Westchester Community College
Encyclopedia
Westchester Community College is a public
, two-year community college
in Valhalla
, New York
, sponsored by Westchester County
, New York, and the State University of New York
(SUNY). The college is one of 30 community colleges affiliated with SUNY.
, New York. In 1957, Westchester County purchased the 360 acres (145.7 ha) John A. Hartford estate in Valhalla and designated 218 acres (88.2 ha) for the community college.
s are required in mathematics
, reading
and writing
.
The college's Admissions Office has a staff of counselors who work with students on their academic choices. There is an international student office (the student body includes individuals from dozens of countries) and a disabled student offices.
is registered and approved by the New York State Education Department
and offers associate degrees in forty areas and certificates in twenty. Courses are offered during spring and fall semester
s as well as two sessions during the summer.
In addition to courses leading to associate degrees or certificates, the college offers a range of non-credit courses for students of all ages to sharpen their skills and broaden their interests.
The student body numbers 12,000.
in the entire 64-campus SUNY system. Non-credit programs, a variety of non-credit certificate options, and specialty programs such as Mainstream (for mature adults) and the Professional Development Center (for corporate clients) are also offered.
, tutoring, board openings, and the Conversation Partner Program. The latter helps those learning English to become more comfortable speaking and writing this second language.
, Ossining
, White Plains
, Mount Vernon
and Yonkers
. In addition, it offers classes in Shrub Oak
, New Rochelle
, Mahopac
and Port Chester
. Other classes for programs such as "Mainstream" (for mature adults) are offered at various locations throughout the county. The Educational Opportunity Center is in Yonkers.
, and Gays, Lesbians and Others of Westchester (GLOW).
project of the Westchester Community College Foundation, is an affiliate of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
in Austin
, Texas
. The NPC, with the goal to educate the community on the value of native plants, presents various educational programs including workshops and conferences, is responsible for two demonstration gardens on the main campus, offers trips to gardens and horticultural
displays, and coordinates an annual plant sale.
Public education
State schools, also known in the United States and Canada as public schools,In much of the Commonwealth, including Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and the United Kingdom, the terms 'public education', 'public school' and 'independent school' are used for private schools, that is, schools...
, two-year community college
Community college
A community college is a type of educational institution. The term can have different meanings in different countries.-Australia:Community colleges carry on the tradition of adult education, which was established in Australia around mid 19th century when evening classes were held to help adults...
in Valhalla
Valhalla, New York
Valhalla is an unincorporated hamlet and census-designated place that is located within the town of Mount Pleasant, New York, in Westchester County. Its population was 3,162 at the 2010 U.S. Census...
, 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...
, sponsored by Westchester County
Westchester County, New York
Westchester County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. Westchester covers an area of and has a population of 949,113 according to the 2010 Census, residing in 45 municipalities...
, New York, and the State University of New York
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...
(SUNY). The college is one of 30 community colleges affiliated with SUNY.
History
The college was founded in 1946 as the New York State Institute of Applied Arts and Sciences in White PlainsWhite Plains, New York
White Plains is a city and the county seat of Westchester County, New York, United States. It is located in south-central Westchester, about east of the Hudson River and northwest of Long Island Sound...
, New York. In 1957, Westchester County purchased the 360 acres (145.7 ha) John A. Hartford estate in Valhalla and designated 218 acres (88.2 ha) for the community college.
Admissions
Although it does not require SAT Reasoning Test scores, placement examPlacement exam
In many countries, including the United States, it is not unusual for students to take a placement exam in a subject such as mathematics upon entering middle or high school to determine what level of classes they should take...
s are required in mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
, reading
Reading (process)
Reading is a complex cognitive process of decoding symbols for the intention of constructing or deriving meaning . It is a means of language acquisition, of communication, and of sharing information and ideas...
and writing
Writing
Writing is the representation of language in a textual medium through the use of a set of signs or symbols . It is distinguished from illustration, such as cave drawing and painting, and non-symbolic preservation of language via non-textual media, such as magnetic tape audio.Writing most likely...
.
The college's Admissions Office has a staff of counselors who work with students on their academic choices. There is an international student office (the student body includes individuals from dozens of countries) and a disabled student offices.
Academics
The college's curriculumCurriculum
See also Syllabus.In formal education, a curriculum is the set of courses, and their content, offered at a school or university. As an idea, curriculum stems from the Latin word for race course, referring to the course of deeds and experiences through which children grow to become mature adults...
is registered and approved by the New York State Education Department
New York State Education Department
The New York State Education Department is the state education department in New York. It is part of the University of the State of New York , one of the most complete, interconnected systems of educational services in the United States...
and offers associate degrees in forty areas and certificates in twenty. Courses are offered during spring and fall semester
Academic term
An academic term is a division of an academic year, the time during which a school, college or university holds classes. These divisions may be called terms...
s as well as two sessions during the summer.
In addition to courses leading to associate degrees or certificates, the college offers a range of non-credit courses for students of all ages to sharpen their skills and broaden their interests.
