RCC students fear English academy will soon be out of reach for new immigrants

SUFFERN ‒ When Sheldine Simon came to the U.S. in May 2023, she could barely speak English. By the fall, the Garnerville resident was able to qualify for the certified phlebotomy technician program at SUNY Rockland Community College.

She credits RCC's English Skills Academy.

The non-credit program now faces a significant fee hike that students say will make it out of reach for most.

RCC, as it works to rope in a recurring deficit that's been estimated at around $4 million, has instituted several stop-gaps on campus, including furloughs and layoffs.

At the English Skills Academy, which is a language immersion program, college leaders had floated the idea of raising the semester fee from $100 to $600. There also appears to be no plan to offer the program over the summer. It usually offers two-hour classes four times a week year-round.

A request for further comment from the college's administration was not immediately returned.

RCC: College board OKs more layoffs; president hit with 'no confidence' vote

A fee hike, officials told the Board of Trustees during a March 25 meeting, would make the program financially self-supportive.

But current students and faculty warn a massive fee increase would also cut new arrivals off from a path to fulfilling their American Dream.

"If we can speak proper English, we will get better jobs," said Pierre Chris Wesley, a Spring Valley resident who came to the U.S. from Haiti in June 2023. Like many ESA students, Wesley earned a college degree in his home country. Now he's interested in earning his associate's degree in RCC's cybersecurity program. Without better English, he said, it would be impossible to handle a job. "We will not be able to lead a team, write reports."

500% fee hike weighed

The college during its March 25 board meeting tabled a resolution to raise student fees for the English Skills Academy by 500%.

As of Friday, there was no publicly available agenda for the next board meeting, slated for Monday, May 6.

At the March 25 meeting, Trustee Joe Rand said he had questions about the fee hike after hearing from Julie Brown, director of the English Skills Academy, during public comment.

Brown told trustees that the changes would kill the academy and derail new immigrants' efforts to prepare for college. As she spoke at the podium, about a dozen students stood with her.

About 305 students are currently enrolled in the English Skills Academy, according to staff, and 300 others are on the waiting list. There are morning and evening classes.

About 21% of Rockland County's population was born outside the U.S., according to the U.S. census data. Rockland has seen an increase in new arrivals, including many coming from Haiti after President Biden last year extended a humanitarian parole designation that included the country.

Meet the students

A group of students arranged a recent meeting with lohud.com to express their concerns for the academy's future, and by extension, the future of so many recent immigrants who rely on the lessons to build a future in their new country.

They come from Central and South America, Haiti, Israel, India and beyond.

Karen Condori, a mother of three who came from Peru about six months ago, said knowing how to read, write and converse in English is invaluable. "It's the general language, for the doctor, for my kids' school, for my job."

For Sandra Lorena Valdez, who came to the U.S. from Guatemala, knowing English is key to supporting her two children who need special-education supports and have limited communication skills. It helps her talk with teachers and boosts her employment opportunities.

Jacques Maxy Samedy, who came from Haiti a year ago and now lives in Nanuet, said RCC's program is the most affordable English program he's found, and also the most thorough.

Lisa Glick, an instructor with the academy, said she's seen students go into the college's workforce training programs and credentialing courses or go on to earn their associate's degree and then onto four-year colleges.

"We are a pipeline to the college," Brown said after the March 25 board meeting. "The college needs to support this program."

Kenley Wickenson Moise said after one semester in the English Skills Academy, he was able to earn his Commercial Drivers License through an RCC course. But, he said, that's just the start. He had earned a master's degree in computer science in Haiti, and he plans to pursue those studies at RCC.

A $600 fee per semester, Moise said, would push many out of the program. "We have our family (back home) to help, we have our lives in the USA, we have to pay the bills," the Nanuet resident said of the financial obligations that many new immigrants face.

Maria Vargas, who came to Haverstraw from the Dominican Republic about eight months ago, agreed. She was a doctor back home, having gone to medical school in Cuba. She's now 43 with two kids and can't see pursuing medical school and residency again. But she has her eyes on a registered nursing program that she said she could more quickly complete because of the affordable and efficient English Skills Academy.

Vargas sees it as an investment in herself, her family and her new home. "We want the best for the United States."

Nancy Cutler writes about People & Policy for lohud.com and the USA Today Network New York. Reach her at ncutler@lohud.com; follow her at @nancyrockland on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Threads.

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Immigrants at SUNY Rockland Community College fear English lesson loss