Clark's Weekend Degree program welcomes first cohort
Each year, fall quarter is a new start for many at Clark College. In 2009, that new start included both the new Weekend Degree program and its first cohort of students.
Seventeen students began the Weekend Degree program in September, all with life stories that led them to this point. "Many of the students came to the program with existing coursework," said Associate Director of eLearning Cynthia Foreman. "They have all had different life experiences as well. Some of our students are working in schools as instructional aides. In at least one case, the student's employer is paying for their schooling. We also have a member of the Clark College staff enrolled in the program."
The Weekend Degree program is designed for students who want to attend college, but whose jobs and lives make it difficult to attend classes during the week. Through the Weekend Degree program, students earn an associate in arts degree in two years or less. Classes meet one weekend per month, with additional instruction online. "The program is comprised of hybrid classes," said Foreman. "Most work is done online, with three face-to-face sessions during the quarter. Having the face-to-face sessions will be significant to them, as it provides them a chance to get to know the other students moving through the two-year program with them."
"I love the hybrid format," said Weekend Degree program cohort member Rachel Stephens. "You get the best of both worlds: the convenience of being able to work around your schedule and the face-to-face interaction of other students and the instructor."
Students in the Weekend Degree program benefit not only from the more convenient class scheduling, but also from the additional support and services they receive. Through the college's eLearning and Student Affairs departments, Weekend Degree program students receive help with the financial aid and assessment testing processes; they also have a dedicated advisor for the program. "The support offered in this program is great," said Stephens. "Everyone is so enthusiastic, it's contagious—and it really does feel like an ohana [family]."
The Weekend Degree program cohort is designed for a total of 25 students. Up to eight additional students who meet the program requirements and have completed English 101 and either Math 095 or Math 107 would be able to join the program during winter quarter 2010. "The Weekend Degree format has tapped into a group of non-traditional students who were not responding to existing course offerings," said Foreman. "This may be a perfect fit for adult learners with both family and career commitments."
For more information on the Weekend Degree program, visit http://www.clark.edu/academics/programs/weekenddegree/ or contact eLearning at 992-2654, e-mail: elearning@clark.edu.
Here's a quick look at the first cohort of Clark's Weekend Degree program, which began fall quarter 2009:
- 17 students total (13 females, 4 males)
- Average age: 38.25
- Percent who are currently employed: 94%
- Percent who have previous college credits: 88%
- Percent who have previously taken classes at Clark: 53%
Building excellence–by design
It's beautiful. It's environmentally friendly. Students, faculty and staff love it. It is Clark College at Columbia Tech Center (CTC), the college's newest teaching facility, and it just earned a Community Pride Design award.
The awards were presented on Nov. 13 in the Clark County Public Service Center in downtown Vancouver. President Bob Knight and Project Manager Jim Watkins were on hand to accept the award, along with Keith Livie of the LSW Architects design team.
Ten regional projects earned 2009 Community Pride Design Awards and two received honorable mentions. This is Clark's fourth Community Pride Design Award. The college was previously honored for the Penguin Union Building, the Gaiser Hall renovation and Clark College at WSU Vancouver.
The Community Pride Design Awards program was established in 1996 by various local public and private organizations as a way to recognize buildings, development and civic improvements that have had a positive impact on the community. According to organizers, the program "honors developers, builders, and the community for helping make Clark County a great place to live and work, both now and in the future."
More information is available on the county's Web site at http://www.clark.wa.gov/commdev/prideawardsN.html.
Making a difference every day
Clark College makes a difference in people's lives every day. In October, the college made it official by participating in two major community events in support of Make a Difference Day. Held on the last Saturday of every October, Make a Difference Day is a national celebration of neighbors helping neighbors.
A Make a Difference Day volunteer fair, held Oct. 22 in the Gaiser Student Center, provided opportunities for members of the college community to learn about volunteer opportunities with local community-based organizations. The fair also provided classroom service-learning project ideas for Clark College faculty and students.
Representatives from 28 non-profit agencies including the Boys and Girls Club, Americans Building Community, and Loaves & Fishes took part in the volunteer fair, which attracted 1,288 students, faculty and staff. The organizations provided handouts about volunteer opportunities. Students, faculty, and staff had the opportunity to sign up for volunteer and leadership activities.
On Saturday, Oct. 24, Clark College joined five Vancouver-based community organizations on Make a Difference Day 2009.
Five students from Clark's Club for Social Action participated in a carrot harvesting event in Hazel Dell, where they uprooted carrots that were then donated to the Clark County Food Bank. Club member Christina Jensen said she "had a lot of fun" but noted that, "pulling carrots is a lot harder than I thought it would be. It was for a really good cause and I think it is a wonderful idea that they use the produce grown to support the community through food banks. Overall, it was a good experience and I would do it again next year." Club President Mina Han said, "I think that the experience was great, and it showed me what farmers' lives are like. Before the activity, I had thought farming is easy: you just plant and harvest, and actually get paid to grow less [subsidies]. Now, after having spent three hours picking carrots, I see how hard it really is to farm." Brittany Courser, the club's executive assistant, added, "I enjoyed picking carrots because I knew it was going to feed someone out there. It's hard work, and I got a new appreciation for farmers who farm our fruits and vegetables throughout the world."
As part of a second Make a Difference Day project, 12 English as a Second Language (ESL) student volunteers joined the Americans Building Community to clean up alleyways in Rose Village, a neighborhood along the Fourth Plain Corridor. ESL student Sergey Gorodetskiy noted that, in his native Kazakhstan, "Neighbors will also help clean leaves and other debris from city streets in the fall."
The students' participation was part of Clark's ongoing English as a Second Language (ESL) Volunteer Project. Adult Literacy Program Manager Madeleine von Laue said, "Volunteering is an excellent way for newcomers to the country and our community to practice speaking English, meet people, gain job skills, and build their resume." Instructor Sara Gallow added, "The ESL students really enjoyed their experience. It was a great opportunity for them to connect with each other as well as learn more about Vancouver, their new home."
Clark College Service-Learning and Volunteer Program Manager Jody Shulnak noted, "By volunteering, students can interact with their community, develop workforce skills, and gain satisfaction from their time and effort. Besides gaining personal satisfaction, students can use volunteer work on college transfer applications and build their resumes to enhance further employment opportunities."
It takes a community
Special thanks to the community agencies that attended the event and continually work to encourage civic engagement and volunteerism among Clark College students, faculty and staff. Those groups include: American Cancer Society, Americans Building Community, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Boys and Girls Clubs of SW Washington, Catholic Community Services, Clark Public Utilities: Stream Team, Clark County Habitat ReStore, Clark College Mature Learning, Clark-Vancouver Parks & Recreation, Council for the Homeless, F.I.S.H. of Vancouver, Free Clinic of SW Washington, Girl Scouts, Janis Youth Program/Yellow Brick Road, Loaves & Fishes, Lutheran Community Services, NAMI Mental Health, Planned Parenthood, Project Service Leadership, SLIC Program, Special Olympics, Urban Forestry, Vancouver School District/Lunch Buddy Program, Vancouver Watersheds Council, Volunteer Connections, Watershed Stewards, and 4Results Mentoring Program.
