iCED is a college-wide department that is responsible for myriad service and civic engagement programs at the college that ignite, empower, and transform faculty and students. Academic service-learning (ASL) is at the heart of iCED. Academic Service Learning is the engaged teaching process whereby faculty and students use their classroom knowledge and insights to work alongside community partners for mutual benefit. Last year alone 7,500 Kendall Campus students contributed nearly 20,000 hours of service to the local community. iCED also coordinates the Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI U) to encourage and support college students to create and implement innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges. Students create and submit “commitments to action” and if selected, attend the annual CGI U conference with college students from around the world. iCED also offers multiple experiences including voter registration drives and alternative breaks to engage students as active citizens.
The Kendall Campus Iced office is located on the second floor of Building 8 in room 8201.
Contact Christy Calderon, ccalder1@mdc.edu
EEI/GSELS Earth Ethics Institute (EEI) supports student changemaking through various academic initiatives and co-curricular activities including: Global Sustainability and Earth Literacy Studies (GSELS) Learning Network; YES! for Environmental Sustainability student club; Earth literacy and sustainability-focused student project showcase events; guest speaker presentations and film screenings; Narrow Ridge Earth Literacy field experience; on-campus organic gardening service-learning opportunities; "immersion" field trips to various local sites; opportunities for students to attend local and regional conferences, workshops and presentations; interdisciplinary Earth Literacy and Sustainability elective course.
Through EEI, students, faculty and other members of the campus-wide community receive support, guidance, and resources to develop and implement changemaking efforts. In addition to the above-mentioned initiatives and activities, each semester EEI offers professional development for faculty and staff to support curriculum enhancement that further enriches students’ exploration of Earth literacy, global citizenship, ecological sustainability, and civic engagement.
The Kendall Campus Earth Ethics Institute office is located on the second floor of Building 8 in room 8201-04.
Contact Netiva Kolitz, EEI Program Professional - nkolitz@mdc.edu
The STEM Talent Opportunity Priority (TOP) grant program is funded by the U.S. Department of Education to promote and inspire the students at Miami Dade College Kendall Campus in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. The program implements the following activities to enhance the STEM student experience: Peer-Led Tutoring (PLTL), STEM Undergraduate Research – PRISM (Program Research in Involved, Science, and Math), SCSE - Stem Center for Student Engagement, and Academic Support.
The STEM TOP program supports student change making by empowering students to become leaders. In PLTL, MDC students can apply and be selected as Peer Leaders. Peer Leaders are students who have successfully passed a gateway math or science course and are trained to lead small groups of students in a weekly, two-hour study session for that course. Peer Leaders form relationships with Faculty Mentors who guide them through the semester. They are mentored and encouraged to become role models for their peers. As a result of this experience, they also develop a variety of leadership skills, such as effective communication, collaboration, empathy, team-building/management, and improved self-confidence. Many of our Peer Leaders have gone on to various medical and engineering programs.
As part of PRISM, students have the opportunity to participate with a Faculty Mentor in undergraduate research projects that lead to an oral or poster presentation at a STEM Research Symposium. Many of our undergraduate research deals with critical issues. For this upcoming summer, the projects planned include concerns such as tumor-host interactions, personality indicators on self-esteem and the antimicrobial properties of plants. Some of these projects have led to immediate, positive change here on our campus. This past summer a team of 4 student researchers along with Professor Penciu took the initiative to plan and build a solar-powered charging station for our campus community to charge their portable devices. The station is located at NW corner of the Fred Shaw Plaza. The PRISM research program offers students concrete demonstrations of how they can apply the principles and concepts they cover in their MDC math and science courses to become leaders and make positive impacts. The active learning element of research allows students to make connections to their own passions and interest that may not be possible in a more passive learning environment.
The STEM Center for Student Engagement (SCSE) allows students to support each other as they gain valuable tutoring and mentoring assistance to help them navigate the STEM curriculum in order to make informed academic and career decisions. The Center mentoring community encourages the exchange of ideas and knowledge that may lead to networks of positive change making. Students and the Program Coordinator from the SCSE joined together to create the first STEM student organization here at the Kendall Campus. Through the club students have participated in activities including beach cleanups, volunteering at local schools and here at the Kendall Campus to tutor and for events like MDC’s Spooky Night.
