Hudson Valley Community College
Encyclopedia
Hudson Valley Community College, a SUNY
associated two-year college, is located in Troy
in Rensselaer County
, New York
. Although about eighty percent of the students are from the local area, the remainder are from other parts of New York, other states and from some 30 countries around the world.
Hudson Valley Community College currently ranks as the largest undergraduate college in terms of enrollment in the Capital District
. In 2010, 2,020 students received diplomas, making the Class of 2010 the largest in the history of the college.
The school currently has an enrollment of over 13,000 students.
In 2010, the College began a collaboration with SUNY Plattsburgh to offer a 4 year degree (Bachelor's) in Criminal Justice at HVCC's Capital District campus. The college also offers a BS in Human Services through Cazenovia College
, through a part-time evening program on the grounds of HVCC. This is the only Human Services B.S. degree offered in this format in the Capital Region.
The School of Business offers programs in Accounting, Administrative Information Technician, Business Administration, Computer Information Systems, Health Information Technician and Marketing.
The School of Engineering and Industrial Technologies offers programs in Alternative Fuels, Architectural Technology, Automotive Technical Services, Automotive Management, Autobody Repair, Civil Engineering Technology, Computer Aided Drafting, Construction Technology, Electrical Construction and Maintenance, Electrical Engineering Technology, Heating/Air Conditioning/Refrigeration, Manufacturing Technical Systems, Mechanical Engineering Technology, Overhead Electric Line Worker, Photovoltaic Installation, Plant Utilities Technology, Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology, Telecommunications Technology – Verizon and Wind Technician.
The School of Health Sciences offers programs in Bereavement Studies, Dental Assisting, Dental Hygiene, Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Echocardiography, EMT-Paramedic, Invasive Cardiovascular Technology, Mortuary Science, Nursing, Polysomnography, Radiologic Technology and Respiratory Care.
The School of Liberal Arts and Sciences offers programs in Animal Advocacy, Biological Sciences, Biotechnology, Broadcast Communications, Chemical Dependency Counseling, Chemical Technician, Criminal Investigation, Criminal Justice, Digital Media, Disability Studies, Early Childhood, Engineering Science, Environmental Science, Fine Arts, Forensic Science Studies, Gallery Management, General Education, Individual Studies, Liberal Arts and Science, Physical Sciences, Physical Education Studies, Public Administration Studies, Teaching Assistant and Theatre Arts.
In 2009, the college first offered its Honors Advisement Track, which includes specialized liberal arts curriculum and is designed to prepare students for transfer to higher-level baccalaureate programs. Students who successfully complete the program receive Completion of Honors Study documentation upon graduation.
The college also oversees several other academic and training entities, including the Capital District Educational Opportunity Center and the Workforce Development Institute.
The Marvin Library http://library.hvcc.edu supports the college's academic programs through its collections and services. The library provides over 100,000 volumes in print, microform, and electronic format. In addition, the library provides access to over 30,000 journal titles through a range of print and electronic journals. Research databases are available to all registered students and faculty and staff from the library and from off-campus. Faculty librarians are available to provide reference services and individual research consultation by appointment. The library sponsors the popular Voices lecture series with over a dozen speakers on topics from the arts, politics, and contemporary issues in the community. The college's archives are stored in and maintained by the library.
visited the college campus. The invite-only event was held in the school's senior automotive laboratory.
The college’s teams have won national championships in ice hockey (2001), men’s cross country (1996), women’s bowling (1995, 2010), women’s basketball (1993) and women’s alpine skiing (1977).
The college initially was housed in the former Earl and Williams shirt collar factory building at Broadway and Seventh Avenue, but by 1955, the board of trustees was already looking for a larger location to site a campus. The trustees surveyed likely sites for a new campus and in 1956 announced that the Williams farm, which straddled the Troy-North Greenbush border, would be the chosen site.
