About ECC

College Information
 

Erie Community College, New York State’s first multi-campus public community college outside of New York City, provides affordable educational opportunities for the residents of Erie County, New York, other states, as well as foreign countries. At the three campuses (City, North and South), degree programs, certificate programs, community education and other special programs are offered.

Students interested in pursuing an Associate in Arts (A.A.), Associate in Science (A.S.), Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S), or an Associate in Occupational Studies (A.O.S) degree will discover that Erie Community College is responsive to their needs. Academic and student services are provided as a means to help all students attain their educational and personal goals.

ECC takes pride in the diversity of its students. ECC’s student body includes traditional and nontraditional learners, including recent high school graduates, senior citizens, athletes, stay-at-home parents, disabled students, business executives, veterans and international students.

Why do students from such diverse backgrounds choose ECC? The variety of the programs available, the affordable tuition, the high quality teaching faculty, the small classes, the availability of tutoring and the convenience and accessibility of three campus locations are just some of the reasons that thousands of students enroll at ECC each year.

More than 100 degree and certificate programs are offered to students in four divisions, including Health Sciences, Business and Public Service, Engineering and Technologies and Liberal Arts. Our academic and training programs are designed to graduate well-prepared, well-rounded students, ready to meet the demands of the workplace.

To help students achieve their goals, broad support services are provided. The English and Math Departments offer tutoring in labs to aid students in their academic quests; the Office of Disabled Students Services advocates for and supports disabled students and the Career Resource Centers provide career counseling and job placement.

In short, ECC students discover a college responsive to their diverse backgrounds, interests, goals and needs while the community reaps the benefits of an institution preparing tomorrow’s workforce – tomorrow’s leaders. 

Campuses
 

City Campus

The City Campus moved to its present site in 1982, following the renovation of the Old Post Office, an architectural landmark, in downtown Buffalo. The site of the present City Campus is listed in the National Registry of Historic Places and in 1964 was named in the Historic American Building Survey as one of the 11 most significant buildings in Buffalo. Bordered by Oak and Ellicott streets, this urban campus is rich in architectural beauty, boasting an expansive skylight, an atrium filled with ferns and trees, high-ceilinged classrooms and gourmet cooking facilities. Among the City Campus programs are: Culinary Arts, Early Childhood Education and Industrial Technology.

Erie Community College Alumni and Foundation Office
 

The offices of the Erie Community College Foundation and Alumni Relations are located at City Campus, 121 Ellicott Street, Room 110 in Buffalo, NY. The mission of the Foundation is to grant an opportunity for deserving students in need to pursue their educational dreams and to preserve the college as a leading educational institution. The Alumni Relations office fosters positive relationships with ECC’s graduates.

45 Oak Street
 

Erie Community College opened its newest facility, located at 45 Oak Street, across from the college’s City Campus in downtown Buffalo, NY in January 2008. The 52,000 square foot facility was renovated into a state-of-the-art facility, including more than 20 classrooms, as well as faculty and administrative offices.

The associate degree programs housed at 45 Oak include Emergency Management, Fire Protection Technology, Nursing, Paralegal and Radiation Therapy Technology. In addition, two new certificate programs, Homeland Security and Crime Scene Technology, are offered at the new facility.

The Burt Flickinger Athletic Center
 

The Burt Flickinger Athletic Center, located at 21 Oak Street in Buffalo, NY opened as a legacy to the World University Games in June 1994. The facility houses an Olympic size, 50 meter swimming pool with a movable floor, a 25 meter warm-up pool, three regulation basketball courts, a large field house that seats 3,000, a 1/9 mile indoor jogging track, a state-of-the-art Wellness Center, Athletic Department offices and a number of classrooms.

North Campus
 

The North Campus, located in Williamsville, NY, is the oldest of the campuses. Spreading over 120 acres, this campus offers its students several buildings, including the Gleasner Administration Building, Dry Memorial Library and Spring Student Center. Among the programs offered at the North Campus are: Criminal Justice, Culinary Arts, Dental Hygiene, Dietetic Technology, Engineering Science, Hotel Restaurant Management, Nursing, Ophthalmic Dispensing and Respiratory Therapy.

