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HCC educator is "honored guest" in Indonesia

HCC educator Vivian Leskes, center, was treated like an honored guest during her visit to Indonesia in July.

Editor’s note: Field Notes is an occasional column published by the HCC Connection that focuses on the extra-curricular activities of HCC educators and staff. The following dispatch comes to us from HCC ESL specialist Vivian Leskes, who spent the better part of July in Indonesia, working with educators on behalf of the Amherst-based Institute for Training and Development. As many readers may recall, HCC has several times collaborated with ITD when the non-profit hosted educators from Bolivia, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.

I have just completed my first week of work with middle and secondary school English teachers in the city of Bumiayu, in the region of Brebes, Central Java, Indonesia. We haven’t experienced any of the earthquakes or tsunamis that have been in the news recently. This is a bustling Moslem city where the first call to prayer rings out about 4 a.m. every day right outside my window.

I have been treated like an honored guest and a valuable resource. It took several days, but they have managed to provide me with the only Internet connection in the entire city. No one will allow me to pay for anything. They schedule entire dance recitals with an audience of one chair, mine.

The original agreement was that I would work with approximately 35 faculty members for two weeks in order to both offer them an opportunity to work on their own oral/aural skills and also to demonstrate US language teaching techniques. However, the opportunity to work with a native English speaking language teacher was so tempting that administrators all over the region wanted a piece of me. So they divided my time among approximately 100 faculty members in two different parts of the region, each group receiving a week. Of course, this dilutes my time and effort so that each faculty member can only get a taste of what I have to offer, but so be it.

Nevertheless, the first group of teachers has been tremendously enthusiastic. They have been an ESL teacher’s dream class, an entire group of students who understand and appreciate grammar, are highly motivated, and hang on my every word. However, they are battling insurmountable odds. Some are the only English teachers in rural schools where they are responsible for nine or ten different classes, as many as 400 students total. Some have no books at all. Others have one book to use as a master copy from which they must duplicate copies for their students, copyright laws notwithstanding. Many students, especially in rural schools, have no motivation to learn English, and I don’t see why they should. Classes are all large, 40 students minimum.

Despite these impossible conditions, the stakes are high. After receiving four hours of English per week, students must pass national English exams in order to move to the next grade, and there is no possibility of repeating a course. And in the last year of high school, competency in English is required for admission to university. The curriculum, which is set at a national level, seems to change arbitrarily, and the teachers don’t seem to be involved in determining the changes. They are supposed to teach reading, writing, speaking, and listening, but the national exam only tests reading. To add to this litany of disorganization, some of the teachers I interviewed have only a basic knowledge of English themselves, what I would consider no more than Level 2 proficiency at HCC. They couldn’t understand my questions such as “How old are your students?” or “What level do you teach?”

Teaching methodology in Indonesia is very traditional. For two hours, the teacher lectures; the students listen, or pretend to, and there may be drill on the blackboard. Teachers say they need help in getting the students to participate. In fact, I was warned that the faculty members themselves would be passive in my workshop, but they have enthusiastically jumped into active learning. The bravest have tried out the pronunciation software I brought. We have examined their national curriculum and tried to divide it into manageable units. Whether or not they can transfer the techniques to their own classrooms is still unclear.

At the end of the week, they had a closing ceremony where I had to pose with each student individually and autograph their pictures. The teachers still want more, but on Sunday I’m off to Brebes, the capital city of the region, which I am told is hot hot hot and full of mosquitoes. After six days teaching faculty there, assuming I survive, I’ll head for Jakarta and, soon after, begin the long trip back to Massachusetts.

Educational affordability and access will play key roles in workforce, reports say

Stephen Coelen, far right, is seen here with (from left): Jack R. Warner, Commissioner of the Rhode Island Board of Governors for Higher Education, Richard C. Lord, President and CEO of the Associated Industries of Massachusetts, and Blenda J. Wilson, President and CEO of the Nellie Mae Education Foundation.

Two separate research reports released at the end of June underscore the importance of HCC in providing affordable, accessible educational opportunities for the workforce. Though neither of the reports mentions HCC specifically, their conclusions make it clear that the affordable, accessible education that HCC provides will play a key role in the state’s future economic development.

The first of these reports, New England 2020: A Forecast of Educational Attainment and its Implications for the Workforce in New England was co-authored by HCC’s own Stephen Coelen, the director of the World Institute for Strategic Economic Research (WISER), located at the Kittredge Center for Business and Workforce Development. Funded by the Nellie Mae Education Foundation, the report was released on June 29.

