August 2022 – FLCC Forward

Sands Family Center for Allied Health exterior entry — FLCC held a ribbon-cutting on Aug. 25 for the Sands Family Center for Allied Health, a $7.2 million renovation and expansion of its nursing wing. Photo by Tim Wilkes

Finger Lakes Community College celebrated the opening of the $7.2 million Sands Family Center for Allied Health, a renovation and expansion of its nursing wing, at the main campus today.

With the expansion, the college will accept new students in both the fall and spring semesters. The application for the spring 2023 semester is currently open through Oct. 15. FLCC will also launch a licensed practical nursing program, starting in fall 2023. (Editor’s Note: The LPN launch may be delayed to 2024; please watch this blog for an announcement of the opening date for applications. )

“The Sands Family Center for Allied Health reflects a true team effort among the Sands Family Foundation, Thompson Health, Ontario County and the college,” said FLCC President Robert Nye. “We were united in our mission to fill a critical community need for nurses at our hospitals, medical offices and skilled nursing facilities.”

Richard Sands, representing the Sands Family Foundation, joined college and community leaders for a ceremonial ribbon cutting. The Sands Family Foundation contributed $3 million to the project.

“As important as today’s ribbon-cutting is, I am already thinking about the impact this center will have on our community,” Sands said. “Five years from now, hundreds of students will have passed through these halls and taken their places in our medical facilities where their compassion and skills are so needed.”

Continue reading “FLCC opens Sands Family Center for Allied Health to expand registered nursing program, add licensed practical nursing”

Finger Lakes Community College will expand its rural outreach program by offering manufacturing and computer courses this fall at the Clifton Springs Library and Macedon Public Library.

“As the library director and vice president of Wayne County Business Council, I am acutely aware of patrons who would like to improve their earning power and businesses who are looking for people to fill mid-level positions,” Stacey Wicksall said of her library’s decision to join the project.

Macedon Public Library building — The Macedon Public Library is now a host site of FLCC’s rural outreach program.
Photo courtesy of M. and R. Kelsey

“These are the sorts of positions that require some training beyond high school, but not a four-year degree. The FLCC GRIT program makes it possible to connect the two by offering convenient and rapid certifications in the skill areas local businesses urgently need, and it can all be done while at the library,” she added.

GRIT is the name of the outreach project and stands for Growing Rural Infrastructure Together. It is part of a national pilot project to overcome barriers to education in rural areas.

Clifton Springs Library Building — Clifton Springs Library is a new host site for FLCC rural outreach program.

GRIT began in January 2022 with manufacturing courses at the Bloomfield Central School District Operations Center and the Yates County Workforce Development Office in Penn Yan. Both the Bloomfield and Penn Yan locations will continue to offer classes. FLCC will also offer the same courses at its Geneva and Newark campus centers, for a total of six sites, including the libraries.

Classes run from Sept. 6 to Dec. 15, and grant funding is available to cover costs for most students.

Classes will be offered via videoconference using technology that allows for real-time interaction among the instructor, all six class sites, and students who prefer to join from home.

Continue reading “FLCC expands community education to libraries”