South Campus
 

The self-contained design of the South Campus offers buildings connected by bridges surrounding a center courtyard. Located on Southwestern Boulevard in Orchard Park, NY, this campus has buildings designated for business and the humanities, math and science, administration and recreation, as well as a two-story Learning Resource Center and the Office of Disabled Students Services. Among the programs offered at the South Campus are: Architectural Technology, Automotive Technology, Business Administration, Computer Information Systems, Computer Repair Technology, Dental Laboratory Technology, Emergency Medical Technology/Paramedic, Emergency Management, Fire Protection Technology, Office Technology, Recreation Leadership and Telecommunications Technology.

Vehicle Technology Training Center
 

The Vehicle Technology Training Center, located at 5885 Big Tree Road in Orchard Park, NY serves the Automotive Technology Program, MOPAR/CAP Apprenticeship Program and Ford Motor Company ASSET Program and allows for the development of curriculum designed to prepare graduates to meet the challenges of the automotive industry. College and government support, a state-of-the-art facility and partnerships with Ford and General Motors allow the college to successfully meet the needs of the local workforce.

ECC One-Stop Center

The ECC One-Stop Center, located at 3176 Abbott Road in Orchard Park, is the result of a partnership between the Erie County Workforce Investment Board and Erie Community College. This center provides employment resources to ECC graduates and job seekers in Erie County. Services provided by the center include career assessments, education and training opportunities, job readiness workshops, resume assistance and referrals within a network of federal, state and local agencies.

History
 

In April 2011, Erie Community College celebrated its 65th anniversary. In the past six decades, the college has grown from a small two-year technical institute to a three campus college serving almost 21,000 students. Today, ECC is the second largest college in Western New York.

On April 4, 1946, the Legislature of the State of New York, recognizing the need for technical vocational education at the junior college level, established the New York State Institute of Applied Arts and Sciences at Buffalo as one of the five, tuition-free, two-year technical institutes for high school graduates.

Two years later, in 1948, when the New York State Legislature founded the State University of New York, the Institute at Buffalo became one of the units of the University. On September 1, 1953, while maintaining ties with the State University of New York, Erie County assumed sponsorship of the college, changing its name to the Erie County Technical Institute.

Subsequently, in 1960, the Erie County Technical Institute moved to the present site of the North Campus at 6205 Main Street in Williamsville, NY. In 1969, the name of the college was once again changed, this time to its present designation, Erie Community College.

In 1971, the City Campus, housed in the former Bishop O’Hare High School in downtown Buffalo, opened, making ECC the first multi-campus college in New York State outside of New York City.

The South Campus opened in the fall of 1974, providing accessibility for those in the southern parts of the county. In January of 1982, the City Campus moved into its refurbished quarters in the heart of Buffalo.

Through the years, ECC has undergone significant changes as it has moved to serve its constituents with state-of-the-art facilities, professionally accredited programs and an outstanding teaching faculty.

Accreditation and Affiliation
 

SUNY Erie Community College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, 3624 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104. (267) 284-5000, Fax (215) 662-5501, www.msche.org. The Middle States Commission on Higher Education is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. The college’s curricula are registered with the New York State Education Department and have all been approved through the State University of New York (SUNY). 

Many of the professional curricula are accredited by specialized agencies. Such accreditations are noted in the program descriptions in this catalog. The college is also a member of the American Association of Community Colleges.

Professional Accreditation
 

• Accreditation Board of Engineering & Technology, Inc. (ABET, Inc.)
• Accreditation Council of Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE)
• Medical Assisting Education Review Board of the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA)
• American Dental Association (ADA)
• American Dietetic Education(ADE)
• Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM)
• Commission on Opticianry Accreditation (COA)
• Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC)
• Committee on Health Sciences Education and State of New York Department of Health
• Council of Health Sciences Education and Accreditation of the American Medical Association
• Joint Review Committee on Education on Radiologic Technology (JCERT)
• National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science
• National League of Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC)
• New York State of Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS-CASAS)
• The Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA)
• National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships (NACEP) 

Middle States Commission on Higher Education
 

The Middle States Commission on Higher Education, established in 1919 is a voluntary, non-governmental, peer-based membership organization dedicated to quality assurance and improvement through accreditation through peer evaluation. It is one of the commissions of the Middles States Association of Colleges and Schools, which work with institutions at different levels for educational improvement through evaluation and accreditation. The Middle States Commission on Higher Education is the only unit which makes accreditation decisions and policies relating to higher education institutions. The Commission defines, maintains and promotes educational excellence across institutions with diverse missions, student populations, and resources. MSCHE accredits degree-granting colleges and universities in the Middle States region which includes Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and several international locations. In so doing, Middle States accreditation instills public confidence in institutional mission, goals, performance, and resources.

