Congratulations

You made it! You’ve already shown the perseverance and dedication necessary to get into college. Maybe your path here from high school was short, or maybe you’ve had many life experiences since your time in high school. Either way, welcome to Westchester Community College. We’re so glad you’ve chosen WCC!

Westchester Community College’s History

Westchester Community College began as New York Institute of Applied Art and Sciences in 1946. Located in the Battle Hill School in White Plains, the school was one of five coed technical institutes in New York supported by state. The state decided to close the schools in 1953, unless the five communities in which these institutes were housed would accept operating responsibilities and share the financial costs with the state. All five communities decided to retain the institutes. While there was some objection from members of the Westchester County Board of Supervisors to taking on the management of the New York Institute of Applied Arts and Science, community organizations, such as women’s clubs, business men’s leagues, and civic associations, voiced support. Some even pledged scholarships. A deal was reached so that the financial burden would be shared equally between the state, county, and the student body, with each contributing one-third towards the school’s operating costs. On August 12, 1953, Westchester County announced that the Institute would become Westchester Community College beginning September 1, 1953.

New York governor Thomas E. Dewey appointed WCC’s first board of trustees, comprised individuals of diverse racial and vocational backgrounds. The College’s first president was Dr. Philip C. Martin, and its first board chairman was Chauncey T.S. Fish.

The breadth of programs and degrees offered by Westchester Community College has expanded greatly since 1953. At that time the College awarded Associate of Applied Sciences degrees and the first courses available at WCC were in business administration, building construction, technologies (electrical, mechanical, industrial chemistry), food administration, and medical-dental office work. Additional instruction was provided in English, mathematics, and social sciences. Initial extracurricular activities included music, golf, basketball, track, chess, radio, and photography.

In April 1955 the College began looking for a permanent site. A ten-member committee was formed by County Executive James D. Hopkins to investigate possible locations. By late in that year, sixteen properties had been examined, including lands located in parks, private estates, closed schools, and open countryside. The site committee agreed to a minimum of 100-acres for the College.

The county identified the estate of the late John A. Hartford as the location to build Westchester Community College. Harford had been the president of the Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company. The 364-acre property in Valhalla, called Buena Vista Farm, was partially occupied by Yale University, which had contracted with the Hartford Foundation to use the land until 1972. On June 28, 1957, the county board purchased the Hartford site and Yale agreed to vacate the property by August 31, 1958.

There were some county officials who objected to the large site being used exclusively for the College. A compromise was reached to divide the land for use between the College and county recreation. The Hartford Foundation agreed to sell the property, valued in 1958 between $3,000,000-4,000,000, for only $750,000. The low price was offered to help lower the cost of tuition for students. With 218 acres finally acquired, plans were underway to relocate WCC from the Battle Hill School to Valhalla by 1959.

In 1971, Joseph N. Hankin succeeded Martin as the college’s president. Hankin had previously been the director of evening and summer sessions, and then the president, of Harford Community College in Bel Air, Maryland. He continued to serve as president of WCC for more than 40 years, the longest serving community college president in the United States, until his retirement

A master plan for Westchester Community College was completed in 1961. The plan included 8 buildings that were to be finished by 1988: the Engineering Technologies building (1962), the Student Center (1963), the Physical Education building (1964), the Classroom building (1967), the Learning Resource Center (1969), the Science building (1978), the Academic Arts building (1981), and the Administration building (1988).

The Learning Resource Center was renamed the Harold L. Drimmer Library in 1994, after a longtime chairman of the WCC’s board of trustees. The library was completely renovated and expanded in 2002 doubling the size of the building to over 100,000 square feet. The updated building contains not only library facilities, but also computer labs, a student lounge, and conference rooms. The most recent addition to the campus is the Gateway Center which houses the College’s Business Programs, its Professional Development Center, and its multilingual programs.

In addition to the Valhalla campus, the WCC provides instruction at twelve other off-campus locations including extension centers in Peekskill, Ossining, White Plains, Mount Vernon and Yonkers. In addition, the College offers classes in Shrub Oak, New Rochelle, Mahopac and Port Chester. The Educational Opportunity Center is in Yonkers.

The Native Plant Center (NPC), a non-profit 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.

Transitioning to WCC

Most students feel a sense of excitement and enthusiasm, along with a bit of anxiety, as they begin classes, especially in their first semester. In many ways the beginning of each semester is a fresh start. It is an opportunity to learn and grow. You’ll meet new people, have new experiences, and be inspired to attain high standards. The transition to college is full of exciting opportunities and challenges.

This book, just like this course, is intended to be a resource for you as you navigate your transition to college. Each chapter is designed to help you think about important issues in college life. Some of the ideas will be relevant immediately, and others will be of use to you as you move through your educational career. You may want to keep this text to use as a resource throughout your time at WCC.

Please keep in mind that there are both print and online versions of this book. As the required text for this class, all students can purchase the book in the WCC Bookstore as well as access it online via Blackboard.

This First-Year Seminar textbook is organized so that each chapter focuses on two or more related issues important to college students, and most chapters have separate sections. Here’s an overview:

Chapter 1: Starting Smart

encourages you to value class time, learn about how you learn, and think through your communication as it introduces you to some of the technology you’ll use in college.

Chapter 2: Motivation, Goal Setting, & Grit

gives you the opportunity to find out more about yourself and set some short-, mid-, and long-term goals. You will also be introduced to WCC’s policies and procedures.

Chapter 3: Exploring Academic & Career Pathways

assists you in thinking about who you are and where you are going within and beyond Westchester Community College

Chapter 4: Managing Time & Responsibilities

helps you achieve your goals by giving tips for time management, organization, and managing personal responsibilities

Chapter 5: Learning & Studying Effectively

explores deep learning, taking notes from readings and lecture, and familiarizing yourself with the settings in which you learn best

Chapter 6: Test-taking

acquaints you with strategies for preparing for and taking tests

Chapter 7: Educational Planning

equips you with the knowledge and abilities to plan out the curricular and co-curricular experiences that will help you graduate from WCC and reach your academic and professional goals

Chapter 8: Transfer

introduces you to the transfer opportunities that may await at a college or university after you graduate from WCC

Chapter 9: Health & Wellness

examines personal wellness issues, such as eating well, exercising, managing stress, and maintaining mental health.

Chapter 10: Communication

explores effective means of communicating with others

Chapter 11: Diversity & Inclusion

focuses on topics that help diverse learners create a positive learning environment by honoring the similarities and differences between unique individuals.

Chapter 12: Thinking & Analysis

explores critical and creative thinking and how to use them to solve problems.

Chapter 13: Personal & Financial Responsibility

examines personal finances and budgeting

Chapter 14: Values & Personal Integrity

discusses how our values shape our decisions, personal character, and integrity

This First-Year Seminar is one step along your journey through higher education. It is the hope that this text and course will offer you a solid foundation for future opportunities and challenges. By being open to hard work and new experiences, collaborating with classmates, and accessing college resources, you are on your way to a successful college experience.

Again, welcome to WCC. We are glad you are here.

The most up-to-date version of this text is available to students online through their First-Year Seminar’s Blackboard space. It is also available online at the following address:https://courses.lumenlearning.com/suny-wcc-collegesuccess2/