Onondaga Community College students pursuing a career in a supply-chain related field will get a boost to continue their education. The Institute for Supply Chain Management of Greater Syracuse recently presented a $45,000 check to the OCC Foundation. Institute president Mary Rhodes says this gift is an investment in the future of Central New York.
"It's important to us that we meet a vital need for future OCC students that want the opportunity to complete their education in order to make a positive impact in the growing supply chain industry, especially here in Central New York."
The state department of labor says positions in purchasing, logistics, warehousing, and related areas will see a 13 percent growth rate through 2026. That might be even higher in Central New York, where Amazon is building at least two large distribution centers that need well over one thousand workers.
The grant award could serve as an incentive: a returning OCC student will receive two-thousand dollars to help cover expenses each year, starting this fall. OCC President Dr. Casey Crabill says it can make a difference.
"Students are largely from Central New York, and the vast majority will live, work, and raise their families here. OCC students are the employees, homeowners, business owners, entrepreneurs, innovators and community leaders that will take us forward."
Crabill says 85 to 90 percent of OCC students will live and work here when they finish their education.
PREPARATIONS FOR THE SPRING SEMESTER
OCC plans to increase the frequency of COVID-19 testing when the semester begins February 1st in response to increased positivity rates across the region and state. Officials say the first week of classes will be entirely virtual while new testing protocols are put in place. In person classes begin February 8th. SUNY Upstate Medical University’s saliva pool testing method will continue to be available to students, faculty, and staff at no cost. OCC will also continue to follow other safety protocols. Among them:
• A single point of entry to campus for daily screening of all students, faculty, and staff.
• Mandatory mask wearing.
• Socially distanced classrooms and learning spaces.
• Class instruction in four different formats, giving students the ability to choose the format which works best for them.
• Daily testing of wastewater for traces of the virus.
• All rooms in the residence halls converted to “singles” to reduce density.
• One residence hall left unoccupied for quarantine purposes.
Registration is open for the spring semester. Tuition for full-time students is $2,545.
