GCC

Press release:

Full-time Genesee Community College students will pay $1,975 tuition per semester during the 2016-2017 year, under the budget approved by the GCC Board of Trustees Monday evening, up $25 from the current $1,950 tuition rate.

Trustees also approved the 2016-2017 operating budget totaling $40.537 million, up 1.53 percent from the current year's $39.927 million budget. The net increase in the budget, however, is much less. Nearly half of the increase simply reflects an accounting change that creates $275,000 in non-cash revenue and non-cash expense.

The 2016-2017 budget is a maintenance-of-effort budget, according to President James M. Sunser.

Staffing levels for 2016-2017 are nearly identical to current year staffing. The budget, however, provides for a student success position responsible for the organization and leadership of success coaching initiatives in the Student Success Center opening in the Fall 2017 semester. Key non-classroom student services will be consolidated in the new Center, and "success coaches" based in the Center will guide students through their academic careers. College leaders believe that the success coaching initiative will help boost students' academic success and career potential.

On the revenue side of the budget, the College will receive $100 more in partially-restored New York State aid per full-time equivalent student. The increase is welcome, Sunser said, but state aid still lags behind historical levels.

The College's new Nanotechnology program, offered in collaboration with Erie Community College, will be in full swing next year. The College also hopes to launch more educational programs geared toward the needs of the local agriculture industry.

The 2016-2017 academic year will see the construction of two new buildings on the Batavia Campus. The 18,748 square foot Student Success Center will be located adjacent to the Conable Technology Building. The 56,614 square foot Richard C. Call Arena will be located at the northwest end of the parking lot. The Arena will house the largest expanse of flexible, open floor space in the Genesee-Livingston-Orleans-Wyoming County region.

The College anticipates that both buildings will be completed in early summer 2017.

As in recent years, the budget process was challenging, Sunser told trustees. But the College's history of conservative spending, healthy enrollment, and relatively low inflation helped make a balanced budget possible for 2016-2017.

The budget now goes to the Genesee County Legislature's Ways and Means Committee, which will review the spending plan before presenting it to the full Legislature.

Sunser noted that declining numbers of high school graduates have led to enrollment declines among younger students at many colleges, while a robust economy has led many older students to remain in the workforce rather than seek retraining.

"Many community colleges across New York State and across the nation have experienced significant enrollment declines," Sunser said. "At Genesee, we have experienced a slight dip in the number of students, but our enrollment remains very strong, and our financial position very stable."

Sunser called the early part of the 21st Century "the era of the community college." He reminded trustees that business, political and educational leaders are all praising community colleges.

"Business leaders know that we provide a very rigorous education and prepare students quite well for the local workforce," he said. "On the national level, the last three presidents of the United States have spoken very positively and forcefully about the value and importance of a community college education.

"But most significantly, our own GCC students spread the word about the education we provide, and our 24,000 alumni are living examples of the value that GCC brings to our local communities."

Press release:

The Genesee Community College Forum Players Theatre Company, which is an integral part of the College's Theater program, is planning a weekend dance program to benefit the nonprofit organization. Tara Pocock, adjunct instructor, and student Blake Carter will present several dance performances the weekend of Friday, May 13 through Sunday, May 15, in the Stuart Steiner Theatre on the GCC Batavia Campus.

Carter, a Batavia native, has choreographed a dance called, "Ring Around the Rosie," which tells the horror story of a young boy and his mother who move into a house with a dark past; a house infested with demons who want one thing... the boy. Due to some adult language used in the production, anyone under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

There will be two opportunities to catch the event, 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 13, 2016 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 14. Tickets are just $6 and all proceeds from the shows benefit GCC's Forum Players Theatre Company.

Then on Sunday, "Spring into Love," an hour-long production will be presented by the dance troupes of Anastasia's Spotlight Dance in Churchville. The performance will be choreographed by Stacy Bechtold, studio owner and director, and Pocock. The performers will be singing and dancing Christian melodies as well as songs brought to Disney by the studio.

