They always say the same thing: “If I’d have known, I would have come.” Frustrating words to hear, indeed!

If people know what is going on in these rental venues, the chances that they
come here, and purchase tickets will increase. However, if they do not know what is being offered, well then it is assured that they will not come.

Finally, concerning advertising and promotion, the college has so many exciting events, award-winning programs, and illustrious personnel that can and should be utilized for the promotion of the entire institution.

For instance, the Visual and Performing Arts program has been the recipient of
multiple awards for its faculty and the program itself. That specific department
currently has the only active, full-time SUNY Distinguished Professor on campus, who is also one of only two RCC recipients of the North-East Regional and National ACCT William H. Meardy faculty awards. Trustee Valentine even attended the ceremony where that award was presented to Patty Maloney in NYC, and Trustee Rand was present when Distinguished Service Professor Maloney was given the Champions of Education Award by then-Senator Reichlin-Melnick. The SUNY Chancellor himself even made special mention of Distinguished Professor Maloney and of the importance of The Arts in Education when he officially inducted Distinguished Professors at a ceremony in Albany just last spring.

Of course, there are numerous other examples of excellence in various fields by
our talented faculty and staff, and it just seems that we are not fully capitalizing on those incredible achievements to help increase enrollment and retention.

I understand this is a colossally difficult time for everyone in this room and all at the college. I am simply here to do my part, in whatever way I can, to help.

Thank you for your time this evening and for listening.
It is most appreciated.

“There’s a special providence in the fall of a sparrow. If it be now, ‘tis not to come. If it be not to come, it will be now. If it be not now, yet it will come. The readiness is all. -Hamlet – Act V. Sc.ii

…the readiness is all…We have the ability to choose our journey, our destiny.

Good evening,

It is with profound gratitude and respect that I appear here tonight in unity, in solidarity, with so many of my outstanding colleagues, my students – all our colleagues – all our students.

I have been here before to advocate for The Arts. It has been my career, my passion, my life. Yes, The Arts empower, enlighten, change lives…save lives.

Storytelling. Art is the storytelling that connects us all.

My story is a Rockland Community College story.

Last June, I attended the SUNY Distinguished Academy Induction Ceremony, where my 2020 Distinguished Professor rank was officially conferred.

I invited students and colleagues to the event. Chancellor King’s remarks highlighted just a couple of inductees. He concluded with Rockland Community College, introducing our students who attended with me, and my work in The Arts. This was completely unexpected. It was beyond overwhelming and humbling.

It is a Rockland Community College story.

I shared that stage, every stage, this stage – with all those individuals who continue to inspire me in my work…Parents, family, friends, mentors, colleagues, students…my students…past, present, and future.

Chancellor King proclaimed: “She brought students to Albany! How wonderful!”

Students are here tonight. Remember, they are all our students.

They are creative, courageous, passionate, generous, and purpose-driven…They are performers, artists, Veterans, Honor students, Club Leaders…They are Peer Mentors, Volunteers in their Communities, participants in Heritage
Month Celebrations, play sports, enroll in Internships …They are international students, First Generation students, and they come from different majors and
enroll in courses in every school on campus! They lift each other up…honor those no longer with us by raising memorial scholarship money, raising funds and awareness for other worthy causes, supporting the underrepresented, because they care deeply about this college.

They want to belong; they want to create stories of hope and unity. They are our future changemakers. We must continue to be here for them, all of us. It takes a community, working together, to help guide and support them on their journeys.

Hope.

I am a senior faculty member at this institution. I embrace every new administration, with hope, kindness, and the ‘readiness’ to collaborate, strengthen, and build new initiatives. That’s who I am. I believe that is who we
all are.

The philosophy of Servant Leadership is one in which a leader’s primary goal is to serve others. These leaders focus on uplifting those they lead. Servant leaders foster community, collaboration, and shared success.

They are compassionate and trustworthy, they honor others. I implore you to lead…to challenge yourself as leaders to explore another path, to reach out for assistance to others willing to preserve the legacy of this college, which has been dubbed “The Jewel of Rockland County”.

