Governor- Elect Charlie Baker Visited Roxbury Neighborhood after Swearing – In Ceremony

Governor Baker and RCC President Roberson

Governor-elect Charlie Baker came straight to Roxbury right after he was sworn in as the 72^nd Governor of Massachusetts. Governor Baker and Lt. Governor Karyn Polito made their way to The Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative (DSNI) in the KROC Center yesterday afternoon. They were welcomed by a room full of politicians, community activists, organizational leaders and local residents. Among those in attendance were our very own RCC President Dr. Valerie Roberson and Vice President Lorita Williams.

3rd Grader Makya Giaff and President Roberson

The event began with Governor Baker learning a bit more about the Roxbury community and discussing how he will connect with successful Roxbury organizations to create a more vibrant and robust Dudley neighborhood. Upon entering the building, Governor Baker was greeted with chocolate covered strawberries created by the students in the KROC Center’s Culinary Program. Governor Baker enjoyed the chocolate treat before making his way to the podium to hear a few success stories of DSNI residents.

One particular story stood out from the rest and it came from 3^rd grader Makya Giaff, who is currently teaching her little sister “easy math”. She stole the hearts of the audience and charged Governor Baker with the task of providing her with a safe environment to thrive in and become successful.

Governor Baker and Lt Governor Karyn Polito

Governor Baker and Lt. Governor Karyn Polito both shared encouraging remarks and expressed their enthusiasm to work with DSNI Executive Director Christopher Jones to replicate the successful model around the Commonwealth.

RCC President Roberson spoke briefly with the Governor-

Jay Ash, Secretary of Housing and Economic Development & President Roberson reading CareerFocus Magazine and with Jay Ash who is Governor Baker’s first cabinet pick. Jay Ash will lead as Secretary of Housing and Economic Development.

RCC is excited about the future of our Commonwealth. We all must stay focused, try our best to achieve our collective goals and be mindful of how our actions impact others. Best of luck leading our Commonwealth, Governor-elect Baker!

Lifelong Learning Info Session TODAY (12/10/14) at 6PM! Plus More Courses Available!

Corporate and Community Education and Lifelong Learning at Roxbury Community College has some great upcoming programs for the spring!

 

Stop in to see us to register or for more information on any of our programs: Administration Building (#2), Room 101.

Business Communications

Info Session TODAY: Wednesday, December 10^th at 6 pm (Academic Building (#3), Room 522)

Wednesdays from 6 – 8 pm starting 1/21/15 – 3/25/14 (10 weeks for $200)

 

Real Estate License Course (If you missed Part I in the fall, you’re now able to take both parts in the spring at the same time)

Part I: Math for Real Estate

Saturdays from 9:30 am – 12:45 pm starting 1/24/15 – 2/21/15 (5 weeks for $175; no textbook required)

 

Part II: Real Estate License Preparation

Mondays and Wednesdays from 6-9 pm starting 1/21/15 – 3/16/15 ($350 and includes textbook)

Attendance at all classes is required to receive certificate

 

 

Grant Writing 101: Fundamentals

Mondays from 6 – 8:30 pm starting 1/26/15 – 3/30 (8 classes for $250)

 

Social Media & Integrated Marketing Services: Effectively Use Social Media to Increase Your Client Base & Expand Your Target Audience

Wednesdays from 6:15 – 8:15 pm starting 2/3/15 – 3/10/15 (6 weeks for $175)

Art of Belly Dancing for Beginners

Wednesdays from 6 – 7:30 pm for 6 classes starting 1/28/15 – 3/4/15 ($70)

 

Community ESOL

Levels 1-6: Mondays and Wednesdays from 9 am – 12 pm for 15 weeks starting 1/21/15

OR

Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6 – 9 pm for 15 weeks starting 1/21/15

Entrepreneurship Seminar: Create Your Own Job & Be Your Own Boss

Tuesdays from 6:30 – 8:30 pm starting 2/17/15 – 4/14/15 (9 weeks for $150)

