Week of March 2, 2015

Communitas 1

MVCC unveiled its new FABLab, a technical prototyping platform for inven-tion, learning and innovation, located in the Science and Technology Building on the College’s Utica Campus, on Thurs-day.

A fabrication laboratory is comprised of industrial-grade fabrication and elec-tronic tools. MVCC’s FABLab, with its state-of-the-art equipment and software, promises many new opportunities for MVCC, its students, and the community. Students majoring in STEM fields and the arts will be able to use the FABLab to de-sign projects and then build prototypes of their designs – all through their existing coursework. They will be able to partici-pate in all phases of production and see their ideas become tangible products while gaining hands-on experience in the very manufacturing and product devel-opment processes they will find at local companies upon entering the workforce. MVCC’s mechanical, CAD, and engineer-ing science students are already using the lab.

“This FABLab represents the next growth spurt in an on going story of development about the ways in which MVCC continues to change with times,” said MVCC President Randall VanWag-oner, Ph.D. “As we do with every op-

portunity, MVCC has not just allocated the resources here and purchased some equipment, we have leveraged these resources to make this more than a FABLab, but as a modern global re-source and a catalyst for learning and economic development right here in the Mohawk Valley.”

This FABLab was made possible through the SUNY 2020 grant, which is meant to establish the Center for Global Advanced Manufacturing (CGAM) led by SUNY-Poly and eight other SUNY community colleges. MVCC’s role in the CGAM is to participate in consortia activi-ties and connect businesses as needed

between the Mohawk Valley and the mid-Hudson region.

The lab will also be a boon for the emerging workforce of the Mohawk Val-ley. MVCC’s Utica Campus is located in the heart of the city, adjacent to Proctor High School, which has the most diverse student body in the region. Harnessing the abilities of non-traditional populations in STEM is a national workforce impera-tive. Locating the FABLab within walking distance of an urban high school trans-forms the potential for college-school partnerships that allow high school stu-dents to take practical steps to learn the skills they need to become the nanotech-nology workforce of the future.

Local employers can also potentially benefit from MVCC’s FABLab. The local economy will be greatly impacted by the nanotechnology and unmanned aerial systems testing, and future jobs require workers with multiple and integrated sets of skills. MVCC is a STARTUPNY part-ner, and many new employers, as well as existing ones, are in need of a work-force capable of working in an automated and cutting-edge environment. MVCC’s FABLab will provide local employers ac-cess to new employees with experience using the latest computer-aided fabrica-tion technologies.

“To us, the FABLab is bigger than what

FABLab creates opportunity for innovation

FABLabContinued on Page 3

The Rome Rescue Mission announced a collaborative effort with Mohawk Valley Community College to hold a 10-week culinary training class that teaches students how to plan and prepare healthy meals.

The culinary training class is part of the Rome Rescue Mission’s

Journey to Health Program, which promotes healthy lifestyle behaviors and

empowers people to improve their quality of life. The three-hour cooking class is on Wednesdays beginning March 4 from 1:30-4:30

p.m. at the Rescue Mis-sion located at 413 E.

Dominick St., Rome.

Students for the first class are from the Rome Rescue Mis-sion, and the hope is to have an open enrollment for classes in the future.

Executive Director Matt Miller says “This program will change lives. It gives people the training, resources and support to make informed decisions about how to better care for their families. Learning to prepare healthy meals with MVCC hos-pitality program faculty is a skill that students can take home and share with family and friends. We’re very grateful for the partnership we share with MVCC.”

“Mohawk Valley Community College is pleased to provide training to individuals through the Rome Rescue Mission to help them obtain training on healthy cooking lessons. Our Hospital-ity Program Faculty will demonstrate key skills and knowledge to combat unhealthy eating habits and provide healthy recipes that can be used in home kitchens,” said Franca Armstrong, dean of the Mohawk Valley Community College Rome Campus.

The Women In Science and Engineer-ing (WISE) reached out to the young minds of high school aged girls on Saturday by hosting the inaugural Girls In STEM Expo.

The event attracted 65 girls in grades 9-11 for a day of activities and an introduction to the sciences.

“Sometimes families think that girls should not be playing with tools or should not be con-structing things. They should just study arts

and humanities, for example. We want to change that thinking,” said Assistant Professor Shahida Dar, Ph.D., the chair of WISE.

There were hands-on activities and demonstrations helping to encourage young women to pursue studies in these areas, not only when they get to college, but right now, while they’re still in high school.

