“It’s not just a business,” Pichel said. “It’s also been a social experiment both for those of us behind the counter and those on the other side of the counter.”
“She understands not only the value of service to community members,” he said, “but Anna also understands how service is integral to a student's learning process."
“I had no way of knowing who in my class maybe had survived rape, had been subjected to some kind of sexual assault, who maybe had been subjected to something they had forgotten about,” Plante said.
With over 25,000 students returning to the Ithaca area, Ithaca College is in the process of assessing long- and short-term water conservation efforts in the midst of the worst drought in Tompkins County since 1999. Despite recent rain, the drought is still in effect.
In Spring 2015, many students needing services at the Center for Counseling and Psychological Services had to wait two to three weeks to see a counselor. A year later, the wait time has diminished, yet students still have concerns in other areas.
Gerald Hector, vice president for finance and administration, said the college does not yet have a comprehensive plan for how the future minimum wage will be factored into the budget.
After benefiting greatly from financial aid, many Ithaca College students have been prompted to assist their peers in similar circumstances succeed academically as peer mentors in the Office of State Grants.