January 1998.......,.,. ( .....- ~..... ,..,. ­

•..l Nassau Community College . . . The Right Start

NCC ALIVE - First College on Long Island to Particip ate in Amer iCorps

NCC Students have'the opportunity to change their life - and someone else's

by Alicia Steger

N assau Community College is proud to be the first col­lege on Long Island to par­

ticipate in AmeriCorps, a national service .movement . NCC ALIVE (AmeriCorps Learning in Volunteer Experience) volunteers are currently working throughout Long Island ·.,..d the Queens County community y working as volunteer tutors and

volunteer child care workers. The NCC ALIVE volunteers are serving the community while fulfilling their pledge to "get things done for America."

NCC ALIVE volunteers began their service this January at the Roosevelt Union Free School Dis­trict, Long Beach City School Dis­trict, Westbury Union Free School District, Hempstead Union Free School District, and the Interdisci­plinary Center for Child Develop­ment ( ICCD) that includes six sites in Nassau County and two sites in Queens County .

"President Clinton has challenged Americans to help their community groups nationwide in 1993. Right now, loans. In exchange for 900 hours of ser­through community service . This more than 25,000 people across the na­ vice, Nassau Community College's program enables our volunteers to tion are serving as AmeriCorps volun­ ALIVE volunteers earn an education learn valuable skills while working teers - tutoring young people, prevent­ award of $2,362 .50 to pay back student to make sure Nassau County school ing crime, renovating houses, recruiting loans or to finance college, graduate children learn to read by the third and training volunteers , and restoring school, or vocational training. grade while acquiring confidence in parks and streams .' NCC ALIVE vol­ With a diverse network of programs +1:\eir own capabilities to teach read- unteers are committed to working as across the country , NCC ALIVE might

g an d math ," said Geo rgene tutors in local schools and as volunteer be the perfect experience for you. For Searfoss, Project Director of NCC child care workers throughout the com­ further information about NCC ALIVE, ALIVE . munity. contact: Georgene Searfoss, Project Di­

AmeriCorp was created with bipar­ Nassau Commun ity College ALIVE rector, ALIVE, Nassau Community Co l­tisan support by Congress and Pres i­ volunteers can also earn money toward lege, One Education Drive, Garden City, dent Bill Clin ton, and communi ty college education and guarantee student NY 11530 or call (516) 572-7760.

NCC ALIVE student volunteer Marlon Argueta works on a homework assignment with Jaborbi Gibson, 9 years old at the Franklin Elementary school in Hempstead.

NCC CATALOG WINS NATIONAL PUBLICATION AWARD

From left: Gilbert Aguiles, medallion Co-chairman of the NCMPR for the Medallion Awards, from Hudson County Community College in New Jer­sey, presents the Medallion Award to Reginald Tuggle, Director of Col­lege/Community Relations at NCC.

Nassau Community College won the 1997 Gold Medallion Award for the Best Print Recruitment Advertising by the National Coun­cil for Marketing and Public Relations. In addition, the NCC 1996-1998 Catalog won the Silver Medallion for Creative De­sign. This national publication contest, one of the largest in the country for colleges, gives colleges the opportunity to showcase their work . This publication was displayed at the regional NCMPR

Conference iri Philadelphia this fall.

"A Politics of Caring:

Confronting the Forces that Divide ­Race, Sex, Ethnicity and the (

Economy." March 18-Nassau Community College

On Wednesday, March 18, Nassau Community College will host a day long conference entitled "A Politics of Caring." Featured at the conference will be individual talks and a panel

discussion by three prominent thinkers in the area of social jus­tice .

• Rosemary Bray, former editor of On The Issues and author of Martin Luther King, a children's biography, will speak at 3:30p.m.

• Rabbi Michael Lerner, editor of Tikkun magazine, author of Jewish Renewal: A Path to Healing and Transformation in an Age of Cynicism, and co-author with Come! West of the book Jews and Blacks : Let the Healing Begin, will speak at 11 :00 a.m.