The student body numbers 12,000.
Continuing Education
The college has one of the largest Divisions of Continuing EducationContinuing education
Continuing education is an all-encompassing term within a broad spectrum of post-secondary learning activities and programs. The term is used mainly in the United States and Canada...
in the entire 64-campus SUNY system. Non-credit programs, a variety of non-credit certificate options, and specialty programs such as Mainstream (for mature adults) and the Professional Development Center (for corporate clients) are also offered.
Volunteer Opportunities
More than two hundred volunteers currently assist with various programs at the college including mentoringMentoring
Mentorship refers to a personal developmental relationship in which a more experienced or more knowledgeable person helps a less experienced or less knowledgeable person....
, tutoring, board openings, and the Conversation Partner Program. The latter helps those learning English to become more comfortable speaking and writing this second language.
Locations
In addition to the Valhalla campus, the college provides instruction at twelve other off-campus locations including extension centers in PeekskillPeekskill, New York
Peekskill is a city in Westchester County, New York. It is situated on a bay along the east side of the Hudson River, across from Jones Point.This community was known to be an early American industrial center, primarily for its iron plow and stove products...
, Ossining
Ossining (town), New York
Ossining is a town in Westchester County, New York, United States. The population was 37,674 at the 2010 census. It contains two villages, the Village of Ossining and part of Briarcliff Manor, the rest of which is located in the Town of Mount Pleasant....
, White Plains
White Plains, New York
White Plains is a city and the county seat of Westchester County, New York, United States. It is located in south-central Westchester, about east of the Hudson River and northwest of Long Island Sound...
, Mount Vernon
Mount Vernon, New York
Mount Vernon is a city in Westchester County, New York, United States. It lies on the border of the New York City borough of The Bronx.-Overview:...
and Yonkers
Yonkers, New York
Yonkers is the fourth most populous city in the state of New York , and the most populous city in Westchester County, with a population of 195,976...
. In addition, it offers classes in Shrub Oak
Shrub Oak, New York
Shrub Oak is an unincorporated hamlet and census-designated place located in the town of Yorktown in Westchester County, New York. The population was 2,011 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Shrub Oak is located at ....
, New Rochelle
New Rochelle, New York
New Rochelle is a city in Westchester County, New York, United States, in the southeastern portion of the state.The town was settled by refugee Huguenots in 1688 who were fleeing persecution in France...
, Mahopac
Mahopac, New York
Mahopac, New York, is a hamlet in the Town of Carmel in Putnam County, New York. An exurb of New York City some to the south, Mahopac is located on US Route 6 on the County's southern central border with Westchester County...
and Port Chester
Port Chester, New York
Port Chester is a village in Westchester County, New York, United States. The village is part of the town of Rye. As of the 2010 census, Port Chester had a population of 28,967...
. Other classes for programs such as "Mainstream" (for mature adults) are offered at various locations throughout the county. The Educational Opportunity Center is in Yonkers.
Clubs and student organizations
Extracurricular and co-curricular activities at Westchester Community College include varsity, club, and intramural athletics; student publications; a variety of special interest clubs; a student government association; a student run programming board called the Westchester Events Board (WEB), who plans major social events; and a full range of cultural events. These activities complement students’ academic work and offer opportunities to form new friendships and develop leadership and other transferable skills. Participation can give a sense of community with the rest of the college and help make education a memorable experience with the 66 clubs to chose from. Noteworthy clubs/organizations include: The Viking Newspaper, Alpha Beta Gama, Drama Club, Dance Club, Urban Poets Society, Black Student Union, The Italian Club, The Brazilian Club, WARYWARY
WARY is a radio station broadcasting a Variety format. Licensed to Valhalla, New York, USA, the station is currently owned by Westchester Community College . The station is officially licensed from the Federal Communications Commission....
, and Gays, Lesbians and Others of Westchester (GLOW).
Native Plant Center
The Native Plant Center (NPC), a non-profitNon-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
project of the Westchester Community College Foundation, is an affiliate of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
The center currently functions as an Organizational Research Unit of The University of Texas at Austin.The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is a public botanical garden on La Crosse Avenue near the Mopac Expressway, 10 miles SW of downtown Austin, Texas and just inside the edge of the...
in Austin
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. The NPC, with the goal to educate the community on the value of native plants, presents various educational programs including workshops and conferences, is responsible for two demonstration gardens on the main campus, offers trips to gardens and horticultural
Horticulture
Horticulture is the industry and science of plant cultivation including the process of preparing soil for the planting of seeds, tubers, or cuttings. Horticulturists work and conduct research in the disciplines of plant propagation and cultivation, crop production, plant breeding and genetic...
displays, and coordinates an annual plant sale.
Notable Alumni
- Orio PalmerOrio PalmerOrio Joseph Palmer was a Battalion Chief of the New York City Fire Department who died while rescuing occupants of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001...
, Battalion Chief of the New York Fire Department who died while rescuing occupants of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001