E-Newsletter
Volume 7, No. 3 |
March 2009 |
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 Welcome to our monthly E-Newsletter, an overview of news and activities at ECC. We encourage you to learn more about our College by going through the rest of our web site. |
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Spring Enrollment
Student enrollment rose by 9% in Spring 2009
from last year at this time, the highest spring 10th day enrollment in the history of the college. After late start enrollment is factored in, the total was actually 10.3% ahead of last spring at 10,444, with a 19% increase in new students. Enrollment stands at 8,998 at the main campus and 1,446 at the West Essex campus. There are 5,420 full-time students and 5,024 part-time students.
ECC Student Wins 1st Prize Soroptimist Award
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Nursing major Carolyn Davidson is the winner of the $1,500 Women’s Opportunity Award from Soroptimist International of Suburban Essex County. She now moves on to regional and national competition.
This single mother of three started out as a student in ECC’s Training, Inc. program in 2006. She completed the certified nursing assistant program at Training, Inc. and is currently a sophomore in ECC’s Nursing Program. Upon graduation from Essex, she plans to continue her baccalaureate studies at a New Jersey four-year institution. Her goal is to work as an RN in a New Jersey hospital.
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ECC Students Win Top Awards at PTK Region Convention
ECC’s chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa honor society won eight major awards, including the prestigious “five star” chapter award, at this year’s PTK Middle States Regional Convention February 20-22 in Baltimore.
Named to PTK’s Hall of Honor were chapter president Luis Grados, chapter officer Maria Walker, and chapter member Javier Fuentes. Top awards for our chapter included Diamond Chapter Award, Four Leaf Clover Chapter Award, Four Leaf Clover Fellowship Award, and Adopt-a-School Award.
Track Stars Transferring Upon Graduation to Texas A & M
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Three members of ECC’s track team,
sophomores Natasha Ruddock, Sasha-Kay
Matthias, and Demetrius Pinder, have signed
national letters of intent to attend Texas
A & M University, one of the big Big XII
conference schools, in the fall of 2009.
The trio will be following the footsteps of
Allison George (ECC Class of 2007), a
current senior at Texas A & M who participated
for Grenada in last year’s Summer Beijing Olympics. Another ECC grad, Alleyne
Francique (Class of 2000), is an
assistant track coach at Texas A & M. He also competed for Grenada last year at the Olympics and previously in 2004.
Registration for Summer and Fall
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Web registration will take place from March 23 to May 6 for the Summer I term, from March 30 to July 9 for Summer II,
and from March 30 to September 11 for the Fall 2009
semester. In person registration will be on April 30 and
May 1 (9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.) for Summer I, II, and Fall
2009 at both campuses.
Classes for Summer I will run from May 4 – June 22 and for
Summer II, from July 8 – August 18. Fall 2009 classes are from September 8 – December 21.
Transfer students must have received transfer credit for mathematics and English; otherwise, they must take the placement test which will be scheduled as needed. For more registration-related information, contact Enrollment Services at (973) 877-3100 (Main Campus) or (973) 877-6590 (West Essex Campus), or go to our website at www.essex.edu.
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Zachary Lipner (far left), Beth Israel’s VP of Human Resources, presided over the graduation ceremony Feb. 7 at the hospital for the 50 employees of the training program. ECC’s Director of Corporate and Business Training Maureen Behr (next to Lipner) and Debbie Devries, VP of programs for the Newark Alliance (middle of back row) with instructors and staff of the training program were among those present at the ceremony.
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ECC’s Collaboration with Newark Alliance & Beth Israel
The Newark Health Care Consortium, comprised of Essex County College, Newark Alliance, Newark Workforce Investment Board, UMDNJ-University Hospital, and Newark Beth Israel Hospital, has been awarded a NJ Department of Labor Customized Training Grant of $104,284, a significant portion of which is dedicated to training front-line health care workers at Newark Beth Israel.
