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The community benefits from the New Deal for Students because...
Suffolk County needs a highly educated workforce to help shepherd us into the future. Our county of 1.5 million residents continues to change and grow, so it's 
imperative that we continue to change and grow. We know that there's an acute need on Long Island for graduates in fields such as nursing, automotive, and cybersecurity. There's also a growing need for more educators and a variety of healthcare workers. SCCC stands at the ready to help fill these needs, which is a definite win for the community.
I was an SCCC Honors Program student and graduated in 2008. Full-time faculty encouraged me to apply for a Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship, worth $80,000, and I was honored to be selected. I completed my master's in English at Stony Brook University and my PhD at St. John's University. I am currently an Assistant Professor of English at SUNY Farmingdale.
I can tell you that SCCC professors changed the trajectory of my life.
I came from Riverhead High School feeling unsure of whether I even belonged in college. Faculty showed me not only that I do belong but also that I could excel. I spent so many hours with faculty in the library, the computer labs, and my professors' office hours. Their mentorship was exactly what I needed to help launch my current career as an English professor, which I absolutely love.
— Katelynn DeLuca, Assistant Professor of English at SUNY Farmingdale, SCCC Class of 2008
Stronger workplace development initiatives
Our county needs more strong, smart workers, which is why this New Deal benefits our communities. For example, in addition to nursing and cybersecurity, another area where the college can use more full-time faculty is in our automotive technology program. The technology in our vehicles has seen great advancements in hybrid and electric innovations; in fact, Assistant Dean of Automotive Technology David Macholz appeared in a CBS News story about the increased need to train automotive technicians on these new technologies.
In addition to the constant technological changes in vehicles, there's great demand for highly trained and qualified automotive technicians. According to the NYS Department of Motor Vehicles, "Currently, there is a significant shortage of automotive technicians in every sector of the automotive industry, and the demand for qualified auto technicians is only expected to increase in the future." To help meet this demand, a new building will be built at the Grant campus for the automotive program. A new building does not accomplish much without skilled full-time faculty in it to teach our students.
These kinds of programs directly benefit residents of Suffolk County whose quality of life is significantly improved by having sufficient skilled workers in a variety of fields.
More articulation agreements with local employers
The college's development of more articulation agreements with local employers would facilitate movement of our students into gainful employment. Not only do county residents benefit from having skilled employees in various fields, our county also benefits from having more graduates in good paying jobs. We know that the median earnings of full-time employees holding an associate’s degree are considerably higher than those with a high school diploma or less, so community colleges remain a significant means for upward social mobility for a diverse range of students. Better paying jobs means fewer young adults leaving the island, staying and contributing to our tax base, and raising their families here. In this way, having more articulation agreements with local employers benefits the entire community.
Upskilling opportunities for adult learners
More adult learners in Suffolk County are looking to SCCC to gain the skills and credentials they need to advance at work through promotions, transfers, or lateral moves into different departments with their current employer. Upskilling is the process by which employees apply and further develop their knowledge set. Whether these adult learners need to learn new skills or expand upon their current skills, the college is ready to serve the community in this way. A variety of academic degree and certificate programs already exist, and with more staff on board, even more microcredentials and other programs can be developed.
Enhanced standing with our local communities
Our faculty are incredibly busy in communities throughout the county and beyond. Faculty regularly and frequently share their time and talents with community groups, local libraries, civic organizations, and more. For instance, faculty at SCCC created the Professors on Wheels program by which our faculty go to local nursing homes and residential facilities to offer classes and workshops for residents. FA members perennially raise over $1,000 for the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk and contribute daily, through community service programs, volunteering, and civic engagement.
