Educational Opportunity Program and Multicultural Affairs The Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) assists talented students whose educational and economic circumstances present a challenge to goal achievement by opening the door to a lifetime of career options, professional advancement and personal enrichment. EOP serves students who have the potential and motivation for academic success by providing aid and academic support services. The Multicultural Affairs Office creates a welcoming, inclusive and supportive environment based on knowledge, acceptance and respect for all. The office teaches and fosters understanding and appreciation of different ways of life shared by groups of people through intellectual discourse, leadership and social justice.
Financial Aid The primary purpose of this office is to provide financial assistance within available resources to those students who, without such assistance, would be unable to attend SCCC. The dedicated staff works with students to develop an understanding of financial aid and navigate through the application process.
Liberty Partnerships Program The Liberty Partnerships Program is founded on the belief that students will achieve academic success and lead productive lives as adults if they are provided with support, encouragement, information and effective interventions. This program is designed to offer these opportunities to students in fifth through 12th grades in the Schenectady City School District who are at-risk of dropping out of school for many reasons, including unsatisfactory academic performance, inconsistent school attendance and/or behavioral problems.
Schenectady Smart Scholars Early College High School Schenectady Smart Scholar Early College High School (Schenectady SSECHS) is a mutual partnership between the State University of New York (SUNY), Schenectady County Community College (SCCC) and Schenectady High School (SHS) with the intent to establish a collaborative learning and teaching environment for about 120 ninth grade students. All partners are committed to facilitating positive, transformational changes for a more successful and wide reaching program for a target student population that is traditionally underrepresented in college. Students enrolled in Smart Scholars will graduate high school with a Regents Diploma and will successfully transition into college with at least 20 credit hours earned and transferred.
Student Activities Student Activities complements students’ academic experiences by providing services and resources that engage students in creating campus culture through social, cultural, intellectual, spiritual, athletic, recreational, artistic, political, and service opportunities. Staff are committed to providing quality advising, resource materials, leadership development and governance opportunities, and administrative support services to impact students’ growth and development and enhance the success of each student organization.
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The Student and College Governance The Faculty of Schenectady County Community College, in its bylaws, has made provisions for student membership on every standing committee of the Faculty. Through this formal representation, the goal is that the student body will play an active role in the conduct of the affairs of the College. A student member is elected annually to the Board of Trustees by the total student body of the College. The Student Trustee attends all meetings of the Board of Trustees as a representative of the students, participates as a full voting member of the Board of Trustees and serves in a liaison capacity with the Student Government Association. Elections are conducted each year during the spring semester. Candidates for that office may be enrolled either as a full-time or part-time student, have a minimum 2.0 Grade Point Average and have paid the Activity Fee. Students also are represented with full voting rights on the following College committees:
• Academic Policies (two students) • Campus Safety Council (two students) • Community and Cultural Events (two students) • Curriculum (two students) • Faculty Student Association Board of Directors (seven students) • Professional Policies, Nominations and Awards (two students) • Student Affairs (two students)
Other committees include
• Ad hoc award committees (at least two students per committee) • Commencement (two students) Interested students should see the Director of Student Activities, located in Elston Hall, Room 222, for details on the guidelines for serving on a College committee.
Student Government Association (SGA) The Student Government Association (SGA) is the governing body of student life. Students who pay the Student Activity Fee are members of the Association. SGA is the established organization representing a responsible student viewpoint to the administration of the College. Through elected government representatives, students have a voice in matters pertaining to their organization and activities, and share responsibility for decisions that affect the student body. SGA is represented by four officers: President, Vice President, Treasurer and Student Trustee, elected annually by direct vote of the SGA membership. In addition, 16 senators (eight freshmen and eight seniors) are elected and represent the students in conducting the affairs of SGA. Elections are held every April and September. The Student Government Association is designed to promote the interests of the entire student body and to integrate these interests to further improve the College. SGA sponsors and supports intercollegiate athletics, special interest clubs and organizations and a variety of other College events. Further information can be obtained by contacting the SGA Office at (518) 381-1338, Elston Hall, Room 220, or accessing the website at www.sunysccc.edu.