Dr. Julie Dietrich, executive director for external relations at Westchester University, presented the Westchester Community Campus Committee’s academic-year report to borough council on June 18, summarizing events, participation and next steps for town–gown collaboration.

The committee said it expanded outreach through an improved welcome event, fall and spring cleanups, a community warehouse project that reuses student furniture, and a housing fair with borough staff. Committee leaders also formed a smaller, action-oriented task force to convert broad conversations into implementable steps and said they will replicate that problem-solving model with neighboring townships.

“...we had a shuttle this time, so that really helped with accessibility and getting the students and forth,” Dr. Dietrich said, describing the welcome and other efforts to reduce friction between students and residents. She reported a fall cleanup focused on Greek life with more than 100 students and a spring cleanup with about 250 students.

The committee said it intends to increase resident participation and accountability within the group and is considering a name change to "Westchester Together" to reflect a broader communication effort. Dr. Dietrich noted the committee has added university representation to the borough’s transportation advisory committee and is developing a student parking focus group working with Ramsey Reiner, the borough’s interim building and codes enforcement director.

The committee is also collaborating with the borough manager and a Center for Community Solutions project to analyze data on student rental properties and noise citations to inform targeted interventions. Dr. Dietrich said the group met with university leadership, including the new president and student-affairs vice president, to maintain direct lines of communication.

Council members and staff in attendance were thanked for participating in events including the housing fair; Dr. Dietrich said she will continue to pursue resident engagement strategies and shared plans for an August welcome event timed to improve accessibility.

No formal council action was taken; the report was informational and identified next steps for the committee and borough staff.