It is no secret that finding a job todayhas become increasingly more

difficult, particularly without thenecessary educational credentials. Nolonger will a high school diplomasuffice. It’s essential that people continueto climb the ladder of education.

And no one feels more strongly aboutthe education opportunities QuincyCollege can provide than President PeterH. Tsaffaras.

“We’re about educating students tobecome more socially and economicallyproductive,” Tsaffaras said, hoping QC’spositive influence will attract morepotential students.

Tsaffaras is optimistic that PresidentObama’s proposal will be a positivething for QC, our economy, and ourcountry.

However, this proposal has its critics.Those who oppose argue that becausestudents won’t be paying for theireducation, they won’t value it. Aninvestment in education provides anincentive to do well.

Tsaffaras recognized some truth inthese statements and agreed that forsome people, the term “free” candevalue a product. But alluding to thefaith he has in the students at QuincyCollege, he said, “It’s certainly not truefor all.”

Asked how QC would deal with anexpected increase in student body if theObama proposal is passed, Tsaffarassaid, “cautiously.”

“At the end of the day, we need toreplace funding currently covered bytuition and fees,” he said.“We don’twant to create a platform that isunsupported.

Although Obama’s proposal hascreated a stir of anticipation and hope,Tsaffaras warned, “The problem isturning concept into reality.”

For now the plan has shown us that thegovernment is willing to lend a helpinghand to its hard working students.

President Peter H. Tsaffaras would proceed “cautiously” with the plan.

Welcome to the first issue of the QC Voice for the Fall2015 semester. By now, you’re all probably settled into yourclass schedule, studies, extracurricular and social activities.But as a commuter school with an open campus, it can bedifficult for some students to interact outside the classroom.Yet you do see and hear things around the QC campuses atQuincy and Plymouth that may affect you and your fellow

students. From the start, the QC Voice motto has been “Anewspaper by students for students.” That’s why we’d bedelighted to hear from you and give you a Voice tocommunicate with the rest of the student body throughideas and opinions conveyed to the QC Voice or by joiningus as a staff contributor to cover stories. In the meantime,enjoy this first issue and best of luck in the new school year.

— The Staff of the QC Voice

President backs Obama’s free 2-year tuition plan

Greetings Quincy College Students!

In January, President Obama announced his “America’s College Promise” proposal to make two years of communitycollege free for responsible students, letting them earn the firsthalf of a bachelor’s degree and earn skills needed in theworkforce at no cost. An estimated 9 million students couldbenefit. The proposal will require community colleges tostrengthen programs and increase the number of graduates, andstates to invest more in higher education. Tuition free classeswould be available to all who maintain a minimum 2.5 GPA andstay on track to graduate. A full-time student could save anestimated $3,800 in tuition per year. We recently sat down with Quincy College President Peter H.

Tsaffaras to get his thoughts on this proposal.

By BOBBI BOLSTERQC Voice Staff

The QCVoice“A newspaper by students for students”

Fall 2015 Volume 9, Issue 1

President’s CornerPeter H. Tsaffaras, J.D.

Welcome students and faculty to a new academic year.Quincy College facilitates valuable learning relation -

ships that inspire students to realize their educational andprofessional potential. We have taken great measures to ensurethat our students have what they need to attain that potential.

Recently, we have increased full-time faculty byapproximately 30 percent and greatly improved andexpanded our facilities in Quincy and Plymouth. We alsocontinue to update our academic offerings and academicprograms on both campuses.

This year, Quincy College was one of six colleges in thecountry given the approval to offer a Physical TherapistAssistant program. The PTA program will take place in a newstate of the art lab on the Plymouth campus.

As students navigate through their course work, Iencourage them to take full advantage of the instructionaland non-instructional support available to them. Studentsupport comes in the form of academic advising, enhancedclassroom technology, expanded library services, tutoring,student success and career services coaching.

We are pleased to welcome our new Director of StudentLife, Amanda Deck. Ms. Deck will coordinate extra -curricular and enrichment activities for students on and offcampus, a valuable component of the college experience.

As a college community, the faculty and staff are dedicatedto offering our students a high quality and affordableeducation. An education that will ensure success in theworkplace and the foundation needed to continue theireducation at a four-year institution. We are proud to say that90% of graduates who responded to the 2014 graduate surveywere either employed or continuing their education post-graduation. The majority of these graduates are working orcontinuing their education in a field related to their QuincyCollege course of study.