A total of 40 students ranging in age from 7-18 years old will take part in the performance that is scheduled at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 15. This event is free, but audiences are encouraged to make generous donations in support of GCC's Forum Players Theatre Company.

Officials from throughout Genesee County were at Genesee Community College yesterday afternoon to join in a celebration of the college's continued growth -- groundbreaking for the Student Success Center and Event Center.

The Student Success Center will provide a sleek new entrance to the Campus and the Event Center will be the area’s largest indoor event arena with 25,000 square feet of open multipurpose floor space.

One man was instrumental in envisioning the expense and is being memorialized in the Event Center.

GCC’s President Jim Sunser unveiled the Event Center's official title, in honor of a man he was proud to call his friend, Richard C. Call.  

"The Board of Trustees has also given me the great privilege of announcing that at the boards May meeting the Trustees' intent to dedicate the Event Center to Dick Call and forever inscribe his name above the doors to this wonderful new building that's helping to create our future. The Richard C. Call Arena will be a tribute to the remarkable legacy of a man that has given so much to our college and community. And as we look ahead to the future the Richard C. Call Arena will symbolize the strength of our community and the power that we all have to make a difference in other people’s lives.”

Craig Yunker, chairman for the GCC Foundation "Creating Our Future Together" Campaign, tied the entire endeavor together with a childhood memory of GCC’s foundation.  

“Fifty years ago I was 15; I remember my parents talking about this at the dinner table and going out and joining some other people in trying to get this referendum passed, and some of those people are here tonight.”

The celebration was as much about the community’s collaboration as it was about the facilities themselves. The college was asked to match $5 million of State funds and with many generous donations by local supporters it surpassed that amount raising $5.4 million.

Work on both facilities is expected to be complete sometime around July of 2017.

Our news partner, WBTA contributed to this story.

GCC President Jim Sunser.

Retired, longtime GCC President Stuart Steiner in the middle, then Craig Yunker and GC Legislature Chairman Ray Cianfrini.

Diane D. Torcello, chair of the College's Board of Trustees.

Eunice A. Lewin, SUNY trustee.

Craig Yunker, chair of the GCC Foundation's Creating Our Future Together Campaign.

This information was provided by The BEST Center:

The world of drones is exploding! In partnership with regional experts, an intensive 18-hour course called "Introduction to Drones" (sUAS -- small Unmanned Aerial Systems) will be offered at the Genesee Community College Forum, Batavia Campus, on three consecutive Saturdays -- May 7, 14 and 21.

Cost is $1,499 and includes your own model quad-copter drone with camera, computer flight simulator and workbook. Hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with a one-hour break.

This course is offered in partnership with regional experts and is designed for any industry, business or service that is using or looking to use drones as well as for hobbyists.

If you are interested in emerging careers or are involved in construction, agriculture, real estate, insurance, public safety, EMS, photography, media, marketing, inspection, land surveying, golf courses, amusement parks, etc., or want to start a business, you'll learn how your industry can be transformed in new, cost-effective ways.

For recreational operators, you'll learn exactly what you need to know to be legal to fly efficiently and get the most out of your drone.

A Certificate of Completion will be awarded to participants (not a license).

To register, call 345-6868 or visit   www.bestcenter.org

The course will cover:

• Indoor hands-on flight practice using a model quad-copter;
• Computer simulator training;
• Operations of different tyoes of sUAS, including mot multi-rotor and fixed-wing;
• Flight systems, inlcuding DJI Phantom, Inspire 1 and 3D Robotics;
• Flight vehicles, radio controllers, components and characteristics;
• Autonomous flight
• Routine maintenance;
• Uses and Applications: Markets, Photography and Video, Post-processing, Economic Drivers;
• Safety: Best Practices, Operational Risks, Rules of the Road;
• Up-to-Date FAA Regulations: Policies, Flying Legally, Liability; Exemptions; Operation and Certification of sUAS;
• Etiquette and Privacy;
• Operational Risks and Insurance;
• Exploring Career Opportunities -- Virtually Unlimited!

