HCC`s Criminal Justice Club

Transcription

HCC`s Criminal Justice Club
Holyoke Community College
Summer 2011
Volume 2 • Issue 2
Your Community Resource for Education, Training, and Enrichment
HCC’s Criminal
Justice Club
Interested in
working
with people?
Teachers for
the Future
www.hcc.edu
Holyoke Community College
303 Homestead Avenue
Holyoke, MA 01040
ECRWSS
BUSINESS CUSTOMER
NON PROFIT ORG.
US POSTAGE
PAID
ANN ARBOR, MI
PERMIT NO. 48
Which Degree is
Right for You?
Welcome from the President
Welcome to Holyoke Community College’s summer issue of CareerFocus! Whether you want to begin your education
at a community college with a plan to transfer, or need short-term training for immediate entry into the workforce,
CareerFocus is your guide to the many opportunities available at HCC.
This issue highlights HCC’s Social Sciences division, home to majors in criminal justice, psychology, education, early
childhood development, and more. All offer entry into professions with numerous and diverse career pathways.
Whatever your interests, HCC will help you chart your course and stay on track. Our Center for Academic Program
Support offers comprehensive day, evening, and online tutoring and study skills assistance to help you get the most out
of your classes, while our Career Center will help you choose a career, find an internship, and prepare for and conduct
a job search.
Ready to start? Read on—and when you’re finished, call or visit HCC. Find out if our small classes, exceptional
professors, and friendly, supportive community are right for you!
Sincerely,
William F. Messner
President, Holyoke Community College
Guide to HCC’s Course Schedule Publications
The Registration Booklet is the source for credit course information. It is
available online @www.hcc.edu (PDF) and on campus. Call the Welcome
Center (413) 552-2000 to request a copy. Courses fill quickly and sections
are added continuously, so for the most up-to-date information about course
availability, instructor names, and course descriptions visit www.hcc.edu and
click on “MyHCC”.
CareerFocus magazine provides articles and information about career and
educational paths, along with information about HCC’s academic programs and
education and training for business, organizations and individuals. It is mailed to
many households in HCC’s service delivery area each semester and is available
online @ www.hcc.edu (PDF).
ege
munity Coll
Holyoke Comfor Education, Training, and Enrichment
Summer 2011
Issue 2
Volume 2 •
ty Resource
Your Communi
nal
HCC’s CrimiClub
Justice
HCC’s Business and Community Services Bulletin provides
information about professional development and personal
enrichment courses and programs for adults and children.
Expand your knowledge. Learn new skills. Improve your
life. Meet new friends! The bulletin is available online
(PDF). Print copies are available by calling
(413) 552-2500 or (413) 552-2320.
in
Interested g
workin
?
with people
Teachers for
the Future
edu
www.hcc.
College
Holyoke Community
Avenue
303 Homestead
01040
Holyoke, MA
ORG.
NON PROFIT
US POSTAGE
PAID
MI
ANN ARBOR,
48
PERMIT NO.
ree is
Which Deg You?
Right for
ECRWSS
CUSTOMER
BUSINESS
Did You Know?
• More than 12,800 credit and noncredit
students attended Holyoke Community
College last year.
• Mandatory tuition and fees at HCC are
lowest among all 29 Massachusetts
public colleges and universities.
• Financial assistance is available to
students who need help meeting
educational costs. About 50 percent of
HCC students receive financial aid.
• HCC’s average class size is 22.
• HCC provides comprehensive support
services to help students succeed.
• HCC has more than 30 transfer
agreements with public and private
four-year colleges and universities in
Western Massachusetts and beyond.
Graduates have transferred to Amherst
College, Smith College, Mount Holyoke
College, Cornell University, University of
Massachusetts, Westfield State College,
Johnson and Wales University, Elms
College, American International College,
Springfield College, Western New England
College and many more.
• Members of HCC’s 2010 graduating class:
Range in age from 16 to 75.
Include 1,101 graduates who were
awarded 1,129 associate degrees and
certificates.
Include residents of 82 Massachusetts
towns, Connecticut, New Hampshire,
Vermont, and states and territories
as far away as Florida and Puerto
Rico. Countries of citizenship for
International graduates include Algeria,
Colombia, Hong Kong, Indonesia,
Lithuania, Peru, Poland, South Korea,
Sri Lanka and Vietnam.
Contact Us!
General Information: (413) 538-7000
Co-operative Education: (413) 552-2322
Welcome Center: (413) 552-2000
Here's where to get started!
Center for Academic Program Support:
(413) 552-2584
Problems with math or writing? Can't figure
out English Lit? This is the place to call.
Academic Affairs: (413) 552-2770
For help changing your major or switching
your advisor.
Admissions: (413) 552-2321
Advising Center: (413) 552-2722
email: advisingcenter@hcc.edu
For academic advising, educational planning
and placement testing and assessment.
David M. Bartley Center for Athletics and
Recreation: (413) 552-2161
Bookstore: (413) 552-2521
Buy and sell back class books.
Career Center:(413) 552-2597 or 2322
Help searching and applying for jobs.
The Kittredge Center for Business and
Workforce Development: (413) 552-2122
Training for business and industry,
Professional Development and more.
Community Services: (413) 552-2324
Fun and informative non-credit courses and
Adult Basic Education.
Financial Aid: (413) 552-2150
Student loans, grants and other resources to
help finance your education.
Kittredge Center for Business
and Workforce Development:
(413) 552-2500
kittredgecenter@hcc.edu
Library: (413) 552-2733
More books, microfilms, periodicals and
online resources than you could read in a
lifetime!
New Directions: (413) 552-2346
Pre-admission counseling & services for
adult women returning to school.
Online Learning Advising:
dladvising@hcc.edu
(413) 552-2236
Online Technical Help:
dlhelp@hcc.edu
(413) 552-2124
Online help for: WebCT, MyHCC
(self-service), student email
Student Account Services:
(413) 552-2101
Questions about your bill?
Call or stop by Frost 201.
Student Affairs: (413) 552-2100
Great resource for campus activities, or any
questions about student life.
Student Records/Registrar:
see Welcome Center
Transfer Affairs: (413) 552-2498
Want to take everything you've learned at
HCC and transfer to a four-year college?
Transcript Request Information Line:
(413) 552-2142
For recorded instructions to request an
official HCC transcript.
Weather Hotline:
(413) 552-2900, ext. 1418
Call this number during winter storms to
find out if the college is open.
Publisher:.......................Holyoke Community College’s Marketing
and Communications department
Editors:....................................William Murphy and JoAnne Rome
Contributors/Editorial Support: ......................... Beatrice Dewberry
William Murphy and JoAnne Rome
Photography:.............................. JoAnne Rome, Jack Scanlon and
Don Treeger
Holyoke Community College President:
William F. Messner
Holyoke Community College Board of Trustees
John J. Driscoll, Chair
Helen Caulton-Harris, Vice Chair
Joseph Wright, Secretary, Alumni Representative
Douglas Bowen
James F. Carey
Heriberto Flores
James Lavelle
Natalia Muñoz
Julie Pokela
Liam Hogan, Student Representative
Holyoke Community College maintains and promotes a policy
of non discrimination on the basis of race, creed, religion, color,
gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, genetic information,
maternity leave, and national origin in its educational programs,
activities, or employment policies, as required by Federal and State
anti-discrimination laws. In addition, the college maintains and
promotes a policy of non-discrimination on the basis of gender
identity/expression.
CareerFocus is published three times a year by Holyoke
Community College, 303 Homestead Avenue, Holyoke, MA 01040
in partnership with Washtenaw Community College, Ann Arbor, MI
48106.
All rights reserved. No part of the material printed may be reproduced
or used in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical,
including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage
retrieval system without the permission of the publisher.
© 2011 Holyoke Community College
(413) 552-2000
I Holyoke Community College I
CareerFocus
Questions about HCC’s programs and services described in
this publication should be directed to the Welcome Center
(413) 552-2000 or by emailing admissions@hcc.edu. Comments
and questions about the publication itself can be directed to HCC’s
Marketing and Communications department (413) 552-2259;
email: jrome@hcc.edu.