“Focused on Teaching & Learning, One Student at aTime” is not merely Quincy College’s motto. It is, as well,the embodiment of the way in which we conduct ourselveseach and every day, including the manner in which allstudents, faculty and staff interact.

People often hear me say, “Education is the passport thatallows one to travel through and navigate our society.” I amproud to say that now, more than ever, Quincy College is hereto assist people in earning that passport.

I wish you the best in the year ahead.

The QC Voice Fall 2015 Page 2

“Well, it isn’t much of adifficulty for me ‘cause I takethe train. The only problem Ihave is crossing the street ‘causemost of the time it is a hassleand then going to and fromdifferent places around Quincy,it does get in the way. But I’msure there’s a reason for it.”

Kiara MarkMajor: Natural Sciences

From: Weymouth

Leo SaraviaMajor: Natural Sciences

From: East Boston

By KEN HALEYQC Voice Staff

Inquiring Photographer

Question: How has the street and road construction inQuincy Center affected your commute to school?

“I park about 5 minutesaway from the school wherethere’s no specified time...(I’m) able to park as long asI need, and I can be here and

come to class.”

Shane DuretteMajor: HistoryFrom: Quincy

Millia Jean-LaurentMajor: Business transfer student

From: Cambridge

HELP WANTEDCome join the staff of The QC Voice and have your Voice heard.We’re

looking for writers, editors, photographers and graphic designers to help usproduce a newspaper for students by students during the 2015-16 Fall andSpring semesters. Here’s an opportunity to enhance your communication,writing, and photography skills to report on news events, feature stories andthe buzz affecting Quincy College and its students on both the Quincy andPlymouth campuses. All levels of experience are welcome.

If you’re interested and want more information, contact QC Voice Advisor,Al Young at qcvoicenews@gmail.com

‘When I’m coming off the train,it’s a little difficult with the trafficlights and going around theconstruction and having to getwhere I need to go right away.”

“Coming to and from schoolnot very much, because I walk to and from here

every day.”

Hidden deep on the 5th floor halls ofPresidents Place was the office of GaryWallrapp.

Yet, most had probably seen his facearound campus, stopped by his office orperhaps listened to one of his presentations.

For the past 14 years, Wallrapp, thedirector of Career Services, Workforce

Development and Alumni Services, wasQuincy College’s go-to guy when itcame to helping students learn valuableskills to fit their career choices andinternship placements.

But now he is the goodbye guy.A member of the QC staff since 2002,

Wallrapp retired earlier this year. “What I’m going to miss most,” said

Wallrapp, whose last day was Sept. 18,“is the day in day out interaction withstudents and helping them with a myriadof career issues, from choice of majorsto occupational pursuits.”

Upon meeting this man in person, thefirst thing you noticed was his engagingpersonality. His friendliness andeagerness to help the students weretremendous assets to the college and willsorely be missed.

The stacks of overflowing file boxesand overstuffed folders scattered on theoffice floor during his final days were atestament to the dedication and work heput into his job.

Asked what changes he had observedat QC over the years, Wallrapp pointedto the growth in class curricula, theeffectiveness of faculty and staff, and a

The QC Voice Fall 2015 Page 3

Continued on page 6

QC Voice Staff

Bobbi Bolster Kenneth Haley

Jane Lee Sakie Uchibori

Alex Souther

Advisor: Al Young

The QC Voice holds

staff meetings on

Monday & Tuesday

at various times TBD.

Contact us at qcvoicenews@gmail.com

Coming ...All Clubs on Deck for new Student Life Director

Like many new arrivals at QuincyCollege this fall, Amanda Deck has lotsto learn. But unlike incoming studentsfacing academic challenges, Deck has adifferent set of hurdles as the newDirector of Student Life.

“I think being new is always anobstacle,’’ Deck said. “I have to getacclimated to the institution, as well asto my position and responsibilities.

“I believe the largest hurdle will bestudent involvement. Finding students’interests, gaining club participation andkeeping students engaged.

“It’s all about time management andbalancing projects and priorities.”

Deck said Student Life is here toencourage involvement in campus life,support student initiatives and serve asa primary liaison for students.

“We provide structured andunstructured programs that fosterstudent development, and communityinvolvement,’’ said Deck, who is incharge of running 17 different clubs onboth the Quincy and Plymouthcampuses.