• Corne! West, author of the best-selling Race Matters and co-author with Lerner of the book Jews and Blacks: Let the Healing Begin, will speak at 2:00 p.m.

All three speakers will address the topic "Why Is Bigotry On The Rise In The United States?" At 12:30 p.m . the speakers will participate in a panel discuss ion entitled "A Politics of Car­ing : Confronting the Forces that Divide - Race, Sex, Ethnicity and the Economy ." The conference will also feature a presenta­tion by a group of Nassau Community College students who will address the questions of the day from an international per­spective . Throughout the conference , the Human Relations So­

ciety will be screening films about the rise of neo-Nazi groups and the impact of racism.

Members of the community are encouraged to attend the conference, which will take place entirely in the new College Center . For more information, please contact Dr. Sharon Leder at (516) 572-7185.

HOPE TAX CREDIT CUTS COST OF NASSAU COMMUNITY COLLEGE The new HOPE Scholarship and other features included in the Federal Tax.Relief Act of 1997promises to make an

education at Nassau Community College an even better bargainthis spring than it has been in the past Technically not a "scholarship '' but a tax credit, the HOPE legislation allows eligible studentspursuing the first two

years of postsecondary education to receive a tax credit for 100 percent of the first$1.000 of tuition and fees and 50 percent of the second $1,000 on their federal income tax . Students must be ent,'olled at least half-time (6 credit hours) in a degree, certificate or other program leading to a recognized education credential for at least one academic renn within the calendar year. The measure takes effect January 1, 1998, and applies to education provided in academic periods beginning after that date. '

The ClintonAdministration and the Congress have made the HOPE Scholarship the centerpiece of its 1997 educa­tion/taxcut package, vowing to make the first two years of c~llege the newstandard for U.S. students. The tax credit is one of a series of measures aimed at malting a college education affordable to the majority of low andmiddle income citizens.

HOPE does come with a few strings attached. Individual filers who earn more than $50,000, andjoint filers with adjusted gross income exceeding $100,000do not qualify. In addition, students wbohave been convicted of a felony for the possession or distribution of a controlled substance are ineligible. Stµdenlswho recejveother forms of financial aid may have the amount of their eligibility for HOPE reduced by the amount of aid they receive.

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Calculu s Taught With Imagination by Joann La Perla ')ean of Instruction

Imagine a class of high school students who look forward to doing extra work for their PreCalculus class. Imagine

High School teachers who leave their high schools on Friday afternoons to go to "col­lege" from 3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. Imagine college faculty who "teach their class not in the college but in a high school. Imag­ine college faculty who share ideas and col­laborate with high school teachers not only during the "school year" but in the sum­mer as well. This exciting climate for teaching and learning is happening right here in Nassau County through the collabo- · rative efforts of Nassau Community Col­lege and Levittown Public Schools. Pro­fessor Phil Cheifetz ofNCC's Department of Mathematics/Statistics/Computer Pro­cessing has been teaching at Nassau for thirty years. Throughout his years at Nas­sau, Professor Cheifetz has tried to get stu­dents to see that math is a subject that is at MacArthur and Division Avenue. Pro­ and Mr. Sobanski have the opportunity to alive and well and living in the "real world" fessor Cheifetz has joined with Ann work with Professor Cheifetz as part of an outside the classroom walls. This year, Davidian and Ed Sobanski, Math teachers on-going faculty development project. High Professor Chelfetz is having the opportu­ at Levittown, to design an exciting oppor­ school teachers attend monthly seminars at nity to take his Mat Ill (PreCalculus) out tunity for the students and the faculty in­ Nassau Community College conducted by of the halls of Nassau Community College volved. The high school instructors use Professor Cheifetz and participate in sum­-:,,d into the classroom at General Douglas the same text as the college course and mer workshops for teachers.