Contents
Features
3
Interested in working with people?
4
Facts and Finds
One field offers multiple career options
FACULTY PROFILE
5
Professor Jackie Griswold
6
Teachers for the Future
8
HCC’s Criminal Justice Club raises
awareness about careers
in law enforcement
10
11
Choose a career that changes lives
Degree or Certificate?
Which is right for you?
ALUMNI PROFILE
Ruben Sepulveda
STUDENT PROFILE
11
Beverly Watkins-Jenkins
12
Business Strategies for Managing
a Changing Work Force
13
The Kittredge Center for
Business and Workforce Development
14
15
Discover HCC’s Career Center
16
Resource Guide
Which Degree is Right for You?
These questions will help you decide
www.hcc.edu
CareerFocus I Summer 2011
I1
Picknelly Adult & Family Education Center at
the Holyoke Transportation Center
Adult Basic Education (ABE), English for Speakers of Other Languages
(ESOL), credit classes, career planning, workshops and more!
206 Maple Street
(Between Dwight & Hampden)
Holyoke, MA 01040
Hours: 8 a.m. -10 p.m.
(PVTA Lobby opens at 6 a.m.)
(413) 552-2990
email: pafec@hcc.edu
PVTA Bus Service:
bus service between the PAFEC and HCC:
visit www.pvta.com
• PVTA Blue 23
Mon-Fri
• HCC to PAFEC on the hour
6 a.m.-6 p.m.
• PAFEC to HCC on the half hour
5:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
• HCC La Guagua shuttle
Mon-Thu 5-10 p.m., fall and
spring semesters
A public-private partnership
Parking:
Dwight Street Parking Garage
is two blocks away.
Hours: 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Cost: $0.25 hr.
Attendant on duty
There is metered on-street parking
adjacent to PAFEC on Chestnut, Hampden,
Dwight and Maple Streets for $0.25 hr..
There is a two-hour limit from
8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Parking is free before and
after those hours.
Food: Coffee and grab and go items
will be available in the building; four
restaurants are located within two blocks.
General info:
• HCC credit classes are located on the
fourth floor
• Wheelchair accessible
• WiFi throughout the building
Now Open
CareerFocus magazine’s online companion
Research your options at CareerFocusCafé.com
Making career decisions can be confusing. What
kind of job is right for you? How much education do
you need? Where are the jobs these days and which
careers are good bets?
The new CareerFocus Café is an online resource
for students, job hunters and workers everywhere.
We’ve brought together news and information from
all over the Web to help you make career decisions,
find jobs and get advice about the workplace. It’s
Answer Central for your career questions.
Are you planning to further your education?
CareerFocus Café can help you sort out your
options. With links to career aptitude tests,
college and university programs and financial aid
information, you can explore all the possibilities.
Are you looking for the perfect career path?
The Café is full of advice from experts and links to
career resources for exploring your interests and
talents, identifying the best careers and getting
started on a new career.
I
2 Summer 2011 I CareerFocus
Are you looking for a new job?
At CareerFocus Café you’ll find links to the best job
sites both general and career-specific.
Explore these resources:
Career Clearinghouse - Dig into a growing list of
links to career resources such as job opportunities,
salary information and career descriptions. Take
quizzes to test your interests and aptitude, view
career videos and more.
Work with Me - Get answers to your career
questions and dilemmas from our experts.
Career News - Get the latest scoop on job trends
and workplace strategies.
Bookshelf - Review the latest career and job
hunting books.
Videos - See what authors and experts have to say
about the world of work.
And more!
Interested in
working with
people?
One field offers a
multitude of career options
D
id you know a degree in any
of the social science majors
provides paths to multiple
career choices? Social
science fields are among
today’s most popular undergraduate
majors, and many associate degree
programs for fields like education,
criminal justice, psychology and
human service can be completed
locally through Holyoke Community
College.
Most students who earn an
associate’s degree in these fields
go directly to the workforce as
counselors, early education teachers,
police officers, or in legal services.
Many students opt to transfer to
Did you know a degree in any of the social
science majors provides pathways to multiple
career choices?
four-year institutions for a BA or
BS after earning their AA at HCC.
An undergraduate degree in social
science fields can open the door
to a wide range of career choices.
Many private businesses, state and
federal agencies and legal services
hire these graduates because they
have an understanding of research
and logical reasoning, knowledge of
technical writing, critical thinking
skills and the ability to work with
people. Example Social Sciences Careers
Adoption & Child Advocate
Legal Support Professional
Aged & Senior Services
Market Research Analyst
Child Care
Mental Health Services
Community Relations
Museum Workers
Consumer Research
Personnel Director
Corrections Officer
Police Officer
Counselor
Probation or Parole Officer
Crime Investigator
Psychotherapist
Crisis Intervention Worker
Public Health Officer
Customs Inspector
School Counselor
Detective
Sheriff
Director, Social Services
Social Worker
Gerontologist
Substance Abuse Counselor
Government Employee
Teacher
Human Services Worker
Urban/Regional Planner
Journalist
Youth Care Worker
For example, with a psychology
degree, you can widen your options
without “pigeonholing” yourself
into a given profession before you
have had time to explore. Students
can begin their exploration process
through internships and applied
research while studying and
completing coursework at HCC.
Under a new collaboration with
Elms College in Chicopee, HCC
students can take classes on the
HCC campus to earn a bachelor’s
degree in psychology, business, and
early childhood education.
Convenient for HCC alumni and
others in the community, the
program gives students a fast,
affordable way to earn a bachelor’s
degree in just 20 months.
Now more than ever is a great time
to consider earning an associate
degree at Holyoke Community
College. If you want to work in a
field that provides variety, personal
satisfaction and a chance to better
the community, consider the variety
of social science majors offered at
HCC. Professional Career Counseling—and it’s free!
Not sure what career is right for you? Talk it over with Richard
Powers, Career Center coordinator for Holyoke Community College. The center offers help with
exploring possible career
fields, choosing a college
major, finding full-time or
part-time jobs, obtaining a
co-op or internship placement,
locating colleges for transfer,
resumé writing or application
letter writing, job interview
preparation and career
workshops.
Stop in the Career Center
at Kittredge 322, or contact
Richard Powers at rpowers@
hcc.edu or call
(413) 552-2597.
Law Enforcement Personnel
(413) 552-2000
I Holyoke Community College I
www.hcc.edu
CareerFocus I Summer 2011
I3
“We know that in the coming years,
jobs requiring at least an associate
degree are projected to grow twice
as fast as jobs requiring no college
experience. We will not fill those jobs –
or even keep those jobs here in
America–without the training offered
by community colleges.”
President Barack Obama
speaking at Macomb Community College
July 14, 2009
Cutting the
Cost of College
A
N
D
Blame it on the recession–family
budgets are tight; federal and
state dollars are in short supply;
and private donations are down.
Yet a college education is still the
best path to a good job. So more
colleges are coming up with
innovative ways to get students
the education they need at a
lower cost. Some new and old cost
cutting strategies are:
• Three-year bachelor’s degrees –Some colleges have discovered how to graduate
students in three years–and cut their tuition bill–by instituting intensive courses and
year-round studies.
• Work colleges–It’s an old idea that’s attracting new attention; some colleges keep
expenses down by requiring students to work in exchange for room and board or
tuition.
• No frills–If you could get a first-class education without the fancy dorm, landscaped
campus or posh amenities, would you take it? Some colleges have opened no-frills
campuses where student pay lower tuition rates than they would at an upscale
campus.
• Community college–Community colleges’ two-year transfer programs are attracting
more students not just because of their low cost but because of their high quality,
innovative programs. Maybe that’s why enrollments have risen 30 percent since 2000.
• Online classes–For students who are motivated and prepared, online classes can be
a time and money saver. While for-profit schools are more high profile, many public
and non-profit colleges offer online learning as well.
Read “Different Paths to a College Degree”
in the September 2009 “Solving the College
Crisis” issue of U.S. News and World Report.
