CATALOG - Schenectady County Community College

OVERVIEWOF SCHENECTADY COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGEHistory and FacilitiesSchenectady County Community College was officially established bythe Schenectady County Board of Representatives on January 26, 1967,after a study made by a citizens committee that showed a need for acommunity college in the County. Following approvals by the StateUniversity of New York and the appointment of Trustees for SCCC,the Van Curler Hotel was purchased by the County and designated asthe site for the College.Located on the western edge of the City of Schenectady, theextensively renovated Van Curler Hotel was transformed into acollege, and classes began in September 1969. The building wassubsequently renamed Elston Hall in honor of Charles W. Elston.Mr. Elston was a member of the original Board of Trustees andserved as chairperson of that board for eight years. Elston Hallhouses traditional and electronic classrooms, computer, learning andlanguage labs, science and culinary arts laboratories, the CasolaDining Room, the Van Curler Room, the Lally Mohawk Room,meeting rooms, the College Store, a cafeteria and offices.The CampusIn 1978, a multi-purpose building was constructed on campusthat houses the Begley Library. This building also houses the SCCCSchool of Music, designed to meet the needs of students in thenationally accredited music programs, and the Carl B. TaylorCommunity Auditorium, home to musical and theatricalperformances and special events.The campus was further enhanced in 1987 when the Center forScience and Technology (CST) opened. This unique facility containsthe College’s physics and chemistry laboratories as well as specializedlaboratory facilities for circuits, electronics, vacuum science, andcomputer networking.A campus development project was completed in 1992. This addeda new student center in Elston Hall, which includes a cafeteria, theCollege Store, student lounge, recreational space, biology and geologylaboratories and 15 classrooms. The South Wing addition to ElstonHall added four new culinary arts laboratories and an expandedrestaurant facility, the Casola Dining Room. An enclosed pedestrianbridge connecting Elston Hall with the Center for Science andTechnology was also added, providing improved access to the CST.In the Spring of 2000, SCCC’s new Gateway Building officially opened.The colorful one-story building houses general classrooms, a childcarecenter, the Gateway Montessori Preschool and offices.Construction was completed in the Fall of 2001 on the StockadeBuilding, a three-story academic building that houses computerclassrooms, traditional classrooms, lecture halls, conference rooms,Workforce Development, offices and specialty programs. The StockadeBuilding is connected to Elston Hall and the Begley Library throughan enclosed walkway in the heart of campus.An impressive Culinary Arts Expansion in Elston Hall houses theCasola Dining Room, two culinary arts laboratories, a dedicatedkitchen for the Casola Dining Room, a bakery outlet, and a seminarroom. The Center for Science and Technology features new labs forNanoscale Materials Technology.In Fall 2011, SCCC began offering classes at Center City in downtownSchenectady.In Fall 2012, the College opened a new $3.9 million, 12,600-squarefoot,two-story addition to the Begley Building for the SCCC Schoolof Music. The School of Music includes teaching studios, an industrystandardlive recording studio, two specialized music classrooms,practice rooms, recital space, teaching studios, faculty offices and astudent lounge.Also in Fall 2012, College Suites at Washington Square, a new$11 million, 112,000-square-foot student housing building, officiallyopened. Students live in two- and four-bedroom suites in the newbuilding located directly across from SCCC on Washington Avenueand enjoy amenities including private kitchens, a fitness area, studentrecreation area, game room, business center, study area and rehearsalspace for music students.The College has continued to increase the number of electronicclassrooms with Internet access, multimedia teaching stations andstudent access to computers. A portion of Schenectady County’s bikehiketrail is located on the campus along the edge of the Mohawk Riverfor use by students and the general public.Directions to CampusThe College’s address is 78 Washington Ave., Schenectady, N.Y. 12305.• FROM THE NORTH AND EAST via State Street, Route 5, turnleft at Washington Avenue in front of the College. Turn right intomain parking lot.• FROM THE WEST (SCOTIA/ GLENVILLE), via Route 5, turnright at the “Schenectady County Community College” exit rampoff the Western Gateway Bridge. Turn left at stop sign into mainparking lot.• FROM THE WEST, via New York State Thruway Exit 26, takeI-890 East to Exit 4B “Erie Boulevard.” Stay to the left and followramp “To Route 5 Scotia.” At the traffic light, turn left on to StateStreet, (Route 5 West Western Gateway Bridge) for 1/4 mile. Takethe “Schenectady County Community College” exit ramp on theright. At stop sign (Columbus Drive), turn right; at the next stopsign, turn left into main parking lot.• FROM THE SOUTH AND EAST, via New York State Thruway,I-90, Exit 25, take I-890 West to Exit 4C “To Route 5, Scotia.” Atthe traffic light, turn left on to State Street, (Route 5 West WesternGateway Bridge) for 1/4 mile. Take the “Schenectady CountyCommunity College” exit ramp on the right. At stop sign(Columbus Drive), turn right; at the next stop sign, turn left intomain parking lot.Visitors may park in “Faculty/Staff ” rows and register with the securityguard in Elston Hall.7