The 2020 report predicts that, if current educational trends continue, the New England region will suffer large declines in the percentage of young workers holding bachelor’s degrees. This is likely to discourage better-paying jobs from locating in the state, as those jobs generally require a better-educated workforce. In Massachusetts, where the high-tech industry has significantly contributed to the economy, the implications of this trend are clear.

The report also predicts that the percentage of workers who come from under-represented (“minority”) populations will double, going from 15 percent of the population in 2000 to 28 percent by 2020. Among younger workers (ages 25 to 29), nearly half will come from under-represented populations.
These figures underscore the importance of making higher education accessible to under-represented populations, a goal that has always been in the forefront of HCC’s mission. With programs like Avanza, STEP, Upward Bound, and CAPS, the college has consistently committed itself to making higher education a realistic goal for everyone.

A report issued by Senator Edward M. Kennedy on June 28 gives further insight into this trend. In The College Cost Crunch Kennedy points out that the rising cost of higher education is making college unattainable for lower and middle-income families. In Massachusetts, the cost of room, board, tuition and fees at a public four-year college has increased by 49 percent since 2000. Among private four-year institutions the average cost increased by just 24 percent, but remained largely unattainable at $35,470 per year.

The result, Kennedy says, is that nearly two-thirds of the state’s college students graduate with debt, up from one-third who graduated with debt in 1993. In 2004, the average Massachusetts college student graduated with a debt of more than $17,000, the report shows.

For many, this level of indebtedness would make college an unaffordable proposition. HCC lessens that burden. Many of the college’s certificate programs allow students to enter the workforce with needed credentials in just one or two years. For those who want to pursue a bachelor degree, the college provides an affordable start, lessening the need for borrowing to pay for a four-year degree.

To read the entire New England 20/20 report, you may visit the Nellie Mae Education Foundation website at www.nmefdn.org. To read the entire text of The College Cost Crunch report, you may visit the senator’s website at http://www.kennedy.senate.gov/.

HCC MCAS Program puts success within reach for high school students

Editor’s note: The following piece was written by Springfield Central High School senior Amie Zoe Ortiz, a participant in HCC’s MCAS Program. The HCC MCAS program provides tutoring in math and English for high school students who have not yet passed the state Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) test. A passing grade on this high-stakes test is a graduation requirement at all state high schools. Ortiz, 17, began as an HCC MCAS Program student in September 2005, but has worked as an intern in the program office since February.

The MCAS has become a big issue for the past several years in public schools all over Massachusetts. As a high school student myself, I know how hard it is to pass the MCAS. Holyoke Community College offers a program that prepares high school students for the English and Math portion of the MCAS. These classes meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays evenings from 5:30 to 8 p.m.

MCAS students take these classes and participate in the Work Readiness Certificate Program, an eight-hour workshop conducted by Pam Nelson, an HCC MCAS specialist. The certificate program teaches high school students how to fill out job applications, create and update resumes and / or cover letters and how to prepare for an interview. After completing this workshop students qualify for an internship. Pam Nelson places students in areas that they are interested in working in the future.

“ Its fun and you learn new things to help you out in the future,” said Keisha Santiago, an MCAS intern at Holyoke Community College.

With having this MCAS program at HCC students have the chance too pass the MCAS. Math and English teachers give students the help they need to prepare them for the test. From 5:30 to 6:30 the students work on PLATO. PLATO places students academically and helps them step-by-step in English and math. From 6:50 to 8 p.m. the students attend math and English classes with their teachers. Each class has five to six students. The teachers prepare students for open response questions and give them questions that have been on the past MCAS tests.

If you have any questions and you are interested in participating in these classes during the school year please contact the Coordinator Bill Arcand at 552-2063 or Pam Nelson, MCAS specialist, 552-2063.

Campus Briefs

HCC to sponsor Allied Health Expo on August 9

On Wednesday, August 9, HCC will host an Allied Health Expo for current and prospective students who are interested in a health care career. The event will be held 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. in the Kittredge Center for Business and Workforce Development.

This free information session will give current and prospective students a chance to find out about health care careers and HCC’s programs. There will be free refreshments and bilingual staff available. Family members are welcome. To find out more, or to pre-register, call (413) 552-2321 or (413) 552-2000.

At the August 9 event there will be staff available to discuss all the options, including:

• Nursing (RN) and Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN)
• Ophthalmic Assisting
• Radiography
• Opticianry
• Pharmacy Technology
• Medical Coding/Medical Assisting
• Health, Fitness & Nutrition

Hello and Goodbye

It’s been a busy summer. When students return to HCC this fall, they will be greeted by some new faculty and administrators. Take a minute to acquaint yourself with our new colleagues and to bid adieu to some departing friends.

