Bergen Community College

PARAMUS, N.J. – Bergen Community College faculty and administrators have selected two projects as the school’s submissions to the League of Innovation in the Community College for the organization’s John and Suanne Roueche Excellence Award and the Innovation of the Year Award: Professor Rachel Wieland’s work with the College’s student-comprised “green team” and Professor Margaret Hayes’ mobilization of nursing faculty in integrating video evaluations into coursework.

“The superlative efforts of these individuals have not only supported student success, an institutional priority,” Dr. William Mullaney, Bergen’s vice president for academic affairs said, “but further solidified the College’s commitment to academic excellence and progress.”

Wieland, of Hillsdale, has led a group of full-time students to direct campus-wide sustainability initiatives during the past four years. Projects have included improving the recycling of bottles/cans/paper, composting cafeteria waste and building and maintaining food gardens. Under the group’s leadership, more than 10,000 lbs. of paper is recycled each semester.

Meanwhile, Hayes, of New Milford, spearheaded the effort to require nursing program students to produce movies demonstrating their ability to perform safe nursing practices. Students work in groups, taping their performances. Once satisfied with their work, the videos are submitted to nursing faculty for evaluation and grading.

Professors Maryanne Baudo, of Glen Rock; Dr. Maria Fressola, of Hewitt; Marie Griffo, of Rutherford; Joan McManus, of Ramsey; Carrie Polnyj, of Wayne; and Natalie Timme, of Oradell, collaborated on the project and worked to implement the innovation.

The groups will be recognized at upcoming events sponsored by the League, an international organization dedicated to catalyzing the community college movement. The group hosts conferences and institutes, develops web resources, conducts research, produces publications, provides services and leads projects and initiatives with member colleges, corporate partners and other agencies in a continuing efforts to make a positive difference for students and communities.

Bergen Community College (www.bergen.edu) based in Paramus is a public two-year coeducational college, enrolling nearly 17,000 students at locations in Paramus, the Philip J. Ciarco Jr. Learning Center in Hackensack and Bergen Community College at the Meadowlands in Lyndhurst. The College offers associate degree, certificate and continuing education programs in a variety of fields.

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