New NCCC campaign aims to enhance college offerings

by Terry Duffy
Tribune, Dispatch, Sentinel, July 13-15, 2006

With area high school graduations now a pleasant memory, thoughts for many graduating seniors are now turning toward future endeavors, whether it be college, employment, military service or other personal ambitions.

For those eyeing post-secondary education, a host of impressive education opportunities on the local scene come to mind. One of these is Niagara County Community College, that familiar campus situated on Sanders Settlement and Townline roads in the hamlet of Sanborn. For residents of the Erie and Niagara county region the two-year, multi-discipline college that’s part of the State University of New York system offers much more than one may think.

Serves Over 20,000 Students

Niagara County Community College – which in 2006 observes its 43rd year -- serves an Erie and Niagara county student demographic base of over 20,000 annually through its varied offerings of credit, non-credit, grant and corporate training programs. It’s one of many interesting facts about the college unveiled recently by NCCC President, Dr. James P. Klyczek, who also informed on NCCC’s latest endeavor – “Touching Lives Building Futures,” a major gifts campaign intended to enhance campus facilities, maximize the potential for student financial assistance and further spur NCCC on both being competitive and on the cutting edge of future technology for today’s students.

Recalling its origins as a two-location campus in Niagara Falls in 1962, Klyczek pointed out that NCCC expanded to a 500,000 square foot, multi-building Sanborn campus in 1972 and continues to grow to this day. “In addition to the main campus, we provide programming at sites in Niagara Falls, and a new offering at the Summit. Interestingly, we were there about 25 years ago also, “ Klyczek pointed out.

“And, we provide locations in Medina and Lockport,” he added, referring to NCCC’s two satellite locations. What’s more, the college continues to expand its focus in the two-county area through its work through various high school Advanced Placement courses in what Klyczek refers to as College Separation Programs. “The difference is that the College (Separation) course is listed right on the transcript, versus AP, which is accredited separate.”

Value to Area

Calling NCCC “a vital part of the Niagara community” Klyczek, said “Touching Lives, Building Futures,” NCCC’s first major gifts program in its history, seeks to raise $3 to $4 million. He pointed out the college’s importance to the region -- in an economic sense with its 1,000-plus full and part time instructor positions, and in educational value with its over 40 certificate and degree programs, community education and corporate training programs, among other offerings.

“The successful campaign will provide necessary funds to develop new programs and new scholarships, as well as make needed capital improvements and technology upgrades to meet student needs,” said Klyczek.

He reported the capital campaign would aim to assist three specific endowment areas of need at NCCC – student scholarships, curriculum and technology and facilities maintenance and improvements. These include continuing efforts towards implementation of campus master plan improvements and the potential for new on-campus housing to serve an expanded student base, an area that Klyczek called a growing trend at area colleges.

On the need for facilities updates, he commented, “Almost everything is 35 years old, and almost everything is going at once.” Targeted areas for renovations and replacement include roofing and windows, renovating up to 60 classrooms, fire alarm safety and security areas and building updates throughout. “It’s an investment in facilities and will also provide for a large number of (building trades-related) jobs in the area.”

Discussing scholarship initiatives, Klyczek reported that more than 70 percent of NCCC students typically receive some form of scholarship assistance. The college awarded 194 scholarships totaling $120,601 during the 2004-05 academic year and he sees further available monies as crucial to NCCC’s goal of keeping it as an affordable option for Niagara and Erie county students. “One of the greatest challenges facing NCCC is keeping tuition low while continuing to operate with decreasing state assistance and increased student needs.”

New Program, Housing

Among the new scholastic/curriculum opportunities considered in the capital campaign is NCCC’s branching out into the hospitality industry. “We’re starting the development of a Restaurant, Tourism and Culinary Arts Institute,” said Klyczek, adding that possible sites and locations being considered include those in North Tonawanda, Lockport and the city of Niagara Falls.

The new Culinary Institute would benefit the area by providing students greater exposure to the hospitality industry as well as expanded availability of community education offerings for residents, Klyczek said.

Another area NCCC is aggressively pursuing involves new student housing opportunities, which Klyczek called a burgeoning trend being pursued at area colleges. Klyczek reported NCCC recently created a new student housing corporation called “The Student Village” to help facilitate this endeavor. “We have three board members and are proposing to hire legal support,” said Klyczek, adding that one of the very first tasks would be negotiate with the county on the purchase or lease of campus property for the development of student housing.

“Initially we’re looking at 250 beds in denominations of singles, doubles, triples,” said Klyczek, adding that the housing would of a different type than what was typically known in times past.

“Student housing these days is best described as multiple apartments,” he said, noting the standards of student living are vastly different than they were 20 or 30 years ago. “It’s a huge project of some $11 or $12 million we’re considering.”

Klyczek called the proposal “a good investment for the area” noting that it will serve to both bring more students to the college as well as retain students in the Western New York area.

Budget Needs Continue

Still another aim of the campaign would be to assist NCCC on addressing its $40 million budget. Klyczek said that due to declines in funding by the state in past year, the college has seen a need to transition from traditional funding ratios – one-third state funding, one-third county support and one-third student tuition to that of greater assistance from the local area. NCCC student tuition (current full-time tuition is $3,000) for example, is currently contributing 42 percent towards the total NCCC operating budget. While state funding this year to NCCC is up some 11 percent, Klyczek would still like to see that funding ratio change for students. He sees it by means of a successful capital campaign.

Klyczek reported that in the course of the next year, NCCC will be pursuing increased local support in the two county area for its Touching Lives campaign. “It will provided necessary funds to develop new programs and new scholarships, as well as make needed capital improvements and technology upgrades to meet students’ needs,” he said.

“We are now offering you the opportunity to invest in the future. In Niagara County, we are the community’s college. Let’s build a better future.”

For further information on “Touching Lives, Building Futures” and to assist in this effort, contact the NCCC Foundation Inc. at 614-5910.