Our legacy of excellence, leadership, and service to our students and the community was built by champions, including extraordinary alumni who journeyed back to make a difference in the community they cherished. Many of them are here tonight.

We lost some beloved champions recently – Emil Willis, Phyllis Krasnow, Josephine Tarsia, Dan Masterson, and Eric Dranoff. Servant Leaders, all.

Legacy maters. History Maters.

What we do now and next maters. Our voices tonight mater.

Please listen, please lead. Please stand by us.

The readiness is all.

Good evening, esteemed members of the Board. My name is Frank McCue. I am a Visual and Performing Arts major, with a concentration in General Studies. I also serve as Vice President of Campus Players, and I lead our most recent musical “Something Rotten!”. I have attended RCC since the Fall of 2021, and will be graduating at the end of this semester. My journey here began after a rude awakening I experienced at the college I previously attended, SUNY Buffalo. After a year of only taking Gen-Ed courses I decided I was going to take a risk and pursue what I had always known was my ultimate dream, instead of abandoning it like I did previously. That dream is to be an actor.

In the Fall of 2022 I registered for Performing Arts courses, and prepared myself to be surrounded by people who did not want me anywhere near the art form, as I had become accustomed to whenever it came to myself and Acting throughout primary school. In my previous experiences in academia, real violence, fighting, harassment, and a general sense of being in physical and mental danger were commonplace, so I was fully ready for that to continue here. That semester taught me that the exact things I don’t prepare for are what will end up happening anyway, because every single person in the Performing Arts department was made up of the best people I’ve ever met.

The Performing Arts Department has brought a joy to my life I never thought I would have in academia. The program has strengthened my skills and given me new ones that have allowed me to pursue my goals. The opportunities to learn and perform have given me memories and experiences I have always wanted in my life. Here I have had opportunities to study under truly one-of-a-kind people. The dance choreography and performance insight of Ryan McNiell, the singing lessons and teachings from Helen Marie-Konrad, and the leadership and guidance of Patricia Maloney Titland have brought nothing but happiness, knowledge, and memories I know I could never get anywhere else.

Above all else for my experience here, there is another. In college, most of the professors we meet will often be in our lives for 1, maybe 2 semesters, and then you’ll move on with your life and maybe never speak to them again. It is incredibly rare however, to find a professor that becomes a true mentor to you. I have been fortunate enough to learn from and work with someone who has been a central figure in my life for the last 2 years, someone who has had the greatest impact on my life and my well-being, only surpassed by my parents, someone whose lessons I will carry with me until the end of my days. That man is as many of you could probably guess by now considering you will see us talking outside the Black Box studio and him teaching me something new at least once a day, Christopher Plummer. Mr. Plummer has been the greatest mentor I have had in my life thus far. He has opened my eyes to new understandings of art and entertainment. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I would not only meet someone like him but be able to learn from him 5 days a week, 4 semesters in a row. Every day I try to remind myself that meeting him and learning from him is a unique thing in life, and to never take it for granted.

I have had great success, an award even during my time here. This school and this program give students opportunities and experiences that are near impossible to get anywhere else, and it is instrumental to who I will be for the rest of my life. There is no Frank McCue, at least a happy Frank McCue, without this school and this department. My only regret is that I
didn’t come here a year sooner when I had the chance. My parents would agree too, SUNY Buffalo wasn’t cheap. Thank you.

Good evening Board of Trustees, hello everyone. My name is 3lizabeth and I am a 4th semester environmental engineering student at Rockland community college.

I love this school. I first decided I wanted to go to RCC when I was in the 7th
grade. Everyone was looking into Harvard or MIT but I knew I had to go here and be an honors student. 6 years later I made that a reality. I have a special connection to RCC as my family has been coming here for generations. My grandfather started the girls basketball team, my father used RCC as a way to rebound after failing out of college and started again on a better path, and my mother was able to finish high school here where otherwise she was considering dropping out. Without my experiences at RCC would never
have had the confidence to stand here today and give this speech.