The new campus was initially opposed by a group of Rensselaer County taxpayers, who argued that the county should not have to pay for half the cost of the campus construction if fewer than half the students were county residents. What would became a landmark case for community colleges in New York State eventually was heard by the state’s Court of Appeals. On June 25, 1958, the court upheld the county’s right to fund half of the cost of construction and paved the way for capital construction at community colleges around the state. The new campus, with five Indiana limestone buildings, was completed in 1961 and the former factory building was abandoned and eventually torn down.
Otto Guenther was selected in 1953 to be the first president of the newly established Hudson Valley Technical Institute. In 1957, President Guenther received approval from the Rensselaer County Board of Supervisors to begin construction of a new campus on the border of Troy and the town of North Greenbush. That transition to a newly created suburban campus and the growth of the student body were Guenther’s legacy as president.
James J. Fitzgibbons, 1965 - 1979
James Fitzgibbons presided over impressive growth in the college’s student body and in the number of academic programs offered. During his tenure, Hudson Valley’s curricula grew from 18 to 38 academic programs. Five new buildings on campus also were completed during the Fitzgibbons presidency. The Fitzgibbons Health Technologies Center was dedicated to the president in 1982.
Joseph J. Bulmer, 1979 - 1996
The longest-tenured president of the college, Joseph J. Bulmer served Hudson Valley for 17 years. A nuclear engineer with a distinguished career at General Electric, Dr. Bulmer was responsible for increasing the college’s image in the Capital Region. The establishment of distance learning, a Center for Effective Teaching, expanded services for disabled students and the addition of the McDonough Sports Complex, Cogan Hall, Fitzgibbons Health Technologies Center, the Hy Rosenblum Administration Center and the Bulmer Telecommunications Center were accomplished during Bulmer’s presidency.
Stephen M. Curtis, 1996 - 1998
Dr. Stephen Curtis came to Hudson Valley Community College after serving as interim president of Borough of Manhattan Community College. While at Hudson Valley, Dr. Curtis led improvements to the college’s distance learning program and helped link the college to several high schools around the region through interactive television. Dr. Curtis currently serves as president of the Community College of Philadelphia.
John L. Buono
, 1998 - 2003
The only alumnus to serve as president of Hudson Valley Community College, John Buono had a lengthy career in public service before accepting the offer to serve as interim president of his alma mater. Buono served as Rensselaer County Executive from 1986 to 1995 and was then tapped by Governor George Pataki to head the New York State Dormitory Authority, where he served as director for three years. Buono’s tenure as president of the college saw the creation of the Viking Child Care Center, Guenther Enrollment Services Center and the Joseph L. Bruno Stadium. He also established the college’s Workforce Development Institute, which provides non-credit, customized training for business and industry. He currently serves as chairman of the NYS Thruway Board of Directors.
Marco J. Silvestri, Interim President, 2004 - 2005
Prior to serving as interim president, Dr. Silvestri served as the college’s vice president for administration since 1984. During Dr. Silvestri’s tenure, the college received reaffirmation of its accreditation by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Universities.
Andrew J. Matonak, 2005 – Present
“Drew” Matonak assumed the presidency on April 18, 2005. Prior to arriving at Hudson Valley, he served as president of Northwest Iowa Community College in Sheldon, Iowa, for three years.
Theatre, dedicated in 1981, seats 350 people and is located at the north end of the Siek Campus Center. The space was named after the Academy Award-winning actress who was a native of Troy, New York.
Sculpture on campus – Two pieces by noted American sculptor Antoni Milkowski
are sited on the campus. The college obtained Runner, which consists of a series of seven shiny stainless steel cubes, in 2009, as a gift from the Milkowski family. It is located in a new quad near the entrance to Administration/Classroom Building. 1971 AD, has been on view in front of the Siek Campus Center since the college’s 25th anniversary. The large, cor-ten steel sphere was a gift from the artist who lived and maintained a studio for many years in New Lebanon, New York.
Teaching Gallery – the college’s Teaching Gallery is located in the Administration/Classroom Building and home to the college’s Gallery Management degree program. The gallery also displays exhibits by several regional and national artists each year.