College Today
With over 18 million people in U.S. colleges
today, you might be surprised to learn
who these students are and what they’re
doing.
• 38.8 percent of all 18- to 24-year-olds are
enrolled in college.
• 36.8 percent of all college students are age 25
or older.
• College enrollment has increased 28 percent since
1997.
• Over 6 million undergraduate students are
enrolled at public two-year colleges, 7 million at
public colleges and universities and 4 million at
private four-year institutions.
• The percentage of college students who
received “Mostly A’s” in their classes:
24 percent at for-profit colleges
18 percent at private four-year colleges
17 percent at public two-year colleges
12 percent at public four-year colleges.
• Average undergraduate tuition and fees:
$2,063 at two-year public colleges
$5,950 at four-year public colleges
$21,588 at four-year private colleges.
• 71 percent of private four-year college students, 61
percent
of public four-year college students and 37 percent of two-year
public college students graduate with student-loan debt.
• The average amount of student loan debt is $20,891 for
private college graduates, $19,839 for four-year public college
graduates and $10,444 for two-year public college graduates.
From The Chronicle of Higher Education “Almanac 2009-10”,
Aug. 28, 2009
College
Raises
Women’s
Wages
One important reason why women make
more money today than they did 30 years
ago is that they have more education. In
1979 when women made just 62 percent as much
as men only 45 percent were
high school graduates and
35 percent had any
college education.
But by 2008, women were making
80 percent as much as men and 93
percent had a high school
degree and 66 percent
had some college. That
pay gap between men
and women varies widely among age
groups too. Among people age 35
and older women earn just 75
percent as much as men.
Among people 25
to 34 years old,
women earn 89
percent as much as
men, and for 16- to 24-yearolds, it’s 91 percent.
From the Bureau of Labor Statistics,
The Editor’s Desk July 31 2009,
“Women’s-to-men’s earnings ratio, 1979-2008”
I
4 Summer 2011 I CareerFocus
Faculty Profile: Professor Jackie Griswold
By Beatrice Dewberry
H
When I was growing up, women were
nurses, teachers, secretaries or they
got married. I went into teaching.
After 39 years in the profession,
teaching is still an ideal fit.
olyoke Community College
Professor Jackie Griswold
sums up the human service
field quite simply as “people
helping people.”
While many careers—from auditor to
urologist—help someone in some way,
human service professionals take
on a different task, often aiding the
most marginalized in our community.
Human service professionals help
others secure their most basic
needs in life—employment, housing,
security and well being, Griswold
said.
Now chair of HCC’s Human Services
Department, Griswold didn’t
start with the goal of leading a
department that teaches such topics
as helping relationships, substance
abuse counseling, or issues in
developmental disabilities.
“As I child, I remember wanting to
be a nurse, but the sciences were
a challenge for me,” said Griswold,
who holds a BS and MS from the
University of Maine at Orono, and
Ed.D from Northeastern University.
While working on her doctoral degree,
Griswold also worked as an academic
counselor at the University of Maine
at Augusta, where she was asked
to coordinate an associate degree
program in human services. When
hiring faculty, she realized she could
teach some of the courses herself.
That was 1983.
After completing her doctorate,
Griswold was hired by New
Hampshire Technical Community
College in Berlin to develop an
entire curriculum that led students
to an associate’s degree in human
services. She continued her work
in curriculum development,
establishing a certificate program in
developmental disabilities that was
delivered throughout the state of
New Hampshire. To secure clinical
training, she worked part-time at
a residential facility, working with
people with mental health and
substance abuse issues.
Ready for a new challenge, in 2000
Griswold came to HCC to create
an Associate in Science in Human
Services option. The first graduating
class in 2001 was small, but by
the fall of 2009, 265 students were
enrolled, and the program continues
to grow. Griswold has also developed
several certificate programs at
HCC, including Addiction Studies,
Developmental Disabilities,
Supervision and Leadership in the
Helping Professions, and General
Human Services. Her department
has grown from one full time faculty
member to two, with several adjunct
faculty members.
“I see human service as the umbrella
for so many fields. Our students
graduate from this program and go
on to earn their bachelor’s in social
work or human services and then
work directly in the field,” she said.
“We have advocates in the court
system, domestic violence advocates,
individuals working with people with
developmental disabilities, such as
special education aides, and so much
more. This is a field where we will
always have jobs.”
Affordable 20 Month Bachelor’s Programs
Now Offered on the HCC Campus
Earn a bachelor’s degree from Elms College
in 20 months without leaving the HCC campus
“I’ve been doing the art for about
three years and I really enjoy it,”
she said. “One of the things I love
about abstract art is that people see
whatever they see.”
Learn new skills. Improve your life and your career.
Meet new friends!
Business & Community Services
Non-credit Courses
For professional growth and personal enrichment
Short-term, affordable classes offered each semester:
Enroll in accelerated programs in:
• Computers & Technology
Accounting and Information Systems
Business Management
Psychology
• Professional Development
K-12 educators
real estate professionals
human resources staff
managers
healthcare workers
and new in Fall 2011
Early Childhood Education
Financial Aid is available!
Achievable • Accessible • Accelerated • Affordable
For more information, contact:
Jane McCarry at 413-265-2490 or mccarryj@elms.edu
I Holyoke Community College I
She has taken art classes at HCC to
explore the craft even further. Many
of her pieces have been on display on
campus and in local art exhibits.
Expand Your Knowledge!
&
(413) 552-2000
Despite her dedication to teaching,
Griswold’s passions run farther
afield, and include a love of
painting. She is known around
the HCC campus and in Western
Massachusetts for her abstract pieces
on canvas. “Painting is one way I take
care of myself. It’s one of the things
we talk about in class, that when you
work in human service, you have to
take care of yourself; you have to find
ways to de-stress.”
www.hcc.edu
• Personal Enrichment
Arts & Crafts
Languages
Outdoors & Leisure
Legal
Food & Drink
Money & Investment
Programs for youth and those age 60
and over, too!
For info, see the Summer 2011 Business & Community Services Education
Bulletin. Available online @ www.hcc.edu or by calling (413) 552-2500 or 2320.
It’s easy to view courses and register with convenient walk-in, fax-in, phone-in,
mail-in options.
NEW! Online registration now available @ www.hcc.edu/ces
CareerFocus I Summer 2011
I5
HCC Professor April Graziano
shares some of the materials used
by the Education Collaboration
Student Club for future teachers
while attending a club fair recently.
all types of students can find
success: new students fresh out of
high school, individuals looking to
make a career switch to teaching,
and adults returning to college or
entering college for the first time.
For those with an interest in
education careers, HCC offers a
variety of paths:
• Associate in Arts degree in Arts
and Science for an Elementary
Education Transfer Option, for
students intending to transfer,
then pursue a Massachusetts
Department of Education teaching
license for grades 1 through 6.
Teachers for the Future
Choose a career that changes lives
By Beatrice Dewberry
T
here are few professions
where the work of a single
individual has the potential
to change lives; teaching is
one such career.
Many of us can think of at least
one teacher who has positively
enhanced our development, whether
an english teacher who bolstered
our confidence in writing, a science
teacher who made learning
about pig intestines—and critical
thinking—fun, or a kindergarten
teacher who taught us how to read.
It’s clear teachers play an important
role in fostering the intellectual
and social development of children
during our formative years. Good
teaching has long been paired with
good parenting as key in developing
successful, responsible, sociallyconscious adults.
HCC Education Department Chair
Tricia Kiefer says strong academic
training in education is what makes
people into good teachers and
prepares them for one of the most
I
6 Summer 2011 I CareerFocus
fulfilling yet challenging careers
around.
“Teaching is such an exciting
career,” said Kiefer, who has more
than 20 years as an education
specialist. “Starting your education
training here at HCC can give you
the most bang for your buck and for
your time. We provide a very strong
Student teacher Jamie Herrick
uses a fishing game to teach
preschool students the letters
of the alphabet. Herrick will
graduate in May with an
associate’s degree in early
childhood education.
foundation and encourage best
practices in our education program.