Some of those organizations include:The French Club, The Chess Club,Gay/Straight Alliance, Phi Theta Kappa,Outdoor Club, Drama Society, and theQuincy College Voice student news -paper among others.

Prior to joining Quincy College, Deckwas the Director of Student Activities,Leadership and Commuter Life at theCollege of Mount Saint Vincent in theBronx, N.Y. She has a Masters degree inCollege Student Service Administrationfrom the College of Saint Rose inAlbany, N.Y., where she also received a

bachelor’s degree in Psychology andCriminal Justice.

Deck was also a three-time, first teamAll-America soccer player at Saint Roseand credits her athletic background forhelping her develop in her professionalcareer. “Absolutely,” Deck said. “As anathlete, you have to be able to manageyour time, manage the pressure ofacademics and athletics, and compete at

Amanda Deck is in charge of 17 QC clubs.

Gary Wallrapp: From Go-to Guy to Goodbye Guy

By JANE LEEQC Voice Staff

By ALEX SOUTHERQC Voice Staff

Photo: JANE LEE

Gary Wallrapp packs it in after 14 years.Photo: AL YOUNG

Continued on page 6

... and Going

The QC Voice Fall 2015 Page 4

NEW STUDENT ORIENTATIONA large crowd filled the Quincy campus Conference Room Aug. 19for the first of several New Student Orientation sessions during thesummer. QC welcomed nearly 700 new students for the start of theFall 2015 semester.

9-11 OBSERVANCEZia Simon, a CJS Criminal Justice transfer student from Canton,mans a table in the Quincy campus lobby with American flags andfact sheets to commemorate the 2001 terrorist attack on the WorldTrade Center in New York City. QC observed a moment of silenceat 8:46 a.m. Sept. 11, when the first of two planes crashed into thetwin towers, killing 2,996 people.

HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH WINNERSAt right, Jelani Lewis and Jacqueline Polanco-Ramirez flash winning

smiles for taking home the top prizes in the recent QC HispanicHeritage Month Trivia contest. They received a $25 gift card and aswag pack from the bookstore. Some 40 people took part in the event

to help observe the month that runs from Sept. 15-Oct. 15 Photo: AMANDA DECK

CONSTITUTION DAY CELEBRATION At left, QC Students Rica Polinice and Rochelle Cetoute take part inthe Sept. 17 Quincy campus festivities, showing off their American flagsMini copies of the U.S. Constitution and pieces of celebratory cakewere also passed out.

CAMPUS EVENTS

Photo: MAMIE MARCUS

Photos: MAMIE MARCUS

Photo: AL YOUNG

The QC Voice Fall 2015 Page 5

Plymouth Campus News & NotesNew and returning students to the

Quincy College Plymouth campuswere greeted by several new programsand improvements for the 2015 Fallsemester, highlighted by the recentgrand opening of its new PhysicalTherapist Assistant Laboratory.

The new PTA program, approved lastSpring, makes QC one of only six collegesin Massachusetts to offer this program.Dr. Christine Rodday and new

adjunct instructor Dr. VeronicaMcLaughlin are currently teachingthe PTA courses.

The Plymouth campus has also addeda Practical Nursing Program, leading toan LPN certificate. Heading the programthis semester will be Doreen Walsh,who transferred from the Quincycampus, and colleague Jane Cashorali.

A third lab was built on the lowerlevel to support the PNP and theCertified Nursing Assistant withconstruction underway in Suites 222and 224 for new classrooms.

Among other changes to the ever-expanding facility, according to DeanMary Burke, Vice President ofAcademic and Administrative Affairs,were the addition of new faculty officeslocated on the lower level in Suites 106and 124.

WATCH THOSE SCISSORS! Plymouth Dean Mary Burke (from left) and physical therapiststudents Desiree Silva, Bailee Sullivan, Gretchen Bobola, Alyssa Mello and Lisa Boyer watch asChristine Rodday, Instructor/Clinical Coordinator for the Physical Therapist Assistant Program,and QC President Peter H. Tsaffaras cut the ribbon to open the new PTA lab in September.

TALKING TURKEY President Peter H. Tsaffaras poses with thePlymouth Pilgrims mascot during QuincyCollege Night at Forges Field in July. TheNew England Collegiate Baseball Leagueteam treated family and friends of the QCcommunity to hotdogs, hamburgers andsoda in pregame festivities. Later,Tsaffaras tossed out the ceremonial firstpitch before the Pilgrims took on theKeene Swamp Bats.

