Roy McLeod

Description

Dr. Roy McLeod is a “founding” faculty member of the college and Professor of Mathematics. He currently [2019] still teaches in the Mathematics, Engineering & Computer Sciences (MEC) department.

(00:55) Talks about the need for a community college for the Long Island City area to help develop economic growth, similar to why Hostos Community College, York College and Medgar Evers College were created.
(3:00) Speaks about his earlier career at Hunter College and Nassau Community College and how he came to LaGCC and his excitement about coming to a brand new college and the challenge it would be.
(8:20) Faculty did not have an office they just had a desk and a chair and were just excited about starting the college
(9:26) The first floor was The Great Hall. Registration and everything was done there in The Great Hall.
(10:21) Dr. McLeod said in July, the college had an orientation to get the college ready - that was handled by Dr. Janet Lieberman.
(10:53) Dr. McLeod also said they were able to be as innovative as they could. The structure was not rigid, there was creativity.
(11:25) The name of the first mathematics course was Symbolic Communication, Dr. McLeod said. He said, we were doing things differently. Dr. McLeod spoke about the grading system he said they call non-cumulative grades and he said they had – E (Excellent) G (Good) P (Pass) and NC (No Credit).
(13:05) Shows his first gradebook. (Archivist Note: Dr. McLeod’s gave his first grading book to the Institutional Archives and it is kept with his collection in Division Institutional Advancement)
(14:19) The students that attended LaGCC were from around the area, Dr. McLeod said, Astoria, Long Island City. There were about 540 students in the first class. They were excited about coming here. Student were very much on our minds – trying to encourage them.
(15:42) During that time there were teams of faculty for advisement, students would talk to them about their classes, Coop, or whatever they needed to address.
(16:17) Students felt they could talk to us, Dr. McLeod said, he said it was small so it worked very well. Class size during that time was small from 16-20 students and there was individual attention you couldn’t dream about today – that made a difference, Dr. McLeod said.
(21:11) Discusses the split of the Division of Natural Environment into the Mathematics Department and the Division of Natural and Applied Science Department. He had been elected the first Chairperson of the Mathematics Department. Served as Chairperson from 1976 – 1988.
(25:48) Talks about the Math Lab and its functions.
(26:25) Talks about the Mathematics Department moving around to different locations on campus, Main Building, Sony Building and later the C building. In 1988 became Acting Dean of Faculty
(27:37) Dr. McLeod discussed Basic Skills development and assessment tests in reference to remedial courses and the Math Lab.
(29:02) Describes the computer courses and the Math Express course (an intensive one week course) and its relation to remedial courses.
(31:29) Talks about English Express course that was developed by Professor Daniel Aulicino.
(32:29) Discusses the physical growth of the college and challenges the limited space provided such as crowded offices and classrooms.
(36:18) “[The college] grew so large so quickly” talks about the attractiveness of the Coop Program and the opportunity to earn income while earning college credit.
(38:17) Dr. McLeod also spoke about students coming to LaGCC from many countries and “many come in with extraordinary skills, especially in Math and Science.”
(38:57) Dr. McLeod discussed his teaching experiences with students in his classes.
(42:12) “What makes LaGuardia special? the way the college started makes the college special – we emphasized on students and focused to be innovative and to have freedom.” He also discussed being a department Chairperson.