Kingsborough Community College (KCC) will receive $100,000 in funding from Citizens Bank. This is part of an additional $400,000 investment in the Education Design Lab’s Community College Growth Engine to benefit CUNY (The City University of New York) community colleges. Along with KCC and CUNY, the LaGuardia, Borough of Manhattan and Queensborough community colleges will also be receiving $100,000 each.
As a result of Citizens' investment, each of the participating CUNY community colleges will develop pathways in collaboration with local employers in high-growth industries. The project also aims to fortify regional economic stability by providing local employers with an increasingly diversified workforce. The Division has partnered with the Education Design Lab (EDL) for the past three years, creating and offering micro-credentials in UX Design and Health Coaching.
“It is an exciting time to continue our partnership with the Education Design Lab (EDL) to prepare students for a career in tourism and hospitality as the industry expands in New York City,” said Dr. Simone Rodriguez, vice president of Workforce Development, Continuing Education & Strategic Partnerships at Kingsborough Community College. This new funding will allow the Division to create a new micro-credential pathway in Hospitality and Customer Service to be offered free to participants in the fall of 2023.
This investment, combined with a prior contribution of $400,000 to bring the program to Bunker Hill Community College in Boston and the Community College of Philadelphia, plus a new investment of $200,000 for the Community College of Rhode Island, brings the total funding of EDL through the Citizens Community College Accelerator to $1 Million.