With an eye to the future, Westchester County Community College broke ground last week  on its new Gateway Center.
In new a 70,000-square-foot building, the Gateway Center will house the college”™s business programs
, professional development center ”“ which provides workforce training to local companies and their employees ”“ modern language programs, international student services, English Language Institute and the volunteer center.
A key component of the Gateway Center will be programs for new Americans. In Westchester County today, 22 out of every 100 people were born outside the United States, and the number will continue to grow, said WCC President Joseph Hankin.
The Gateway Center will provide targeted programs for international students and those students new to America.
Programs in language and cultural exchange, infused with rich academic studies, will “enable new Americans to advance in meaningful careers and fully join the community”, Hankin said. Scholarships will be available to ensure access to education for deserving students.
The Gateway Center will also feature a welcome center, café, auditorium and conference rooms.
The project will be funded through a public/private partnership. The state will contribute $17 million in capital funds, the county $14 million in capital funds, and $9.5 million was raised through private donations.
Thomas Egan, former chairman of the SUNY board of trustees, said with about half of the students in the SUNY system attending community college”™s they are a vital part of the state”™s education system.
“All of our community colleges are really fabulous throughout the state, but none like here in Westchester County,” he said.
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