PART I: Personal Information and Demographic Data / Información personal y datos demográficos
Applicant Full Name / Nombre completo:
Denise Abarca
Applicant Title / Título:
Campus Coordinator- CUNY Explorers
Institution or System / Institución o Sistema:
CUNY- Kingsborough Community College
Address for Official Correspondence / Dirección oficial donde recibe su correspondencia:
82-50 135th
E-mail / Correo electrónico:
Denise.abarca@kbcc.cuny.edu
Mobile Phone / Número de celular:
17739880648
Work Phone / Número del trabajo:
–7183686826
Track of interest / Área de interés:
Any track (English or Spanish)
Which platform do you prefer the Academy to be offered on? / ¿En qué plataforma prefiere que se ofrezca la Academia?
Cualquiera de las dos / Either one
Languages / Idiomas:
Fully Bilingual
Have teach an online course in the past three years / ¿Ha enseñado un curso en línea en los pasados tres años?:
No
Have taken an online course in the past three years / ¿Ha tomado un curso en línea en los pasados tres años?:
Yes
Have you been in charge of an instructional technology initiative / ¿Ha liderado alguna iniciativa de tecnología instruccional?:
Yes
Have you been in charge of a distance education initiative / ¿Ha liderado alguna iniciativa de educación a distancia?:
Yes
Years of experience in Higher Education / Años de experiencia en educación superior:
0-5 years
Gender / Género:
Female
Age Range / Edad:
31 to 40
Are you Hispanic / ¿Es usted hispano?:
Yes
Race Category / Raza:
Latina
PART II: Education / Educación
Highest Earned Degree / Grado más alto de educación obtenido:
Master Degree- In Higher Education in Disability Services
College/University / Colegio/Universidad:
CUNY School of Professional Studies
Field/Major / Campo de estudio/Especialidad:
Science
Other Degrees Earned / Otros grados obtenidos:
Bachelor’s Degree in Health Science
PART III: Experience / Experiencia:
Present Responsibilities (up to 150 words) / Resumen de responsabilidades (máximo de 150 palabras) *
I serve many different roles, primarily, I serve as the Campus Coordinator responsible for the Kingsborough Community College CUNY Explorers Program. CUNY-Explorers is a K/16 Initiative that is offered at multiple CUNY colleges This program offers 6th-10th grade students an opportunity to visit a college campus to promote academic and life success. Through customized visits, CUNY reinforces the message that all students can go to college, that college is affordable, and that students can take steps now to achieve their academic goals.
Additionally, I serve as a Spanish Speaking advisor through the admissions information center. I assist our LatinX students and families with college applications, submitting documents and general questions about college life.
Finally, I support the enrollment process of more than 4,000 students through our Virtual Registration Process (VRP). I review college records for accuracy and assist students in connecting with advisors to get registered for classes.
Academic and Professional Distinctions and Honors (up tp 150 words) / Reconocimientos y premios académicos y profesionales (máximo de 150 palabras)
– Academic Achievements for Honor roll society (2014-2020)
– Bachelor’s degree with a minor in Spanish
– MS in Higher education
Civil and Community Activities (up to 150 words) / Actividades civiles y comunitarias (máximo de 150 palabras)
[296]
Professional Goals (up to 150 words) / Metas profesionales (máximo de 150 palabras):
My professional goal is to become a Director of Student Services at one of the CUNY colleges. I believe the skills, passion, and drive that I have for this population would make me ideal in helping our LatinX students access services that would benefit them.
As I prepare myself for this role, I have started acquiring the following certifications:
-ACEs and Trauma-Informed Practice developed – CUNY School of Professional Studies.
-Infant Brain Development – Rockefeller College University at Albany State University of New York.
-Early Intervention – Rockefeller College University at Albany State University of New York.
-Prevention and Identification of Brain Injuries, including Abusive Head Trauma (AHT).
-Language Development: Birth to 5 – Professional Development Program/ Office of Children and Family Services.
