“Looking for funding opportunities like the Foster Youth College Success Initiative is just another way that we work on behalf of our students, many of whom are also raising a family and working to make ends meet, to help them mitigate tuition costs and other related college expenses,” said Kathleen Saunders, vice president of enrollment and student affairs, Ģ����ý. “By lessening the financial burden, students are able to focus more on their academics to successfully complete their chosen program and begin on their new career path.”

The FYCSI program was established to provide college-related funding such as tuition and housing, specifically for students who have spent time in foster care at any time after their 13^th birthday or who are eligible orphans. Recipients must meet all eligibility requirements, which include enrollment in a New York State college or university that also has a Higher Education Opportunities Program (HEOP) and meet the federal Higher Education Act definition of a foster youth or orphan.

In August 2022, Trocaire students who indicated on their financial aid forms that they might have been in foster care were notified and asked to submit a consent form to determine eligibility for the FYCSI grant. Ten Trocaire students were determined to be eligible for the grant with the average age of the recipients being 34. These students are pursuing degrees in nursing and certificates in practical nursing, with three graduating during the 2022-2023 academic year.

Rachel Rose ’24, is currently enrolled in Trocaire’s registered nursing program. “I’ve always wanted to be a nurse and have dedicated myself to pursuing that career, but not working a full-time job to allow time for classes and studying has an impact,” she said. “I never thought anything positive would come from being in foster care, but receiving this funding has helped in both taking care of my daughter and her schooling and paying for my own studies.”

Trocaire’s HEOP office is reaching out to potential recipients for the 2023-24 academic year to submit a consent form for review by September 2023.

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As an opportunity college, we strive to support students who may be facing personal or financial challenges in their lives while on the road to a career-oriented education,” Trocaire President Dr. Bassam Deeb said. “Scholarships like the ones being presented today by KeyBank are part of that support system. We are thankful for their assistance and encouragement of our students, knowing that they will soon be part of our local healthcare community, helping others in need.”

Congratulations to our student scholarships recipients – Kristin Fisher, Kathleen S McAnaney, Mary Raczka, and Jessica Lewis, along with Briana Boyette and Felicia Herrmann (not pictured).

We are grateful for the opportunities KeyBank is making possible for our students to complete their degrees and serve our community as capable and compassionate nurses, trained in the Mercy tradition.

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However, from Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce makes it official. The report ranked 4,529 colleges and universities nationwide—including private and public, two-year and four-year—by students’ return on investment (ROI): the economic gain from a college education.

One way of measuring ROI and the value of a college credential is by net present value (NPV). The report explains NPV this way: “The net present value is how much a sum of money in the future is valued today.” This metric includes costs, future earnings, and the length of time it would take to invest and earn a certain amount of money over a fixed horizon.

Out of four-year private colleges in Western New York, Trocaire ranks #1 in 10-year NPV (#290 overall).

Though Trocaire offers four-year degrees, it benefits from its similarities to two-year institutions for this short-term metric. “Community colleges, other two-year institutions and many certificate programs have the highest return on investment because they generate strong earnings quickly after students finish their credentials,” the report explains.

Notably, it also ranks in the top 50% of its regional peers in the longest-term metric measured: the 40-year NPV (coming in at #1017 overall).

Trocaire’s tuition is the lowest for four-year private colleges in Western New York. In addition, more than 90 percent of Trocaire students receive some form of financial aid, including scholarships, grants, loans and work study opportunities.

 “We work hard to keep a Ģ����ý education accessible to as many people as possible,” said Trocaire President Dr. Bassam Deeb. “The degrees our students earn help them change the trajectory of their lives, from their first post-graduation job through decades of career growth. We’re proud to be the key that helps so many Western New Yorkers unlock better lives for themselves and their families.”

To learn more, .

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Bruce Maki, Assistant Professor – Biology

Course Grant is Being Developed in:

Anatomy and Physiology 2 (BIO131)

Other Courses Taught:

Human Biology

Essentials of Anatomy and Physiology

Anatomy and Physiology 1 w/ Lab

Anatomy and Physiology 2 w/ Lab

Pharmacology and Pathophysiology

Neurology

Pathophysiology

Faculty Initiative Grant project:

This project is designed to enhance topical continuity within the anatomy and physiology sequence. Specifically, I am looking improve application of fundamental biological concepts learned in AP1 to the organ system physiology covered in AP2. To do so, a series of in-class and at-home activities will be presented to the students in which they will develop more precise and sophisticated methods for explaining the biological processes covered.

How will this project benefit Student Success?

The overall goal of this project is to guarantee that students not only retain fundamental knowledge from their foundational courses into their career, but can then apply such knowledge. This latter point often poses a challenge for students who have otherwise been successful in science courses. Through the activities generated in this grant, students will solidify the content that they have previously learned, understand its relevance to the human body and also be prepared to use such knowledge in clinical practice.

Education:

Ph.D., Neuroscience, State University of New York (SUNY) at Buffalo

BS, Neuroscience
BA, Mathematics, University of Rochester

Time at Trocaire:

3 years

Teaching Philosophy:

Successful teaching, especially at an institution like Trocaire, requires a dynamic and reciprocal relationship between instructor and student. While instructors at an institution such as Trocaire are somewhat lucky in that the vast majority of students have academic interests within the same field, we also face challenges in ensuring that the essence within individual academic disciplines – which may not be directly related to a student’s intended career path – offers an equal amount of applicability and value to each student. Because of this, it is important that we use our expertise to teach the necessary content to each student, but to also be cognizant that each individual classroom experience transcends globally.

Research/Academic Interests:

My primary research interests deal with understanding the nervous system at the molecular level. Specifically, I aim to understand how activity of individual synapses controls the structure and function of the brain and spinal cord in both normal and pathologic states. Also, I have a strong interest as to how these molecular events connect to psychological phenomena and subsequent mental abnormalities unique to humans.

Awards/Achievements:

Ģ����ý Innovative Faculty of the Year 2017-2018

Hobbies/Interests outside of work:

The Food Network

Working out

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