Albany Center for Education extends accessibility and opportunity for students
By: Angela Scipione
News Editor
Hudson Valley Community College’s new Albany Center for Education gives students more academic offerings all in one place.
The new site, at 30 N. Russell Road, was officially launched after the ceremony on Tuesday, October 30.
Dennis Kennedy, Executive Director of Communications and Marketing, explained that the center was established as a way to bring multiple sites together in one place with hopes of making it more convenient for students.
“The college has had other sites in Albany, but recently we consolidated those services here,” Kennedy said. “It combines [the majority of Hudson Valley Community College’s educational offerings in Albany County] under one roof.”
Neil Kelleher, Chair of the Hudson Valley Community College Board, summed it up for the attendees.
“What we celebrate here this morning is putting secondary education within the reach of more people on both sides of the Hudson,” Kelleher said. “And when you come right down to it, isn’t that the ultimate goal of the community college?” he asked. “Putting education and knowledge in the reach of as many people as possible?”
The partnership between the Albany Center for Education, ACE, and the Educational Opportunity Center, EOC, offers options for students coming from different places in their education.
“If you’re low income and if you don’t have a high school diploma, you can get job training or you can take courses to get your high school equivalency,” Kennedy said. “So essentially you can get college ready or you can get a job.”
“The issue of physical accessibility has been a real issue,” said assemblywoman, Patricia Fahy.
Fahy, whose kids attended the Albany school district, saw firsthand students have struggled over the years with transportation and the effect it has on education.
According to Fahy, accessibility is key to college. The new building is now walkable or one bus away for many more students, unlike Hudson Valley Community College campus.
President Ramsammy expressed how important the center is in reaching his goal of expanding and diversifying off-campus offerings to the community.
“We know that many of our students reside in Albany County and the creation of the ACE is another way for us to serve that population with a range of educational options, from high school equivalency courses, college preparation and college-level classes, plus specific career training… having all these opportunities under one [roof] makes it easier to build that important bridge,” Ramsammy said.
Though the site reaches about 200 students currently, Kennedy believes there is potential for more.
“Our goal is to grow our offerings, to offer more programs and more courses, so we think that that number will climb,” he said.
Kennedy described that the ACE could be a stepping stone between high school and college for some students.
“Essentially you would be able to take many college courses leading to your degree and then finish online or at Hudson Valley in Troy,” he said. “So it’s a way to make it more accessible, more convenient, but it does not offer a full degree program.”
Fahy knows extra help isn’t something to be looked down on.
“Not all of our students are ready to take algebra or chemistry,” Fahy said. “A lot of our students, especially coming from Albany, need those ESL programs, need more college prep, need some of those entry-level skills to make sure that they can go on,” she said.
According to Lisa McCay, Associate Provost and Director of the University Center for Academic and Workforce Development at SUNY, EOC helps transform students into believing they have the power to transform their lives.
“By removing a barrier, we open more doors,” City of Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan said. “And that’s what makes our community stronger,” she said. “We make our city more successful when the ability to attain the skills that allow you to support yourself and your family are available to you,” she said. “We’re all in it together.”