On Campus
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Onondaga Community College entrance off Route 175

What do you miss about being on campus? OCC President Dr. Casey Crabill asked that question in her Monday email to colleagues. She reflected on what she missed - “the noise outside my window as buses drop off high school students for campus visits, an entire semester of delicious lunches at Stonewalls thanks to our Hospitality Management students, and the opportunity to get blown over on the bridge by the fierce winds of Onondaga Hill.” She asked faculty and staff to email her what they missed about being on campus. The reply was overwhelming! Here are some of the messages people sent her:

“Looking out the Gordon Student Center and seeing the beautiful view and human contact.” - Erin Grabowski, Advising

“First and foremost, I miss seeing my students and all the fun Spring events we were able to have. I read a lot so I miss the Coulter Library and Common Read Committee. I miss seeing the tykes from the Children’s Learning Center walking around campus now that the weather is better. I miss seeing my amazing colleagues in person and Spring OCC sports. I used to ‘zoom’ around campus and get a lot of walking in. Now I have to force myself to replace that.” - Nancy Carr, Office of Accessibility Resources

”I miss the proud smile on a student’s face after he/she gets an ‘A’ from an assignment we helped research in the library. I also miss playing table tennis with the club members.” -Tim Saka, Coulter Library

”I miss students from diverse backgrounds coming together to advance an appreciation and inclusivity for all. I miss seeing students excited about accomplishing milestones in their lives, such as passing an exam or a challenging course. I miss seeing my colleagues go the extra mile to serve a distraught student. I miss face-to-face meetings with students and hearing stories about the many blessing in their lives.” - Eunice Williams, Chief Diversity Officer

”I miss the energy of the students, the look on their faces when they understand a concept for the first time, after having a rough time grasping it previously. I miss the excitement of walking into a classroom to begin class and wondering what the day will bring. I miss those students at Stonewall’s during the last few classes of the semester when they are comfortable serving tables and start to feel innately confident about it and therefore, themselves.” - Professor Courtney Stees, Hospitality Management

”I miss seeing the students, especially the ones who come to the Reserve Desk and I guess what book they want before the ask! They smile and they laugh.” - Elise Murphy, Coulter Library

”I miss my Human Resources colleagues and being able to laugh! I also miss the changes to the landscape, seeing the seasonal plants as they bloom and grow. I also miss seeing and hearing the students outside playing and hanging out in the nice weather” - Enid Reily, Human Resources

“I miss it all. The whole is definitely greater than the sum of the parts of the place and the job. The silver lining is the affirmation of how fundamentally human and unifying education is. The fact that we struggle so much to approximate virtually what we had in reality shows how extraordinary our normal was.” - Professor J.T. Ryan, School of Business

“I miss seeing my Nursing department faculty! I am going to muss not being able to share the joy with our graduating Nursing students as they finish their last test.” - Tish Hathaway, School of Health

”I miss students in my office talking about Trigonometry. I miss walking through the Math department and seeing my colleagues. I miss just chatting about school, or not school with my friends and colleagues.” - Professor Colleen Stevens, School of Math, Science & Engineering

“I miss walking through the ‘halls of academia’ and my little office in Mawhinney, both of which are always spotless due to the efforts of Dolores who is always a pleasure to see. I miss seeing my students, especially with their hands up in response to a question I’ve asked, or sitting in a circle discussing a topic of deep interest. I never thought I would miss seeing my students on their cell phones as I entered a room because when I first started teaching the students would be noisily interacting with each other and that’s what I liked more. Now I just miss seeing them doing anything.” Professor Jo Anne Bakeman, School of Public Safety and Community Service

“I miss the face-to-face interactions with students and their smiling faces. I miss the sweet little visits from the daycare children and how they get so excited every time they see me. I miss the professors I work with, me friends at Student Central, other secretaries, my department chairs, the mail guys, all of the nurses, and the good food at Stonewalls.” -Jacquie Dacey, School of Math, Science and Engineering

