Simon Allen, McGraw Hill chief executive officer, and ECC President Dr. Augustine A. Boakye.
Essex County College’s Business Division faculty got ready for the fall 2024 semester with a special training program at the West Essex campus in West Caldwell, led by experts in the academic publishing field. McGraw Hill Chief Executive Officer Simon Allen was the guest keynote speaker on Aug. 13, joined by members from his Learning Technology and Customer Success teams.
“We are here today for one reason. That’s to be prepared and ready for our students. If we are successful, then our students will be successful. I want you to be mentors, not just instructors,” ECC’s President, Dr. Augustine A. Boakye told faculty members.
With a focus on the college’s Access to Success theme, Dr. Boakye said, “Our world is moving very fast. We have to be updated, we have to know our students, and we have to meet them where they are today.”
Allen agreed with Dr. Boakye’s assessment. He gave an overview of McGraw Hill and how the company and ECC work together to provide the tools necessary for students as they prepare to enter the workplace. McGraw Hill has partnered with ECC for a number of years, supplying a wide range of both hard copy and digital academic materials.
McGraw Hill is a leading global education company that partners with millions of educators, learners and professionals around the world. The company fosters a culture of belonging that respects and reflects the diversity of the communities, learners and educators it serves.
The importance of the partnership between ECC and McGraw Hill in providing students with the tools needed to succeed was the theme that Allen emphasized.
“Always remember that your success as faculty is measured by the success of your students. The same goes with McGraw Hill. If we can’t provide you with the materials you need, then we’ve failed,” Allen said. “The most important attribute you can have is to learn to listen and think about the information you have received.”
The CEO explained that McGraw Hill’s digital textbooks and materials are easy to update in order to provide the most relevant information to students.
“I want to thank Mr. Allen and the McGraw Hill team for coming to our college. The focus is faculty development, and it’s a great opportunity for us to be involved professionally for the benefit of our students” said Germaine Albuquerque, chair of the Business Division.