It is inexpensive and academically
challenging in order to prepare you
for a bachelor’s degree program or
the workforce.”
Holyoke Community College
provides an affordable, convenient
and student-friendly setting where
• Associate in Liberal Arts for
General Integrated Studies
Elementary Education Option for
students interested in teaching
elementary education after
transferring to Westfield State
University in Westfield.
• Associate in Science Degree for
Early Childhood Career Option,
for those interested in teaching in
a community-based group early
childcare setting. This satisfies
coursework and experience
requirements for teacher status
in Massachusetts Department of
Early Education and Care (DEEC)
licensed programs.
• Early Childhood Transfer
Option, for students interested
in transferring to a four-year
institutions’ early childhood
education programs for pre-K
through grade 2.
•Day Care Administration
Certification, for childcare
professionals Lead Teacher
certified by the state DEEC or
with Early Childhood Education
degrees.
• Beginning in fall 2011, HCC’s
Education Department will offer
a Secondary Education Transfer
Option for students who want
to teach middle school or high
school-students. Also starting
in August, HCC graduates can
enroll at Elms College and
earn a non-licensure Early
Childhood Education bachelor’s
“Starting your education training here at HCC can give you the most bang for your buck and
for your time. We provide a very strong foundation and encourage best practices in our
education program. It is inexpensive and academically challenging in order to prepare you for
a bachelor’s degree program or the workforce.”
HCC is also in discussions with
Springfield College to develop a
program similar to the one with
Westfield State University, she said.
Kiefer said students who earn their
associate’s degree in education who
don’t want to immediately transfer
to a bachelor’s degree program still
have options that include working as
a paraprofessional in public schools,
working as a teacher’s assistant,
or in private school settings. A
paraprofessional or teacher’s
assistant job could entail working
with special needs children oneon-one, or helping teachers in the
classroom, for example.
“The bottom line is we need more
teachers in most of our cities,
especially urban areas like Holyoke
and Springfield,” she said. “HCC,
Elms, Westfield State and others
in this area are working together
to prepare highly-qualified, trained
teachers and increase education
attainments (for teachers) overall.”
Clearly, teaching is not a dying field.
According to the Bureau of Labor
Statistics, preschool teachers, except
special education, held 457,200
jobs in 2008, and kindergarten,
elementary school, middle school,
and secondary school teachers, held
about 3.5 million jobs in 2008.
degree focused in early childhood
education in less than two years.
Under the HCC-Elms program, HCC
graduates can take Elms College
early childhood education courses
on the HCC campus and earn
their bachelor‘s degree during an
additional 20-month period, rather
than the customary 24 months.
For students interested in
transferring to other four-year
schools, Kiefer said HCC has an
above-average success rate with
four-year institutions accepting the
majority of HCC credits. “We have a
phenomenal transfer program with
Westfield State University, which
takes the entire HCC program’s
credits. Students enter with junior
year status and go forward,” Kiefer
said.
(413) 552-2000
The fastest employment growth has
been for preschool teachers, with
projections of growth by 19 percent
from 2008 to 2018, which is faster
than the average for all occupations.
“Students who graduate with an
Early Childhood Education Degree
option are getting jobs,” Kiefer said.
“There are so many programs that
are looking for educators such as
Head Start, and there are plenty of
local private childcare facilities that
are seeking college educated staff.”
Median annual wages of preschool
teachers were $23,870 in May
2008; the middle 50 percent earned
$18,840 to $31,430; the bottom 10
percent earned less than $16,030
and the top 10 percent earned more
than $41,660, labor statistics report.
I Holyoke Community College I
www.hcc.edu
Individuals who want to work in
pre-kindergarten programs in
public schools must secure their
Massachusetts Teacher Education
License, and have earned a
bachelor’s degree, Kiefer said.
$80,970. According to the American
Federation of Teachers, beginning
teachers with a bachelor’s degree
earned an average of $33,227 in the
2005-2006 school year.
Elementary and secondary teachers
earn more than pre-school teachers,
with median annual wages ranging
from $47,100 to $51,180, according
to labor statistics. The lowest 10
percent earned $30,970 to $34,280;
the top 10 percent earned $75,190 to
Accessible, affordable education
options, expanding job opportunities
and the opportunity to make a
difference in the lives of many people
paint a clear picture: Teaching can
be a rewarding, fulfilling career and
now is the time to get started.
CareerFocus I Summer 2011
I7
HCC’s Criminal Justice Club
raises awareness about
careers in law enforcement
By Beatrice Dewberry
S
clubs ranging in theme and based
on interest, identity or academic
major. Among the clubs on campus
offered for Social Science majors
are CJA, the Psychology Club,
Education Collaboration (new this
year for Education majors), and
Human Services.
The CJA is one of many student
clubs on campus with events geared
to those interested in social science
careers. HCC offers more than 40
“We work hard to promote
awareness and interest in the many
criminal justice related fields that
are available to our students once
they graduate,” said Professor
Alejandro Sanchez, who co-advises
CJA with Professor Monica Perez,
chairman of the Criminal Justice
Department.
cuba diving lessons, hiking
up Skinner Mountain,
outdoor fitness challenges;
while this list reads like
the schedule offered at
a summer retreat, these are but
a few of the activities sponsored
by Holyoke Community College’s
Criminal Justice Association (CJA)
club members participate in each
semester.
Sanchez said every semester the
club sponsors field events that
center around careers in criminal
justice. Last year, a professional
scuba diving instructor who trains
law enforcement taught club
members how to scuba dive in a
high school pool, demonstrating
team-building and the importance
of collecting evidence gathering in
every setting—even underwater.
A field trip to Ground Zero in New
York City took students to the
New York Police Academy and the
police museum where September 11
memorabilia is on display. Students
have visited area jails and federal
prisons (for those interested in
corrections), participated in local
marathons and in fitness challenges
(to show that criminal justice
requires more than book- and
street-smarts), and learned to fire a
gun at Smith and Wesson’s shooting
range in Springfield, Sanchez said.
HCC senior Ryan Dolan, of Granby,
said the scuba diving session was
exciting. It was the first time he
had ever experienced swimming
with an air tank and fins. “It really
was a team-building exercise. We
built a box under water, and we
practiced different regulations and
procedures that would be required
(for a diving team) underwater. It
was awesome,” said Dolan, who
will transfer to Westfield State
University in the fall.
Many professionals who work in
Criminal Justice, forensics and
HCC Criminal Justice Association
club members Ruthie May Therrien,
Kurt Burdas and Ryan Dolan.
I
8 Summer 2011 I CareerFocus
Above, HCC students Ryan Dolan and Ruthie May Therrien practice techniques in
HCC’s forensics lab. Left, Dolan dusts a cup for fingerprints.
probation officers discussed working
with youth; and the Granby Police
Department’s K-9 unit brought in its
trained dog to show the importance
of the relationship between a canineunit police officer and the dog.
other aspects of the legal system
have been featured guests at CJA
meetings on campus to answer
students’ questions. Last year,
Holyoke Chief of Police Anthony
Scott gave a frank discussion about
law enforcement in an urban city;
“We’ve had border patrol agents
come in to talk about the hiring
process, federal protection service
come in, and female police officers
who have shown our female
students that yes, they can do this,”
said Sanchez, a former patrolman.
Sanchez said another important
component to the club is community
service, “We believe strongly in
giving back to the community.”
HCC student Ruthie May Therrien,
of Holyoke, wants to be a probation
officer. The 30-year-old plans
to transfer to Westfield State
University after graduation from
HCC. Ultimately, she wants to earn
a master’s degree in criminal justice.
Therrien, a volunteer at the Holyoke
Boys and Girls Club and a mentor
for incarcerated teens, said she
learned of the mentoring program
after a field trip to the Hampshire
County House of Corrections with
CJA.
“I spend a lot of time with youth who
are at risk and growing up I was a
youth at risk, so I really understand
what they’re going through. I believe
I can help adolescents before they
end up in jail,” Therrien said.