A cake-cutting ceremony was held at 11 this morning in honor of Founding Day at Genesee Community College. The 50th Anniversary of the campus will be celebrated over the coming 18 months, with a number of events plants to commemorate a variety of milestones.

Students, faculty, staff, administrators, alumni and friends gathered in the William W. Stuart Forum for today's ceremony. A specially prepared historical photo show is running continuously until 2 p.m. and all visitors will have the chance to be part of a pending time capsule by briefly answer the inquiry: “What I found at GCC.”

Edited responses to this inquiry will be added to the soon-to-be launched 50th Anniversary Web site. WGCC, the College’s radio station is broadcasting live, and the GCC Cougar mascot is posing for photos.

Also, the College is officially releasing the new 50th Anniversary logo featuring a creative blue and gold flame matching the College’s colors that date back to the late 1960s with the insignia “The True-Blue Past – Our Golden Future.”

The next big College event is the official Groundbreaking Ceremony at 4 p.m. on Thursday, April 28, for the new Student Success Center and the Event Center. College and community leaders will gather to recognize the start of construction for these two new facilities, collectively valued at more than $21million and totaling 75,000 square feet.

Genesee Community College President James Sunser.

Press release:

Founding a college is no simple task. Establishing Genesee Community College in the mid-1960s involved more than a decade of planning with hundreds of community members working hard in support of the innovative idea that Genesee and surrounding counties would benefit from having a college. As GCC recognizes its 50th Anniversary, numerous historical dates are being celebrated, as are the pioneering efforts and vision of its founding citizens.

Friday, April 15, 2016 is Founding Day at GCC's Batavia Campus, which will celebrate the exact date 50 years prior that the State University of New York officially approved and recognized the interests of the Genesee County Board of Supervisors to establish and sponsor a two-year college in Genesee County. It is one of many important dates in the College's history, and also the first event in the coming 18 months where GCC will reflect on its unique past while planning ahead for the future.

At 11 a.m. on Founding Day, the College community including students, faculty, staff, administrators, alumni and friends will gather in the William W. Stuart Forum for a cake-cutting ceremony. In addition, a specially prepared historical photo show will run continuously until 2 p.m., and all visitors will have the chance to be part of a pending time capsule by briefly answer the inquiry: "What I found at GCC." Edited responses to this inquiry will be added to the soon to be launched 50th Anniversary Web site.

WGCC, the College's radio station will be broadcasting live, and the GCC Cougar mascot will pose for numerous photo ops. Lastly, the College will officially release the new 50th Anniversary logo featuring a creative blue and gold flame matching the College's colors that date back to the late 1960s with the insignia "The True-Blue Past – Our Golden Future." 

"This is the 'soft opening' to the College's Anniversary program," President James Sunser, Ed.D., said at a recent planning meeting. "It gives us the opportunity to publish and promote our calendar of upcoming events and the many opportunities we are looking forward to, including the new logo with a few surprises."

The next big College event is the official Groundbreaking Ceremony on Thursday, April 28, at 4 p.m. for the new Student Success Center and the Event Center. College and community leaders will gather to recognize the start of construction for these two new facilities, collectively valued at more than $21 million and totaling 75,000 square feet. In addition, the program includes the opportunity to officially kickoff GCC's 50th Anniversary Celebration, paying homage to the community leaders 50 years ago whose vision gave rise to Genesee Community College's long term success. Final plans for Groundbreaking Ceremony are in development and details will be available soon.

Press release:

Finding beauty in a Western New York winter is not always an easy thing to do. For Genesee Community College's JoNelle Toriseva, director of English, Communications and Media Arts and assistant professor of English, channeling the sometimes treacherous outside conditions into works of poetry and photography recently earned her recognition from the public charity Writers Rising Up.

It named her the Winter in Variations: Bill Holm Witness Poetry Contest Winner, Writers Rising Up to Defend Place, Natural Habitat, Wetlands for 2015.

