Dr. Bradley: Wants the college to be more community engaged
POUGHKEEPSIE – Vassar College President Dr. Elizabeth Bradley would
like the liberal arts school in the Town of Poughkeepsie to become more
engaged in the community and to that end, she discussed a number of programs
with the Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce today.
In addition to launching a number of programs for students young and old,
she has begun a partnership with Dutchess County to provide free bus service
to Vassar students.
“We announced with [County Executive] Marc Molinaro an agreement
with the Dutchess County Public Transit to cover the cost of Vassar students
and faculty who ride on county buses. They show their Vassar ID and then
they don’t have to pay and the college will reimburse the county
for all of those rides,” she said. We made the decision not just
to encourage ourselves to be closer to and allow students to really be
in the city and neighboring areas, but also it is sustainable and hopeful
we reduce automobile use.”
The college has also launched programs for young students including the
Vassar Urban Education Initiative and the exploring college program for
high school students, but they are also going to offer a program for adults
this summer.
“Sometimes you are not listening to class when you are a college
student, but by the time you are 55, actually Shakespeare sounds pretty
good compared to some of the things I have to do,” she said.
Vassar, founded by Matthew Vassar in 1835, is also an economic generator
for the region employing 1,100 faculty and staff.
