IN SCHOLARSHIPS & GRANTS AWARDED ANNUALLY
Caribbean Life, MAY 28-JUNE 3, 2021 25
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The loss we have experienced
in the wake of the
COVID-19 pandemic is immeasurable.
Many of us lost
loved ones and others of us,
hope. Some of our neighbors
were at risk of losing their
homes; businesses were
shuttered (some now permanently);
and over 630,000
New Yorkers found themselves
unemployed, which
all resulted in a devastating
impact on the city’s economy.
As efforts to halt the
spread of COVID took root
and the availability of vaccines
showed promise, our
thoughts began to turn to the
future and what lay ahead.
While much is underway
to maintain, revive, and
stimulate the city’s economy
with legislation to close the
deficit, fund schools, assist
businesses, and protect New
Yorkers in need, more must
be done. Enter community
colleges, what Dr. Jill Biden,
First Lady of the United
States and community college
educator, has qualified
as the “most powerful engine
of prosperity.” As Brooklyn’s
only community college,
Kingsborough stands to
make that BIG difference for
Brooklyn and beyond.
At Kingsborough, and
starting with our comprehensive
continuing education
and workforce development
programs, we provide
pathways that begin with
credentialing for youth,
displaced and incumbent
workers to upgrade skills
and earn additional credentials
to matriculating students
earning a college degree.
KCC students, many
of whom are non-traditional
or adult learners, already
come to our classrooms with
extensive work and life experiences.
Combined with the
solid liberal arts foundation
and comprehensive preparation
in many high need
and technical fields, KCC’s
offerings are ideally suited
to address workforce needs.
Partnerships with industries
provide students with
the opportunity for handson
learning, apprenticeship,
and internship experiences.
Having these close relationships
with industry ensures
that the curriculum being
taught to students is relevant
to the careers students
will enter, whether they seek
immediate employment or
plan to join in the next few
years. These relationships
also serve industry needs
by creating a direct pipeline
of skilled employees from
educational institutions to
a company/organization. We
know that an industry-informed
curriculum leads to
better outcomes for learners,
so they are prepared for immediate
and gainful employment
or are better informed
to continue toward advanced
educational outcomes. For
employers, strong relationships
create pipelines to
a skilled and eager workforce.
A full-time student
can typically complete a degree
in two to three years or
an industry-recognized certificate
in one year or less,
making community college
students a quick return on
investment.
Although tuition at community
college is significantly
lower than at a fouryear
college, many of our
students have difficulty paying
for college. Consequently,
many students juggle multiple
jobs to cover the cost, opt
for part-time study, which
lengthens the time to earning
a degree or a credential,
or oftentimes they opt out altogether.
This has a deleterious
effect on high-need industries
and the workforce
that is in dire need of skilled
workers.
Kingsborough is committed
to supporting students.
Each year, we host a gala to
raise vital funds to provide
financial assistance and
scholarships for students.
For this year’s gala, we are
going BIG for our Brooklyn,
for our students, and for our
future workforce with a focus
on celebrating the economic
and entrepreneurial
spirit of the borough. We are
excited to honor the Brooklyn
Chamber of Commerce;
KCC alum and entrepreneur
Iris Clarke; former president
of Hostos Community College
and long-serving KCC
professor and administrator
Dr. David Gomez; and chair
of the KCC Department of Biology
Dr. Mary Dawson.
I invite you to go BIG with
us on June 24. Let’s celebrate
the BIG difference Brooklyn’s
Only Community College
makes and our students
who, with your support, will
do great for our economy and
in the world.
Dr. Claudia V. Schrader,
president of Kingsborough
Community College. For
more information on the
“We Go BIG For Brooklyn
Gala 2021” visit the College’s
virtual gala website at kbcc.
cuny.edu/virtualgala.
EDUCAT I O N PROFI LE
Community Colleges can make a BIG difference in NYC’s Economic Recovery
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BEST NATIONAL
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