President-elect Ramsammy shares his vision with students

Richard Decker

Staff Writer

Roger Ramsammy will soon take the reins from President Drew Matonak to become Hudson Valley’s seventh college president. In a follow-up to the candidate forum held last semester, The Hudsonian talked with incoming-President Ramsammy to discuss his vision for the College.

The Hudsonian: In a broad sense, what is your mission as the next president of Hudson Valley?

Ramsammy: First, let me say, I am truly honored to serve as president of Hudson Valley. The college is widely recognized as an exceptional institution, and it’s a privilege to have the opportunity to build upon the strong foundation laid by many great leaders, including Drew Matonak.

When I arrive on campus this summer, I’ll begin meeting with students, faculty, alumni, partners and community groups to seek input from those who know the college best. This will kick-start a strategic planning process to bring Hudson Valley to even greater distinction within our community, SUNY, New York State and the country.

Now, more than ever, we must work together to meet the demands of a technology-driven and rapidly transforming world. So, in short, our collective focus will be to advance the college’s existing vision to “deliver what the future demands.” We’ll bring that sentiment to life with renewed commitment, creativity, innovative ideas and an entrepreneurial spirit.

I invite you, our students, to be a part of this process and to help lay the framework for our future. As always, you are at the heart of our college.

The Hudsonian: Last year, you stated, “We need to ask ourselves why those students left in the first month. Why is there suddenly parking in the third or fourth week? We have already failed those students who left and need to stop it from happening in the first place!”

Do you feel as though you have developed a solution or a plan for a solution to the question you posed for the faculty and staff in October?

Ramsammy: A committee of faculty and staff recently produced a retention plan for Hudson Valley. That document and new assessment data may serve as a starting point for a “forensic team” who will be charged with discovering areas for improvement and proactively programming initiatives to help as many students as possible.

Additionally, we’ll take a look at the college’s referral system for students who could benefit from early intervention, and we’ll also examine the onboarding activities for first-year students. Our partnerships with K-12 schools and efforts to strengthen our “education pipeline” will help to ensure college readiness. Mentoring, tutoring, counseling, advisement — these are just a handful of examples of where to focus. Retention is multifaceted, and every employee should play a part.

The Hudsonian: One of the common complaints among the faculty and staff during last year’s forum was the presence of silos in the administration and frustration among different offices. Again, how would you tackle this issue?

Ramsammy: Communication is our key. My job will be to foster a collaborative spirit and clear communication process for the college as a whole. I believe that my experience at some of the largest multi-campus colleges in the country will be an asset, but again, this will be something that involves [much cooperation] at the college.

The Hudsonian: As the College welcomes a new president, it is also welcoming a large incoming class. What advice would you have for the students as they tag along in this new journey with you?

Ramsammy: The student experience and its ultimate impact on student success is the heart of what we should be striving to perfect. This is their college, and as I begin hearing from members of our community, no voice should be louder than that of our students.

Furthermore, as a first-generation college student, I know that some new students need extra support, especially in the beginning. I want them to know that we will do everything we can to ensure their success.

The Hudsonian: What is your top priority to change within the college and something you wish to never see changed?

Ramsammy: There are so many wonderful attributes of Hudson Valley, but something I’d like to change is the stigma surrounding enrolling at a community college. While they have a different mission than four-year institutions, community colleges offer a high-quality education at a reasonable cost. Here in New York, nearly 210,000 students benefit from a community college education, and more than 45 percent of SUNY baccalaureate graduates begin as transfer students.

Something I would never change is Hudson Valley’s commitment to providing access to college for everyone. As an open enrollment institution, Hudson Valley provides incredible opportunities to a broad range of students. Just think about the diversity within our community: homeschooled students and high school graduates as well as adult learners and job-seekers, first-generation students, individuals with disabilities and special needs, those who care for families and children, exclusively online learners, part-timers and veterans and members of the military.

There are many, many more to name, but the point is that we are here to support the education and career ambitions of everyone in our community. Their unique perspectives enrich our college, and their higher education will help to enrich our community. There’s something truly special about that.