TEC SMART (Training and Education Center for Semiconductor Manufacturing and Alternative and Renewable Technologies) – Opened in January 2010, the TEC SMART facility is a joint initiative between the college and NYSERDA (New York State Energy Research and Development Authority). Located in Malta, New York’s Saratoga Technology and Energy Park, the building houses the college’s training classrooms in semiconductor manufacturing technology, as well as labs and classrooms for training in renewable energy technologies such as solar, wind and geothermal power. Instruction in alternative fuels engines that run on hydrogen, biodiesel, ethanol and fuel cells also are delivered at this site.
State University of New York
The State University of New York, abbreviated SUNY , is a system of public institutions of higher education in New York, United States. It is the largest comprehensive system of universities, colleges, and community colleges in the United States, with a total enrollment of 465,000 students, plus...
associated two-year college, is located in Troy
Troy, New York
Troy is a city in the US State of New York and the seat of Rensselaer County. Troy is located on the western edge of Rensselaer County and on the eastern bank of the Hudson River. Troy has close ties to the nearby cities of Albany and Schenectady, forming a region popularly called the Capital...
in Rensselaer County
Rensselaer County, New York
Rensselaer County is a county in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 159,429. Its name is in honor of the family of Kiliaen van Rensselaer, the original Dutch owner of the land in the area. Its county seat is Troy...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. Although about eighty percent of the students are from the local area, the remainder are from other parts of New York, other states and from some 30 countries around the world.
Hudson Valley Community College currently ranks as the largest undergraduate college in terms of enrollment in the Capital District
Capital District
New York's Capital District, also known as the Capital Region, is a region in upstate New York that generally refers to the four counties surrounding Albany, the capital of the state: Albany County, Schenectady County, Rensselaer County, and Saratoga County...
. In 2010, 2,020 students received diplomas, making the Class of 2010 the largest in the history of the college.
The school currently has an enrollment of over 13,000 students.
In 2010, the College began a collaboration with SUNY Plattsburgh to offer a 4 year degree (Bachelor's) in Criminal Justice at HVCC's Capital District campus. The college also offers a BS in Human Services through Cazenovia College
Cazenovia College
Cazenovia College is a small, independent, co-educational, baccalaureate college, located in Cazenovia, New York. Cazenovia offers a comprehensive liberal arts education with academic and co-curricular programs devoted to developing leaders in their professional fields. Cazenovia College has been...
, through a part-time evening program on the grounds of HVCC. This is the only Human Services B.S. degree offered in this format in the Capital Region.
Academic programs
The college offers more than 70 academic degree and certificate programs in four schools.The School of Business offers programs in Accounting, Administrative Information Technician, Business Administration, Computer Information Systems, Health Information Technician and Marketing.
The School of Engineering and Industrial Technologies offers programs in Alternative Fuels, Architectural Technology, Automotive Technical Services, Automotive Management, Autobody Repair, Civil Engineering Technology, Computer Aided Drafting, Construction Technology, Electrical Construction and Maintenance, Electrical Engineering Technology, Heating/Air Conditioning/Refrigeration, Manufacturing Technical Systems, Mechanical Engineering Technology, Overhead Electric Line Worker, Photovoltaic Installation, Plant Utilities Technology, Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology, Telecommunications Technology – Verizon and Wind Technician.
The School of Health Sciences offers programs in Bereavement Studies, Dental Assisting, Dental Hygiene, Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Echocardiography, EMT-Paramedic, Invasive Cardiovascular Technology, Mortuary Science, Nursing, Polysomnography, Radiologic Technology and Respiratory Care.
The School of Liberal Arts and Sciences offers programs in Animal Advocacy, Biological Sciences, Biotechnology, Broadcast Communications, Chemical Dependency Counseling, Chemical Technician, Criminal Investigation, Criminal Justice, Digital Media, Disability Studies, Early Childhood, Engineering Science, Environmental Science, Fine Arts, Forensic Science Studies, Gallery Management, General Education, Individual Studies, Liberal Arts and Science, Physical Sciences, Physical Education Studies, Public Administration Studies, Teaching Assistant and Theatre Arts.