MVCC President Randall VanWag-oner, Ph.D., addressed the girls and their parents on the importance and opportuni-ties in the fields of STEM. Guest speaker Ashley Waldron joined him. Waldron is an MVCC alumna and a graduate of Clarkson University with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering. She is currently working for the engineering firm Barton & Loguidice in Syracuse and working on her Masters degree at Clarkson.

“Our goal was to bring STEM aware-ness to young females. The event was very well received and they liked the activities and the competition,” added

Dr. Dar. “We don’t want to lecture them, we’re letting them explore and compete to show them how much fun science can be.”

In the competi-tion, the girls had to design and build a transportation system to deliver a penny across the desktop. The top competitors received a medal, which was designed and cre-ated in the College’s new FABLab.

For the parents, there were workshops designed to inform them of the impor-tance of careers in STEM and provide information on the programs offered at MVCC.

This event was made possible through a grant from the MVCC Foundation.

The need for science, technology, math and engineering jobs is expected to increase in the coming years and those involved in the expo say they want females to be part of that growth.

Communitas

Waldron

2

19 percent of May/August graduates enrolled at a four-year

SUNY school for Fall-2014.

Did You Know?

WISE gets girls excited about STEM

MVCC culinary program for Rescue Mission

Communitas 3

The College will host its annual Spring Career Fair on Wednesday, March 11, in the Jorgensen Center on the Utica Cam-pus, located at 1101 Sherman Drive. This event will run from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

This event will provide an opportunity for students and job seekers to connect with potential employers. There will be dozens of employers on hand to discuss employment opportunities within their organizations, benefits, job requirements, skills being sought, prerequisites, and much more.

Job seekers are advised to bring sever-al copies of their resumes, which can be left with the employers.

Some of the companies scheduled to be in attendance include:• AccessCNY• Aerotek Environmental, Engineering,

and Construction• AmeriCU Credit Union• Bank of America• Bassett Medical Center• Carbone Auto Group• Center for Family Life and Recovery,

Inc.• Columbia Place Associates• ConMed• Contemporary Personnel Staffing• Cooperstown Dreams Park• Cyromech Inc. • Excellus BlueCross BlueShield• Express Employment Professionals• Fiber Instrument Sales, Inc.• Focus Rehabilitaion & Nursing - Senior

Living at Utica• Fort Stanwix National Monument/Na-

tional Park Service• GLOBALFOUNDRIES• H&R Block• Harding Nursing Home• Herkimer ARC• Insight House Chemical Dependency

Services , Inc. • LutheranCare• Leonard Bus Sales• Mary Kay Cosmetics• Masonic Care Community• Mohawk Valley Health System• MVCC

MVCC hosts Spring Career Fair on March 11

you see between these four walls. Creat-ing this FABLab enables us to amplify a message that has been a concern since I came here. More than anything else I have heard discussions about economic growth in this area. Economic growth de-pends on innovation and creativity; where new ideas and new concepts can lead to advanced products; quality products that make our lives easier, healthier and more secure,” said STEM Center Dean Seyed Akhavi.

The FABLab also will be open to com-munity members and businesses. If a company does not have the ability to make prototypes quickly, that company can sign up for training and lab time to use MVCC’s facility. The lab will provide access to the tools, knowledge, and financial means to educate, innovate and invent using technology and digital fabri-cation to allow anyone to make (almost) anything, thereby creating opportunities to improve lives and livelihoods in the Mohawk Valley.

The FABLab will have scheduled work-shops and flexible hours for individuals and groups, such as veterans and STEM students. Requests can be submitted through the website, which is currently under construction. Non-credit courses also will be available soon. In the mean-time, those interested in the FABLab can contact the STEM Center at 315-792-

5366 or email stem@mvcc.edu.MVCC’s FABLab is a part of a global

consortium initiated by MIT, which con-nects MVCC to a global community of learners, educators, technologists, researchers, makers, and innovators. Because all fab labs share common tools and processes, the program is building a global network for research and inven-tion.

The learning experiences and projects of the MVCC FABLab can be shared with partner fab labs across the world. MVCC is the first college in New York State to have an MIT-networked fab lab.

FABLab

• Techno HD Mini CNC Router: A computer-controlled cutting machine that can be used with wood, plastic, fiberglass, metal or other routable materials.

• Roland Vinyl Cutter: Precision cut-ting with speeds up to 20 inches per second.

