MCC Daily Tribune

Middle States Conference

I am pleased to share that a team from Monroe Community College, including our Middle States Accreditation Team Co-Chairs Candice Baldwin and Natasha Chen, our Middle States Liaison Susan Hall, Provost/VP ASA Mike Jacobs, and myself, attended the Middle States Commission Higher Education (MSCHE) 2024 Annual Conference earlier this month. The conference, themed "Protecting the Future: Champions for Higher Education," provided valuable insights and networking opportunities for our team.

 We were honored to hear SUNY Chancellor John B. King, Jr. deliver a keynote presentation to hundreds of attendees. His address focused on SUNY’s accomplishments and highlighted, among other principles, its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in higher education—thus underscoring the critical role community colleges play in fostering these values. Throughout his talk, the Chancellor extensively referenced a message he shared with SUNY College Presidents last month, which you can read below.

 I am grateful to our team for representing MCC at this important event and for their leadership as we progress in our reaccreditation process. My gratitude extends to all of our faculty and staff for their participation and engagement in our reaccreditation process, and for your dedication to ensuring the success of our remarkable students.

SUNY Chancellor John B. King, Jr., shared the following message with leaders across the SUNY system on Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024:

Dear Colleagues, 

I woke up this morning, as I do every morning, believing in the power of public service to strengthen the lives of our fellow Americans and the democracy that binds our nation together. I’ve been privileged to serve in government roles at the state and federal levels and in a national civil rights organization, and to serve at times when the country has been led by both Democratic and Republican presidents. Every bit of this varied experience leads me to believe deeply that the work we do together at SUNY matters profoundly to our students, our communities, and the nation we are and seek to be. 

 In this moment of transition following yesterday’s elections, I want to reaffirm three core SUNY commitments. 

 First, SUNY and public higher education more broadly are foundational to the long-term health of our democracy. Trustee (and Student Assembly President) Harvey and I visited Westchester Community College yesterday to talk with students about civic engagement and thank the folks working at the campus polling station. The students we met with are passionate about the importance of voting, and about community service, student government, and student journalism, too. Their optimism and belief in their campus community inspired me. Polling station workers were selflessly giving their time in service of our democracy and their neighbors. We must continue to engender civil discourse and prepare engaged citizens. 

Second, the four pillars driving SUNY to be the best public higher education system in the country are non-partisan and non-negotiable. We will diligently engage partners in government at the federal, state, and local levels as we work to advance (1) student success; (2) research & scholarship; (3) diversity, equity, & inclusion; and (4) economic development & upward mobility. We will continue to advance our mission and expand access and excellence for our students. 

Third, while we champion free expression and seek to create spaces for healthy dialogue across difference, our institutional values are clear. At SUNY, we reject hate, bigotry, racism, sexism, antisemitism, Islamophobia, harassment, and discrimination. At SUNY, we embrace empathy, human dignity, and mutual respect.  No matter one’s views or perspective about particular outcomes, elections and heated national debates spur intense feelings. Please take care of yourselves, your loved ones, and each other. 

 Best,

John

DeAnna Burt-Nanna
Office of the President
12/23/2024