The contest required a submission of six original, unpublished poems about witnessing some everyday occurrence in winter and additional photography, which is not Toriseva's strong suit.

"When I received the email that I had won, I was surprised," Toriseva said. "I was also very happy; however, they told me that I needed to take pictures of what I considered winter and I am more apt to be the person who gets a photograph of someone's feet or the back of their head, so I sought help."

Toriseva called on Joseph "Joe Z" Ziolkowski, GCC instructor of Photography, who guided her through taking shots outdoors with surroundings that included freshly fallen snow. The photographs, candid's of crab apple trees on the GCC Batavia Campus and a few of brush in the Bergen Swamp at dusk, were accepted by the organization as part of her winning submission.

Writers Rising Up is a public charity that focuses on nature education and writing through the literary arts at community events, contests, workshops, literary performances interpretive installations and publications. The organization hosts numerous poetry and literary contests, competitions and events for writers to submit and perform literary interpretations related to place, natural habitat and wetlands.

Toriseva's award-winning work included original poems titled "Perceive," "Dart," "Talking in Snow: A Short History of Sound," "The Benchmark of Winter," "Crossing" and "Winter, December #73," and can be viewed online at http://www.writersrisingup.org/all-contests/essay-winners/j-r-toriseva-bill-holm-winner.

A native of rural Minnesota, the home state of the award-honoree Bill Holm, Toriseva grew up an admirer of the author of nine books of both poetry and essays.

"I have known about Bill Holm for a long time. He is a staunch supporter of nature, which greatly interests me," Toriseva explained. "The fact that the Writer's Rising Up organization and the award raise awareness about wetlands and natural habitat makes this very special to me."

For further information about Writer's Rising Up and to view Toriseva's award-winning work, including her photography, visit the organization's Web site: http://www.writersrisingup.org/.

Press release:

The GCC Literary Club will host an afternoon reading by Lytton Smith, Ph.D., and Jess Fenn, Ph.D., from 12:20 to 1:15 p.m. on Monday, April 18, in the Rosalie "Roz" Steiner Art Gallery at the main campus in Batavia. All are welcome and the event is free.

Smith is the author of two books of poetry from Nightboat Books, "While You Were Approaching the Spectacle But Before You Were Transformed by It" (2013) and "The All-Purpose Magical Tent" (2009). He is also the translator of several contemporary Icelandic novels by Jón Gnarr, Bragi Ólafsson and Kristín Ómarsdóttir. He is an assistant professor of English and Creative Writing at SUNY Geneseo.

Fenn, a lecturer of English at the State University of New York at Geneseo, specialized in the literature of late medieval England while obtaining M.A., M.Phil and Ph.D. degrees from Columbia University. She has published scholarly work on Geoffrey Chaucer in Studies in Philology (2013) and her short fiction has appeared in such places as Versal, PANK Magazine, and Flash: The International Short-Story Magazine. Fenn was awarded the Gulf Coast Prize in Nonfiction in 2013 for her work, "Where We Went and What We Did There."

As friends of Toriseva, JoNelle wanted to bring them to campus to give students and the community the opportunity to hear these wonderful writers and translators.

"Hearing writers read their work and talk about their process inspires and broadens the perspective of students, as well as fellow faculty and colleagues," Toriseva said. "We hope students, staff, faculty and the general public will join us." 

This event is presented by The Literary Club and sponsored by GCC's Student Activities. The Literary Club has been active on campus for many years, hosting a monthly Open Mic in the Student Union, National Novel Writing Month activities in November, a Poetry Contest, and the Little Library in College Village, among other events and opportunities.

Press release:

This spring, the Polysomnographic Technology (PSG) program at Genesee Community College will graduate its fifth class of students. In preparation for the group to take its national board exams, GCC will once again host a seminar reviewing Polysomnographic principles.

The seminar, presented by K & M Medical will be held April 15 and 16 in room T102 on the Batavia campus.