Student Kurt Bordas, a member of
the Air National Guard’s security
forces and a HCC Criminal Justice
major, said though he’s had handson experience in enforcement
on tours abroad, he became
most familiar with the range of
opportunities in law enforcement
after taking HCC classes.
“I think HCC has a unique way of
not teaching only from the book,
but also teaching from a practical
perspective. HCC has professors
who have a respectable background
working in the field,” Bordas, of
Holyoke, said. “Sanchez was a police
officer and Prof. Monica Perez was
director of the Department of Youth
Services in Springfield and another
professor I have has a PhD from
Western New England College’s
(School of Law and Business). They
teach in the Socratic method so that
we don’t just memorize the material,
but we really understand it.”
Bordas said the CJA club reinforces
all of what students learn. “We
not only get an understanding of
criminal justice and law, we’ve had
a chance to see it, and at times
experience it, in action,” Bordas said.
“I think HCC has a unique way of not teaching only from the book, but also teaching from a
practical perspective. HCC has professors who have a respectable background working in the
field. They teach in the Socratic method so that we don’t just memorize the material, but we
really understand it.”
(413) 552-2000
I Holyoke Community College I
www.hcc.edu
CareerFocus I Summer 2011
I9
Degree or Certificate?
Which is right for you?
HCC has more than 100 associate degree and certificate options, from accounting to visual art. Enroll part-time or full-time,
during the day, evening, or online. For more information, see the College Catalog or visit www.hcc.edu.
Associate Degrees
Can be completed in as little time as two years full time, or part time at a pace that is best for you.
It is challenging to complete most degree programs in two years, and some students opt to take
slightly longer, especially if they have work or family responsibilities. Degrees prepare you for a
career or transfer to a four-year college or university. They require completion of at least 60 credits,
usually combining a specific list of major-related courses with a flexible choice of electives.
Associate Degrees
ARTS AND SCIENCE (AA)
American Studies Option H017
Biotechnology Option X012
Chemistry Option N012
Communication, Media, & Theater Arts
Option H040
Creative Writing Option H015
Electronic Media Option H035
Elementary Education Transfer Option M029
Honors Option H075
Liberal Arts and Science Option H010
Natural Resources Studies Transfer Option X021
Nutrition Transfer Option M071
Pre-Food Science Technology Option X015
Pre-Medical/Pre-Dental Option X052
Psychology Option H060
Sociology Option H070
Sustainability Studies Natural Science
Option H085
Sustainability Studies Social Equity Option H086
Sustainability Studies Communication
Option H087
ARTS AND SCIENCE (AS)
Biology Option X060
Deaf Studies Option H080
Forensic Science Technician Option X072
Forensic Science Transfer Option X071
Mathematics Option N013
Physics Option N014
Pre-Chiropractic Option X051
Pre-Forestry and Environmental Science
(SUNY) Option X040
Pre-Medical Technology Option X081
Pre-Health Option M067
Key
I
ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONAL
STUDIES B041 (AS)
ACCOUNTING B016 (AS)
BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (AS)
Banking Option* B029
Business Administration Career Option B026
Business Administration Mass Transfer B023
Business Administration General Transfer B034
Entrepreneurship Option B033
Human Resource Management Option B011
International Business Option B095
Paralegal Transfer Option B045
COMPUTER INFORMATION SYSTEMS (AS)
Computer Information Security and Assurance
Option N063
Management Information Systems Option N053
Microcomputer User Support Option N057
Programming Option N056
Webmaster Option N054
Can be completed in as few as two semesters full time, or part time at a pace that is best for you. They often
require the completion of nine or more related courses and are designed to provide expertise in a particular
field so you can launch a new career, strengthen current skills, or pursue an interest.
For non-credit certificates and training programs, see page 13.
HEALTH, FITNESS AND NUTRITION M115 (AS)
HOSPITALITY AND CULINARY ARTS (AS)
Foodservice Management Option B052
Hospitality Management Career Option B056
Hospitality Management Transfer Option B051
HUMAN SERVICES (H049) (AS)
LIBERAL STUDIES (AS)
Applied Technology Option C002
General Integrated Studies Option C001
General Integrated Studies
-Elementary Education Option
(Westfield State College) C004
University Without Walls Option C008
MARKETING MANAGEMENT (AS)
Retail Management Career Option B081
Marketing Management General Transfer B037
MUSIC H025 (AA)
NURSING M066 (AS)
CRIMINAL JUSTICE (S080) (AS)
RADIOLOGIC TECHNOLOGY M096 (AS)
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION (AS)
SPORT ADMINISTRATION B090 (AS)
Early Childhood Career Option M026
Early Childhood Transfer Option M027
ENGINEERING STUDIES (AS)
Engineering Option N079
Engineering Science Option N082
Engineering Technology Option N083
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE (AS)
Environmental Science Field Technician
Option M036
Environmental Science Transfer Option M031
May be completed entirely online
Selective Program: Special Admissions Process
80% of courses may be completed online
Special Admissions Process
Not currently eligible for financial aid
Evening Only
Financial aid prorated
10 Summer 2011 I CareerFocus
Certificates
VETERINARY & ANIMAL SCIENCE (AS)
Pre-Veterinary and Animal Science Option X031
Veterinary Technician Option X036
VISUAL ART (AS)
Graphics Option H042
Photography Option H041
Visual Art Option H031
ESL
For non-native English speakers, HCC offers English
as a Second Language (ESL) courses. For details, call
(413) 552-2553.
Para información en Español, llame al
(413) 552-2553.
Dlq poluheniq informacii na russkom qzyke
zvonite po telefonu (413) 552-2234.
Certificates
Accounting Systems B017
Addiction Studies H024
Administrative Information Systems N040
Administrative Professional Studies B042
Coaching M105
Computer Information Security & Assurance
Management N064
Computer Information Security & Assurance
Technical Specialist N065
Computer Networking N062
Culinary Arts B111
Day Care Administration M025
Deaf Studies H081
Developmental Disabilities Direct Support S013
E-Commerce B012
Electronic Media H036
Entrepreneurship B094
Firefighter Fitness Trainer M106
Forensic Science X073
Graphic Design H034
Group Exercise Leader M102
Health and Fitness Management M101
Health and Fitness Specialist M100
Hospitality Management B053
Human Resource Management B010
Human Services H019
Infant, Toddler/Pre-School Lead Teacher M028
Law Enforcement S082
Medical Assistant M010
Medical Coding M049
Music Performance H027
Personal Trainer/Fitness Counselor M103
Practical Nursing M064
Professional Customer Service B085
Retail Management B084
Strength and Conditioning Specialist M107
Supervision & Leadership in the Helping
Professions H020
Webmaster N055
*This major has required off-campus courses offered by
CFT. Students must be working in the banking field.
Alumni Profile: Ruben Sepulveda
From high school dropout to Amherst College, following a “dream of more”
By Beatrice Dewberry
H
olyoke Community College
graduate Ruben Sepulveda
will be the first to tell you that
dreams never die—they just
wait to be achieved.
He dropped out of high school at
17, lived homeless at times, and
for a while hustled in pool halls to
make a living, sleeping in a boiler
room to make ends meet. When
he became a father at age 30, he
realized he needed to make a change.
He had already earned his General
Equivalency Degree (GED), yet
harbored a bigger dream—a desire to
go to college in order to make a better
life for himself and his daughter.
“Contrary to what most people think
about under-privileged people—
those with substandard education,
those who are part of the cycle of
mediocrity, those people we see on
the bus, or dragging baby carriages
with babies in tow, or just released
from prison—they are not empty
inside. They are not content with the
lives they have, they want more, they
dream of more,” Sepulveda, now 36,
once wrote in an essay.
It wasn’t a lack of desire or ability
that hindered Sepulveda, rather a
lack of opportunity. As a young child,
he lived between two countries–in the
United States attending schools in
New York City, and in Ponce, Puerto
Rico, where he finally dropped out
of high school. He moved around
frequently before landing in Holyoke,
where he met HCC Adult Learning
Center (ALC) Director Aliza Ansell,
who he credits with giving him the
opportunity he needed. He met her by
chance at a gas station across from
CareerPoint, an employment center
where ALC is housed.
