This summer, a number of front page stories in newspapers across the state have focused on the double-digit enrollment increases community colleges are experiencing for fall.  There are a number of economic reasons why this is happening, of course, but I think it’s not just about the bad economy.  It’s more than that and I honestly think community college enrollment would be increasing even if the economy were strong.  Simply put… community colleges have come of age. 

Most community colleges opened their doors forty or fifty years ago.  At the time, they tended to be fledgling local operations, held together by a handful of strong people with a dream and a lot of determination.  Most students leaving high school in the late 50s or early 60s weren’t clear on what community colleges were all about.  At first, community colleges were cobbled together on a shoestring and located in some pretty crazy places.  FLCC (then CCFL) started in storefronts across downtown Canandaigua.  The community college where I worked before I came to FLCC opened its doors in an old, broken-down typewriter factory.  Despite these modest beginnings, the people who were community college pioneers were determined and strong, and they didn’t let anything get in the way of their vision of a local college that would make the dream of a college degree accessible to anyone who was willing to work hard.  They imagined a community-centered college that some day would serve as an economic driver and the cultural hub of the region.  Faculty, staff members and students pitched in to put together desks and bookshelves, and those early students somehow knew they were getting in on the ground floor of something big.  And they were…  Community colleges were built on a special kind of strength and vision.  Anyone who has been associated with a community college will tell you that there is a fierce pride that comes with knowing you’re a part of a place dedicated to making quality higher education accessible to everyone.  There is something uniquely American about the whole concept. 

In the last ten to fifteen years community colleges have emerged as significant players in higher education.  Now the clear first choice for lots of students, community colleges offer an education that is second to none in a welcoming, supportive environment.  Many community colleges (including FLCC) offer residence halls and championship athletic teams.  Now almost half of all undergraduates in the United States are studying at community colleges.  We have definitely come of age.   

I guess another sign that community colleges have emerged from the shadows is that next fall NBC will be launching a new comedy series set in a community college.  “Community” will focus on a study group composed of a cross section of students - some right out of high school, some returning to college, one even an attorney with questionable credentials - all taking Spanish and all supporting each other.  I’m sure that every stereotype that was ever out there about community colleges will come to the surface, but that’s okay.  We can take it.  I look at it this way… nobody really thinks every workplace is like “The Office”.   Just that network television has noticed we’re here is one more sign that community colleges have come of age. 

Here’s a link to the trailer for “Community”:

http://www.nbc.com/community-show/

At FLCC, we’ve always been dedicated to helping our students make comfortable transitions.  Some of our students come to us directly from high school, and we work to help them understand how to handle both the independence and the individual responsibility that characterizes the difference between a college environment and a high school setting.  We also welcome students who have been away from school for some time.  Some of them have been in a job that doesn’t make full use of their capabilities and they know that an education is the key to a new career.  Some have been raising families or were recently laid off from a job.  While many FLCC students come from the local region, some join us from a distance because they are interested in one of our unique academic programs.  Those students often face a transition from an urban setting to our small town in upstate New York that Native Americans called “the chosen spot” because of its natural beauty.   

Transitions are all about adjusting to change, and that’s never easy.  It’s our job to help students develop a skill that will serve them well throughout their lives - the ability to cope with change.  Some people seem to be more naturally resilient than others, and we see that in our students.  When those students arrive on campus, they take in the lay of the land, ask a lot of questions, observe, and do their best to understand their new setting.  They strike up a friendship with someone on campus - an enthusiastic faculty member, a person in the cafeteria who is warm and friendly, a secretary in an academic department who takes the time to ask how it’s going, or a more experienced student.  One way or the other, students who make smooth transitions begin to get connected and to make FLCC their own.  They get involved.  They find a few good friends.  They walk the campus and discover a spot where they can go to think - the gazebo, a bench by a garden, a hallway nook by the science labs, or a table on the quad.  They take the time to understand and appreciate what’s special about their new environment.

I decided to talk about transitions a few days before commencement because 800 FLCC graduates are about to make a new transition.  Many of our graduates will be heading off to a four year college or university in the fall.  One thing is clear - it will be different.  Please remember that you made a successful transition when you first arrived at FLCC, and you can do it again.  Don’t look back and compare your next college to FLCC.  Instead, take the time to discover what’s special and unique in your new setting, and appreciate and enjoy those things.  We also have quite a few graduates who are planning to enter the workforce.  You’ll need to draw on the same persistence that helped you be successful in your classes as you look for a job in a tough market.  Once you get that all-important job offer, it’s time for another transition.  Take the time to get to know your new workplace and what it takes to be successful there.  

At commencement, we’ll be launching a new logo and tagline for the college.  “Success.  It’s In Our Nature.”  Graduates, remember that you take a little bit of FLCC with you when you make your next transition.  We call it the FLCC spirit.  An alumnus of the college once wrote me a letter and said, “everybody would be better off with a little Flick in them…”   Remember, you have a little “Flick” in you and it will help you be successful - next step after next step.  Congratulations!