Contact Jorge Cuellar, Grant Director Title V STEM, GRANT - TITLE V, jcuellar@mdc.edu
The Student Life department offers a wide array of Co-Curriculum student Changemaking opportunities that involve club involvement. Students can join an existing club or form a new club around passions, problem-solving while enhancing leadership and problem-solving skills.
Student Government Association
The Student Government Association is the voice of the student body and represents students' interests and concerns to the campus leadership. Through Student Government, students build leadership, organizational and communication skills. They also have the opportunity to represent the student body in campus, college, and statewide meetings. The Food Pantry newly opened in January 2018, fully operates with the leadership of the SGA students. Kendall Campus Student Life is now accepting donations for our new food pantry. Needed items are canned food and hygiene products. For on-campus pick up of donations call 305-237-2321
The Student Life Department is located in the Koffee House room 130, and our office is located in room 100.
Contact ladamo@mdc.edu
Single Stop is a one-stop source for students and immediate family members to be connected to public benefits and local resources. Single Stop offers students a wide array of services including benefits screening, free tax preparation, financial coaching, Food Pantry for Students and health insurance assistance. In October 2010, Miami Dade College’s partnership with Single Stop USA was established and more than 30,000 students and families have benefited from the program's services to date.
Eligibility and Referral Process
All of our services are free to Miami Dade College students and their family members. We use a holistic approach to assess and meet the needs of our MDC students and families. We work with a unique web-based program known to quickly screen for multiple government benefits and to assist with determining eligibility. We have also partnered with the Department of Children & Families (DCF) and have a full-time DCF case manager on site. This allows our coordinators to assist in the application of benefits, ensure the follow-through of all necessary paperwork and follow-up with each individual/family member to make sure they received the benefits they are eligible for.
Contact Sara Dorvilier, Coordinator, sdorvili@mdc.edu
Student Services
Student Recruitment has an opportunity to show how MDC can help students become better citizens. Through events like orientation the recruitment department showcases campus resources, and student life/club activities, those new students have access to which enables them to be change makers.
Student Advisement: Helping students to make a connection between their major and how it can impact their larger community. For the college to provide the resources (i.e. listing or resource guide) to show the resources we have on our campus for students to get involved and be more civically engaged.
The Recruitment and Advisement Department are located in the R building,
Contact Bienela Herrera, Bherrera@mdc.edu
Community Education and Professional Development
Teaching K-12 students the importance of protecting the environment at our nature facility. Also fostering a learning environment during the summer camp regarding the impact of our actions on the environment.
Through collaborative efforts with faculty, we engage students in service learning activities at the Environmental Center. As such, students gain a deeper understanding of the environment and ways that they can protect and preserve it, such as the restoration of the Pine Rockland.
Continuing Education and Professional Development located in room 5127 at the Kendall Campus.
Contact Enid Lima – elimasua@mdc.edu
The Health and Wellness department provides various opportunities for our students to increase awareness and improve healthier living. The students also have various opportunities to engage in Iced Service Learning and department internships that advocate healthy and preventative disease, active hands-on learning experiences. Changemaker students are encouraged and mentored through a Philanthropy process to aid the community and campus fundraising projects.
The Health and Wellness Department/Centers are located in the G Building (7000, Gibson Health Center.
Contact Magdalena Cookie Rosell, mrosell@mdc.edu
Learning Resources provides access to crucial information on an array of topics to assist students and faculty in any of their Changemaking endeavors. Learning Resources also provides students with technology and areas for collaborative teamwork and individual reflection. In order for successful Changemaking to develop, research and action on a subject are necessary. Learning Resources provides students and faculty writing assistance and support to find, understand, and act upon issues affecting the global community.
Learning Resources is located on the 1st floor of building 2000.
Contact Jennifer Diptee, Director, jdiptee@mdc.edu