In the ALC program, Sepulveda said
he met students who had experienced
the same kind of life he did—many
much worse. Inspired by them,
Sepulveda took Ansell’s advice to
take a college placement test. He
scored well and enrolled at HCC.
Though he worked an overnight
shift at a motel, he took more and
more classes during the day; history,
psychology, and honors, until “all
a sudden I was transformed into a
full-time student. Now you couldn’t
pay me to stop going to school. It’s
so much fun learning,” he said. HCC
was the right environment at the
right time, he said, with a friendly
campus atmosphere, engaging and
supportive professors, and a diverse
student population. “I never felt like
I didn’t fit there,” he said.
Facing each class, each paper and
each test as it came—one day at a
time— Sepulveda said he still took
time to look ahead. After a tutoring
session with a student from Amherst
College, he knew he wanted to
transfer to a four-year school and
began carrying an Amherst College
business card in his wallet. “I felt like
I had to see the dream to achieve it,”
he explained.
In December, Sepulveda finished his
HCC requirements for an Associate
in Arts in Liberal Arts. In January,
he enrolled at Amherst College,
where he is majoring in psychology.
He wants to better understand what
leads people down destructive paths
like those he traveled early on, and
he wants to help people make better
choices. “I had an opportunity to
change my life with ALC and HCC,
to write a new story for myself. Now I
want to help others do the same.”
Student Profile: Beverly Watkins-Jenkins
By Beatrice Dewberry
J
ust a few years ago, Beverly
Watkins-Jenkins career path
seemed clear.
Early Childhood Education. But
after being laid off from her job as a
human resource worker, and then the
tragic loss of her husband in 2006,
she knew it was time to re-evaluate
her future.
Teacher: Professional Standards
in Education,” which she credits
as having “cemented the deal” that
majoring in early childhood education
was the perfect fit for her career
objectives.
Despite her career working with
adults, Watkins-Jenkins had been
shaping the lives of young people
already. The mother of three grown
children, grandmother of six, a former
foster parent, a human resource
supervisor at a childcare facility,
and a mentor to single parents at
her church, she has been enmeshed
in settings where children and their
lives played a prominent role. Among
her most rewarding activities has
been working with parents of preschool age children at her church.
Watkins-Jenkins said HCC provided
the foundation she needed, both
personally and educationally, to take
classes at her own pace, and excel.
She likes that HCC professors are
well-studied in the field of education
with lengthy practical experience as
teachers. She said many give firsthand accounts of teaching children,
and advising on how to provide
parents with the support needed so
their children remain eager to learn.
“I was an administrator, a
human resource manager,
and I always thought I was good at
managing adults,” the now 57-yearold full-time student said.
She had a special knack for working
with young children and thought
teaching would be a good fit. “Many
people asked what I was doing. There
were many naysayers,” she said.
Even still, she enrolled at Holyoke
Community College in 2009.
She had no idea her career path
would lead to enrollment at Holyoke
Community College majoring in
Her first class was HCC Education
Department Professor April
Graziano’s course, “Becoming a
(413) 552-2000
I Holyoke Community College I
www.hcc.edu
Watkins-Jenkins said her ideal goal
isn’t to work in a classroom setting,
but rather as a consultant or parentchild advocate working directly with
single parents and at-risk families of
children age 2- to 5-years-old.
“At the daycare facility where I
worked, I would see young children
with so many needs and I realized
some of their issues stemmed from
poor parenting choices. I also saw
that good teachers can change a
child’s behavior and mindset. I
realized we have to start early with
kids when they are eager learners,”
she said. “In order for me to do this,
to help make that change, I needed
more formal academic training in the
early education field.’
Watkins-Jenkins said HCC classes
have also shown her that early
education teachers require more than
just academic training, but also a
certain temperament. “You have to
have a heart for this.”
Having raised a dyslexic son who is
now chief of radiology at the Walter
Reed Hospital in Washington, D.C.,
Watkins-Jenkins said she has had
the temperament all along, but
gained her confidence after attending
HCC. In August, she completed her
practicum working with autistic
children at a center in Ludlow. She
will begin student teaching in the
fall.
Watkins-Jenkins will graduate from
HCC next year, and plans to continue
her education, earning a bachelor’s
degree in early childhood education.
CareerFocus I Summer 2011
I 11
Business Strategies for Managing
a Changing Work Force
By Iraida Delgado
T
he current economy is
driving significant changes in
workplace culture. A few of
these changes are familiar to
many of us:
• Work has become more
demanding on employees.
Who have become America’s Most Admired Companies since 2007?
2007
2008
2009
2010
#1 General Electric
Apple
Apple
Apple
#2 Starbucks
Berkshire Hathaway
Berkshire Hathaway
Google
#3 Toyota
General Electric
Toyota
Berkshire Hathaway
• Employer-employee relationships
have become less hierarchical
and more transactional.
• Employers are moving away from
long-term employee-employer
relationships.
• Employees have less confidence
in long-term rewards and have
greater short term expectations.
• Immediate supervisors are now
the most important people in the
workplace.
• Supervising employees requires
more time and skill on the part of
managers.
• These changes plus the impact
of globalization and cultural
diversity required employers
to adopt a new model that
puts work life, performance,
recognition and career
development on the same plane
as compensation and benefits.
Employers’ ability to compete in
this economy will be fueled by their
ability to make critical observations
and learn from the key players in
corporate America. Their experiences
can become part of our professional
development and their stories can
become our case studies.
For example, Fortune magazine
surveys businesses and not
consumers to name America’s Most
Admired Companies every year.
General Electric had been voted
number 1 from 2000 to 2007. What
helped make General Electric the
number one most admired company?
General Electric had earned a
reputation for handling and surviving
the challenges consequential of
having a changing workforce. They
have openly put value in what they
have considered to be GE’s most
important product—its people.
Today, General Electric is ranked
number 16 (Fortune Magazine 2010).
One interesting observation is that
all of the companies that have been
I
12 Summer 2011 I CareerFocus
Kittredge Center for Business and Workforce Development Business Account Representatives Kate Sullivan
and Iraida Delgado.
Employers’ ability to compete in this economy will be fueled by their
ability to make critical observations and learn from the key players in
corporate America.
ranked number 1 by businesses
have openly affirmed that they
spend a great deal of time thinking
about people. They share a clear
understanding that attracting talent
is one thing, but developing this
talent is just as important to be
competitive in this economy.
People have talent and talent affects
the organization’s potential for
innovation and growth. Some of the
common systems that are used to
motivate employees are:
• Training and development to
set expectations and provide
encouragement
• Flexible work arrangements
• Employee participation in
decision-making is encouraged
through several forums
• Employee opinion surveys to
learn about hiring practices,
fairness, training and
development, diversity and
conflict resolution
• Interactive employee/manager
performance assessments
to facilitate the employee
development process
• Promoting traditional ideas of
diversity and exploring more
contemporary concepts.
The most admired companies in
America demonstrate commitment to
a culture of lifelong learning where
business and personal interests work
in symmetry. These industry leaders
are the companies that will help
define the future.
Looking to make a change in your
workplace? HCC offers free business
consultation. For information on
training and development for your
employees, please contact:
Iraida Delgado,(413) 552-2742,
idelgado@hcc.edu
Kate Sullivan, (413) 552-2339,
ksullivan@hcc.edu
Contact Us:
Main number: (413) 552-2500
Email: kittredgecenter@hcc.edu
Hours: Mon-Th 8 a.m.-6:30 p.m.;
Friday 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Online Course Registration
www.hcc.edu/ces
The Kittredge Center for
Business and Workforce
Development
Education & training you can use!
Expert training and services that are practical,
affordable, and get results for individuals and
small, medium, and large companies and
organizations.
For individuals
No matter where you are in your education or career,
the Kittredge Center has the resources to help you
move ahead.