As a part of our Earth Daze celebration at FLCC, I’ve had the great opportunity to swap my VW Passat for a Chevy Equinox Fuel Cell car for a few days.  When I first heard that one of the prototype fuel cell vehicles would be coming to campus and that I’d be driving it around town, I have to admit that I had some misconceptions.  First, I assumed that it would be some kind of tiny box-like thing and if I were to have an unfortunate confrontation with an SUV, I’d be in big trouble.  I live at the top of a fairly steep hill, and I wondered if it would have enough power to make the climb.  Since I didn’t have any trips on the thruway scheduled, I thought it would be okay but I was fairly sure the car wouldn’t be able to muster more than about 50 mph.  I had a lot to learn about this new technology! 

On Monday morning, representatives from GM sat down with me for a quick orientation.  They explained that there are 100 of these vehicles being tested in “Project Driveway”.   Most of the market testers agree to drive the car for three months and they provide feedback on their experience.  One of the test areas is in Monroe County, where the focus is on how well the technology holds up under winter driving conditions. 

The Equinox is an electric vehicle, powered by a fuel-cell system.  Since the car is fueled by hydrogen, it emits no greenhouse gases, only water vapor.   I learned that the Equinox fuel cell vehicle can go up to 200 miles before a hydrogen fill-up.   Of course, one limitation is that hydrogen fill-up stations aren’t exactly on every corner at this point, but that can be remedied some day.  While I didn’t test this out myself, the GM reps assured me that the car can go up to 100 mph.  Even though the orientation included a few diagrams explaining technical aspects of the fuel cell technology, I have to admit that I wasn’t paying all that much attention to the boxes and arrows.  I was anxious to get behind the wheel.

I have to tell you that the most interesting thing about driving the fuel cell vehicle is that there is absolutely nothing unusual or amazing about it.  It’s a small SUV - the same body as the gasoline powered Chevy Equinox -  and it drives exactly like any other car I’ve ever driven.  It starts with a key.  It has plenty of power and took the hill to my house without hesitation.  After driving the car for about ten minutes, it’s easy to forget that it is being powered by technology of the future.  The only thing that’s noticeably different is that it is very quiet.  I especially noticed this when I first turned the key.  Instead of the usual sound of the engine turning over, this vehicle is essentially silent.

There are clearly a few obstacles to overcome before fuel cell vehicles can become the norm.  The cars will need to get farther than 200 miles between fill-ups.  The life expectancy of the vehicles will need to expand beyond about 45,000 miles.  We’ll need hydrogen fuel stations to spring up in convenient locations.  I have absolutely no idea how much it costs to fill up a tank with hydrogen.  And, of course, I’m sure that the cost to produce each of these vehicles is significant at this point.  Over time, all of those issues can certanly be addressed.     

Still, just imagine a time when we would no longer be so dependent on foreign oil and our vehicles would produce zero emissions.  After driving the Chevy Equinox fuel cell vehicle, it’s clear to me that this isn’t science fiction.  The technology is very real and it’s here today.  Happy Earth Day!

I’ve always thought that the very best perk associated with working at a college is that there are lots of opportunities to hear speakers, attend concerts, visit art exhibits, and join in on special events - all as a part of the daily routine.  Even though it’s sometimes hard to break away from whatever problem or project is occupying my mind at the moment, every single time I’ve decided to join students and colleagues at an event on campus I leave feeling enriched and energized.  Recently I attended such an event at the Honors House.  Author Tony Earley joined us for an informal discussion with students, faculty and community members about his book Jim the Boy.  While I hadn’t read the book at the time I attended the event, I was hoping that he might talk a bit about the writing process, what inspires him and how he weaves the pieces of his stories together, and he did that and much more.

Let me just say up front that the Honors House is an amazing place.  If I were an FLCC student, I would hang out there all the time.  The atmosphere is warm, comfortable and welcoming, and it is a place where insights are shared and minds are open.  Our guest author, a professor at Vanderbilt University, clearly enjoyed the nature of the questions posed by audience members, especially by the students.  It must be mind-numbing to go on a lengthy book tour, but it didn’t take long for Tony to realize this group was something special.  His eyes lit up with each new question, and he eagerly responded, often saying, “I’ve never told a group this before, but…”. 

Jim the Boy is a work of adolescent fiction that can be read at a number of different levels, and Tony was obviously talking to a group of people who had taken the time to notice and appreciate every nuance.  He became increasingly enthusiastic as he responded to questions about specific passages and explained intricacies of his writing process.  For me, it was an unusual experience since I hadn’t read the book yet.  As I listened to Tony respond to questions about character development and word choice, I was collecting insights into a “future read” - something I don’t believe I’ve ever done before.  When I read the book (which I knew I would do about five minutes into the event) I already knew that Jim’s baseball friend would suffer from polio, that Jim’s mother would exhibit symptoms of a long-term bout with despression, and that Jim’s uncles would be central to shaping his character.  I knew that each word was carefully selected by this author, and what sounded like casual conversation had been written and re-written until he finally got to the point where he felt additional changes would make the book worse, not better.  I also knew to watch for repeated references to the color blue, which a student asked about and Tony said must have been unconscious, although the sequel to Jim the Boy is called The Blue Star.  She was right - the color blue was woven throughout the text, and because of her I noticed every one. 

I’ve finished reading both Jim the Boy and its sequel now, and the experience was far richer because I had the opportunity to listen in on an amazing dialog between the author and a group of FLCC students who made me immeasurably proud with their insightful questions and comments.  It was the kind of event that highlights what’s special about being on a college campus every day.