KCC Welcome Wagon Visits New Students at Home
CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez joined Kingsborough Community College (KCC) President Dr. Claudia V. Schrader for a surprise visit of the KCC Welcome Wagon at the home of three incoming freshmen. The trio, all members of the same Brooklyn family, will enroll at Kingsborough in the fall.
Since June, Dr. Schrader has surprised and welcomed 29 incoming freshmen and transfer students and their parents at their homes or jobs across the five boroughs and Long Island, bearing a bag of KCC swag. The visits take place outdoors and follow all social distancing protocols.
“Part of the goal of these visits is to make the students feel welcome as they start a new educational chapter,” explained Dr. Schrader. “As a result of the coronavirus pandemic, we don’t know what their first semester will look like… They may be taking classes remotely or the campus classrooms may be open. But, whatever the situation, I want them to feel welcomed and at ease.”
“I applaud Dr. Schrader for this unique, caring, and innovative approach, especially during a time of so much uncertainty and concern during the coronavirus crisis,” said Chancellor Matos Rodríguez.
New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo learned of and mentioned Dr. Schrader’s new tradition in one of his recent coronavirus updates. More local elected officials are planning to join Dr. Schrader to welcome new KCC students from their districts.
Since taking over as KCC president in August 2018, Dr. Schrader has made it her mission to personally meet and chat with KCC students on the first day of each semester and daily on campus. She greets students at the front gate as they arrive on campus for the first day of class; and pops into classrooms, special student events, and the cafeteria, surprising students with lunch for the day.
During the KCC Welcome Wagon visits, she talks with students about their educational goals and answers questions they may have about college life. Dr. Schrader began the surprise visits on June 5 and will continue visiting new students through August 2020. Founded in 1963, Kingsborough Community College is Brooklyn’s only community college and is part of the City University of New York (CUNY).