 

Medical Billing

Mondays from 5:30 – 8:30 starting 1/26/15 – 3/30/15

 

Medical Interpreter

Mondays from 5:30 – 9 pm for 12 weeks starting 1/26/15

 

Medical Terminology

Tuesdays from 5:30-9 for 12 weeks starting 1/13/15

 

Pharmacy Tech

Mondays, Wednesdays, & Thursdays from 6:00- 9:30 PM for 12 weeks starting 1/26/15

Includes 150 hour internship

Yoga for Beginners

Mondays from 6:30 – 7:45 pm for either 3 or 6 classes

6 classes: 1/26/15 – 3/9/15 ($60)

3 classes: 1/26/15 – 2/9/15 OR 2/23/15 – 3/9/15 ($35)

 

Pathways to Human Services

Mondays from 6 – 9:30 starting 1/12/15

 

Couponing 101

Saturday, 2/7/15 from 9:30 am – 1:30 pm ($20)

OR

Wednesday, 2/18/15 from 5:30 – 9 pm ($20)

Mobile MyGym for Kids (ages 2-6)

Actively participate with your child as they develop social skills, agility, coordination, strength, balance, and flexibility in a fun environment.

FREE Demo Day – 2/13/15 (Please see flyer below for more details)

 

CPR-AED Certification

Saturday, 2/7/15: 9:30 am – 1:30 pm ($50, includes certification card valid for two years)

**All of the following non-credit programs are open to the community so please share with family and friends!

Stay tuned for more details on the following:

TEAS Exam Prep

Kids’ Theater Program

Financial Literacy

First-Time Home Buying Workshops

Photoshop

Community Choir

Conversational Spanish

Public Speaking

Creative Writing

Salsa Dancing

Intro to Ballroom Dancing

To see more of our upcoming Spring 2015 offerings, browse the RCC website.

(Accepted payment methods: Credit card, check or money order made payable to Roxbury Community College; cash payments will not be accepted)

Financial aid does not cover non-credit courses.

 

For questions, more information, or to register, please contact:

Administration Building #2, Room 101

(617) 541-5306 | (617) 933-7490 | (617) 933-7410

LifelongLearning@rcc.mass.edu

Looking for a Career in Higher Education?

 

Roxbury Community College has several full-time and part-time open positions available. Feel free to apply if your background aligns with the job descriptions. Be sure to inform those in your network of these opportunities as well!

 

Available Full-Time Positions

·         Financial Aid Assistant (Application Deadline: December 19, 2014)

·         Administrative Assistant I (Application Deadline: Open until filled)

·         Network Administrator Faculty (Application Deadline: December 18, 2014)

·         Information Systems Technology Faculty Position (Application Deadline: December 18, 2014)

·         Coordinator of Cooperative Education (Application Deadline: December 18, 2014)

·         Director of Institutional Effectiveness and Academic Data Management & Reporting (Application Deadline: December 16, 2014)

·         Dean of Student Admissions & Success (Application Deadline: Open until Filled)

Available Part-Time Positions

·         Adjunct Instructor – College Experience (Application Deadline: Open until filled)

·         TEAS Study Prep (Non-Credit) Instructors (Application Deadline: Open pool)

·         Assistant Track & Field Coach (Application Deadline: Open until filled)

·         Non-Credit Course Instructors (Application Deadline: Open pool)

·         Clinical Instructor, Classes start on September 3, 2014

·         Professional Tutor Professional Tutor  (Applications Deadline: Open until filled

 

 

For questions or more information, please contact Belma Mendez in the RCC Human Resources Office:

Phone:  617-427 -0060 x 5337

Email: bmendez@rcc.mass.edu

Roxbury Community College Earns Platinum Endorsement for Life Sciences Programs

Roxbury Community College (RCC) is pleased to announce that it has been awarded the Platinum Level Endorsement for the College’s Biotechnology Certificate and Associate Degree Programs. This is the highest level of endorsement granted by the Massachusetts Life Sciences Education Consortium (MLSEC), a partnership of the Massachusetts Biotechnology Education Foundation and the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council.