So many of my friends who chose to not come here but instead go to a four year
school told me they wanted a place where they could branch out, make friends, and learn a wide range of things. I have never felt that I was missing that here. In fact I have found the opposite. One of the best four year schools for my major does not have a well funded arts program or good schools outside of STEM and as such I am not considering that university. I have been a part of multiple clubs, worked on campus, participated in theater stage crew every semester, made one of my closest friends, and learned not only a wide range of new skills but gained a new love for writing. I am extremely passionate about this school and all of its amazing benefits so much so that I not only wrote a speech about why everyone should come to RCC but presented that speech to those outside of current students advocating for why others should choose to come here as well. I have even convinced some of my friends who did not like their four year school to come and give RCC a chance and now they are much happier and doing much better in school.

I am so passionate about learning specifically from RCC that I asked my mom if after I graduate from a four year institution could I come back and take some of the classes I was unable to take before and with great enthusiasm she said she would come and take them with me.

One thing that has greatly impacted me was the performing arts program. Despite my major having nothing to do with that part of campus I find myself there every afternoon. The arts gave me the confidence to be myself, the ability to think on my feet, and a safe space where I felt free to be myself. The person I was 2 years ago is not who I am today because I was able to be a part of that amazing community.

I am saddened to admit that in front of my very eyes the school that I love so much has transformed to where the atmosphere is one of gloom and fear. As a student, if the budget is what is creating this problem, I would rather pay more a semester for this amazing education. The math is simple if 5 % of the students leave because they do not like the higher rates they would have to pay, that is much less than the hundreds more who would leave because they were unsatisfied with the quality of campus, or who could no longer find classes that fit into their schedules. Removing teachers not only creates a depressing atmosphere, but also means less classes will be available to be taken, which will cause less students to enroll, in turn losing you money. One day many years in the future I hope to be able to bring my children here to experience the great support, wide range of amazing classes, caring teachers, and extensive extracurriculars that I was able to enjoy during my time here. Thank you.

Good evening Board of Trustees. Hello, my name is Sean McAnany, and I’m here to share how the performing arts transformed my life.

My journey at Rockland Community College began in 2018, and back then, I never felt like I fit in. When the pandemic hit, my sense of disconnection from college deepened. Fast forward to 2023, encouraged by friends, I auditioned for the spring musical. Starting with a small role, I was later upgraded to a bigger one, all thanks to Patty Maloney & Chris Plummer who both saw potential in me that I hadn’t seen in myself. This experience made me realize my passion for acting, singing, and dancing on stage, solidifying my desire to pursue a career in performing arts.

The theater became my home over the past 2 years, with the people I met there becoming my second family. Without this community, I truly don’t know where I would be, maybe lost still, in a career path that I wouldn’t enjoy doing or sitting at home wasting my life away. Now, I have a purpose, I know what I want to do with my life and it’s all because of the amazing people in this
school’s performing arts department. I wouldn’t change a thing about this life-changing experience and I hope other students will be given this same opportunity.

Thank you.

Good evening, I would like say thank you all for taking the time to listen to us. My name is Jonathan Stevens and I’ve been a volunteer firefighter in orange county for 4 years. I also work for RCC in the theater and go here as a student. I know you have a tough choice to make tonight but there’s something I’d like to say. Firstly, what I’m wearing is just to show you that the people in the performing arts department come from all walks of life. It is very important that you understand this is not the stance my fire department has on this issue.
This is just my opinion as a member in RCC’s performing arts. I’m only wearing this to show you that we are all different in the performing arts department. The performing arts department bring people together, from people that are stem majors to athletes or the people that come here to be performing arts majors, like me. We depend on the performing arts department to help us grow as people and achieve our dreams. This is a family we all have chosen to be a part of. I am not asking tor much, all I’m asking is that you take this into consideration what an impact the performing art program has on so many people. Once again thank you so much of taking the time to listen to us.

My name is Elizabeth Troutner and I am the President of the Rockland Community College Federation of Administrators. Although no retrenchment plans will be considered tonight, thank you Chairman Wortendyke for sharing that, my unit has already faced layoffs.