The State University of New York (SUNY)
 

The State University of New York’s 64 campuses bring educational opportunity within commuting distance of virtually all New Yorkers and comprise the nation’s largest comprehensive system of public higher education.

When founded in 1948, the University consolidated 29 state operated but unaffiliated institutions whose varied histories of service dated as far back as 1816.

Today, more than 467,000 students are pursuing traditional study in classrooms and laboratories or are working at home, at their own pace, through such innovative institutions as the SUNY Learning Network and Empire State College. The State University enrolls 40 percent of all New York State high school graduates.

The distinguished faculty is recruited from the finest graduate schools and universities throughout the United States and many countries around the world. Their efforts are regularly recognized in numerous prestigious awards and honors, including the Nobel Prize.

The State University of New York’s research contributions are helping to solve some of today’s most urgent problems. State University researchers pioneered nuclear magnetic resonance imaging and the supermarket bar code scanner, introduced time-lapse photography of forestry subjects and isolated the bacteria that cause Lyme disease.

The University’s program for the educationally and economically disadvantaged, consisting of Educational Opportunity Programs and Educational Opportunity Centers, has become a model for delivering better learning opportunities to young people and adults traditionally bypassed by higher education.

The 30 locally sponsored two-year community colleges offer programs that are directly and immediately job related as well as degree programs that serve as educational experience or a transfer opportunity to a baccalaureate degree at a four-year campus.

In 2010, SUNY launched its new strategic plan—The Power of SUNY—which will pull all 64 campuses together in a way we’ve never seen before and drive the revitalization of New York’s economy while enhancing the quality of life of its citizenry.

The State University system’s involvement in the health science education is extensive. Hundreds of thousands of New York’s citizens are served each year by faculty and students in University hospitals, clinics or affiliated hospitals. The University’s economic development services programs provide research, training and technical assistance to the state’s business and industrial community. State University libraries, which support teaching and research activities, are an important community resource.

The Board of Trustees is SUNY’s governing body, comprised of 17 members, 15 of whom are appointed by the governor, by and with consent of the NYS Senate. In addition, the president of the Student Assembly serves as a voting member and the president of the University Faculty Senate serves on the Board as a non-voting member.

SUNY’s motto is: “To Learn. To Search. To Serve.”

State University of New York Board of Trustees
 

Vice Chancellor: John J. O’Connor
Chairman: Carl T. Hayden, Elmira, NY

Kaitlyn Beachner, Webster, NY
Joseph Belluck, New York NY
Ronald Ehrehberg, Ithaca, NY
Stephen J. Hunt , Katonah, NY
Eunice A. Lewin, Buffalo, NY
Marshall Lichtman, Pittsford, NY
H.Carl McCall, New York, NY
John Murad, Utica,NY
Pedro Noguera, New York, NY
Kenneth O’Brien, Brockport, NY
Linda Sanford, Chappaqua, NY
Carl Spielvogel, New York, NY
Cary Staller, Old Field, NY
Gerri Warren-Merrick, New York, NY
Tina Good, President, University Faculty Senate 

ECC Board of Trustees

 

The 10-member Board of Trustees of Erie Community College is comprised of four members appointed by the Governor, five members appointed by the Erie County Executive and approved by the Erie County Legislature and a voting student trustee elected by the student body of the three campuses. The Board responsibilities include approving the annual budget, setting policies and requirements, responding to community needs, approving personnel appointments and guiding the college in setting and achieving its Mission and goals.

ECC’s Belief System
 

The following statements provide the road map and guidebook the organization uses to develop its strategic thinking. These statements indicate where the college is going and helps to prioritize ECC’s strategy options. They also tell college officials what to bring along on the journey and provide benchmarks for determining progress.

