DCC Cuts Ribbon on Their New Fishkill Location

FISHKILL – Dutchess Community College held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, June 10, to mark the formal opening of its new DCC@Fishkill facility.

The invitation-only ceremony officiated by Acting President Ellen Gambino was attended by a select group of local politicians, business representatives, school administrators, stakeholders and DCC staff and faculty.

“DCC@Fishkill has been built with the purpose and intention of becoming an incubator of tomorrow’s leaders,” said Acting President Gambino. “It is my sincere hope that this facility, with is superb classrooms and labs, easily accessible location, and welcoming and open learning spaces, will provide our students – the next generation of pioneers – the space and support they are going to need as they marshal the resources of education, technology and human ingenuity to forge new solutions for the market challenges they will face.”

Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro, a Dutchess Community College alum, said, “This is a remarkable accomplishment, under significant challenges. This is a partnership that found the right location, created the strategic partnerships and you’ve invested in something that is going to transform lives in Dutchess County.”

After speeches and the formal ribbon-cutting, guests were taken on a tour of the 47,000 square foot facility, which included visits to the computational multi-purpose learning spaces, and biology and physical sciences labs.

Throughout the tour it was emphasized that the Fishkill extension would be serving both traditional students and those starting or returning to college. DCC@Fishkill will offer a range of programs for personal, professional and career development. With an enhanced focus on the academic areas of business, hospitality, criminal justice and information technology, the facility also provides a host of student support services including tutoring, advising and workforce development resources.

Additionally, the DCC@Fishkill facility features:

– A computer classroom with an internal network that allows courses in cyber security and other related classes to work on an independent network.

– Twenty digitally equipped “smart” classrooms fitted with mobile tables to allow for alternate seating arrangements.

– An oversized lecture/classroom that can accommodate 66 people in a table setup or 90 in theater-style.

– Three computer labs with pop-up desks that can accommodate space-saving monitor and keyboard storage.

– Two flexible collaborative work rooms designed for focused study, group learning, and everything in between.

– A library with computer workstations and soft seating areas.

– Multiple faculty office areas that offer a combination of quiet workspaces and conversation corners.

– Student lounge areas with seating arrangements that can be reconfigured for individuals or group gatherings.

– Classroom space to accommodate high school equivalency (HSE) and English as a second language (ESL) learning and teaching.

Instructor Maureen Gittelman spoke enthusiastically about the new program the college is offering – an Associate in Applied Science in Hospitality & Tourism. As the travel industry moves toward recovery, Dutchess Community College says it is poised to support the region’s growing demand for trained personnel by launching a new associate degree in hospitality and tourism. Set to begin this fall, the new program is expected to equip students with a strong business foundation, giving graduates great versatility in the job market.

Designated as a top travel destination by Lonely Planet and the National Geographic Traveler, the Hudson Valley is the fastest growing area in New York state, offering one of America’s most vibrant business environments. In 2019, visitor spending in the Hudson Valley region was $4.4 billion. And projections by local business leaders indicate that the tourism and hospitality industry is poised for growth.

According to Dutchess Tourism, Inc. President & CEO Melaine Rottkamp, “No industry has been harder hit by the pandemic than travel and tourism but with more and more people getting vaccinated, travel is going to come roaring back. When it does, it will be crucial that we have qualified employees at our hotels, restaurants and attractions to welcome them and provide excellent experiences.” Rottkamp added, “We are thrilled to work with Dutchess Community College to connect students and graduates with our tourism-related business partners who will need the key skill sets these participants will gain through this new program.”