My unit spent January and February navigating the loss of 8 RCCFA positions. We shared in the January board meeting that there were many unknowns as to how we would move forward without those roles. I am sorry to share that to this day, those unknowns still exist. The Executive Cabinet has not done its part in developing a plan to ensure there would be minimal impact to students through these retrenchments. Essential student services roles were eliminated that have had devastating effects on our students, both current and future.
The Executive Cabinet eliminated the Senior Advisor who served our nursing students, our most sought after degree program. This has caused ripple effects across the student body, with students, including those on track to graduate this semester, receiving a change of advisor in the eleventh hour of their time at RCC.

The Executive Cabinet also eliminated 3 positions essential to our enrollment strategies. The first being the Director of Dual Enrollment & Pre-Collegiate Programs, who was responsible for managing the High School Program which has been critical for our enrollment targets. The second being the Enrollment Management Assistant who served international students enrollment, at a time when the College is looking to globalize and aiming to increase our F1 visa student population. The third being the Director of Placement and Assessment, whose layoff prevents us from providing the GED exam, ATB, and placement exams on-campus, which allowed our institution to uniquely recruit non traditional students. Not being able to offer the ATB exam in person will directly affect our enrollment for the 24 credit high school equivalency program, Early admit high school students, and foreign educated students.

These are all direct impacts on students created by how poorly the retrenchment plan was implemented. And that time, the College was only handling 9 total layoffs, 8 from RCCFA.

In a Supplemental Report sent to Middle States, the College shared a draft of cost saving measures that included cutting 20 student serving staff. That plan also included similar cuts to faculty. If the College could not successfully manage 9 layoffs without hurting the student experience, how in the world can they do so when cutting 40 employees?

What is also interesting about that report is it suggests that the cost savings from eliminating student serving staff would save the College an estimated $1.6 million. Yet, in the resolution included in the Board Packet, the College estimates that cuts to that same area would save $2.5 million. Well, which is it? We know the College fell short of the estimated $900K+ savings goal from the previous eliminations. This is largely in part due to their failure to negotiate prior with the union and recognize their severance obligations that were clearly outlined in our Collective Bargaining Agreement. Additionally, this same board packet reports that the college has active searches that would cost roughly $350K in salary alone, further calling into question any estimated savings. If the College was unable to accurately project the savings from layoffs last time when only handling 9, why should we trust the projections of 40 layoffs this time around, especially when those projections are reported so differently across documents?

The College’s numbers don’t add up in other areas. At the past Town Hall meeting on February 8, we were told that part of the reason we are in this financial situation is because our number of employees has increased by 138 individuals from 2018 to now. We asked for a breakdown of what those numbers looked like by employment category. In a shared governance meeting on February 16, the EC shared they believed that growth was largely from student workers and part-time employees. Yesterday, we received a chart that broke down employees by category. The data compared employee payroll expenses from a 2018 pay cycle that doesn’t include adjunct faculty to a 2024 pay cycle that does, which is an incomplete comparison that does not allow for you to compare our total employees from one date to another.

However, what those numbers do show is that while exempt staff has increased overall by 8 (not including the 2 exempt roles currently being searched) the administrators union took blows, with our membership dropping 20 members during that time period. Faculty and ESS saw cuts. CSEA saw cuts. This backwards investment is a blight on the student experience. At that Town Hall, a student spoke up. You all heard from many students tonight who have shared their experiences. The student from the Town Hall shared that she felt more support from our employees back in 2018, when we supposedly had less staff. And she’s not the only student who feels that way. In my role as Coordinator of Student Activities and Volunteer Services, I am face to face with students every day and speak with them basically every hour. Students have shared with me that same experience. This semester feels different.

This is directly tied to cuts to our student facing staff. Student services and those who serve our students are essential to what makes this place run. It’s the people who convince our students to come here in the first place, the people who make sure students can take the classes they want and need to take, help them pay their bill with payment plans, financial aid, and scholarships, those who give them the opportunity to make connections to their peers and to the campus, and the folks who provide them resources and support both inside and outside of the classroom to make sure they’re prepared to succeed.

