SUNY Westchester Community College — Local services in Town of Greenburgh

I initially visited WCC during 'registration day' and couldn't help but notice the lack of courtesy displayed by one of the financial aid counselors towards the students and parents. This counselor responded to questions in a condescending manner, speaking to people as if their inquiries were trivial, and came across as if he was weary of repeating himself, despite encountering new faces throughout the day. I was next in line, but felt uncomfortable and decided to handle my financial aid processing independently, including researching any questions I had about additional grants and awards on the official website.

Later, I received a notification in my student account indicating the need to obtain a 'letter of intent' from the Financial Aid office, sign, then upload the document into the portal.

I went back the next day. When I approached the counter, the same, rude employee from the previous day stared at me with piercing eyes (as if I was a person he disliked) and did not offer any greeting. I began to explain my purpose, saying, "hello, I completed my financial ai--," but he abruptly cut me off with an impatient and condescending tone, saying, "OKAY, AND?" I maintained my composure, hoping that a polite approach would lead to better interaction, but unfortunately, that was not the case.

I requested a letter of intent, to which he responded dismissively, saying, "You can download it yourself." I tried to explain that I did not have that option, as my instructions clearly stated I needed to "Retrieve it from the school." He insisted, "It's on there," and I promptly signed in on my phone to show him otherwise. He then attributed the issue to me using my phone and said, "Maybe it's because you're on your phone." I clarified that I had initially attempted to access it on my computer but was now using my phone as evidence since I was away from a computer. He retorted, "I'm on the portal right now, and I see it," to which I replied, "You're logged into your account, not mine. I specifically don't have access." His response was dismissive again, with him stating, "I DEAL WITH OVER 400 STUDENTS, YOU HAVE ACCESS," then finally passing me the paper, which was in his reach the entire time.

I naturally flipped over the document and began filling it out, at which point he scolded me, saying, "Fill out the back only. That's how I gave it to you." While I was completing the form, he complained to security about the number of students in line, expressing pre-frustration with having to assist them and "doing the students work" for them.

After finishing the document, I handed it to him, and he asked, "SO, YOU WANT ME TO UPLOAD IT FOR YOU?"

I inquired about the availability of a scanner, and in an irritated manner, he responded, "I'll do your work for you," but then added, "I have a long day, so I'll get to it when I get to it. Mind you, all request from students needed to be processed with urgency due to classes starting the following week.

I later double-checked the portal on a computer to verify if the download option was indeed there, as he had claimed. However, I found no such option despite conducting a thorough search (CTRL + F then searching the word "download"; including CTRL + [+] to maximize the screen to scrutinize, assuming the text did not have optimal character recognition).

In an effort to prevent other students from enduring similar experiences, I returned to the office to inform the employee that the download option was not present on my account, stating, "Hi, I looked again, and it wasn't there. I have a background in web design, so I wouldn't miss it." He responded dismissively yet again, saying, "Well, that one you did miss."

I attempted to speak with a supervisor the following day yet, but financial staff countered. It's concerning that such behavior persists in the office, and it raises questions about the schools conduct, especially when they keep staff that expresses a disdain for their work, enables an office culture of poor treatment, or has a tendency to speak...

Non-teaching Staff:

I don't like some of the staff. The security guards are jerks, & they will try to kick you out for using your laptop without headphones. I'm watching my Astronomy tutorial & this guy tells me I have to leave. But if someone is blasting music & dancing inappropriately, he doesn't care. He's a short pudgy guy.

• Please note that this is only in the technology building. * Also, there's an event room SPECIFICALLY to hold events, yet the staff closes down the Student Lounge in the Technology building without notice all the time! It sucks having to walk across campus, but at least there's a microwave there!

I donated a microwave for the technology building but the darn security guard took it for himself!!

Cafeteria:

The food is gross. I'm not paying $2 for fries when I can drive to the BK down the road & get four times the amount of fries, nice and warm, for $1. I heard the pizza is good, but I'm sure it's overpriced. It's food-service food. It's really gross. But what else do you expect at a community college? You don't pay a meal plan, & I'm sure I don't spend $11K on food the entire semester like you would have to pay at Purchase College or other local SUNY schools. I wouldn't suggest anyone buy food at the school. Overpriced & doesn't taste good.

HOWEVER... sometimes (you have to ask about it) the culinary department has their students open up a mock restaurant & they serve you AMAZING food! If you're a vegan or lactose intolerant, this entire school is not friendly.

Campus:

One of the more beautiful campuses I've seen. There's geese droppings everywhere, & the staff tried to fix the problem by having decoy wolves decorate the campus, but enough people complained to have them removed. Don't walk on the grass unless you care less about your shoes.

There's a ban on smoking, yet people do it anyway. It's really irritable because I literally CANNOT BREATHE when I open the door to go to another building for my classes.

Professors:

VERY good professors! I LOVE them! They really do care about you, unlike high school! If you have rowdy classmates, speak up. Don't just sit there & let them waste your time & hard-earned money! Professors can expel them if they're rowdy enough, so keep that in mind! A lot of these fools don't WANT to be in college, but their parents force them to come so they can stop being lazy. I DID notice that it's mostly 30+ year olds that act up, though. They always have something inappropriate to say. Like... dude, you're a grown man in an Art History class. Breasts should look familiar by now. Back to the professors, MOST professors are adjuncts. Meaning that they only teach at the college part-time. If you have a professor like that, DON'T COMPLAIN IF THEY DON'T HAVE OFFICE HOURS! YOU should be taking your own time sending them e-mails, & let them know that you'll e-mail them often so that they check! Most students don't bother notifying their professors, & sometimes they even give you their cell phone number to text!

Overall, I DO love this school. If WCC didn't exist, I don't think I'd ever be able to afford an education! This is my last semester here & I'm...

I was discouraged by the incompetence and / or discrimination at this university! I barely made it out of the 8th grade bc of life circumstances! Life has been good & and bad. I've done ok without school. I developed skills in multiple trades and have a good work ethic. I decided to go because it was always my older brother's dream to see me go to school. He passed away Sep 2001, and he is buried in Valhalla at Gates of Heaven, so I figured I'd go to Suny westchester in Valhalla. It has been one hurdle after another from admissions to financial aid advisors. Does anyone have correct information here? Whoever is in charge of hiring needs to ensure they hire knowledgeable people. I walked in today & waited for 2 hours for the second time for financial aid. As soon as it was my turn, an advisor asked where I was from multiple times throughout the conversation. I found that odd and was waiting for him to ask me if I was really Polynesian! I told him and asked him the same and he replied Spain, I think his name was Jose, not sure. I told him recently that my wife and I are going through an informal separation, and that she lives and works in a different state and that we may or may not get a divorce. We may reconcile. The advisor wanted to change my 23 / 24 application to separated, and do other changes like estimate how much I paid in taxes even though I told him at that time we weren't separated and that i linked my taxes directly with IRS to FAFSA! So, I felt uncomfortable with it and that it would cause issues for me, so I told him to stop whatever he was doing and left. He didn't let me know that NY doesn't have "informal separation," so a friend told me yea that would have caused issues! I became unemployed after the padenmic due to vaccine mandates, which I refused and lost my job. So, I need financial assistance. Ive paid taxes for years, so i beleive i am owed that much and i believe I would have gotten better treatment and more information and help if I was still an immigrant and didn't transition into an American citizen! Let that sink in America! Or it was bc of my skin color and Jewish sounding name! Nontheless, STAY AWAY FROM SUNNY WESTCHESTER! I feel for the youth who are trying to go here for a better life! Go elsewhere and learn a...