On Monday morning, the College followed the event with a Leadership Breakfast for high school principals, guidance counselors and leaders in secondary education from the 22-town service area. Local education leaders learned about the latest initiatives at NVCC including the expansion of the Danbury Campus, the approval of the new Cybersecurity program, the progress of new Center for Health Sciences, and the Transfer and Articulation program.

Waterbury Mayor Neil O’Leary acknowledged NVCC College President Daisy Cocco De Filippis for making such progress in serving the educational needs of the community and reminded the high school principals and guidance counselors how important it is for our students to hear the message about Naugatuck Valley Community College, and be aware of the opportunities NVCC offers for them.

Dean of Academic Affairs, Irene Rios-Knauf outlined the path to approval of the new NVCC Cybersecurity program which will be offered for the first time in the fall of 2016. She explained how the program was developed in collaboration with industry partners, and how this process guides the College in the development of all curriculum.
“We want to be relevant,” she noted.

Provost and Senior Dean of Administration, James Troup reported the progress of the new Center for Health Sciences which will be completed on the northeast end of the Waterbury Campus by the end of 2016, and ready for occupancy by the spring semester of 2017. He also reported on the new location of the NVCC Danbury Campus at 190 Main Street in downtown Danbury. The new campus occupies approximately 20,000 sq. feet, which is over three times the size of the current campus at 183 Main Street. The larger space facilitates improved resources for NVCC students who enroll at the Danbury Campus, including additional classrooms; a large lecture space; computer labs; science labs and prep room; a health lab; a large multipurpose room for tutoring, library, and a seasonal bookstore;  a student lounge; and faculty and staff offices. In January 2016 the State Bond Commission approved $2 million to outfit the new Danbury Campus with instruction and laboratory equipment, smart classrooms, IT network equipment and furniture.

Associate Dean Ron Picard and Assistant Professor of Theater at NVCC outlined the details of the Transfer and Articulation program. Picard reported that “Students can now enroll in 11 CSCU Pathway programs which will allow them to complete the first two years of a State University bachelor degree at a community college and start at the university with junior status upon transfer.”

The Open House followed by the Educational Leadership Breakfast have become an annual tradition at Naugatuck Valley Community College.