Photo: QUINCY COLLEGE MARKETING

THE LAST DAY TO APPLY

for Spring Graduation is Friday,

Nov. 20, 2015Please visit

www.quincycollege.edu formore information

Several other classrooms on campushave also been renovated to accom -modate the needs of students.

In addition to McLaughlin andCashorali, who has worked in thenursing profession since 1994, there areseveral other new and returning facesthis semester.

Among them: Dr. Dennis Burke,who has taught here in the past and hasmore than 30 years of nursing and alliedhealth experience and holds a Doctorateof Chiropractic, will be teaching naturalhealth science courses.

Joyce Higgins, who has taughtcomputer science at the Quincy campusthe past five years, will move over andhandle the same courses here.

Roger White is no stranger to thePlymouth campus, working as theStudent Development Associate the pastseven years, but will be new to thebusiness faculty.

Cynthia Grew, a 2013 QC Plymouthgraduate with an Associate of Arts inPsychology, rejoins the Plymouth campusas a staffer in the Registrar’s office.

Photo: DENISE MACCAFERRI

New QC Campus FacultyThe Quincy College campus wel-

comed several new full-time facultymembers for the 2015 Fall semester.

In the Academic Division of LiberalArts are Kelly Murray, instructor ofEnglish and Frederick Doyle, instructorof Various Disciplines (PT) who is alsoteaching in the Division of ProfessionalPrograms.

In the Division of Natural & HealthSciences is Elena Heineke, assistantprofessor of Mathematics.

In the Division of Nursing are EileenPappalardo, assistant professor ofNursing; Betty Cheng, instructor ofNursing; Annemarie Furtado, instruc-tor of Nursing; Sileshi Mebrate, in-structor of Nursing; Dorothy Megnia,instructor of Nursing; and LuannSweeney, instructor of Nursing.

In the Division of Professional Pro-grams is Raymond Guillette, instructorof Business.

stronger sense of professionalism asthe school continues to develop.

Over the years, Wallrapp’s dutieswere so vast theresponsibilities ofhis position willnow be dividedamong multiple individuals, with noone person expected to fill his entire rolein all aspects.

Wallrapp said he’s “very pleased thatmore resources and staffing will bededicated to career services, work forcedevelopment and alumni services.”

He expects this will result in “a futureof continued effectiveness in helpingstudents achieve their full potential andself actualization.”

But Wallrapp’s work ethic not onlyhad an impact on the QC students butalso on his assistant, Blerina Mance,

who joined his officelast year.

She pointed tohis dedicated come-

in-early, stay-late work regimen asinfectious.

So what’s next for Gary Wallrapp?A busy schedule, of course. One that

includes a trip to the Galapagos Islands,time with his grandchildren, part-timeconsultant work and percussionist forTALZTOP, an acoustic Led Zeppelintribute band in Boston.

So, even in retirement, Wallrapp willstill be a man on the go.

Go-to Guy to Goodbye Guy

The QC Voice Fall 2015 Page 6

The majority of construction and inconvenience currently taking place onthe doorstep of Quincy College will transform into “Adams Green — TheFuture Centerpiece of Quincy Center.” This portrait shows the completedAdams Green, a contiguous urban park space that will knit togethertransportation, historical, and architectural assets, including the MBTA station,Old Town Hall, the United First Parish Church, the Thomas Crane PublicLibrary, and the Hancock Cemetery. It will be a resource for students, faculty,staff and the community, just steps from our campus at Presidents Place.

Quincy Center’s New Look

Photo: CITY OF QUINCY

Continued from page 3New Student Life Director

a high collegiate level all while being aleader on and off the field.

“I have developed a tremendousamount of drive, success andindividual development from being anathlete that translates to where I am inmy career today.”

While no longer scoring goals, Deckdoes have one in mind in her new roleat QC.

“My goal within the next couple ofyears,” she said, “is to increase studentinvolvement on campus, providestudents with a welcoming and inclusiveenvironment to learn and grow outsideof the classroom, to build camaraderieand spirit on campus, as well as growour athletic programs.”

To learn more about Student Life, andthe variety of clubs and organizations itoffers, stop by Deck’s office, Room 337in Presidents Place or e-mail her at:adeck@quincycollege.edu

Continued from page 3

“What I’m going to missmost, is the day in day out

interaction with students...”