Dr. Valerie Roberson, President of RCC, said, “We are extremely grateful to the MLSEC for the vote of confidence that this endorsement represents. It validates the efforts of our dedicated faculty and staff who work with students in the Biotechnology Programs and prepare them to enter the life sciences workforce.”

This is the second time that MLSEC has recognized the contributions that community college programs are making to develop a skilled STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) workforce across the Commonwealth. The Platinum Endorsement follows RCC’s Gold Endorsement in 2013.

This recognition from MLSEC also reflects RCC’s participation in the College Success Campaign to double the numbers of Massachusetts college graduates from low-income backgrounds and college graduates in the state with STEM degrees.

The awards ceremony takes place on December 2^nd in Lexington where awardees and all of the programs that applied for silver, gold and platinum endorsements will gather to celebrate.

Season of Thanks: 18th Annual RLTAC Senior Citizen Thanksgiving Luncheon

Nancy Sheehan-Curran is the Assistant Director of  the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center @ Roxbury Community College. She would like to send this memorandum of thanks to all the staff, RCC Student Athletes and representatives from the Suffolk County Sheriff’s office who volunteered on Friday to serve food to the Seniors who attended our 18^th Annual RLTAC Senior Citizen Thanksgiving Luncheon.

“We had over 150 Seniors from the RLTAC Sensational Seniors, ABCD Parker Hill, Mission Park and many local seniors that came out for a wonderful meal followed by great music and a lot of dancing.  This would not be possible without the help of all of the volunteers.  We appreciate your support!  I hope you all have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving!”

Need 4 HOURS of FREE BABYSITTING While You’re in class at RCC?

Are you an RCC Student? Want four (4) hours of free babysitting while you are in school? Then apply for our babysitting service! You will have an experienced, trained, CPR and First Aid Certified babysitter taking care of your children while you are in school. And if you would like to have your children cared for in your home, that can also be arranged. *Sitting Sessions are between hours of 9 am and 10 pm.*

To apply for babysitting service, you must:

–        Be enrolled in at least one undergraduate college course.

–        Have a child under 9 years of age.

–        Qualify as low-income (we can help with this part after an initial pre-screening).                           

For more information, contact:

Lisa R. Carter

Director, Academic and Student Support- Single Stop

Roxbury Community College

1234 Columbus Avenue 2-101

Roxbury, MA. 02120

(:(617)933-7459

(:(617)933-7456 fax

www.rcc.mass.edu

Launch of Roxbury Community College Sports Channel!

The Students and Faculty of the Broadcast Media Technology Department in conjunction with the RCC Athletics Department are proud to announce the launch of the Roxbury Community College Sports Channel.  Our stream went live this past Thursday when the Lady Tigers and Men Tigers went up against our Rivals Bunker Hill Community College and WON!!!  You can see the games throughout the week on our Internal Television Broadcast Monitoring System or online at:

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/roxbury-community-college-sports

Our Broadcasting students did an awesome job working the cameras and managing all aspects of production from a Television Production Van. We hope to capture and stream all of our home games going forward!

Enjoy and GO TIGERS!!!!

11/17/14: Roxbury Community College’s Turnaround is featured in the Boston Globe!

In case you missed it, RCC President Dr. Valerie Roberson had an interview with the Boston Globe regarding the major changes occurring on the RCC campus. We pasted the article below. If you’d like to view the original article, click here.

RCC President Dr. Valerie Roberson. Photo Courtesy: David Ryan, Boston Globe

New president putting Roxbury Community College back on track

Aggressive turnaround plan paying off

By Peter Schworm | GLOBE STAFF   NOVEMBER 17, 2014

Two years ago, Roxbury Community College was mired in controversy. Whistle-blower complaints prompted a federal investigation into troubling lapses in reporting campus crimes, while the state auditor’s office launched a review of financial mismanagement at the college’s athletic center.