"The review seminar is designed to provide a comprehensive overview of the essential principles of Polysomnographic Technology. The series of lectures and practice exams are designed to prepare our PSG students and others in the sleep community to successfully pass the Registered Polysomnographic Technologists (RPSGT) exam," said Marshann Thomas, director of the college's Polysomnographic Technology Program.

Space is limited for the two-day review. Those interested can register here, or visit the K & M Web site for more information at http://www.kmmed.com/seminars.html. The review offers continuing education credits from the American Association of Sleep Technologists (AAST) and the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC).

GCC's two-year sleep studies program was the first of its kind in Western New York and the Finger Lakes. It has been endorsed by a peer review and is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) and was recognized by the New York State Office of Professional Education as a license qualifying PSG Program. As a result, GCC's PSG graduates will be qualified to receive their license upon the successful completion of our PSG program and will be able to practice PSG in New York State.

Students enrolled in the PSG program will take courses in anatomy, psychology, physiology, environmental chemistry, sleep disorders and sleep study implementation. They also complete two clinical practice courses in a local sleep clinic where they can apply what they've learned in a real world setting.

The field of sleep study continues to grow, offering a variety of career options for graduates -- from helping physicians diagnose sleep-related problems, to counseling patients on things they can do to improve resting hours.

"Our goal is to equip these students with the skills they need to provide quality, compassionate care to patients and families," said Thomas, who is a registered Respiratory Care practitioner.

Information is also available by visiting GCC's Web site: http://www.genesee.edu/academics/programs/health/sleep/

For a recent press release about the curriculum changes to GCC's Polysomnographic Technology program go to: http://www.genesee.edu/news/articles/dspArticle/5028/

For more information, contact Polysomnographic Technology Program Director, Marshann Thomas at (585) 343-0055, ext. 6188 or at mythomas@genesee.edu

The ninth annual GLOW Region (Genesee Livingston Orleans Wyoming counties) Tech Wars Competition was held today at Genesee Community College. Eighteen school districts participated in this year's four-hour event that incorporated technology, skills and competitiveness.

Hundreds of students from both middle and high schools competed in 20 different events. Pictured above is the CO2 cars lined up to be checked in.  

Top three schools that won the overall most awards: Alexander Central School, First Place; Dansville, Second Place; and Warsaw, Third Place.

Press release:

Members of Genesee Community College's Class of 2016, along with family and friends, as well as attending Board of Trustees members, faculty and staff should all enjoy the keynote address by Joshua Fredenburg, a nationally acclaimed speaker, commentator, leadership /diversity consultant, relationship expert and author of five books.

GCC's 48th annual Commencement ceremony is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Sunday, May 22. Fredenburg is a dynamic speaker known for inspirational messages that often lead to life-changing and transformational results.

Fredenburg is the president and founder of the Circle of Change Leadership Conference, an award-winning annual leadership development program for college students. The program provides emerging leaders with the skills, resources and access to learn from more than 70 executives from Fortune 500 companies such as Pepsi, Columbia Pictures, Hewlett Packard, CNN, UPS, MTV, Mattel, Starbucks, Verizon Wireless, NBC Universal, IBM and Warner Brothers.

In addition, Fredenburg is a member from the California State University Board of Directors, received an award from the Young Professionals Urban League of Los Angeles, and has been featured on numerous local and national talk shows.

In other news, at the regular Board of Trustees meeting earlier this week, the following staff and students were recognized: 

• Judith Littlejohn, of Elba, instructional designer, will receive the FACT2 Excellence Award, honoring superior achievement of State University of New York teaching faculty and technology support professionals at the SUNY Conference on Instruction and Technology (CIT) in May. 

• GCC student Erin S. Nesmith, of LeRoy, was honored with a "Rising Star Scholar" award by the Arts Council for Wyoming County. 

• GCC students Jessica N. Rush of Rochester, and Amanda A. Starczewski, of Corfu, officers of GCC's Phi Theta Kappa Honor's Society, were awarded the SUNY Chancellor's Award for Student Excellence, and were also were honored with the Phi Theta Kappa All-New York Academic Award.