acArthur High School and Division Av­ teach the college Mat III PreCalculus Although this partnership between Nas­enue High School in Levittown. course to students in the high school. Pro­ sau Community College and the Levittown

Earning college credit for classes taken fessor Cheifetz observes and teaches part Public Schools was only begun this Septem­in high school is not a new concept. There of the course with Ms. Davidian and Mr. ber, good news does travel fast. There are are many colleges nationwide that certify Sobanski at the high school. Regular col­ already additional school districts who have high schools to grant college credit for lege tests and grades are given those stu­ heard the word about the program and have courses taught by high school teachers. dents talall.g the course for college credit. invited Nassau Community College to come What makes the Nassau Community Col­ The students get the benefit of having their to their district to develop a partnership. As lege mathematics course special is that high school teachers and a college profes­ NCC looks to continue to be a leader in Cal­Professor Cheifetz is co-teaching the col­ sor teach them PreCalculus. In addition to culus Reform, new partnerships for 1998 are lege course with the high school teachers the classes at the high school, Ms. Davidian already being considered .

The NCC Academic Senate ... A Model of Shared Governance as other concerns to the College community. At present there are

said Tom Sands, new Chair of the NCC over twenty-three standing subcommittees in the Senate. There Academic Senate. Professor Sands, a are nearly one hundred voting members from the College commu­member of the Marketing/Retailing/ nity who serve on the Academic Senate. Fashion Department since 1982, has Currently, the Senate examines, approves and recommends cur­been an active member of the Academic riculum for examination by the NCC president and the NCC Board Senate where he served two terms as of Trustees . They recommend requirements for admissions, de­First Vice Chair of the Senate, and grees, and graduation; formulate and propose academic College chaired the Promotion & Tenure Com- policies including policies on class size, academic advisement, edu­mittee, Student Activities Committee cational TV, and the academic calendar for the consideration of

and the Academic Standing Committee. Professor Sands speaks the NCC president and the NCC Board of Trustees. The Senate proudly of the Senate and of the vital role it plays in the College on provides a forum for the consideration of academic matters of in­a day-to-day-basis. "The NCC Academic Senate gives people the terest to the College community. It formulates and proposes poli­feeling of having a say in their world and their College community. cies in those aspects of student life which relate to the educational Ttprovides an opportunity for the three bodies of the NCC comtnu- process.

ty - students, faculty and administration to work together and Tom Sands looks forward to another exciting, challenging and -.;;ontribute to the success and growth of the College." On a per­ productive year in the NCC Academic Senate. This past summer, sonal note, Professor Sands adds, "I love being in the classroom the Executive Board of the Senate was busy in establishing but I also enjoy the oppoqunity to give back to the College." The "charges" for the Senate. In closing, Professor Sands adds,. "We Academic Senate of Nassau Community College was established encourage all people to participate with us in the faculty gover­over twenty years ago to provide ~embers of the Col~e~e commu­ nance structure by being a member of the Academic Senate or by nity with a voice in general educatJ.onal goals and policies, as well attending our meetings." -A.S

MATHEMATICSRULES.

Students in MacArthur High School's Honors class observe NCC Professor Philip Cheifetz solve a mathematics problem in PreCalculus.

"The NCC Academic Senate is the model of shared governance,"

Prof.Tom Sands-Academic Chair

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Prof. Mauro Cassano, Mathematics/ Statistics/Computer Processing Depart­ment, attended the NCIM (National Coun­cil of Teachers of Mathematics) Eastern Regional Conference in December, where he was part of a panel discussion on How Reform PreCalculus Affects the Secondary Mathematics Curriculum.

Prof. Patricia Cassin, Biology Depart­ment and Prof. Denise Witt, Allied Health Sciences Department, were pan­elists at a seminar called, Taking Charge of Your Options, honoring 80 NCC women students who have shown unusual capa­bilities and interest in pursuing careers in the sciences . These seminars focus on ways to support NCC female students in science, math, and technology courses and are co-sponsored by the NCC Women's Studies Project and the Women in Science Student Club.

