Jan. 19 will mark the official opening of Rochester College’s new Academic Center for Excellence (ACE) to provide free supplemental instruction and tutoring for Rochester students.

“ ACE is a critical new component of our mission to make sure every single student benefits from Rochester’s extraordinary academic quality,” said Dr. Michael Westerfield, the College’s interim president. “We believe this will be a turning point for many students who might think they don’t have what it takes to master a college education.”

Staffed by two full-time professional staff, two faculty members and ten student tutors, ACE will help students in a broad field of college subjects, with an emphasis on English and math. In addition to tutoring, ACE will offer “coaching” in vital skills like how to study and manage time.
ACE is located in Gatewood Hall (AG1
 
The College funded ACE with a $1.6 million grant from the U.S. Dept. of Education.

To find out more or to volunteer, visit the website, or contact Paula Bonbrisco at pbonbris@rc.edu or call (248) 218-2174.

Reviewers from the Michigan Department of Education recently approved Rochester’s English and language arts programs for students pursuing teacher certification, only a few months after approving the College’s integrated science and history programs.

Rochester’s eight-year old teacher education program, developed in partnership with Madonna University in Livonia, Mich., holds “preliminary” status from the state. Under this arrangement, education students take classes at Rochester, but receive recommendation for teacher certification from Madonna. That authority will pass to Rochester when the state grants “probationary” status to the College’s education program. Officials expect that to happen within the next year.

Teacher education is the most popular major among traditional students at Rochester College.

For more information about Rochester’s teacher education major, visit the website or contact Lynne Stewart at (248) 218-2092 or Email her.

Rochester College confers degrees upon record 180 at fall commencement
A record 180 graduates and their families filled the Rochester Church of Christ on Dec. 12 as Rochester College hosted its sixth fall commencement.

"I remember the first year we decided to do a fall commencement," said Dr. Michael Westerfield, the College's interim president. "We had 25 graduates and required only a large classroom to accommodate the ceremony."

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PHOTO CAPTION: Lee Althoff, 53, of Holly, Mich., holds his grandson, Bradley Grifka, seven months, after receiving the Bachelor of Business Administration from Rochester College on Dec. 12.

Rochester College bestows honorary doctorate
Rochester College used the stage of its sixth fall commencement on Dec. 12 to present an honorary doctorate to Khalil Jahshan, an activist and international expert on Middle Eastern and Arab American affairs.

The College conferred the honorary degree upon Jahshan, a native Palestinian and a resident of Fairfax, Va., for two decades of activism on behalf of Arab-American rights.


Jahshan is a regular Middle Eastern affairs consultant to the federal government and former president of the National Association of Arab Americans. Jahshan regularly appears as a commentator on American and international television and radio news programs.

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PHOTO CAPTION: Khalil Jahshan, a native Palestinian and Arab American activist, addresses Rochester College's graduating class on Dec. 12 at the Rochester Church of Christ.