In 2009, the college first offered its Honors Advisement Track, which includes specialized liberal arts curriculum and is designed to prepare students for transfer to higher-level baccalaureate programs. Students who successfully complete the program receive Completion of Honors Study documentation upon graduation.
The college also oversees several other academic and training entities, including the Capital District Educational Opportunity Center and the Workforce Development Institute.
The Marvin Library http://library.hvcc.edu supports the college's academic programs through its collections and services. The library provides over 100,000 volumes in print, microform, and electronic format. In addition, the library provides access to over 30,000 journal titles through a range of print and electronic journals. Research databases are available to all registered students and faculty and staff from the library and from off-campus. Faculty librarians are available to provide reference services and individual research consultation by appointment. The library sponsors the popular Voices lecture series with over a dozen speakers on topics from the arts, politics, and contemporary issues in the community. The college's archives are stored in and maintained by the library.
President Obama’s visit
On September 21, 2009 President Barack ObamaBarack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
visited the college campus. The invite-only event was held in the school's senior automotive laboratory.
Athletics
The college currently offers 16 intercollegiate sports for men and women. Teams compete in Region III of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) and in the Mountain Valley Conference.The college’s teams have won national championships in ice hockey (2001), men’s cross country (1996), women’s bowling (1995, 2010), women’s basketball (1993) and women’s alpine skiing (1977).
History
Growing out of the Veteran’s Vocational School in downtown Troy, New York, the college was founded in 1953 as the Hudson Valley Technical Institute. Initially, the role of the college was to provide practical hands-on vocational training for veterans returning from World War II. Dwight Marvin, editor of the Troy Record, was one of several community leaders who pressed to create a broader mission for the college, which in 1959 would be officially known as Hudson Valley Community College. Marvin served as the first chairman of the college’s Board of Trustees.The college initially was housed in the former Earl and Williams shirt collar factory building at Broadway and Seventh Avenue, but by 1955, the board of trustees was already looking for a larger location to site a campus. The trustees surveyed likely sites for a new campus and in 1956 announced that the Williams farm, which straddled the Troy-North Greenbush border, would be the chosen site.
The new campus was initially opposed by a group of Rensselaer County taxpayers, who argued that the county should not have to pay for half the cost of the campus construction if fewer than half the students were county residents. What would became a landmark case for community colleges in New York State eventually was heard by the state’s Court of Appeals. On June 25, 1958, the court upheld the county’s right to fund half of the cost of construction and paved the way for capital construction at community colleges around the state. The new campus, with five Indiana limestone buildings, was completed in 1961 and the former factory building was abandoned and eventually torn down.
Presidents
Otto V. Guenther, 1953 - 1965Otto Guenther was selected in 1953 to be the first president of the newly established Hudson Valley Technical Institute. In 1957, President Guenther received approval from the Rensselaer County Board of Supervisors to begin construction of a new campus on the border of Troy and the town of North Greenbush. That transition to a newly created suburban campus and the growth of the student body were Guenther’s legacy as president.
James J. Fitzgibbons, 1965 - 1979
James Fitzgibbons presided over impressive growth in the college’s student body and in the number of academic programs offered. During his tenure, Hudson Valley’s curricula grew from 18 to 38 academic programs. Five new buildings on campus also were completed during the Fitzgibbons presidency. The Fitzgibbons Health Technologies Center was dedicated to the president in 1982.
Joseph J. Bulmer, 1979 - 1996
The longest-tenured president of the college, Joseph J. Bulmer served Hudson Valley for 17 years. A nuclear engineer with a distinguished career at General Electric, Dr. Bulmer was responsible for increasing the college’s image in the Capital Region. The establishment of distance learning, a Center for Effective Teaching, expanded services for disabled students and the addition of the McDonough Sports Complex, Cogan Hall, Fitzgibbons Health Technologies Center, the Hy Rosenblum Administration Center and the Bulmer Telecommunications Center were accomplished during Bulmer’s presidency.