Prof. Philip Cheifetz, Mathematics/ Statistics/Computer Processing Depart­ment, presented a workshop, The PreCalculus Reform Project Based at Harvard, and was a presider at a workshop, Combining Cooperative Learning and Technology in a Foundation Course for Quantative Literacy (Annenberg INPUT Prize Winner) at the 23rd Annual Confer­ence of the American Mathematical Asso­ciation ofTwo-YearColleges (AMATYC) in Atlanta, GA. Prof. Cheifetz won the first award given by the organization for teach­ing excellence, service to the organization, and his contributions to Mathematical edu­cation and mathematics for the Northeast region. This set a precedent for an award of this kind to be given every two years. Prof. Cheifetz also attended the NCTM (National Council of Teachers of Math­ematics) Eastern Regional Conference in December, where he was part of a panel discussion on How Reform PreCalculus Affects the Secondary Mathematics Cur­riculum.

Prof. Leon Frankston, Art Depart­ment, begins the new year with 4 shows: Central Park Run, Venice Art Center, Venice, FL; Chess Players #2, Allentown Art Museum, Allentown, PA; Times Square, Columbia College, Columbia, MO; and Desert Storm, Annual Members' Art Forum, Mill Pond House, St . James, NY, December 13, 1997 - January 8, 1998.

Prof. Richard Glass, Mathematics/ Statis tics/Computer Processing De­partment, presented a workshop, The Epsilon and Delta Calculus Projects, at the 23rd Annual Conference of the American Mathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges (AMATYC) in At­lanta, GA.

Prof. Terrance W. Hoffman, Crimi­nal Justice Department, was elected to the post of Secretariat for Criminal Jus­tice Educators Association of NY State (CJEANYS) . NCC will host the next CJEANYS meeting in April, 1998, and

·· the annual meeting in October, 1998. Evangeline B. Manjares, Assistant

Dean of Students for Financial Aid, was elected to the National College Scholar­ship Service Council for a term of three years, 1997-2000. The Council sets poli­cies and procedures on financial aid to the staff of the College board. She rep­resents the Community College sector and is the first Asian to serve the Coun­cil.

Prof. Rochelle Wilson Meyer, Math­ematics/Statistics/Computer Process­ing Department, was a Civilian Profes­sor in the Mathematical Sciences Depart­ment at the US Military Academy at West Point , NY, where she taught plebes. In the Spring 1997, while on sabbatical, she wrote several modules to supplement ma­terials in our NCC math classes. She is using those modules in her classes this semester.

Profs. Tom O'Brien & Kumkum Prabhakar, Biology Department, con­ducted a workshop on Use of Active Learning Techniques to Teach Biology at the MACUB (Metropolitan Association . of College and University Biologists) Conference at Kingsborough Community College. The workshop was focused on modification of traditional pedagogy and ways to improve teaching/learning in the classroom.

Prof. Mary Peck, Student Personnel Services, presented a two-evening work­shop entitled, Parents as Partners in Learning, to the parents from the Baldwin Elementary School district. The work­shop covered topics such as homework survival strategies for parents and chil­dren, developing organizational skills and enhancing parent/child communication .

Prof. Ali Al-Rahman, Criminal Jus­ (tice Department, appeared on the WNYE television show "Debate, Debate" to de­bate Police Brutality- ls the Public Safe? Prof. Al-Rahman is regularly featured on "Kae Thompson Live" WLIB-AM, dis­cussing the police and public safety.

Louise Rotchford, Assistant Dean, Community Services/Director Special Programs for Business, was a featured presenter Teaming - Practice What You Teach, at Contract Training International's {CTI) 1997 Conference held in Atlanta, GA. The Conference focused on improv­ing current "How-to" skills and learning new ideas to help the professional workforce educator provide training that transfers to the workplace.