Mission
 

SUNY Erie Community College meets the needs of a diverse student body and contributes to regional economic vitality by providing excellent, flexible, affordable and accessible educational programs in a multi-campus environment committed to continuous improvement.

Vision
 

SUNY ECC strives toward a future of accessible education - convenient to all - where students can acquire career competencies and a college degree along with the resources to achieve their goals.

Strategic Intent
 

SUNY ECC will become a national and regional model for the community college of the 21st century. We want to be known as the most student-friendly and accessible college where success begins. SUNY ECC will be an aspirational choice where students of all levels of ability attend because it is the best match to their lifestyle wants and a respected institution among employers, within higher education and throughout the region.

Value Proposition

SUNY ECC offers the most cost-effective and quality access to achievement of a degree, academic credits or acquisition of skills/certification that will propel the learner to his or her desired goal at any point in life.

Core Values
 

Student-Focused:  Service to students is the primary reason for our existence. The student is at the center of all SUNY ECC programs and services.

Accessibility:  SUNY ECC serves the needs and wants of all students, including those not having educational opportunity elsewhere. Access means inclusion by overcoming financial, location, physical, language or other impediments.

Academic Excellence:  We expect academic rigor in all curricula and from all students. We believe that quality teaching with comprehensive support results in positive learning outcomes and student achievement.

Openness and Respect:  A broad range of cultures, attitudes and viewpoints creates an environment of respect, caring and trust. Everyone, no matter their limitations, should be recognized for their intrinsic dignity and unique capabilities.

Principles
 

Academic Freedom:  SUNY ECC values the free exchange of ideas, and encourages diverse points of view and the rigorous examination of assumptions.

Collaboration:  Collaboration is beneficial within the context of our mission and is fundamental to achieving our goals.

Commitment:  All those associated with the college have a commitment to the well being of SUNY ECC and the community it serves. We believe that a strong community is important to a strong SUNY ECC, and a strong SUNY ECC is important to a strong community.

Equity and Diversity:  In its many forms and as enhanced through multiculturalism, diversity is a positive force that provides an environment in which people from all groups feel welcomed, respected and valued as full members of our campus community.

Excellence:  There is an expectation of a high level of competence in all areas.  We provide each individual with the opportunity and support to reach his or her highest potential.

Integrity and Accountability:  The College leadership, faculty, staff, and students are expected to conduct themselves in an ethical manner, and be responsible for their actions and accountable for outcomes.

Learning Experience:  Students have the ability and opportunity to examine their world and voice a position and their personal beliefs.  Critical thinking is an integral part of the learning process.

Lifelong Learning:  Learning is a lifelong process.  SUNY ECC students learn how to learn, and learn to love learning for personal growth and achievement in life.

Student Success:  The two-year associate’s degree is not the only test of success for SUNY ECC.  Students achieving their goals–pertaining to training, skills, transfer credits, knowledge–is the challenge that we accept. 

Goals
 

Students attaining goals:  All students attending ECC academic, job training, or lifelong learning programs will achieve their self-defined goals.

Resources in place:  Sufficient capital investment support to accomplish the college master facilities plan and maintain continuing investment in buildings and equipment will be available.

Perception of quality:  There will be broad awareness of the quality of instruction and value of the education offered at ECC. Build pride internally and community-wide for ECC.

Flexibility around student wants:  ECC will have an any time-any place learning environment, supported by services, using a variety of modalities.

Educational experience:  The educational experience for all ECC students will be challenging and expansive, with students demonstrating successful learning outcomes and great satisfaction with their ECC experience.

Diversity:  The college will have an inclusive environment that attracts and retains faculty, staff, and students who embrace diversity. Every aspect of the college, including student life, teaching, training, hiring and community involvement will encompass diversity.

Safety and Security:  All students, faculty, staff, and visitors will be safe to pursue their academic and co-curricular activities and achieve goals.

Campus Development:  The campus/academic configuration will be developed to serve the needs of our current and potential students, taking advantage of opportunities and advancing the development of a one-college concept.

A Valued Resource:  ECC will be the partner with whom everyone wants to work. Business, government and other organizations will trust ECC to deliver for them.