The financial aid program was in such disarray the US government refused to distribute funds directly, forcing the school to cover grants, then seek federal reimbursements. Under siege on multiple fronts, the college seemed to be coming apart at the seams.

But president Valerie Roberson, who arrived last summer, has led an aggressive turnaround plan, paring a budget that was millions in deficit, cutting administrative staff by about 20 percent, and taking a hard look at the entire academic operation.

Roberson has begun to reach out to area high schools in hopes of boosting enrollment. She is also seeking to strengthen relationships with area colleges, hospitals, and businesses to help students land internships and jobs.

Roberson said she took the job with the understanding that the school had plenty of problems. But over the past year, the full extent of its troubles became clear, she said.

“It was just the tip of the iceberg,” she said in an interview. “You find out the challenges are much more systemic, and we had to start at the foundation.”

Gerald Chertavian, chairman of the college’s board of trustees who was appointed by Governor Deval Patrick last year, likened Roberson’s first year to a kind of triage, given the host of immediate problems the college faced.

Despite the sweeping overhaul, Chertavian and Roberson agree the college, long plagued by poor management and low graduation rates, has substantial work ahead. It remains under federal investigation for violating campus safety laws, while its financial aid program remains under watch. And rebuilding the college’s reputation will take time.

Roxbury Community College is among the state’s smallest, and enrollment has dropped by more than 300 students since 2011. But in the past year, it climbed 3 percent, a welcome sign of progress.

The college has also made strides in resolving the crises that roiled the campus two years ago, gradually regaining the trust of federal monitors. “We’re a few innings into a longer game,” Chertavian said. “And we need to hold ourselves accountable.”

The stakes are high, education officials say. Community colleges are vital training grounds for so-called middle-skilled jobs, a growing segment of the employment market that often requires associate’s degrees, and as springboards to four-year colleges for students from low-income backgrounds.

At Roxbury Community College, where the average student is 29 and is usually balancing classes with work and family responsibilities, classes can provide a path to a better-paying job or a career change.

Yet skepticism about the college has sent many students, even those who live nearby, to other schools, particularly Bunker Hill Community College. In response, RCC is trying to improve student services — making it simpler for students to find the right classes and receive financial aid — and reaching out to area high schools to rebuild a sense of trust.

“The college has to have a stronger relationship with college counselors and principals,” Roberson said.

The college has begun distributing an informational magazine called “Career Focus,” which highlights specific academic programs and their potential jobs. For example, a feature on the nursing program notes that licensed nurses earn more than $50,000 a year, while nursing assistants earn close to $30,000.

Richard Freeland, the state’s commissioner of higher education, said Roberson moved quickly to address the repeated shortcomings that had drawn state and federal scrutiny, and made sweeping changes to the staff. “She cleaned house,” Freeland said. “I’ve never seen a broader set of personnel changes.”

A longtime community college administrator, Roberson came to Boston from Joliet Junior College in Joliet, Ill., where she was vice president for academic affairs. She was formerly president of Olive-Harvey College, a community college in Chicago.

Upon arriving, her most immediate problem was the financial aid department, which had come under scrutiny for violating federal policies.

“The federal government had totally lost confidence in their ability to manage this money responsibly,” Freeland said. “There were problems almost across the board.”

To remedy the problem, RCC now offers a support system that can guide students through the tricky process of applying for financial aid. The college retrained financial aid staff on the latest federal regulations, and has been in daily contact with the US Department of Education.

While the college must still handle some costs up front, the speed of reimbursements has accelerated, she said.

“We’re making significant progress,” she said. “They are gaining confidence.”

The college was also facing a substantial deficit, with little money left in reserve. In the spring, the Legislature authorized $3 million to shore up the school’s finances.

Roberson said the college was not spending efficiently and she tried to cut costs without hurting academics.

The college’s administration is aggressively seeking more grants, and is working to bolster fund-raising, she said. Chertavian said financial stability is crucial to the college’s success.