Prof. David Sher, Mathematics/Sta­tistics/Computer Processing Depart­ment, presented a workshop, Enhancing PreCalculus With Interactive Web Pages, at the 23rd Annual Conference of the American Mathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges (AMATYC) in At­lanta, GA.

Prof. Stephen C. Solosky, Mathemat­ics/Statistics/Computer Processing De­partment, has written a textbook, Visual Basic 5 Smart Start, which has been pub­lished.

Prof. Joseph A. Varacalli, Sociology Department, and Prof. Emeritus Salvatore Lagumina, History Dep;art­ment, organized the Twelfth Annual Ital­ian Heritage Day Conference held at NCC. In addition, Prof. Varacalli served as edi­tor-in-chief of Volume II of The Catholic Social Science Review (1997), and has recently published several articles.

Abraham Weinstein, Vice President of Administration and Finance, was re­cently recognized for his services to the New York's Finest ·Foundation, at the Chief's Night Dinner, along with Com­missioner Howard Safir of the New York City Police Department and James McMahon, New York State Police Super­intendent. The Foundation serves to pro­vide special ·needs for police officer~. Mr. Weinstein has served as the educational consultant to the Foundation. In this ca­pacity I;¢has helped promote higher edu­cational opportunities to numerous students.

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Note: All members of the College conummity are invited to send articles pertaining to their professional and community activities to Nexus for inclusion on a space availability basis. For more information call Alicia Steger, Editor or Mikki Vicoli, Faculty/Staff Highlights, Collel[e Relations Office at 572-9634 or 572-7249 .

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Sports is as much a part of col­lege as is career choice, profes­sional academic major, job skill

development, or personal enhancement. However, when one thinks of Nassau Community College sports, one is un­questionably referring to one of the best sports programs within the entire SUNY system, and for good reason.

In 1997, the NCC Lion's football team devoured the competition with an 8-2 season. Ranked thirteenth in the nation, the Lions hosted their first foot­ball bowl game, the Empire State Bowl against the sixth ranked Rochester Community College Yellow Jackets, Rochester, MN. The Lions came away with a resounding come from behind victory on a bone-chilling day on De­cember 6, 1997 at Hofstra University Stadium.

The Empire Bowl victory raised our ranking to seventh in the nation. Overall, for the past ten years, the NCC Lions football team win-loss record is an impressive 96-10. As reported in Newsday, "Winning has been so com­monplace at Nassau that it is almost more newsworthy when it looses. The program's all-time record of 236-53-1 tells the story." (Newsday, November 2, 1997) As coach George Powers in .

NCC Sports ... A National Leader by Reginald Tuggle

his third year (27-3) said, "Everybody comes to play Nassau ••• It's like play­ing the Cowboys or 49ers." The Na­tional Junior College Athletic Associa­tion proclaimed the NCC Lions as the football team of the 90s.

The NCC men's soccer team was declared the NJCAA 1997 Soccer Champions after defeating the Herkimer Generals. • Lacrosse - defeated the Herkimer Generals to become National Cham­pions in 1997. • Baseball - finished second in NJCAA Region XV Athletic Confer­ence last five years. • Men's Basketball - finished in top four, 1987 through 1996, NJCAA . • Women's Tennis - finished first in the Fall, 1997, NJCAA. • Basketball - finished first in Re­gion XV NJCAA, 1996; second in 1997; ranked fifth in the nation, 1997. • Softb all - won Region XV NJCAA 1987, ranke~ fifth nationally. • Men's Golf - National Champions 1991, 1993, 1994. • Wrestling - ranked second nation­ally, 1997.