The training program, to be designed by ECC’s Corporate and Business Training Center, will seek to enhance the skills of Beth Israel’s incumbent and the newly hired clerks and patient access representatives. The four-month training program will cover the areas of medical terminology, customer service competency skills, and data entry.
ECC and Newark Beth Israel hospital recently celebrated the graduation of over 50 employees in a three-month training program offered by the college.
State Health Hearing Held at ECC
ECC hosted an all-day hearing February 27 on health care services, an event that attracted more than 100 State and Essex County health officials. The program was conducted by the Essex County Democratic Legislative Delegation.
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Chaired by state Senator Ronald Rice (D-Essex), the hearing covered a wide range of concerns raised by area hospitals, mental health care providers, and local health departments. “Many of our health care problems weren’t created by anyone here, but we have to do what we can
to fix these problems,” said state Assemblywoman
Sheila Oliver.
The hearing was attended by such officials as state Senate President Richard Codey (D-Essex), State Department of Health and Senior Services Commissioner Heather Howard, State Department of Human Services Commissioner Jennifer Velez, and Public Advocate Ronald K. Chen. Presidents of Essex County-based hospitals also addressed the legislative panel as did specialists in community health care and mental health care providers. New Jersey Congressman Steven Rothman from Bergen County, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, said it is “critical” that informational sessions like the one held at ECC are conducted on a regular basis to address health care concerns.
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Celebration of Women’s History Month
Author Leslie Morris will discuss her book How Ya Like Me Now! and topics relating to Women’s History Month on March 7, 2 p.m. at the Essex Room, Newark campus. The program is sponsored by the college’s WISE Women’s Center in conjunction with the Newark-based My Sistahz Keeper Association.
The author will discuss growing up in public housing in Long Branch. Morris went on to earn her undergraduate degree from Simmons College and advanced degrees from Boston College (clinical social work) and the University of North Carolina (public health). She is currently director of community relations for the New Jersey Primary Care Association in Princeton.
The Women’s Center is also sponsoring a series of Wednesday lectures this month (details in the events calendar of this newsletter). Admission is free. All will be held from noon to 1 p.m. in the Yellow Area conference room on the 3rd level. Bring your lunch to the lectures. Call the center at 973.877.3395 for more information.
Alumni News
Sandra Cassidy, who graduated from ECC’s Nursing Program in January 2009, has passed the NCLEX exam to become a Registered Nurse. She was interviewed on the same day as the Pinning Ceremony (January 27) by Newark Beth Israel Hospital and was informed January 28 that she can start her job in the hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit on March 9. Sandra, who had learned that the Saint Barnabas Health Care system had laid off 50 nurses inquired as to why they were hiring her. The response was that they were seeking the “crème de la crème.” So, ECC students are now that “crème,” she proudly recounted.
Wilson Aiwuyor (Class of 2007) is an honors student at Syracuse University working toward a baccalaureate in Government and International Relations. In February 2009, he secured the Princeton University Public Policy and International Affairs Fellowship of $1,500 from the University’s Woodrow Wilson Summer Institute for six weeks of study at the institute – from June 11 – July 31, 2009. In addition to a stipend of $1,500 for the six weeks, the fellowship covers expenses for all courses, textbooks, transportation, housing, and meals.
Nadene Reid (Class of 2007) will be receiving her baccalaureate degree from Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations on May 24, 2009.
Faculty News
Mathematics Professor Martin Weissman (Division of Math & Physics) was featured in an article that appeared in the February 2009 edition of the Academic Author, published by the Text and Academic Authors Association. The article entitled “Math Professor Creates Booklets to Help Student Learn Math” commended Weismann’s efforts on behalf of students. The booklets are being tested today in ECC classrooms.
Professor Richard Alston, music coordinator at ECC, appeared in concert at New Jersey City University on February 18. He performed works of renowned “Classically Black” composers.
