In President Larry Johnson’s first 100 days at Bronx Community College, one thing has become clear: No two community colleges serve the same mission, even if they’re both City University of New York institutions.
“I had grown accustomed to seeing a first-time, full-time student directly out of high school, which resulted in some really favorable outcomes,” he said. “At Bronx Community College, the lion’s share of students are not full-time, and they’re more focused on career programs that prepare them directly for work.”
Johnson’s preparation to lead a more workforce-oriented institution intersects with a major state initiative starting this fall that offers free college in high-demand fields for New Yorkers ages 25 to 55. More than 16,500 people have since applied.
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Johnson, who has been president for two months, said that while he adapts to the specific needs of mid-career adults, wraparound services remain a universal need for all students. Support with student housing, food and personal needs is vital for students’ academic and professional growth, he said.
“One of my visions for this college is to ensure that we become a hub of academic and research excellence where our students can thrive and employees can flourish, and where we meet the needs of our workforce,” he said.
One of Johnson’s first tasks as president will be using data to expand workforce program innovation for Bronx’s nontraditional student base. For example, the president will be interested in scaling current offerings while collaborating with employers to create new, viable opportunities.
Faculty and staff well-versed in continuing education and workforce development models have helped Johnson advocate with the surrounding community’s business leaders about his institution’s programs and its graduates.
“New York’s Free Community College Program will allow students who would otherwise not have been able to pay for their education an opportunity to not only return and complete what they started, but also retool and re-skill,” Johnson said.
Last year, Bronx Community College created a new autonomous vehicle training curriculum in partnership with Waymo, a self-driving technology company owned by Google’s parent company, Alphabet Inc. “I believe we could be a leader in that space,” Johnson said.
Johnson also envisions BCC increasing collaboration with K12 beyond high school. While dual enrollment has earned widespread popularity across the nation, the president is interested in spearheading STEM-oriented summer camps with students as early as the fifth grade.
“I am excited about the opportunity to go a little deeper, to socialize this idea of college and career readiness earlier, so that children are prepared for those early college programs in the ninth and 10th grade,” Johnson said.