There are many reasons for the excellent sports program at Nassau in­cluding raw and natural athletic abil­

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ity on the field of play. But teams come and go, yet NCC has consistently pro­duced superior season records. Why? The superior quality of the coaching, teaching, and support personnel, who with great intent instill values and dis­cipline to the student athletes that will serve them well in life. To be success­ful in life, one has to be dedicated, dis­ciplined, and focused as when prepar­ing to take on the competition in a game. Academic excellence comes first. For the past nine years, NCC has been sited by the NJCAA Region XV Athletic Conference for having produced a high percentage of student athletes who maintain a grade point average of at least 3.25. "At NCC, I found the standard of education a bit challenging," said soc­cer team player Alton Allen. "I'm just glad I had the opportunity to socialize with people of different ethnic back­grounds and have experience of travel­ing to places unfamiliar to my native surroundings." "More important than winning on the

field is the preparation for success to win off the field and in the wide arena of life," said Dr. Sean A. Fanelli, NCC President.

NCC THEATRE & DANCE DEPARTMENT

presents

Shakespeare's

Romantic Comedy AS YOU LIKE IT

March 12-15, 1998 and March 18-22, 1998

Performancesat 8 p.m. except

Sundays 3 p.m . at the NCC Mainstage Theatre

Tickets Wed/Thurs: $6 Reg.($4 Sr/NCC ID) Fri/Sun: $7 Reg. ($5 Sr/NCC ID) Saturday: All ticlcets $7 (no discounts)

For additional information call NCC Theatre Box Office: 516·572-7676.

NCC Firehouse Art Gallery

Exhibition Schedule

Raw and Cooked January 20 - February 19, 1998 Artists' Reception : February 8, 1998 - 1 - 3 p.m. This show features works by the Four­teen Sculptors' Gallery including a spe­cial sculptural installation by Nicolae Golici. The theme Raw - original, natu­ral, unprocessed works contrasted with Cooked- altered, transformed and pro­cessed works .

26th Open Competition March 3 - April 3, 1998 Artists' Reception: March 22, 1998-1-3 p.m. Our annual juried competition showcas­ing the outstanding works of selected Long Island artists. Prizes to $3,000 . ­all media - Call for entry forms and fur­ther information .

All Firehouse Art Gallery Exhibitions and Art Forums are free of charge and open to the community. For farther informa­tion or to be placed on the mailing list, please call (516) 572-7165.

" OLASSJ:CS FOB. 1, KJ:DS" II

(and Grown-ups Too) Opensa.New Season at

Nassau Community College

Parents for the younger set wmbe nteased to hear that the ~pular series , 'Classics for Kids" (and Grown-ups Too); will.re~ for its 19th season at NCC begmmngFebruary 8. Each per­formance, presented at die new Colleg~ Centeron the NCC campus, costs$1.50 - with a season ticket for all three shows P?ced at only $3:00. All sho~ s are at LOOp.m. and 3.00 p.m. This season's programs are:

"l'l.umirStuff Oircus" Sunday, l'e'brwlry 8

"The Teddy Bear Jamboree"

Sunday, March 8

"Stone Soup" &un4ay, April ae

This program is sponsored by the NCC Cultural Program . Parents a.reurged to purchase tickets in advance and may ob­tain additional information by calling Phyllis Kurland, 572-7153.

NEXUS NASSAU COMMUNITY COLLEGE

One EducaticmDrive GardenCity, New Yotk 1153G-6793

A Unit of the State University of New York

PRESIDENT ..................... Sean A. Fane.lH PUBLISHER ................... Reginald Tuggle EDITOR ............... ,M ............ Alicia Steger FACULTY/STAFFHIGHLIGHTS....... ._ ......... - ..... MikkiVicoli LAYOUT/ DESIGN ............... Aticla Sleg9". SUPPORT STAFF ................... Serl DILapt PRODUCTION..................... Robert Lohne

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THIS NEWSLETTER IS PUBLISHED BY THE OFFlCE OF COLI.EGE/

COMMUNITYRELATIONS (51&) 572-9634· FAX: (516) 572-7497 E-Mail: NCC.Rel@sunynassau.edu

''Nassau Community College ... The Right Start "