An architectural rendering shows the new events arena under construction at GCC.

Press Release, GCC

BATAVIA – Genesee Community College’s Board of Trustees formally dedicated the new Event Center, to be located on GCC’s Batavia campus, in honor of longtime College supporter Richard C. Call, who passed away in August 2014.

President James M. Sunser had announced at the April 28, 2016 groundbreaking ceremony for the Event Center and the Student Success Center the trustees’ intention to name the 45,000 square foot structure the Richard C. Call Arena.

Trustee Maureen J. Marshall introduced the resolution to name the building in honor of Call, which trustees quickly approved to resounding applause.

Mr. Call was an advocate of the new Event Center and Creating Our Future Together, the fund raising campaign sponsored by the GCC Foundation in support of the Event Center and the new Student Success Center. Call was a member of the GCC Foundation Board from 2001 until his death in 2014. He was a strong proponent of volunteerism and philanthropy, and was one of the earliest supporters of the Conable Technology Building in the late 1990s.

Over many decades, Call and his brother, Robert, built Call Farms into a highly innovative and nationally-known agricultural enterprise. Call’s brother and the children of the two families continue to operate the farm. Not surprisingly, Call encouraged other agricultural leaders across the region to get behind the Creating Our Future Together campaign and make the Event Center possible.

Call was also a strong supporter of many community causes, and had a special interest in youth. In addition to his local volunteer commitments, he was well-known across the U.S. for his leadership in agricultural organizations. He was also a former member of the Board of Trustees of Cornell University.

Call usually worked quietly, and never sought recognition for his efforts, said Brian M. Daviau, president of the GCC Foundation.

“Dick listened much more than he spoke during Board meetings and Finance Committee meetings, but I learned over the years that he worked very hard on GCC Foundation business behind the scenes before and after every meeting,” Mr. Daviau said. “He was so deeply committed to the mission of Genesee Community College, and he did everything possible to build our programs and facilities, and provide for the needs of generations to come.”

GCC President James M. Sunser said that Mr. Call epitomized the ideals of generosity and citizenship.

“Dick believed that individuals could always make a difference, and should make a difference,” Dr. Sunser said. “He was an outstanding leader in his industry, and an outstanding community leader. He believed that service to others helps make our communities and our nation great. He was and is a role model for every one of us.”

The Richard C. Call Arena will be completed in early summer 2017. It will house a variety of athletic, business and regional events, and contain the largest expanse of open, flexible floor space in the GLOW region. The Richard C. Call Arena and the Student Success Center are being funded through a combination of New York State and Genesee County appropriations, as well as contributions from more than 500 local residents and business organizations.

Press Release, GCC

BATAVIA – Full-time Genesee Community College students will pay $1,975 tuition per semester during the 2016-17 year, under the budget approved by the GCC Board of Trustees Monday evening, up $25 from the current $1,950 tuition rate.

Trustees also approved the 2016-17 operating budget totaling $40.537 million, up 1.53 percent from the current year’s $39.927 million budget. The net increase in the budget, however, is much less. Nearly half of the increase simply reflects an accounting change that creates $275,000 in non-cash revenue and non-cash expense.

The 2016-2017 budget is a maintenance-of-effort budget, according to President James M. Sunser.

Staffing levels for 2016-2017 are nearly identical to current year staffing. The budget, however, provides for a student success position responsible for the organization and leadership of success coaching initiatives in the Student Success Center opening in the Fall 2017 semester.

Key non-classroom student services will be consolidated in the new center, and “success coaches” based in the center will guide students through their academic careers. College leaders believe that the success coaching initiative will help boost students’ academic success and career potential.

On the revenue side of the budget, GCC will receive $100 more in partially-restored New York State aid per full-time equivalent student. The increase is welcome, said Dr. Sunser, but state aid still lags behind historical levels.

GCC’s new Nanotechnology program, offered in collaboration with Erie Community College, will be in full swing next year. GCC also hopes to launch more educational programs geared toward the needs of the local agriculture industry.

The 2016-17 academic year will see the construction of two new buildings on the Batavia Campus. The 18,748 square foot Student Success Center will be located adjacent to the Conable Technology Building. The 56,614 square foot Richard C. Call Arena will be located at the northwest end of the parking lot. The arena will house the largest expanse of flexible, open floor space in the Genesee-Livingston-Orleans-Wyoming County region.

GCC anticipates that both buildings will be completed in early summer 2017. As in recent years, the budget process was challenging, Dr. Sunser told trustees. But the College’s history of conservative spending, healthy enrollment, and relatively low inflation helped make a balanced budget possible for 2016-17.

The budget now goes to the Genesee County Legislature’s Ways and Means Committee, which will review the spending plan before presenting it to the full Legislature.

Dr. Sunser noted that declining numbers of high school graduates have led to enrollment declines among younger students at many colleges, while a robust economy has led many older students to remain in the workforce rather than seek retraining.

“Many community colleges across New York State and across the nation have experienced significant enrollment declines,” Dr. Sunser said. “At Genesee, we have experienced a slight dip in the number of students, but our enrollment remains very strong, and our financial position very stable.”

Dr. Sunser called the early part of the 21st Century “the era of the community college.” He reminded trustees that business, political and educational leaders are all praising community colleges.

“Business leaders know that we provide a very rigorous education and prepare students quite well for the local workforce,” he said. “On the national level, the last three presidents of the United States have spoken very positively and forcefully about the value and importance of a community college education. But most significantly, our own GCC students spread the word about the education we provide, and our 24,000 alumni are living examples of the value that GCC brings to our local communities.”