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| HCConnectiion Online |
 Wednesday Sept. 26 , 2007
HCC is on the Governor's radar As many of you know, Governor Deval Patrick has been advocating for the extension of a free public education through the first two years of college. A bold suggestion for some, this is the sort of leadership that HCC wants to encourage. Earlier this month, at the urging of HCC Trustee Heriberto Flores, I visited with the governor's Special Advisor for Education, Dana Mohler-Faria to discuss this idea. I was joined by my esteemed colleague Springfield Technical Community College President Ira Rubenzahl. Together, we urged Mohler-Faria to consider using our two institutions to "test drive" Governor Patrick's concept. We thought our request might startle Mohler-Faria, but we were pleasantly surprised. It was my distinct impression that the governor's office is open to discussing it further with us in the future.
HCC Series takes up urban challenges
On Sept. 18, urban policy experts Barry Bluestone and James Stergios headlined "Modeling Change in Urban Communities" the first in a four-part breakfast series at the Kittredge Center. Bluestone, who heads Northeastern University's Center for Urban and Regional Policy, and Stergios, the executive director of the Pioneer Institute, outlined some of the challenges facing the Greater Holyoke area. Among other things, the panelists looked at the evolving demographics of older industrial cities like Holyoke and Springfield. They noted that there has been an erosion of younger, skilled workers over the past 20 years, a factor which underscores the importance of bolstering educational opportunity. The meeting raised some very interesting questions, many of which do not have easy answers. Organizers hope that participants will continue mulling those questions at subsequent breakfast roundtables, which will be scheduled throughout the fall and spring semesters. The series is sponsored by HCC, the Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce, and the Bank of Western Massachusetts.
Xin-Ran Duan speaks at international conference HCC Dean of Science, Engineering and Mathematics, Xin-Ran Duan was a featured presenter this month at the International Network of Engineering Education and Research (INEER) conference in Portugal. Educators from 58 countries attended the conference, which was held in Coimbra, Portugal on Sept. 2-7. Duan, a Holyoke resident, presented a workshop “A Proposed Model Curriculum for Pre-Engineering Degree Programs” in which he outlined a 68-credit curriculum that seeks to maximize the success of engineering students who transfer from a community college to a four-year institution. Duan was also one of just 47 conference attendees who were asked to contribute to INEER’s annual publication “World Innovations in Engineering, Education, and Research.” His contribution to that publication was a chapter entitled “The Required Knowledge and Skill Competencies for CAD and Design Engineering Students.” “This was a great opportunity for me to represent HCC and to upgrade our engineering program,” said Duan of the conference, which attracted educators from more than 80 colleges in the United States. “HCC has a good tradition for teaching this subject, but we need to attract more engineering students. There is a great need for trained engineers.” A native of China, Duan is a graduate of Xi’an Jiatong University. He holds a masters degree in mechanical engineering and a PhD in higher education administration. In addition to his membership in numerous educational and science organizations, Duan was recently named by NASA as its HCC liaison for the Massachusetts Space Grant Consortium. That consortium provides unique research and internship opportunities with NASA for ambitious engineering students.
Whether you are just beginning your college career or you are coming back for the 10th time, there might be a few questions that the student handbook can't answer. As part of the MACC AmeriCorps *VISTA program, the HCC Community Resource Liaison, T- Petti, is ready to give you a hand. Things like:
T- will help you tackle these questions in a safe, confidential environment. Whether you are a student who needs more information on the resources that are available in the community, or a faculty or staff member who would like more information about meeting student needs with non-college resources, stop by T-'s office in Frost 101. Or call T- at (413) 552-2511. T- is available to answer student questions individually and privately. T-'s office is open to all students regardless of age, income, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, race or religion. Students may drop in to Frost 101 to pick up Section 8, Foodstamp, and MassHealth applications, as well as to have questions about these and other resources answered in a clear and respectful manner. All students are invited to speak with T- at any time and encouraged to learn about these resources in a campus-wide effort to increase knowledge about the community and assist students to share this knowledge through peer led education and support. T- is also available to work with faculty and staff to design programming or presentations that address various aspects of student need both in and outside of the classroom HCC staff tapped by Governor Patrick for key committee
HCC Pathways Coordinator Irma Medina and ENLACE Director Isolda Ortega Bustamente are among the handful of western Massachusetts residents who were recently chosen by Governor Deval Patrick to serve on subcommittees of the statewide Readiness Project Leadership Council. Medina has been asked to serve on the Innovative Schools subcommittee while Ortega Bustamente has been tapped for a position on the Whole Child subcommittee. Subcommittee members will use their experience to identify specific state actions, offer cost projections and benchmarks to help carry the Commonwealth forward in education over the next decade. The Project's Leadership Council will synthesize the work of the subcommittees and offer a draft comprehensive 10-year strategic plan that will be submitted to the Governor.
