Administration Makes Changes at MCC

Over the past two years and into the next few years, Middlesex County College has and will continue to be in the process of a structural re-organization to better format the college for its students, said Karen Hays, vice president of MCC. Two years ago there were three academic deans at MCC: a dean of social science and humanities; a dean of science, math and health; and the dean of business, computer science and engineering technologies, said Hays.
“In the beginning we did search for someone to replace the dean of social science and humanities, but our search did not result in hiring anyone,” said Hays, “At that point we decided it would be best to split the responsibilities up and distribute them evenly between the two remaining deans.”
“The decision to combine the deans’ responsibilities is just one of the first adjustments in a series of changes that will be taking place to better prepare prospective students and current students in their educational journey at MCC,” said Hays. “Since many of the departments have combined, we are trying to encourage more micro-management between the two academic deans, Marilyn Laskowski-Sachnoff and Dr. Reginald Luke, and the chairpersons of each department, said Hays.”
“We want the students to know more about the admissions process and how they go through it. Change can help the college and the people in the institution as long as it doesn’t hurt anyone in the process,” said Hays.
If it weren’t for change, MCC would not have a new honors program, or be talking about implementing a student government, or other changes that come with reorganizing things. “If people go around to colleges, the organizational structure does not change much between institutions, but that is where the process is wrong,” said Hays. “Without change, an institution cannot grow as the technology grows. If an institution is not willing to accommodate its students, it cannot serve them to the best of its ability,” said Hays.
“MCC is combining services to be more effective in helping first-year students. The institution is looking at the first-year experience services as well as the orientation program currently instate to figure out how to better reach students and get them more involved,” said Hays. “MCC’s goal has and will always be educating its students. Making sure current and future students know this is what needs to be done. To come to this institution and be successful is becoming more important than in has been in previous years.”
“Other changes that are being discussed include a change in the information given to students at first glance on the MCC website, the possibility of building a learning center to bring all developmental courses together and creating more help for students such as software, tutoring and workshops,” said Hays.
“We have all the pieces we need at our disposal right here at MCC. Now in order to help our students succeed, we need to bring all the pieces together into a meaningful whole,” said Hays.