The College should not continue to cut our members but should instead focus its efforts on generating revenue. The community has provided the College with revenue generating ideas on a multitude of occasions. We spent nearly an entire shared governance meeting with Trustee Valentine in attendance where all the governance and union leaders provided ideas to bring in more dollars, many of which were crowdsourced from our respective membership. Just this month at the February 8th Town Hall, members from all facets of the College community gave insights on other ways for us to make money. To my knowledge, nothing has been done with this valuable information RCCFA members and others have provided. Instead of investigating and developing a plan to generate revenue, the College only chooses to focus on drastic cuts. Cuts that will hurt us and prevent us from being able to successfully provide the essential services our students rely on.

RCCFA members are essential. Faculty are essential. CSEA are essential. We have not been the contributors to the financial woes of the College and should not be bearing the brunt of the cost saving measures.

If the Board agrees that our student facing staff are essential, then the Board should vote no on the presented resolution and any plan that suggests drastic cuts to these employees.

Good Evening and thank you for letting me speak. I am Josephine Coleman, faculty from the RCC Business Department.

MISSION
Rockland Community College provides purpose driven educational opportunities and guidance in a diverse, affordable, and accessible environment, empowering individuals to positively transform themselves and their communities.

VISION
Rockland Community College is the national leader in effective institutional collaborations that improve the lives of our students and the vitality of the community.

VALUES
As a community of care, Rockland Community College approaches all aspects of the work of the College with integrity, on campus and beyond. Our values are:
Excellence Engagement Collaboration Social Consciousness Innovation

DIVERSITY STATEMENT
Rockland Community College embraces diversity at the core of our educational mission. Diversity is the responsibility of all College constituencies: students, faculty, staff, department chairs/heads, supervisors, administrators, the President and the Board of Trustees.

Rockland Community College fosters an environment that attracts, recruits, supports and retains faculty, staff, and students who value diversity. The College promotes a collegial and inclusive environment by recognizing, promoting, embracing, respecting and celebrating the expansive range and dimensions of cultures, attitudes, ideas and viewpoints contained within our campus community.

I have three points of interest.

1. Traditionally, Rockland Community College (RCC) had been funded from three major sources:

1/3 from NY State aid, 1/3 from Rockland County and 1/3 from student tuition. This was the breakdown in the early 2000’s when enrollment ranged from 6,800 to 7,500 students. In recent years, there has been a decline in funding our College from the state and county. Last February, members of the Faculty Council of Community Colleges (FCCC) were asked to write to our local congressmen to request their support to push NYS for more funding. As a member of the FCCC, I sent out three letters requesting this much needed assistance. Looking at the BOT packet, I see that NYS funds only 18%, while student tuition funds 45% and there is no mention of Rockland County, there are sponsor’s funding and other generated revenue and chargebacks. Basically, the funding scheme has changed with significant funding reductions from the state and local governments.

With this noted, RCC’s spending plan in recent years should have changed as well as to ensure the College is functioning within its means. Programs that were created in the past should be reviewed and possibly down-sized and even eliminated particularly in the non-revenue generating programs which are many. These programs have their merit but not in the current financial environment when senior administration is axing employment of full-time faculty and non-exempt administrative staff. RCC is a teaching institution. As such, the mission to serve county taxpayers with secondary and higher education is paramount. This should be uppermost in the plans of the College leaders and its governance board. RCC students desire programs delivered by faculty. Two years ago, I addressed the RCC Board of Trustees requesting them to take a hard look at hiring more faculty. Later that summer, six new full-time faculty were hired. Thank you for listening. Also, at that time two years ago, the Senior Administrators were creating, many additional exempt administrator positions. Perhaps at the time, some of the new positions had merit fiscally, but not now. RCC is experiencing severe financial stress and needs to become lean financially. Targeting the elimination of faculty is not the way to become lean since the faculty represent the power engines that fuel student enrollment in degree programs and YES, tuition revenue. My comment here is -be careful what you ax and common sense is a great thing.