Mike Giampietro, vice president for administration and finance has accepted a position at Bay Path College and will leave us August 18. There will be a going away party for Giampietro on Friday, August 11 in the Kittredge Center, room 301, 2-4 p.m. For more information about that event, please call Cheri Baranowski at (413) 552-2294. HCC Comptroller Ted Leth-Steenson will replace Giampietro on an interim basis but will not be a candidate for the permanent position.

Also leaving HCC is Ninon Amertil, dean of nursing education. Replacing her on an interim basis will be Patricia Triggs, one of the 2006 recipients of HCC’s Distinguished Service Award and a retired director of nursing at the college.

Diane Pacitti, chair of the pharmacy technician department has resigned and will be replaced on interim basis by Sharon Wetherby for the coming academic year.

The college has appointed Xin-Ran Duan as the permanent dean of the Division of Science, Engineering and Mathematics. Duan takes over from Carl Satterfield, who served as the interim dean during the 2005-2006 school year. Duan comes to HCC from Ivy Tech State College in Columbus, Indiana where he chaired the technology department.

The Department of Student Retention and Adult Support Programs welcomes two new coordinators, Elia Dreyfuss and former STRIVE Transfer/Financial Aid Counselor, Irma Medina. Dreyfuss will coordinate the Adult Basic Education (ABE)/College Transition program, a collaboration between HCC and the Community Education Project, and Medina will serve as the college liaison for the community college initiative with Mount Holyoke College.

Arvard Lingham has temporarily joined the Business and Community Services Division. For the next few months, Arvard will be part of the Welcome Center team to process fall semester non-credit registrations.

Jumpstart to help TAFDC recipients

HCC's Jumpstart training has helped more than 700 graduates prepare for jobs in customer service or office support, with training in basic keyboarding, personal computers, customer service, and other business skills.

According to Keith Hensley, executive director of workforce and economic development more than 70 percent of Jumpstart's students have successfully entered the job market.

The course will run Mondays through Fridays 9 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. from Sept. 7 to Jan. 5 and is open to qualified participants in the state's Transitional Assistance for Families with Dependent Children (TAFDC) program. Enrollment is limited and participants must register by Aug. 25.

For more information about registration, call the HCC Center for Business and Professional Development (413) 552-2496 or (413) 552-2042. Free childcare will be provided for all participants.

Hensley elected to two boards

Keith M. Hensley

Keith M. Hensley, HCC's executive director of workforce and economic development has been elected as the New England representative to the National Council for Workforce Education (NCWE), an affiliate council for the American Association of Community Colleges.

In addition, Hensley has been reelected as New England representative to the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals (NAWDP) for a second two-year term.

An HCC employee for more than 12 years, Hensley has 28 years of workforce and economic development experience. In his dual roles Hensley will be a voice for community colleges in New England and represent hundreds of workforce development professionals.

HCC sponsors La Familia Hispania

For the third year in a row Holyoke Community College has joined several local community organizations in co-sponsoring the 20th annual La Familia Hispana Family Festival, which celebrates Holyoke’s vibrant Latino community. This year’s celebration took place at Holyoke’s Springdale Park July 20 -23.

The four-day event featured an assortment of native foods, a variety of live performers from Puerto, Latin America, and local area entertainers. There were amusement rides for the kids to enjoy as well.

As part of the celebration, the HCC sponsored a float in the July 23 Puerto Rican parade. Staff, students and alumni attended the event, escorted by HCC’s own mascot, the Cougar.

Diana Perez, a 2006 HCC graduate, poses atop the HCC float during the July 23 parade

The sweltering weather did not keep the HCC Cougar from attending the July 23 La Familia Hispania parade.

 

HCC picnic beats the heat

There were plenty of smiles – and good food! – at the annual HCC picnic on July 21.

 

 

HCC Connection is published every other Tuesday (or thereabouts) and is distributed to the campus community, and friends of the college, and local media.

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Natalia Munoz
Assistant Director of Marketing and Public Relations
Holyoke Community College
Phone: (413) 552-2183 Fax: (413) 552-2479
cell: (413) 348-8515 (emergency)
nmunoz@hcc.mass.edunmunoz@hcc.mass.edu
Holyoke Community College is the Commonwealth’s oldest community college, serving almost 9,000 students annually in 82 associate degree options and 42 certificate programs, and over 4,000 in noncredit and workforce development courses. The college has the highest transfer rate of any community college statewide, holding articulation agreements with 27 colleges and universities. Recognized for its Honors Program, distance learning curriculum, learning communities, and service to students, HCC anticipates opening its state of-the-art Kittredge Business Center in Spring 2006.