In other matters the Board of Trustees:

• Approved the curriculum changes to the College's Liberal Arts and Science Humanities and Social Science Associate in Arts degree. While continuing to review GCC's academic programs under the SUNY seamless transfer initiative, Dr. Kathleen Schiefen, provost/executive vice president for Academic Affairs reported that the College's Humanities and Social Sciences program now includes six concentrations in History, Psychology, Sociology, Spanish, English and Economics to better enable students who are transferring for a bachelorette degree in these areas of specialty. 

• Approved the appointment of two new employees: 

• Shelitha Williams, Ph.D., of Rochester, will join the College on June 1 as the new associate vice president of Student Success. With a 13-year tenure at Monroe Community College working in residence life and student engagement, Williams is currently the co-chair of MCC's Diversity Council managing enrollment services and coordinating academic advisement services for the Damon City Campus.
• Maureen Welch, of Webster, NY, joins GCC as the director of Clinical Education, Respiratory Care. As a therapist at Golisano Children's/Strong Pediatric Pulmonary Clinic, she brings 25 years of diverse clinical and professional experience in both hospital and industry environments. 

• Received the donation of 300 sewing patterns to be used by GCC's Fashion Design students in their efforts to create garments for both classroom projects and the College's annual Fashion Show. The donation was made by Jennifer Newell, GCC's dean of students, and is valued at approximately $6,000. 

• Heard Richard Ensman, director of Development and External Affairs report on the ongoing efforts of the College's 50th Anniversary Steering Committee, which is being co-chaired by Board of Trustee Chair Diane D. Torcello and Rick Dudkowski, professor of Business and Fashion Merchandising Management. Organized into four subcommittees, the group is excited to be planning special events and opportunities over the next 20 months that will commemorate significant points in the College's history. Among the events being planned are: a College community Founding Day scheduled April 15th to recognize the day SUNY acknowledged the wishes of area leaders to create Genesee Community College; the Groundbreaking and Anniversary Kickoff Celebration on April 28 at 4 p.m.; development of a new Anniversary Web page featuring the online scrapbook and events calendar; and special anniversary components added to annual events including but not limited to Homecoming, the Fashion Show, Discover the Stars, Encore and the Wolcott Jay Humphrey Symposium for Leadership.

Press release:

The vision and hard work of many people who contributed to Genesee Community College's Facilities Master Plan nearly five years ago is about to take physical shape as the College's Board of Trustees approved the award of various construction bids for two capital construction projects on the Batavia Campus.

The total cost estimate for the new Student Success Center and the Event Center combined is $21,476,070, and when asked when construction will begin, Kevin Hamilton, GCC's vice president of Finance and Operations told the Trustees "tomorrow," reflecting on the aggressive construction schedule ahead.

In actuality, the College has scheduled an official Groundbreaking Ceremony on Thursday, April 28 at 4 p.m. but JMZ Architects and Planners, P.C., and GCC staff are already working with the contractors to ensure a smooth running project. The following construction contracts were approved on Monday night by the Board of Trustees:

For both the Student Success Center and Event Center combined: 

• Allied Builders, Inc., Brockport -- General Construction $10,627,000;

• DiFiore Construction, Inc., Rochester -- Site Improvements $ 2,322,100;

• Thurston Dudek, LLC, Ontario, NY -- Plumbing & Fire Protection $ 955,400.

For the Student Success Center only:

• Leo J. Roth Corporation, Webster -- HVAC Construction $ 550,000;

• Hewett Young Electric, LLC, Rochester -- Electrical $ 540,000;

For the Event Center only: 

• Landry Mechanical Contractors, Caledonia -- HVAC Construction $1,337,884;

• Suburban Electric of Albion, Inc., Albion -- Electrical $ 1,318,000.

In order to attract as many local firms as possible, the construction bid packages were bundled in five segments for Site Work, General Contracting, Electrical, Plumbing/Fire Protection, and Heating, Ventilation and Cooling (HVAC), and contractors were invited to bid on singular projects or combination of both projects. Forty-seven bids were received and publicly opened on March 8.