-CUNY Certificates:
-Enhancing Work for Optimal Engagement – CUNY Central
-Enhancing Emotional Intelligence to Increase Professional Success – CUNY Central
-CUNY Network for College Success – CUNY Centra
Please explain what you expect to gain by participating in the H-LTLA (up to 150 words) / Explique lo que espera adquirir al participar en la H-LTLA (máximo de 150 palabras):
– I expect to gain the necessary and proper acknowledgement to be able to growth and support many more students through the enrollment process. I also hope to find technological ways to advocate for Latinos education.
– Next, I want to be able to experience the interinstitutional collaboration, distance technology for teaching and learning with other institutions and programs.
PART IV: Professional References / Referencias profesionales:
Professional Reference #1 (Include name, title, institution, phone, and email) / Referencia profesional #1 (incluya nombre, título, institución, número de teléfono, y correo electrónico):
Dr. Johanna Rivera,
Vice President of Enrollment Management
Kingsborough Community College
Johanna.Rivera@kbcc.cuny.edu
718-368-5650
Professional Reference #2 (Include name, title, institution, phone, and email) / Referencia profesional #2 (incluya nombre, título, institución, número de teléfono, y correo electrónico)
Wenddy Zepeda
Associate Director of Recruitment
Kingsborough Community College
Wenddy.zepeda@kbcc.cuny.edu
718-368-4950
Professional Reference #3 (Include name, title, institution, phone, and email) / Referencia profesional #3 (incluya nombre, título, institución, número de teléfono, y correo electrónico)
Gavin Ireland
Director of Internation Student Affairs and Admissions Information Center
Kingsborough Community College
Gavin.ireland@kbcc.cuny.edu
718-368-6802
Upload a letter from a president, chancellor, or administrator stating the nominee’s qualifications for the program, leadership strengths, and development opportunities. NOTE: If at the moment of sending the application you don’t have a signed nomination letter, please upload a document with the evidence that it is being processed (for example: a print screen of an email requesting the letter) along with the contact information of the person in charge of completing it. (Accepted format: pdf) / Someta una carta de un presidente, decano o administrador que indique las cualificaciones del candidato para el programa, sus fortalezas de liderazgo y oportunidades de desarrollo. NOTA: Si al momento de enviar la solicitud no tiene una carta de nominación firmada, por favor suba un documento con la constancia de que se está tramitando (por ejemplo: una pantalla impresa de un correo electrónico solicitando la carta) junto con la información de contacto de la persona encargada de completarlo. (Formato aceptado: PDF)
PART V: Initiative and Mentor / Iniciativa y mentor
A letter describing a project that you will consider implementing at your campus or organization with the name of the Mentor of your preference. Your Mentor can be different from your references and should be a staff with experience in the area selected. The Mentor information will be submitted with the signature to confirm the availability to guide the implementation of your campus initiative. NOTE: If at the moment of sending the application you don’t have the signature of your Mentor on the project letter, please upload a document with the evidence (for example: a print screen of an email requesting the signature of your Mentor) that it is being processed along with the contact information of the Mentor. (Accepted format: pdf)* / Una carta que describa un proyecto que considerará implementar en su campus u organización con el nombre del mentor de su preferencia. Su mentor puede ser diferente a sus referencias y debe ser una persona con experiencia en el área seleccionada. La información del mentor se enviará con la firma para confirmar la disponibilidad para guiar la implementación de su iniciativa. NOTA: Si al momento de enviar la solicitud no tiene la firma de su mentor en la carta del proyecto, por favor cargue un documento con la evidencia (por ejemplo: una pantalla impresa de un correo electrónico solicitando la firma de su mentor) que se está procesando junto con la información de contacto del mentor (Formato aceptado: PDF)
PART VI: Statement of Purpose (no more than 300 words each question) Statement of Purpose (no more than 300 words each question) / Declaración de Intención (máximo de 300 palabras para cada pregunta)
1. From your perspective, what are the top three issues facing higher education today? Why? (no more than 300 words) / Desde su perspectiva, ¿cuáles son los tres principales problemas que enfrenta la educación superior hoy día? ¿Por qué? (máximo de 300 palabras)
As an employee working in a higher education environment, I view the following issues as the main challenges for our students.