“This college both deserves and needs resources,” he said.

The newfound sense of progress stands in stark contrast to recent years, when the college faced a series of controversies that led to president Terrence Gomes stepping down in June 2012.

The state auditor’s office found a range of financial lapses at the college’s Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center, and Roberson found the facility had been run with little oversight from the college. Under a new chief financial officer, the center has been brought into the fold, she said.

RCC had also come under investigation for failing to investigate and report sexual crimes on campus, including allegations against two employees.

In March 2013, the college released a report that found that senior administrators had not properly reported allegations of sexual assault and in one case had apparently paid a student to keep quiet.

Now, all mandatory reporters have received training on the proper procedures for handling allegations of sexual assaults and reporting them as required under federal law.

“We’re in full compliance,” she said.

In its most recent information required under the Clery Act, RCC said it had received no reports of sexual offenses on campus in 2013. As a commuter school with a small campus, the college will typically have fewer reports of crimes than a residential campus, Roberson said.

Students and recent graduates say they largely felt removed from the controversy swirling around the school, and that they didn’t believe it affected the quality of the classes. Kevin Small Jr., 20, who graduated in the spring with a degree in business administration, said his overall experience at the school was extremely positive.

Small grew up in Dorchester and chose Roxbury Community College to help him adjust to college academics. He initially thought he would take just a few classes before transferring to a four-year school, but wound up staying the full two years.

“I didn’t want to leave because the experience was so strong,” he said.

Now a student at Suffolk University, Small said his time at RCC prepared him well.

Roberson said that while handling immediate problems has consumed much of her time, it gave her greater insight into the college’s inner workings.

“It’s been a tough year,” she said. “But in a strange way, it helped. It forced me to get into the weeds.”

Peter Schworm can be reached at schworm@globe.com.

#RCCHC Kickoff Event: Roxbury Community College to Host Harvard University Journalism Fellows

Guest Panelists Will Explore Behind The Lens: Who Does The News Speak For?

BOSTON- Roxbury Community College’s journalism program will host a visit from accomplished and promising journalists of Harvard University’s Nieman Foundation on Thursday, 20 November 2014, from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. in the Media Arts Center main auditorium (Building 1).

Alicia Stewart, CNN

Guest fellows will include CNN editor, producer and documentarian Alicia Stewart; Dawn Turner Trice, columnist and specialist reporter for the Chicago Tribune; and Gabe Bullard, director of news and editorial strategy at NPR affiliate WFPL in Louisville, Kentucky. They will be joined by local area journalists such as senior editor Yawu Miller of The Bay State Banner and moderator Professor Judith Kahalas of RCC.

Dawn Turner Trice, Chicago Tribune

This dialogue will be in response to student inquiries about developing news stories, practices, and significant developments in social media. Among the topics for discussion:

• How is news constructed today, by whom and for what purpose?

• Why is there so little “good news” and a seeming preponderance of “bad news”?

• What are the effects of wide-ranging social media applications on traditional journalism?

• What are the future job prospects for writers, photo-journalists, bloggers and free-lancers?

Gabe Bullard, WFPL

• How much control is exerted by corporations in the gathering and dissemination of news?

• From the vantage point of our guests, what are the noteworthy trends and stories, local, national and international, that Americans should be following today?

Designed to inform, stimulate and educate, all are welcome to this vigorous conversation

Yawu Miller, Bay State Banner

for students from a variety of disciplines: Black studies, English composition and literature, criminal justice, political science, history, economics, sociology and media studies, the Honors Program and Poetry Club, among others. A question-and-answer period will follow brief introductory statements.

This event is free and open to the public.

For more information, please contact Contact: Judith Kahalas (jkahalas@rcc.mass.edu) (617.427.0060) or Kevin Aylmer (kaylmer@rcc.mass.edu) (617.524.3835).

# RCCHC Homecoming is Less Than a Week Away!

What are you most excited about for this year’s Homecoming? #RCCHC