The 18,478-square-foot Student Success Center will be a two-story facility connecting to the existing Conable Technology Building through a second-story bridge. It will become the new "front door" of the Batavia Campus partially enclosing the College's central academic quad. The one-stop service center for students and community residents will soon provide admissions, financial aid, academic advisement, job and career counseling and a variety of other services in one building. The estimated cost of construction of the Student Success Center is $6,687,645. 

The other project, the Event Center, will also be two stories, but it is the first facility on the original Batavia Campus grounds not connected to the Batavia Campus main buildings. (The College's School of Nursing is located in the Med Tech Park on the south side of Hawley Drive.) Located adjacent to the Soccer and Lacrosse Turf Field at the far west side of campus, the 56,614-square-foot facility will include the largest open public space in Genesee, Livingston, Orleans and Wyoming counties. The large arena will not only accommodate an array of athletic competitions, but all kinds of civic, community, trade, industry as well as college events --from farm, boat and tractor shows to commencement ceremonies where a whole family can sit together. The new facility is expected to draw as many as 500,000 visitors to the campus each year. The estimated cost of construction of the Event Center is $14,788,425. 

The targeted construction schedule for both projects is this April 1 through June 1, 2017. Transforming the vacated space in the existing facility into new classrooms, laboratories and office space will be reviewed through the coming year and a separate plan and project(s) will be developed.

Press release:

When the Tech Wars come to Genesee Community College next week, more than 600 students from 18 regional middle and high schools will literally "commandeer" the campus. From the Regatta held in the swimming pool to the SUMO Bots, Catapults and Bridge Designs in the Forum; the Robotic Tractor Pull in the gym; the Rube Goldberg competition in the Cafeteria; and the Sculpture event in the Student Union-GCC loves hosting the Tech Wars!

The event so dominates the College's Batavia Campus that it must be scheduled during GCC's academic Spring Break to allow Tech Wars ample space for the all the hands-on learning competitions that are both fun and fascinating.

The exciting Tech Wars is happening Thursday, March 17, and is hosted by the College's ACE (Accelerated College Enrollment) Program for students in the GLOW (Genesee, Livingston, Orleans and Wyoming counties) region. This will be the ninth year that the event brings area middle and high school students to GCC's Batavia campus where teams of students work collaboratively to demonstrate their technical expertise through innovative, mind-expanding competitions.

The students arrive on GCC's Batavia Campus at 8:30 a.m., with the competitions scheduled to run from 9:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m., followed by the awards ceremony luncheon from 12:30 to 1 p.m.

Students participate in a variety of challenges, generally in groups of two or more. Some of the competitions involve bringing projects they've been working on to campus. New this year is VEX Robotics Company providing a demonstration in tandem VRC Tournament (www.RobotEvents.com), a global competition involving students from colleges and universities around the world, which future students may want to participate in.

"Each year, organizers try to introduce new technology and new problem solving challenges, and this year is no different," Debbie Dunlevy, GCC Career Pathways director, said. "We are definitely covering some new ground by giving students the broadest perspective for their interests and efforts. Tech Wars help students understand what it takes to collaborate successfully and also sheds light on the types of careers paths they might pursue in the not too distant future."

With 30 different events, students will be challenged in an array of technologies. The 2016 Middle School events include: Bridge Design, Catapult Design, CO2 Car and Truck Race, the walk-in Design Challenge, Tech Wars Logo Design, Mousetrap Car, Mystery Project, Rube Goldberg and Sculpture Event designing an amusement ride. The 2016 High School events Bridge Design, Architectural Design in CAD, CO2 Car and Truck Challenge, DDP Manual Drafting, King of the Hill, Logo, Mystery Project, On Site CAD Project, Regatta, Reverse Engineered CAD Drawing, Robotic Tractor Pull, Sculpture Event, SUMO Bots and Trebuchet, which must launch a projectile at a given target 40 feet away.

