Archived Community Engagement News

The Department of Architecture & Construction Management is involved in supporting a number of service learning and community outreach projects that benefit the region and give students the opportunity to work on real-world problem-solving.

Outreach

• 2023 - 4 submissions, Town of Brookhaven Facilities  
• 2023 - 8 teams, Habitat for Humanity constructability review, 4 bedroom house for Wyandanch NY site
• 2023 - 8 teams, HIS Coalition for the Homeless, Supportive Transitional Housing Constructability Study
• 2022 - 5 teams Seatuck Environment Association, Fish Passage at Upper Massapequa Lake and Dam, Constructability Study
• 2021 - 1 team Baldwin Boys Association, Facilities Assessment and Renovation Scope and Budget
• 2021 - Building Hollow Scout Camp, Training Facility Development
• 2020 - Strang Scout Reservation, Dining Hall and Training Center assessment and rehabilitation
• 2021 - Building Hollow Scout Camp, Training Facility Development
• 2019 – 5 submissions Town of Brookhaven Facilities and Second Floor of Ward Hall, Farmingdale State College
• 2018 - Gideon Sherry, a student in our program participated in a 2018 outreach program sponsored by SUNY to assist with the recovery in Puerto Rico. 
• 2018 - 7 submissions, Town of Brookhaven Facilities 
• 2017 -10 submissions, Town of Brookhaven Facilities 
• 2016 - 9 submissions, Town of Brookhaven Facilities 
• 2015 - 8 submissions, Town of Brookhaven Public Works Facilities 
• 2014 - 8 submissions, Town of Islip Recreation Centers 
• 2013 - 4 submissions, Western Suffolk Fire Stations 
• 2012 - 6 submissions, Town of Babylon Community Centers 
• 2012 - 3 submissions, Design proposals for the Frank Melville Memorial Foundation Park Trust 
• 2011 - 8 submissions, Eastern Suffolk County Fire Stations 
• 2010 -1 submission, VFW facility 
• 2010 - 5 submissions, Town of Islip Senior Citizens Centers
• 2009 - 12 submissions, Long Island Veterans facilities through Congressman Israel

Competition

• 2022 Associated Schools of Construction Project Management Competition, Design – Build Program, Award (2nd Place) 
• Creative Crane Competition (HS competition to promote excellence)

The Campus Times:"FSC Students Design Sensory Herb Garden at Clark Botanic Garden"

Commissioner of Parks and Recreation Jill Weber, Town Supervisor Judi Bosworth, FSC students Michelle Callahan and Dona Damaltis, Professor Michael Veracka, and Town Horticulturist Bonnie Klein

• The Campus Times:"FSC Gives Kids a Smile with Free Dental Care and Education"
• The Campus Times: "It's National Heart Month. Donate Blood to Save Lives"
• The Campus Times: "Quiz Bowl at FSC Celebrates Black History Month"
• The Campus Times:"Hungry All the Time? FSC Can Help"
• The Campus Times:"Because Everyone Needs a Little Love"
• The Campus Times: "Pop a Tab, Help a Family"
• The Campus Times: "Fill the Patrol Car...with Food"
• The Campus Times: "Food Insecurity ... Even on Campus"
• The Campus Times: "Toys for Tots 2.0"
• The Campus Times: "LI's Transgender Day of Remembrance at FSC this Year"
• The Campus Times: "Put a Smile on a Veteran's Face"
• The Campus Times: "Volleyball Tourney Raises Money for Bone Marrow Transplants"
• The Campus Times: "Bring Your Best Art to PortfolioFest 2018"
• The Campus Times: "It's Election Day. Vote!"
• The Campus Times: "Your Classmate May Not Be Eating Today"
• The Campus Times: "Students Turn Out for National Manufacturing Day"
• The Campus Times: "Toys for Tots: Your Chance to Make a Child Smile"
• The Campus Times: "Be Charitable Next Year with SEFA"
• Freeport Herald Leader:"L.I. Seniors Access Free Health Care"

When the Coronavirus Struck, Farmingdale State College Struck Back

As word spread that many students were feeling a huge financial impact—losing jobs, struggling to meet tuition payments, or needing technology to keep pace in their courses, suddenly online—the Farmingdale College Foundation established an emergency fund for cases like these and many others. Within days, the fund generated over $14,000, with the support going entirely to students who needed financial support.

The departments of Nursing, Medical Lab Technology, and Dental Hygiene, along with the custodial staff and the LIEOC, contributed 720 isolation gowns, 261 boxes of protective gloves, 400 face masks, 275 face shields, 50 face masks, 24 boxes of alcohol wipes, and 47 safety goggles to the Northwell Health System. The items were used by the medical staff at Plainview Hospital and Syosset Hospital. And Athletics donated gloves and masks to University Police.

The College's Small Business Development Center is working with more than 200 small business owners to assist them with the Economic Disaster Loan and the Paycheck Protection Program to help them recover from the economic impact of COVID-19.

The College staff went well beyond the call of duty, delivering food for international students in the residence halls who couldn't fly home because of airline cancellations, arranging distribution of laptops to students who required one for their courses now that they had to attend class from home, and providing a variety of resources for faculty and students—including an offer from Barnes & Noble to grant free digital access to textbooks. "A lifesaver," one student posted on social media.

"When the crisis hit our faculty and staff went to extraordinary lengths to eliminate barriers to student success," said Dr. John S. Nader, former President of Farmingdale State College. "These include lending computers to students to allow remote work, expand and extending the hours of our technical support, housing students with special needs, delivering virtual labs and easing financial burdens and allowing remote registration. And we did it all within two to three weeks."