New York, N.Y. (July 27, 2023) – Guttman Community College received $50,000 in funding from an anonymous donor to support programs that empower students to stay enrolled at Guttman and remove obstacles toward academic progress. The funding will allow the College to develop special programming through UMOC and further efforts to combat food insecurity through the Connect Center.
“Guttman Community College is grateful for the generous support from the donor to strengthen two vital programs: United Men of Color and the Connect Center. These funds will help us continue to provide critical holistic support to ensure Guttman students are able to meet their goals,” said Guttman President Larry Johnson.
Guttman’s UMOC program is designed to provide an inclusive and supportive space where men of color can receive academic support, mentoring, and opportunities to engage in sociocultural dialogue that enhances their understanding of self and their relationship to different communities. The program was founded to help underrepresented men overcome social inequalities that lead to poor academic performance and is part of the City University of New York (CUNY) Black Male Initiative.
With the new funds, UMOC will develop a personal growth program focused on community building. This program will include weekly workshops, activities and discussions focused on personal development, professional development and well-being. A portion of the funding will be used to employ additional UMOC mentors as well as a full-time coordinator to manage and expand the program.
The Connect Center at Guttman, led by Associate Director Dana LePage, provides support to students through a variety of in-house services and community referrals to address their essential needs as well as combat food insecurity. The funding will provide free prepared lunch options for students on a weekly basis during the Fall I and Spring I semester sessions.
“Thanks to this generous gift the College will be able to expand the existing UMOC program to serve and support a greater number of students and properly outfit our newly designed food pantry. These two endeavors are fundamental to student success,” said Vice President of Enrollment Management and Student Affairs Danny Ambrose.
Stella and Charles Guttman Community College was CUNY’s first new community college in more than forty years. Reimagining what community college could be, Guttman opened its doors in Manhattan in August 2012 to create a research-based, innovative model focused on moving students efficiently toward graduation. Offering associate degree programs in a nurturing environment, the College’s three-year graduation rate consistently surpasses the national average, and most graduates transfer to senior colleges. Guttman is federally designated as a Hispanic-serving institution and minority-serving institution with more than 85% of the student population identifying as Latine or Black/African American. The College was named the best community college in America in 2020 and the top community college in New York State for 2020, 2021 and 2022 by Niche.com and other ranking agencies.