For the rules and details on all these competitions, go to http://www.techwarsgcc.org/.

The event would not be possible without significant sponsorships. At the $500 (or more) level are Amada Machine Tools America, Inc., Graham Corporation, Liberty Pumps and Northeast Technologies, Inc. Other sponsors include DWB Enterprises, Inc., Lee Schuknecht & Sons, and the Varysburg Lions Club.

"The support of these businesses is essential to creating a successful event for all participants," Dunlevy said. "We thank them for their investment, and for supporting what could be their future employees."

The ACE Program's Career Pathways helps students explore career options and make a smooth transition from high school to college and ultimately to professional careers. Tech Wars is among several dynamic programs giving students the opportunity to learn hands-on, often in business settings and with industry professionals.

For more information, please contact Debbie Dunlevy, Genesee Community College Career Pathways program director at 585-343-0055, ext. 6316 or dkdunlevy@genesee.edu.

Press release:

Distance barriers and transportation issues are no longer obstacles for Genesee Community College students at the Batavia Campus Center seeking access to medical services. With its partnership through Genesee Urgent Care, the College’s Health Services is pleased to now offer telemedicine, technology that provides clinical health care at a distance.

Through the use of video exchange, telemedicine provides patients with access to a licensed medical professional in real time, regardless of where they are located. Developments in telemedicine technology have opened the doors of possibilities, adding tools such as a stethoscope and ophthalmoscope that integrate simply through a USB port. These tools allow patients to be seen for low level and primary care, as well as interface capabilities with specialists. Telemedicine can share X-ray images with orthopedics and electrocardiograms with cardiologists. These advancements not only improve access, but also reduce costs and improve quality.

“While access to the Telemedicine Network is currently only available to students at the Batavia campus, the intent is to grow this to GCC’s other campus centers as well,” said Genesee Urgent Care President Melissa Marsocci.

Students interested in being covered under the telemedicine technology through Genesee Urgent Care will need to purchase one of two available plans. A basic plan, costing $60 per semester, covers a student with unlimited telemedicine access to a licensed medical provider for illnesses including cold and cough, flu, sinus infection, sore throat, urinary tract infection, rash and poison ivy, pink eye, sexually transmitted diseases, mono and bee stings. The plan also includes diagnostic tests through lab work. Lab tests that are covered include pregnancy, mono spot, rapid strep, RSV and influenza. Any additional lab testing would have to be sent out, and the student would be billed for the cost.

An additional plan is available starting at $300 and includes the same coverage as the basic plan, in addition to injuries such as fractures, dislocations, minor eye problems, sprains and strains, cuts and lacerations and burns. The plan also includes additional diagnostic tests, providing lab work, X-ray and EKG.   

Covered students in need of medical services that utilize the telemedicine technology will need to check in with Health Services at the Batavia Campus in room B109. The technology, a Polycom device known as an HDX4500, is used to “call” the urgent care center where the patient and attending nurse can see and hear the urgent care staff. In instances where prescriptions are necessary, providers from the urgent care center can e-script the medication to the student’s pharmacy of choice. Some pharmacies include the option of delivery service, providing students a full medical experience without ever having to leave campus.

For additional information on Genesee Urgent Care, telemedicine and coverage plans available to GCC students, visit http://www.geneseeurgent.com/gcc-plans.html.

Students from eight area high schools were at Genesee Community College today to show off their sales and marketing skills in a virtual trade fair sponsored by the Accelerated College Enrollment (ACE) program.

The students applied skills they learned in their classrooms to try and convince others to buy their products using virtual credit cards. Students were required to interact with potential buyers by making pitches, showing off catalogs and demonstrating their products. The transactions were recorded and receipts deposited in virtual bank accounts. Students are judged on sales skills and sales results. The top three businesses were to receive awards.

Particpating schools were Batavia, Dansville, Elba, Le Roy (two teams), Livonia, Notre Dame and there was a team from Wyoming County.

Also coming up are the annual Tech Wars, which is March 17, starting at 9:30 a.m.