Molloy College

ROCKVILLE CENTRE GUIDE www.liherald.com

Molloy College

Molloy College, serving a student population of roughly 4,900 undergraduate and graduate students, offers degrees in a variety of academic programs.

When coronavirus hit New York in March, the college moved courses fully online. Campus organizations and clubs remained active virtually, some helping the community during the difficult time.

Students from the Molloy Nursing Student Association donated food to local hospital workers and wrote notes of encouragement to Molloy nursing alumni who were on the front lines of the pandemic.

The college’s Rebecca Center for Music Therapy and Mental Health and Wellness Center engaged with its patients remotely, offering vital, continuing services to people in the community with developmental disabilities or facing mental health struggles.

In May, the college held a virtual graduation ceremony for its bachelor’s and master’s degree recipients. Then, in June, faculty and staff members, administrators and students said goodbye to 20-year president Dr. Drew Bogner as he retired.

But every ending means a new beginning, and Dr. James Lentini is Molloy’s new president. Now, he and the college are making significant changes to residence life and academics to keep the campus safe from Covid-19.

In July, Lentini and student ambassador Jack Ryan demonstrated a few of the many procedures the campus is implementing to keep everyone healthy, including separating desks in classrooms six feet apart and moving larger classes to an online format. Resident students are returning but need to first test negative for coronavirus, and all students get contactless temperature checks before entering any building.

Campus life

Students make a difference in Rockville Centre and other communities by working on projects like BoxTown, a program to raise social consciousness about homelessness. Lentini said outdoor activities, with social distancing, will be planned this year as well. The college typically works closely to help Bethany House, a women and children’s shelter in Nassau County.

Sports and academics go hand in hand at Molloy, where students are known for both their athletic and scholastic success. Almost 60 percent of athletes recorded a grade point average of 3.25 or higher.

Campus life in Rockville Centre is alive and vibrant, anchored by three residence halls and a student center that includes a performing arts theater, Madison Theater, though there are no shows currently planned becaue of the still-evolving Covid-19 pandemic. Usually, the theater hosts comedy, theater and music events year-round.

Briana Bonfiglio/Herald Top Photo: Student ambassador Jack Ryan and Molloy College President Dr. James Lentini demonstrated some of the procedures the college is implementing to keep students and staff members safe.