The Career Center is the place to go to identify new
career opportunities, re-tool your resume and organize
your job search.
Professional development is the key to advancement.
The center offers courses for those in food service and
hospitality, law enforcement, real estate, healthcare,
K-12 education, management, sales, human resources,
customer service, as well as continuing education
courses for certified public accountants and real estate
agents and brokers.
establish benchmarks and implement best practices for
your business.
Employee Training
Our workforce training experts provide small classes
and hands-on professional employee training.
Massachusetts Export Center
For businesses interested in marketing goods and
services internationally, the Mass Export Center offers
training and assistance in the areas of marketing, legal
issues, compliance and export logistics.
For Public & Nonprofit Organizations
For government, education, healthcare, and nonprofit
agencies and organizations, the center’s Public &
Not-for-Profit Professional Development Institute
offers grant application assistance and professional
development training and services for managers,
supervisors and front-line staff.
Testing and Test Preparation
For Businesses
Whether you are an established business looking
for cost-effective employee training options or grant
application assistance, or an entrepreneur ready to
create a marketing plan for your first start-up, the
center offers programs, courses and consulting to meet
your business needs.
We can help you streamline business processes, define
short- and long-term goals, develop strategic plans,
For individuals, business and industry, organizations and
government agencies
Testing is essential for licensure and certification in
many fields, and can help you evaluate or determine the
skills you need to succeed.
Need to prepare for the GED, SAT or LSAT? Prep
courses include comprehensive review, practice tests,
and test-taking tips and techniques.
Non-credit certificate programs
Non-credit training programs:
• American Management Association University
Program Certificate in Management
• Project Management Certificate Program
• Nursing Assistant Certification Training Program
• Career Readiness Certificate • Pharmacy Technician
• Medical Office Worker
• Direct Support Associate
• Office Skills/Customer Service
(413) 552-2000
I Holyoke Community College I
www.hcc.edu
Kittredge Center for Business & Workforce
Development
Main number: (413) 552-2122
Email: cbpd@hcc.edu
• Training for state, municipal,
education and healthcare
• Grant application assistance
and partnerships
• Management, supervisory and
leadership training
• Healthcare Training Institute
• High stakes testing
(licensure, professional, and ACT WorkKeys)
(413) 552-2112
• Jump Start certificate program
(413) 552-2042 or 2496
• Contract training and consulting services
(413) 552-2742; idelgado@hcc.edu
Community Services
Main numbers: (413) 552-2320 or 2324
Email: alingham@hcc.edu or
kwhite@hcc.edu
24-hour/day course registration:
(413) 594-1255
• ABE (Adult Basic Education)
• Computer and technology training
• ESOL (English for Speakers of
Other Languages)
• Personal and professional enrichment
courses
• Professional development for K-12
educators
• Testing and test preparation
GED (413) 552-2292;
email:teccles@hcc.edu
CLEP
Test prep courses
(GED, SAT, LSAT, etc.)
Career Center
(413) 552-2597; rpowers@hcc.edu
Cooperative Education
(413) 552-2322 or 2342; apicard@hcc.edu
Gateway to College
(413) 552-2370; vostrowski@hcc.edu
Kittredge Center Conference Services
and Space Rental
(413) 552-2088; capatterson@hcc.edu
Mass Export Center
(413) 552-2316; www.mass.gov/export
Can’t find what you’re looking for?
For assistance, call the main number
(413) 552-2500.
CareerFocus I Summer 2011
I 13
HCC’s Career Center
By Beatrice Dewberry
H
olyoke Community College
student Mason Rivera stops
often in Kittredge 322. Lined
with computers and brightly
lit by the afternoon sun, the
comfortable room is located at the
quiet end of a third-floor hallway in
the modern glass-framed Kittredge
Center for Business and Workforce
Development. This is where HCC’s
Career Center is housed, and it’s a
sanctum for students like Rivera.
“I’m working on a project where I
have to compare and contrast the
differences between the careers of a
police officer and a security guard,”
said 19-year-old Rivera, of Chicopee.
“This is where I come, usually
between my classes, to check out the
job websites that fall under my major
of criminal justice.”
HCC’s Career Center provides
students with help exploring possible
career fields, choosing a college
major, even finding a full- or parttime job while attending school.
“The freshman and sophomore
years of college are really the
best times for students to explore
career opportunities,” said center
coordinator Richard Powers, who has
been with HCC for more than
17 years.
Many students use the facility to
determine their academic major by
HCC’s Career Center
provides students with
help exploring possible
career fields, choosing
a college major, even
finding a full- or
part-time job while
attending school.
taking the FOCUS career assessment
test, an online, interactive test which
compares personality traits, interests,
likes, dislikes, and work habits with
the requirements and skill sets of
hundreds of fields and career choices.
Powers said even though many
students come into the Career Center
with a job in mind, many have
selected jobs based on familiarity, and
often via a TV show, the internet, or
through family members or friends.
“Very often their familiarity is
narrow in scope,” Powers said. “They
don’t know careers like an actuary
(a financial risk specialist), or a
perfusionist (a health specialist that
assists during cardiac surgery) for
example, and the hundreds of other
great careers out there that might
not be as popular. They aren’t aware
that there are so many occupations
that would be a perfect fit for them
based
on their
interests.”
After taking an
assessment and
sitting in a career
counseling session,
students often change their
opinions, Powers said. “A career
counselor is like a personal shopper.
We’re here to guide you though the
process and help you turn your likes
and skills into a job.”
Rivera said he has wanted to be
a police officer since he was a
little boy, eager to follow in his
father’s footsteps. Still, he took the
assessment test at the Career Center
to see if the field would be a good fit.
He learned he was indeed a prime
candidate for a career in criminal
justice, a field that requires lots of
discipline, self-control, mental and
physical strength, and courage. “It
was good to have some affirmation,”
Rivera said, noting that Powers
assisted him in picking out criminal
justice classes.
Powers said students who use
the facility return often, seeking
information on obtaining a cooperative or internship placement,
or in locating a college for transfer.
Powers and his staff also work
closely with students to help them
write a resumé or complete an
application, and he primes them for
job interviews.
Career Center Coordinator Richard Powers helps HCC student Mason Rivera retrieve
information on criminal justice careers.
I
14 Summer 2011 I CareerFocus
Anthony Matthews, of Springfield,
recently graduated from HCC’s
Gateway to College program. The
program helps high school dropouts
finish their diploma requirements
while giving them the chance to also
earn college credits.
Matthews, who will be enrolled at
HCC full time in the fall, said Powers
played a key role in giving him the
confidence to apply for a job at Home
Depot. “He was very helpful from
the beginning and he’s shown me
what I need to do to get a job,” said
Matthews, who plans to major in
Business Management. “I didn’t have
anyone other than him to give me
this kind of advice.”
The Career Center is
open Monday through
Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30
p.m. and Wednesday
and Thursday evenings,
5 to 7 p.m. For more
information call the HCC
Career Center
at (413) 552-2597
or visit
www.hcc.edu/campus/
career.html.
Which Degree is Right for You?
These questions will help you decide
are. Then when you find
something you like, spend the
next two years building up
your skill set by focusing on
the classes you need for your
major.”
By James Militzer
4
1
Are you willing
to practice a
specific trade
for your entire
career?
YES
NO
If you are, an associate’s or
trade school degree should be
sufficient. “If there’s something
very specific you want to do,
the vocational route works,”
says Jason Rich. “But your
career path is going to be very
focused. If you go to school
to become an electrician or a
plumber, that’s what you’re
going to do for the rest of your
professional life. Whereas if
you go to a four-year school and
pursue business, for example,
you could learn as you go and
mold that into a lot of different
things.”
2
Do your life
circumstances
require you to
launch your
career quickly?
YES
(413) 552-2000
I Holyoke Community College I
YES
NO
time,” says Laurence Shatkin.
“And they usually have a
good rapport with the local
industrial base, who encourage
them to offer programs that
will provide the workforce
that employers are going to
need. So they’re not likely to
offer programs that lead to
unemployability.”