Professor Victor Stolberg (Office of Disability Support Services) has just published an article entitled “Lack of Gender Differences in Lifetime Substance Use Reported Among African-American Urban Community College Students” in the Journal of Ethnicity in Substance Abuse, Volume 8, #1, (2009), pp. 70-98. He also published 10 entries in the Encyclopedia of Substance Abuse Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery, edited by Gary Fisher and Nancy Roget, Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, 2008.
Track Standouts Ready for Nationals
Six ECC student-athletes will be competing in the National Junior College Athletic Association Indoor Track and Field Championships on March 6-7 at Texas Tech University.
Sophomore Natasha Ruddock, the defending junior college national indoor champion in the 60-meter hurdles, will compete this time in the 55-meter hurdles. Sophomore Demetrius Pinder will look to defend his 400-meter dash indoor title. Fellow sophomore Sasha-Kay Matthias will look to build on last year’s success when she finished second in the long jump and triple jump. Ryker Hylton will join Pinder in the 400-meter dash. On the women’s side, Akeisha Dumont and Magan Edwards will both run in the 400-meter dash.
February Events
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Get Your Taxes Done for Free
If you are an ECC student without children earning less than $25,000, or with children earning less than $40,000, you can get you taxes done for free at the college The service is available in the Green area of EOF during the tax season Monday through Thursday from 12 noon to 4:00 p.m., Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., Fridays from 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., and Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Call Kevin Kurdziel at (973) 877-1856 for more information. Email: kkurdzie@essex.edu
Upcoming ECC Events
Alumni Association Book Sale |
March 2 |
2nd Level Forum |
Annual Spring Transfer Fair |
March 3 |
2nd Level Forum |
The New Face of Business: Women |
March 4 |
Yellow Area Conference Room |
Our Black History Celebration (open forum) |
March 5 |
Main Dining Hall |
Phi Theta Kappa Induction Ceremony |
March 5 |
Smith 2131 |
African Queen Fashion & Talent Show |
March 6 |
Smith 2131 |
An Afternoon of Empowerment & Book Signing with Leslie Morris |
March 7 |
Essex Room |
Dialogue: Women’s Concerns, Life, Future |
March 11 |
Yellow Area Conference Room |
Proofreading & Editing Workshop |
March 11 |
Essex Room |
First Annual Step Show |
March 13 |
Physical Education Building |
Library Book Sale |
March 18 |
2nd Level Forum |
Trailblazers Luncheon (honoring ECC pioneers) |
March 18 |
4th Level Multipurpose Room |
Rape & Its Aftermath |
March 18 |
Yellow Area Conference Room |
Haitian Student Association Party |
March 20 |
Main Dining Hall |
Senator Lipmann Saturday Seminar |
March 21 |
4th Level Multipurpose Room |
Social Work Day |
March 23 |
Smith 2131 |
Sister Wisdom: See Beyond the Horizon |
March 25 |
Yellow Area Conference Room |
ECC Board of Trustees Meeting |
March 25 |
Dasher Student Center |
Student Government Association Candidate Debate |
March 25 |
Main Dining Hall |
Child Development Center March Extravaganza |
March 26 |
Siegler 2132 |
A Woman’s Pride & Stride (speakers, poets, musicians for Women’s History Month) |
March 26 |
Mary Burch Theater |
Women Empowerment Forum |
March 28 |
Main Dining Hall |
Community Event
Organizational Change Management for Sustainability : The Harvard Case Study Speaker: Leith Sharp, Founding Director, Harvard Green Campus Initiative |
March 25 |
Campus Center Ballroom |
For more information, call (973) 877-3208 or (973) 877-6637 for main campus events and (973) 877-1903 for West Essex Campus events.
Contact Information
This newsletter is prepared by the Office of Publications and Production in cooperation with the Office of Public Relations. Comments and suggestions are most welcome. Please address them to Dr. Lekha Keister at lkeister@essex.edu.