• Roland MDX-540 CNC Mill: A 3D milling device that uses subtractive rapid prototyping (SRP) technology to create functional prototypes from a wide range of materials.

• Epilog Helix Laser: An engraving and cutting tool for wood, acrylics, plastics, stone, and more.

• Roland MDX 40A CNC Mill: A powerful 3D milling device used by product engineers and designers.

• eScan (1MP) 3D Laser Scanner: A 3D laser scanner used for reverse engineering in rapid prototyping, including the medical fields, footwear and orthotics.

• 3 MakerBot Packages: Provide professional-quality 3D printing for use in art and design, engineering and manufacturing, architecture, education.

• UPrintSE: A 3D printer made to work seamlessly with CAD software.

• HURCO 5 Axis Milling CNC Ma-chine: Fully compatible with all CAD/CAM packages for simultaneous 5-axis machining with complete Fa-nuc integration.

• DOOSAN Turning Center CNC machine: A lathe controlled by a computer running programs driven by numerical data. Can complete both milling and turning operations in a single set-up.

FABLab Tools

• National Grid• Northwestern Mutual• PAR Technology• Primerica• Prudential Financial• Rescue Mission of Utica• Rome Memorial Hospital• Securitas Sercurity Services USA, Inc.• Stewart’s Shops• The Arc Onedia-Lewis Chapter• Townsquare Media Utica• U.S.Care Systems• Valet Park of America• Verizon Wireless

For more information about this event, contact MVCC’s Career Services Office at 792-5488.

Communitas4

Making that connection with the stu-dents is an important aspect to teaching. Alison Doughtie is a natural in making this connection, which has made her so effective in the classroom.

For her dedication and hard work she was recently recognized during a College Senate meeting when she was presented the Heart of the Hawk award by Vice President for Learning and Academic Af-fairs, Maryrose Eannace, Ph.D.

“Alison exemplifies all of the character-istics associated with good teaching. She is warm and approachable, patient and encouraging, knowledgeable and well prepared, and uncommonly accessible to her students,” said Dr. Eannace.

Doughtie employs an eclectic mixture of methods in teaching her English as Second Language students. The variety she infuses into her class stems from intentional and thoughtful strategic lesson planning that includes creating an array of activities to engage students with a range of learning styles and skill levels.

Along with her ESL colleagues, she devotes far more than the expected ad-visement hours at the beginning and end of each semester, and works with any and all ESL students. She is extremely supportive, patient and attentive to her students both inside and outside the classroom.

“Alison uses humorous dictations to help her students associate new words with sounds while they are becoming accustomed to writing in their new lan-guage. To improve their writing fluency,

she asks students to keep dialog journals in which their instructor routinely answers student commentary in writing,” said Jen-nifer Boulanger, dean of the Center for Language and Learning Design.

Doughtie has also developed group exercises, games and pair/sharing activi-ties to ensure the involvement of every student and to keep students actively using the new language they are acquir-ing. She expertly supplements classroom learning through collaborative efforts and technological innovations.

Another project she has developed over the years is to have students create

a classroom blog, with links those stu-dents may follow to find other computer-based practice exercises.

And then, there is the invigorating classroom climate that is palpable in ev-ery one of her classes. Through tone and facial expression, she conveys meanings that even the best actors are not able to suggest. She keeps her students motivat-ed and inspired, and they respond with an eagerness to learn and a tremendous level of participation. She has exceptional instincts and seems to know what stu-dents need before they can ask.

Doughtie makes a difference to her students

MVCC’s Center for Corporate and Community Education is pleased to partner with the Cornell University Southeast Asia Program to offer a special non-credit class in Conversational Burmese. For more information on scholarship opportunities, please call Cornell University at 607-255-2378.

Mingalarpar! If you live in the Mohawk Valley region, you are likely to encounter people from Burma, in school, in the com-munity, or at work. Or maybe you are from Burma, but speak Karen and would like to learn Burmese.

This class will provide you with a great opportunity to learn conversational Burmese. You will learn to have basic conver-sations with native speakers using basic vocabulary and will become more aware of Burma and Myanmar’s diverse cultures.

For those who work in the fields of healthcare, social ser-vices, or education and serve refugees from this region, you will learn skills useful to your work. This class will take place at MVCC Utica on Tuesdays, March 24 to April 28 from 6 – 8 p.m. Cost for instruction and supplies is $79.

Learn conversational Burmese at MVCC

Submit informationfor Communitas

torhaubert@mvcc.edu