Taber Gallery features "Gifts of the Soul for Everyday People"
You are invited to HCC’s Taber Gallery now through October 18 to view “Gifts of the Soul for Everyday People” a collection of paintings and prints by the late Fred Becker and Jean Morrison Becker. The artists’ daughter, Carla Becker, will be the featured speaker at the exhibit opening, Oct. 3, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. For more information, call (413) 552-2614. A native of Oakland, California, Fred Becker, the son of a silent film actor, relocated to New York City in the 1930’s when he began studying architecture. He later enlisted with the Graphic Arts Division of the Work Progress Administration, a Depression-era program designed to fight unemployment. He later relocated to Amherst, Massachusetts where he taught art at the University of Massachusetts until his retirement in 1986.
A graduate of Sarah Lawrence College, Jean Morrison Becker exhibited her work at galleries in New York City, the mid-west, and in western Massachusetts. She taught painting at the University of Massachusetts' continuing education program.
Authors @ HCC series to feature Pierre Orelus You are invited to the Picknelly Dining Room on Thursday October 18 for a free luncheon and talk by Pierre W. Orelus, author of “Education Under Occupation: The Heavy Price of Living in a Neocolonized and Globalized World.” The luncheon begins at 12:30 p.m., and reservations are requested by October 10 by emailing Camille Close at cclose@hcc.mass.edu or by calling (413) 552-2277. A native of Haiti, Orelus is an adjunct English as a Second Language (ESL) instructor at HCC and is pursuing his doctorate at the University of Massachusetts. His book is available for $39 at the HCC Bookstore and online Amazon.com. There will also be copies of the book available for sale and for signing at the October 18 luncheon. In his book, Orelus critically analyzes the ongoing and wide-ranging effects of colonialism and globalization on the poor, especially on those living in the “Third World.” The author’s overarching argument is that colonization was not merely about the conquest of foreign lands, but it was also about the ideological monitoring of the colonized’s mind, often maintained through western hegemonic texts and institutional apparatus, such as schools and churches. Orelus’s talk is the first in HCC’s 2007-2008 Authors@HCC series, a program that regularly highlights published HCC faculty and staff. Upcoming events include a Nov. 8 talk with American history faculty Elise Tripp, author of “Surviving Iraq: Soldiers’ Stories” ($18, Olive Branch Press) a compilation of first-person narratives from soldiers (some of them HCC students) who have returned from the current war in the Middle East. Reserve now for Winona LaDuke presentation
Reservations are now being accepted for “Environmental Justice: A Native American Perspective” a free talk by noted activist Winona LaDuke, to be held at Holyoke Community College on Tuesday October 9 at 11 a.m. Reservations should be made by October 2 by calling Student Activities Coordinator Vivian Ostrowski at (413) 552-2418 or by emailing vostrowski@hcc.mass.edu (put “LaDuke” in the subject line.) The talk will take place in the Leslie Phillips Forum of HCC’s “C” building. Anyone with a disability that may require accommodations should call (413) 552-2417 by October 2. Since graduating from Harvard University in 1982 with a degree in rural economic development, LaDuke has blazed a trail for the environment, Native American rights, and women’s issues. In 1996 and 2000, the Green Party nominated her to serve as its vice presidential candidate, where she campaigned alongside noted consumer advocate Ralph Nader. The mother of three children, LaDuke is also the author of one novel Last Standing Woman (1997), and two non-fiction books, All our Relations: Native Struggles for Land and Life (1999), and Recovering the Sacred: the Power of Naming and Claiming (2005).