Stephen M. Curtis, 1996 - 1998
Dr. Stephen Curtis came to Hudson Valley Community College after serving as interim president of Borough of Manhattan Community College. While at Hudson Valley, Dr. Curtis led improvements to the college’s distance learning program and helped link the college to several high schools around the region through interactive television. Dr. Curtis currently serves as president of the Community College of Philadelphia.
John L. Buono
John L. Buono
John L. Buono is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the New York State Thruway Authority.Buono graduated from Hudson Valley Community College in 1968 and earned bachelor's and master's degrees from University at Albany, SUNY. His first job was that of an administrator and teacher at St....
, 1998 - 2003
The only alumnus to serve as president of Hudson Valley Community College, John Buono had a lengthy career in public service before accepting the offer to serve as interim president of his alma mater. Buono served as Rensselaer County Executive from 1986 to 1995 and was then tapped by Governor George Pataki to head the New York State Dormitory Authority, where he served as director for three years. Buono’s tenure as president of the college saw the creation of the Viking Child Care Center, Guenther Enrollment Services Center and the Joseph L. Bruno Stadium. He also established the college’s Workforce Development Institute, which provides non-credit, customized training for business and industry. He currently serves as chairman of the NYS Thruway Board of Directors.
Marco J. Silvestri, Interim President, 2004 - 2005
Prior to serving as interim president, Dr. Silvestri served as the college’s vice president for administration since 1984. During Dr. Silvestri’s tenure, the college received reaffirmation of its accreditation by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Universities.
Andrew J. Matonak, 2005 – Present
“Drew” Matonak assumed the presidency on April 18, 2005. Prior to arriving at Hudson Valley, he served as president of Northwest Iowa Community College in Sheldon, Iowa, for three years.
Culture at Hudson Valley Community College
Maureen Stapleton Theatre – The Maureen StapletonMaureen Stapleton
Maureen Stapleton was an American actress in film, theater and television.-Early life:Stapleton was born Lois Maureen Stapleton in Troy, New York, the daughter of Irene and John P. Stapleton, and grew up in a strict Irish American Catholic family...
Theatre, dedicated in 1981, seats 350 people and is located at the north end of the Siek Campus Center. The space was named after the Academy Award-winning actress who was a native of Troy, New York.
Sculpture on campus – Two pieces by noted American sculptor Antoni Milkowski
Antoni Milkowski
Antoni Milkowski was an American minimalist sculptor.Antoni "Tony" Milkowski was born October 7, 1935 in Evanston, Illinois. When he was two years old, the family moved to New York City. He attended Kenyon College where he received a degree in biology in 1957...
are sited on the campus. The college obtained Runner, which consists of a series of seven shiny stainless steel cubes, in 2009, as a gift from the Milkowski family. It is located in a new quad near the entrance to Administration/Classroom Building. 1971 AD, has been on view in front of the Siek Campus Center since the college’s 25th anniversary. The large, cor-ten steel sphere was a gift from the artist who lived and maintained a studio for many years in New Lebanon, New York.
Teaching Gallery – the college’s Teaching Gallery is located in the Administration/Classroom Building and home to the college’s Gallery Management degree program. The gallery also displays exhibits by several regional and national artists each year.
Off-campus sites
Albany Extension Center – Hudson Valley Community College operates an extension center at 175 Central Avenue in Albany. The site, located on the fourth floor of the former Hauf Furniture building, includes several classrooms and a mock pharmacy, which is used for the college’s Pharmacy Technician training program. The extension center also offers regular academic advisement sessions in the evenings.TEC SMART (Training and Education Center for Semiconductor Manufacturing and Alternative and Renewable Technologies) – Opened in January 2010, the TEC SMART facility is a joint initiative between the college and NYSERDA (New York State Energy Research and Development Authority). Located in Malta, New York’s Saratoga Technology and Energy Park, the building houses the college’s training classrooms in semiconductor manufacturing technology, as well as labs and classrooms for training in renewable energy technologies such as solar, wind and geothermal power. Instruction in alternative fuels engines that run on hydrogen, biodiesel, ethanol and fuel cells also are delivered at this site.