Affordability – many students are unaware of the resources available to help them pay for college, so they can graduate debt free. For a first-generation college student who may not have a role model to help guide the way, college can be an abyss of information. Grants, scholarships, waivers, and other types of tuition assistance can contribute towards paying for college.
Resources – students and parents are sometimes apprehensive about sharing information such as income with outside parties, particularly if they are undocumented. Fear of discrimination or legal action may keep them from applying. Many times, students do not understand the nuances around what they can or should share. For new students this invasiveness into personal information may deter them from applying. Once students are guided through the process, they understand how quick and seamless it was, but getting them there is a challenge.
Career Preparation – new college students don’t always understand the consequences of their actions. Better guidance is needed in explaining to students the pitfalls of changing majors throughout their career, the loss of credits and how quickly they’re using up their financial aid. I believe students who are provided with this type of guidance graduate sooner and with little to no debt.
Although addressing these issues would benefit ALL of our students, it’s particularly necessary for our international, foreign, immigrant and first-generation students.
2. What are your own institution’s priorities and challenges with regard to leveraging instructional technology and distance education for the benefit of the entire organization? (no more than 300 words) / ¿Cuáles son las prioridades y los retos de su institución con respecto al aprovechamiento de la tecnología educativa y la educación a distancia en beneficio de toda la organización? (máximo de 300 palabras)
I consider my institution advanced in utilizing and prioritizing technology to leverage distance education, student services, accessibility, and efficiency.
The college utilizes programs such as Blackboard, Zoom, Teams, Google Classroom, and other programs as platforms for in-person, synchronous and asynchronous courses. The faculty can also recommend programs they have used in the past to our Technology Office for consideration in purchasing for the entire college.
The college has also developed 12 fully online degree programs that students can complete fully online without ever having to come to campus. We offer campus tours virtually as well as information sessions for a myriad of topics.
Additionally, we pivoted quickly during the pandemic to open Zoom Rooms that are available five days a week to serve our student population when the campuses were closed. On these zoom rooms, students can get assistance from student service areas such as Registrar, Financial Aid, Admissions, Recruitment, Advisement, Special Programs, and others.
Finally, with the use of technology we have been able to offer registration services (VRP) fully online, avoiding long lines, and a trip to the campus. Through this process students can fulfill a host of needs as a one stop center. They can clear holds, complete trainings. and speak to advisors all in one place.
3. If have the influence to instill change at your Institution, was one thing you could change, what would that be; and what is the unique aspect of your institution you would like to keep? (no more than 300 words) / Si pudiera influir para lograr algún cambio en su institución, ¿cuál sería? y ¿cuál es el aspecto único de su institución que le gustaría mantener? (máximo de 300 palabras)
Change
One area where I feel that we can do better, and I am actively working to do/change is to qualify our institution as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI). For us to be identified as an HSI, we would need to have 25% of our student population identify as LatinX. At present we are only at 18% which categorizes us as an Emerging Hispanic Serving Institution.
We are actively seeking out partnerships with LatinX neighborhoods, partners, and Community Based Organizations (CBO’s). These partnerships are instrumental in helping us recruit, spread the word and advocate for college access. Through these collaborations we’re able to create social media content, create bilingual literature, attend college fairs specific to LatinX students, and offer information sessions in Spanish. I feel lucky to be part of a team who considers this a priority and is putting forth the work to reach this goal.
Unique Aspect
One unique aspect of my institution that I would want to keep is our unique academic calendar. Kingsborough Community College offers courses in 4 modules:
Spring A Regular session March – June 12 weeks
Spring B Summer session June– August 6 weeks
Fall A Regular session September – December 12 weeks
Fall B Winter session January– February 6 weeks
This unique schedule allows motivated students to take up to18 credits in the regular session and up to 8 credits in the summer or winter modules, allowing them to complete the full 60-credit program in 18 months. Additionally, conserving their financial aid for additional coursework at a four-year institution. For someone who is motivated to move into a career or continue to a senior college, this is an ideal schedule.
Campus Coordinator- CUNY Explorers