HCC celebrates Marieb at special dinner
On Sept. 18, several current and former nursing faculty and students came together at the Delaney House to celebrate the contributions of retired HCC professor Elaine Marieb. Marieb, whose name graces the HCC science building, was a force to be reckoned with when she taught anatomy and physiology classes at HCC from 1969 to 1995. Not content with the existing textbooks, she wrote her own biology textbook "Human Anatomy & Physiology" which is still used at HCC and in science programs across the country. An eighth edition of that texbook is currently in the works. In addition to a distinguished teaching and writing career, Marieb became something of a role model for students, earning an associates degree in nursing and masters in gerontology after having already completed a doctoral program in zoology. Though she now lives in Florida most of the year, Marieb also has a home on Cape Cod. And, at 71, she maintains a current nursing license.
Race and poverty to be discussed at special forum, Oct. 9, 16, 23, and 30 The National Conference for Community and Justice of Connecticut and Western Massachusetts Inc. (NCCJ) will begin a series of community study circles to discuss race and poverty on October 9, 5:30-7:30 p.m. in the Barrett Conference Room on the third floor of the Frost Building. This and subsequent discussions will call together groups of racially and enthnically diverse adults to discuss issues of race, poverty, community needs and opportunities for change. The sessions are free, and open to the public and are designed to move participants from personal experiences and observations about these issues to a discussion of public policy and leadership. The final session will focus on community building. To register, please contact Judith Barlow Roberts at (860) 683-1039 ext. 105.
HCC hosts "Hear it Here First" Editor's note: The following story was submitted by HCC student Siobhan Sheils, an aspiring journalist. We thank Siobhan for getting up so early and for showing such drive. The first session of “Hear it Here First” brought 12 people to the Barrett Conference room at 8 a.m. on Sept. 27 where they heard presentations by Vice President for Business and Community Services Jeffrey Hayden and Chief Information Officer Joseph Tolisano. Hayden and Tolisano also spoke at a 2:30 p.m. session. According to Hayden, “Hear it Here First” is a discussion series that was established by HCC leadership as a way to spark discussion and feedback from faculty, staff, and students on different college initiatives and programs. Sessions are held in the morning and the afternoon to maximize attendance by all constituencies. Subsequent sessions are scheduled for October 11, 25 and beyond. Hayden’s presentation focused on HCC’s transition programs, which provide college access to under-represented groups. He said the college anticipates incorporating a new program, Gateway to College in the near future. Eventually, he said, that program will enroll as many as 300 at-risk high school students from Springfield, and 50 from Holyoke. Hayden noted that the existing HCC programs that enroll high school students – Early College High School (ECHS) and Mount Tom Academy (MTA)– have done particularly well in the past year. Of the 49 high school seniors who enrolled in ECHS last year, 43 received high school diplomas this past summer. All of the 11 enrollees in the MTA received their diplomas. “A lot of them are now enrolled here at HCC,” he said. Tolisano spoke of new developments with the Luminus Internet portal that has been set up on the HCC website to connect students, staff and faculty. His main concern is to get more people using the system. He predicted increased use of Luminus as more members of the HCC community see that key leaders are using it to share information. Among other things, the program allows teachers to share reading material and assignments with students electronically. Faculty member Hugh Roberts told Tolisano that he has become a fan of the Luminus portal but remains concerned about the 10-15 percent of students who, he says, do not have access to the Internet at home. “I have a moral obligation to reach out to every student in a way that they can be reached,” he said. “Until we can give them access 24/7, there will be some students who are left out.” Tolisano pointed out that the college has recently opened up another computer lab in Donahue 142, which students can use from 8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. There is another lab in room 146.
Sure, classroom learning is fun, but at HCC there's also some fun stuff going on outside the classroom. Check out these photos taken at some of the recent Wednesday Student Activity periods (11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.). If you would like to snap some photos that capture life at HCC, we'd love to see them. Please let us know who is in the photos and when they were taken. If you would like to suggest a student activity or join a club, drop by the Office for Student Activities (G Building) and talk with Vivian Ostrowski (x2418) or Liz Golen (x 2060).
HCC Connection is published every other Wednesday (or
thereabouts) and is distributed to the campus community,
and friends of the college, and local media. Natalia Munoz |
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