Welcome back! I am pleased to see many of our students, faculty, and staff
– both on campus and virtually – as we embark on another academic year.
While each of us has been impacted by the changes this pandemic created, our new normal is likely to be with us for the foreseeable future. I appreciate your patience as we work together to make our campus environment both healthy and productive. Please continue doing your part to help keep our college buildings open to students—wear your face mask on campus, social distance, wash your hands, refrain from large groups, and stay home if you are sick or experiencing COVID symptoms.
Despite the challenges and uncertainty of the past few months, we have continued to move ahead on many fronts, notably with the start of renovations of our future Advanced Manufacturing Center. We also launched new programs in paralegal studies, data science, and energy management, and have been looking at new ways for our students to connect with one another and get involved, regardless of whether they are online or on-campus with us.
I am looking forward to a semester filled with virtual Tunxis events, as well as some limited-capacity in-person opportunities for our students, which will be shared on our Tunxis website events and through social media.
Wishing you all a safe and productive fall semester!
Regards,
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Dr. Darryl Reome
Tunxis Campus CEO
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Renovations to Begin on Future
Advanced Manufacturing Center
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Gov. Ned Lamont joined Tunxis on July 23 for a news conference announcing $5.6 million in approved state bond funds to renovate 10,000 square feet of the 44,000 square-foot new Advanced Manufacturing building Tunxis purchased earlier this year. The acquisition and expansion effort will allow Tunxis to educate close to 500 additional students annually. Programs will continue to operate in existing space until the new center is completed.
Among the officials who joined Lamont (center) for the announcement were (L to R): Dr. Kelli Vallieres, CT workforce development unit executive director, Dr. Darryl Reome, Tunxis campus CEO, Cindy Bombard, president and CEO of the Central CT Chambers of Commerce, Rose Ponte, economic development director for the Town of Farmington, Mark Ojakian, president of the CT State Colleges & Universities, and Dr. James Lombella, North-West regional president of the CT Community Colleges.
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Tunxis Recognized Among Best
CT Online Programs
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Tunxis was recently recognized among the best Connecticut community colleges offering online learning by OnlineU. A resource for students to compare online learning at U.S. colleges, the site released the annual "2020 Best Online Community College Rankings" in its Guide to Online Schools for the 2020 academic year, featuring Tunxis as one of the best in Connecticut, ranked at #3. To qualify, colleges must be regionally accredited and offer at least one fully online associate degree or certificate. Colleges were ranked based on retention rate, graduation rate, online enrollment data, and the variety of programs available. Read more...
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The college officially opened its doors to students for fall 2020 semester on Aug. 26. While the majority of courses are online this semester, Tunxis has a limited number of on-ground classes for labs and hands-on training, and is offering some in-person services to students by appointment. The college successfully filed its Phase 3 reopening plan with the Department of Public Health over the summer, which incorporates a range of measures to protect students and employees, including face masks, a virtual sign-in process for contact tracing, and enhanced cleaning routines throughout the day. Tunxis remains closed to the general public. See more details on the opening plan.
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Tunxis celebrates 50 years of education in its communities during the 2020-2021 academic year. While celebrations were originally planned throughout 2020, some events were postponed when the pandemic imposed limitations on gatherings and college buildings temporarily closed. Tunxis will share updates and upcoming virtual and limited capacity in-person events throughout the remainder of the year and into 2021 as details become available. Those who are interested in viewing the entire list of 50th anniversary events and historical timeline can visit tunxis.edu/50. Read more...
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Virtual New Student Orientation |
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The college created its first virtual New Student Orientation for fall semester, to temporarily replace the college’s annual in-person event. Many departments and student organizations created presentations to assist new students as they start their academic path at Tunxis. Students who complete the virtual orientation by the deadline are eligible to participate in a virtual scavenger hunt and enter to win one of 20 $50 Visa gift cards and a new Dell Inspiron 15 3000 Series laptop. See the orientation for details .
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To celebrate LGBTQ Pride Month in June, the college raised a new rainbow Pride flag on the college’s flagpole. Tunxis staff and faculty shown (L to R) are: Peter Crowe, building superintendent I, Charles Cleary, dean of student affairs, and Dr. Colleen Richard, professor and program coordinator of
human services.
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Professor Awarded for Innovations in Advanced Technology Education |
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Tunxis professor Dr. Karen Wosczyna-Birch, also director of the CT College of Technology and executive director of the Regional Center for Next Generation Manufacturing, received an Innovative Program of the Year Award during the national High Impact Technology Exchange Conference’s (HI TEC) awards presentation held virtually on July 29. She was one of three to receive awards in separate categories for innovations in advanced technology education and contributions to the training of today’s technology workforce. Read more…
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Some Tunxis students spent time on campus this summer finishing hands-on components of their spring classes. An advanced manufacturing student is shown taking an exam for his "Metrology" class. Look for more news here in the next issue. Students and clubs are welcome to send photos of their Tunxis activities and accomplishments to tx-marketing@txcc.commnet.edu. |
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Tunxis professor Stephen Klema’s outdoor sculpture "Hobbes’ Claw—Unsheathed 4," is on view July 15-Sept. 30 at UConn Avery Point’s “Open Air 2020,” an outdoor art exhibition developed in response to limits on public gatherings during community spread of COVID-19. The piece is one in a series of sculptures using the shape of a circular saw blade as a starting point and source of investigation. A professor and graphic design program coordinator at Tunxis for 29 years, Klema has produced more than 50 pieces for exhibition throughout his career, and several works are held in private collections.
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Tunxis faculty Stephen Klema, program coordinator and professor of graphic design, and Jessica Somers, lecturer in photography, each received the Connecticut Office of the Arts Fellowship Award this past spring. The Artist Fellowship Program provides competitive grants to encourage the continuing development of Connecticut artists.
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Several Tunxis faculty were recipients of the annual 2019-2020 Board of Regents Faculty Awards in spring 2020, which recognize faculty for excellence in teaching or research, both campus- and system-wide. Awards are given to adjunct faculty and assistant and associate professors in tenure-track or tenured positions who have distinguished themselves as outstanding teachers, promote instructional improvements for their departments, and for exceptional research, scholarly, or creative work. Michelle Saindon (left), associate professor of mathematics, received the campus-based BOR Faculty Teaching Award, for her dedication to her students and systemwide mathematics discipline. Jackie Decker (right), program coordinator and assistant professor of visual fine art and photography, received the campus-based BOR Faculty Scholarly Excellence Award, for her scholarly contributions to Tunxis students, the college, and the larger fine arts community. Jennifer Rossi, lecturer in mathematics, received the campus-based BOR 2020 Adjunct Faculty Teaching Award for making a substantial impact on students and contributing to the Tunxis mathematics department through her dedication and approach to teaching.
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To learn about in-person and virtual events which are open to students and the community, visit tunxis.edu/events, or “Like” us on Facebook.
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