”I miss walking on the bridge on a nice day or even a Syracuse icy day, and seeing and hearing students. I miss the hello’s, the handshakes, the hugs, and the kind smiles from colleagues. Most notably, I miss stopping by classroom doors and listening to the lesson, student and teacher interactions, and student-to-student interactions. I miss the glorious ‘hum’ that is normally OCC. But as an optimist, I look forward to when things get a bit more on track and we ALL return. I’ll treasure OCC even more.” - Professor Tim Haskell, School of Liberal Arts

“While I miss everything about my routine and OCC, I really miss interacting with students, especially meeting with OCC South Asia Club students. We were planning our annual Holi (color) Festival for April. In South Asia, Holi Festival marks the victory of good over evil. Once COVID-19 is behind us we place to organizes the festival again.” - Professor Anisha Saxena, School of Liberal Arts

“I miss the sound of laughter in my department, how busy it is, and feeling useful. I miss always having somewhere to go and people to see... and yes, that includes meetings! I can’t wait to get back on campus and hug people again.” - Professor Denise Valdes

”I miss lunch and treats from Bechemel, students popping into my office just to say ‘hi,’ students popping into my office excited to tell me they got into their transfer school, attending students’ service-learning presentations and hearing about the amazing impact their service had on them and the community, visiting community partner sites, working with amazing people who do amazing things, and building projects that make me proud to be part of this community.” Maria Malagisi, Service-Learning.

”I miss visiting with students in the Whitney Atrium and stopping to visit them. I also miss Bechamel and all of their yummy goodies!” - Anne De Land, Compliance and Auxiliary Services

“I miss watching students magically walk and skillfully text as they are abut to arrive at their assigned destination. While crossing the bridge I miss hearing the plethora of languages from Europe, South America, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia in which our students communicate. I marvel at those in the student body who use American Sign Language to express their needs and feelings at any given moment. All of those observations enable me to be aware of how diverse and fascinating our campus is, and make me realize how lucky I am to be part of it all. I am counting the days until we are all reunited!” - Professor Tony Madonia

“I miss the buzz that comes after giving an engaging and interactive lecture when you know the students dug it. I live for that feeling and I’m suffering withdrawal.” - Professor Justin Fiene

“I miss solving problems for students and seeing how happy and excited they are that they don’t have to worry about something any more. I miss being on a campus that gave me opportunity and sharing that with new and current students. And I miss great colleagues and my One Team network of people.” - Ryan Nellenback, Director Student Onboarding

”I miss the face-to-face interaction with my students. I also miss many students casually dropping by my office for a visit and cup of coffee, hot chocolate or a snack. I miss the Events crew playing their country music while working in the Arena and saying a very friendly ‘good morning.’ I could go on and on about so many things that I miss!” - Professor Amy Klein

”I miss the sense of scholarly camaraderie and the youthful creative energy that only a college campus can provide.” - John Trombetta

”I miss the hustle and bustle and the good mood people are usually in as the weather breaks and people can stay outside. I miss the Feats of Clay event which ranks as one of my favorite events on campus. I love seeing up to 20 local high schools, sometime with 20 kids per team, competing and having a blast. I miss my conversations with students this time of the year and offering them encouragement and a good word as finals approach. I miss our athletic fields being full of kids, spring concerts, and seeing students hanging out all over campus. Some are studying, some are socializing, and most are enjoying the college experience. I also miss being able to help a student co-worker or a department face-to-face.” -Mike Mulholland, Facilities

”Although the Children’s Learning Center is open and operational, it is a very different feel. We have less children, teachers are rotating in and out of the classroom and some opt to do professional development from home at varied times. I miss our CLC family being together!! All of the children, teachers and seeing all of the parents who were heartbroken at making the decision to keep their children at home! I miss the student teachers hustling and bustling through our halls and classrooms, planning lessons to implement and relieved when their plans were enjoyed by the children. Seeing the joy on their faces as they recognize that they can teach and that the bonds that they form with our children are precious and vital to their success! I miss walking on a campus filled with people enjoying people!” -Jean Emmons, Children’s Learning Center

Keywords
OCC
Onondaga Community College