2.Secondly, the Re-appointment, Tenure & Promotion (RTP) process represent the annual review of new full-time faculty. RTP portfolios are produced by each new faculty under the guidance of the Board approved RTP Policy. Each new faculty member is mentored by a senior faculty member. It is a long time-consuming process. However, RCC faculty believe it is worthwhile since it fosters new full-time faculty to grow, improve their skills and to be a source to administration by supporting academic committees. Additionally, a panel of faculty volunteers spend countless hours reviewing each portfolio and providing feedback to each new faculty member in the RTP process. The resolutions, (15, 16,17,18,& 19-2024) presented in this evening’s BOT packet request the Board members to vote on the non-re-appointment of five faculty members in their third, fourth and fifth year on tenure-track. I question resolution 19-2024 as a potential age discrimination issue. These resolutions were handed down from the RCC senior administration without consulting with members of the RCC RTP Committee which is stated in the policy bylaws. All of these faculty candidates were recommended for re-appointment by the RTP Committee. By not consulting with the RCC RTP Committee, senior administration has violated the board approved RTP Policy. This policy has been violated and if you, the College board members vote “yes” for non-re-appointment, it will be another breach of this policy. The RCC faculty work very hard to comply with college policies. I think senior administration should do the same and consider this when you vote on these resolutions this evening.

3. Last point- Financial reports provided in the monthly board packet mostly outline revenues and expenses of the College. By the way, one report has a title “NACUBO Summary.” What does NACUBO represent? I didn’t see a legend explaining this. RCC is having cash flow problems. However, the College’s balance sheet or even an analysis of its cash receipts and cash payments are generally not provided. Looking at the financial reports furnished in the BOT packet show revenues are greater than expenses and this would imply 3 the College is making money. However, this financial information does not disclose the root problem to our cash flow shortages. All future financial reports should include a cash receipts and cash disbursements report or a statement of cash flows to better educate the non-financial members of this body and all who read these reports. Plans to cut full-time faculty and non-exempt administrative staff who are in the front line of revenue producing activity should be carefully navigated. Plans to bull-doze these many positions will negatively impact the life blood of this college -a teaching institution with many degrees transferring to a vast array of four-year college institutions.

In summary, I am asking you, the Board members to “re-think” whatever drafted plan has been presented thus far. Funding the College has changed. RCC cannot afford the many programs and administrative positions initiated by the previous three administrations. These are lean times. Second, RCC needs its faculty. I am sure that you are fully aware of the costs of hiring new faculty. Enrollment seems to be growing at RCC and this is a good sign. I am suggesting the preservation of current full-time faculty and we should be proposing the elimination of the “extra” exempt administrative positions that have ‘cropped-up’ in the past few years when funding and enrollment were higher. Lastly, Rockland Community College provides purpose driven educational opportunities and guidance in a diverse, affordable, and accessible environment, empowering individuals to positively transform themselves and their communities.

Thank you,
In Solidarity,
Josephine Coleman

Good Evening …

1. I am STACY CASDEN from the Psychology Department and the Coordinator of the CASAC Program and a member of the RCC alumni
2. I began working as an Adjunct in 2010, became temp-full time for 2.5 year, then full-time 2022
3. I am invested in the RCC, our students, the classroom and the CASAC Program
4. I was approached by Burton and Dr. Schultz in 2016 to start a Credentialed Alcohol and Substance Abuse Certification (aka CASAC) Program, I did all of the legwork and all of the necessary paperwork for CASAS (Organization of Addiction Support and Services) for NYS, and the program began in 2018 with 12 students
5. To date we have had 150 (approx.) students register for the program, which brought in more than 450k, there is NO overhead, It is run via Zoom which is my personal Zoom account
6. Since 2018 90 registered students completed and received their certificates. In addition 115 complete ALL 4 modules and are finishing up their hours
7. In June 2024 we are going to address the needs for some of our Religious communities and for those who work on the weekends, by offering another day in place of Saturday for those who cannot Weekends in order to increase revenue and the number of participants
8. NYS is in dire need of Substance Abuse Professionals and we are the ONLY institution in Rockland County with is providing the 350 hours CASAC Training Program.
9. The Program needs to be coordinated by a QHP (Qualified Health Professional) which I am, and I am the ONLY QHP who currently works for RCC

Please vote NO for Resolution 18-2024. The RCC Senate Faculty workgroup who oversaw the RTP process voted 7-9 to, re-appointment me, and Senior Administration has gone against their vote. Please consider keeping me as a faculty member who is dedicated to our school and our students and who brings revenue that is needed into our college.

In Solidarity.
STACY CASDEN.