According to Shatkin, a
bachelor’s can provide the
general knowledge and
thinking skills that will help
you continually evolve in your
career. “Lifelong learning
is becoming more and more
important, because technology
and market conditions are
going to change. For example,
if your company starts dealing
with a foreign market they
haven’t dealt with before,
language skills will suddenly
become really important. And if
a new technology or computer
application comes along, you
need the critical thinking and
self-discipline to learn it. You
might not get those things with
a two-year degree.”
3
5
Do you want a
professional
YES
career, but are
unsure about
which profession? NO
If so (and if you can
handle the tuition bills) the
flexible structure of a four-year
degree could help you find your
calling. “Spend the first two
years learning as much as you
can about what’s out there,”
Rich says. “Take electives
that go out in totally different
directions, pursue internships
in different industries, just to
figure out what your interests
NO
If you’re in a hurry to start
working, a community
college or trade school might
be preferable to a longer
program. “Because they’re
so occupationally targeted,
community colleges are a good
way to learn a highly saleable
skill in a fairly short amount of
Do you want to
acquire diverse
skills that will
prepare you for
a variety of job
opportunities?
Does your dream
career
require highly
specialized
knowledge and
strong research
or teaching
skills?
college teaching, those research
skills are useful, and the
demand for college teaching
will be huge. But there are a
limited number of occupations
for which those are useful
skills.”
6
Are you willing to
spend significant
time and money
in the short term YES
to improve your
career prospects NO
in the long term?
Graduate-level classes are
considerably more expensive
than undergraduate classes–
and they require a lot more
work. But in Rich’s view, “That
relatively short commitment
will pay off big later on, when
you get the degree and it
translates into a much higherpaying job. You’ve really got
to think long-term, and focus
on what your career goals
are, both immediately and
in the next five or ten years.
Ultimately I really recommend
you get as much education as
you can, as long as it’s relevant
to the work you want to
pursue.”
YES
NO
If so, says Shatkin, a
graduate degree could be for
you. “Basically, unless it’s a
professionally oriented school
where you learn the tools and
techniques of a particular
occupation, most graduate
degrees teach you how to do
research. If you’re going into
Scoring:
Questions 1-2: If you answered yes to two or more of these questions, an associate’s or trade school
degree might be your best bet.
Questions 3-4: If you answered yes to both of these questions, you probably should start with a
bachelor’s degree.
Questions 5-6: If you answered yes to both of these questions, a graduate degree could help you achieve
your goals.
www.hcc.edu
CareerFocus I Summer 2011
I 15
Your Community Resource
Resources
Career Center
The HCC Career Center can help you find the right answers to your career questions. We’re your
central source for information on careers, education and training programs, job search planning
and employment opportunities and we’d like to help you! For information, visit the HCC Career
Center, room 322, Kittredge Center, call (413) 552-2597 or email: rpowers@hcc.edu
Gateway to College
Are you or is someone you know a high school dropout or struggling in school? Holyoke
Community College’s Gateway to College program can help. If you’re age 16-20 you can earn a
high school diploma and college credits toward an associate’s degree or certificate. For more
information and upcoming info sessions call (413) 552-2370 or email: vostrowski@hcc.edu
Interns and Internships
InternHere.com is a free, easy-to-use website that connects students with local employers in
Connecticut and Western Massachusetts. For information, visit the HCC Career Center in the
Kittredge Center, room 322; contact Richard Powers (413) 552-2361; rpowers@hcc.mass.edu
Massachusetts Export Center
Training & assistance on international marketing, legal issues, compliance, export logistics and
more. Call (413) 552-2316; www.mass.gov/export
Meeting & Conference Services
HCC offers competitively-priced space rental and conference services for your corporate
meeting, conference, retreat, training seminar or workshop.
• Partial-day, evening, full-day, and multi-day options.
• Designed for workforce education/training, professional development, and corporate
activities
• Conference rooms, tiered amphitheatre, computer labs, and training rooms with flexible
set-up options
• Staffing, space, technology, food service
• Local, state, and nationally-recognized trainers and facilitators
• Conveniently located near Interstate 91 and the Mass Turnpike. Free parking. Special room
rates available at nearby hotels
Call (413) 552-2088 or email: capatterson@ hcc.edu for a free quote and availability.
HCC High Stakes Testing & Computer-Based Learning Center
The center works with testing and computer-based training providers to give business &
industry, government organizations, and individuals access to unmatched testing and training
experiences. Services include competency-based training in more than 3,000 topics; anytime,
anywhere, “high stakes” licensure & certification testing for trade/professional exams, and
occupational analyses.
High Stakes Testing
ACT Certification and licensure testing for many organizations including:
• National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE)
• Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB)
• Boston University online courses
• COMPASS–Skills testing for schools
• Foreign Service Officer Test
ACT WorkKeys Internet-based & paper/pencil assessments of job-related skills
ACT PCTA WorkKeys Proficiency Certificate for teacher assistants
CASTLE Worldwide Internet-based and paper/pencil certification and licensure testing
CLEP (College-Level Examination Program®) 34 examinations that allow you to receive
college credit for what you already know
DSST (DANTES Subject Standardized Tests) 37 exams that provide your college with evidence
of prior learning
ISO Quality Testing Career-related licensure and certification examinations in medical,
nursing, IT, and other professional fields.
Kryterion Customized test delivery solutions for distance education organizations, IT
certifications, healthcare certifications, professional & trade associations
Microsoft IC3 & Microsoft Office Specialist International Exams (MOS)
Pearson VUE Computer-based testing solutions for information technology, academics,
government and other professions
TOEFL iBT Test of English as a foreign language
Computer-Based Education and Training
ACT Center 3,000 computer-based and distance learning self study courses
Flexstudy.com Online courses by the American Management Association
ONLC Online, Microsoft authorized, instructor-led, hands-on IT training
Plato Basic skills instruction and CPT, SAT and MCAS test prep.
For NEWFDA Members
ed2go Online, instructor-led courses
Gatlin Education Services Online programs in healthcare, business, construction technology, web design, technical & IT certifications, and video game development
For information visit www.thecenter-hcc.org, email eherbertdancik@hcc.edu or call
(413) 552-2112.
for Education, Training & Enrichment
Training
The American Management Association University Program
AMA University Program classes at HCC offer a structured approach to mastering the key skills
that every manager—whether a seasoned pro or a newly promoted one—needs to succeed.
Complete any five of 12 courses at HCC and receive the internationally-recognized AMA Management Certificate $325 per course, $1,625 for the certificate. Discounts available to employees of
organizations that belong to the HCC Corporate College Program. For information or to enroll,
call (413) 552-2086.
Business & Professional Development Training
As an authorized training provider, we offer high-quality, cost-effective contract training to meet
your specific needs. Contact us for a free, no obligation training consultation.
Professional development training, programs, and courses for:
• K-12 Educators
• Career Development Facilitators
• Certified Public Accountants
• Law Enforcement Officers
• Project Managers
• Food Service and Hospitality Industry Workers
• Massachusetts Real Estate Professionals Continuing Education
• Public and Not-for-Profit Organizations and Employees
• and more!
For details, visit www.hcc.edu and www.thecenter-hcc.org or call (413) 552-2500; or email
kittredgecenter@hcc.edu
Career Development Facilitator (CDF) Training
Hands-on, interactive training follows National Career Development Association curriculum.
Suitable for experienced practitioners and those new to the field. For information, visit
www.ncda.org For upcoming dates, cost and registration information, contact Barbara Foster
(413) 552-2559; bfoster@hcc.edu
Civil Rights & Diversity Training (by contract)
Meets state requirements for human service agencies and other interested organizations.
For information call (413) 552-2122
Computer & Technology Training for Individuals & Organizations
Hands-on learning. Small classes. Rewarding results. Affordably priced. Course and registration
information available online at www.hcc.edu/ces or Community Services, (413) 552-2320 or 2324
Consulting & Customized Training Services
Business strategy and performance, alignment, leadership and teambuilding, sales and customer
service, information security and assurance and more. For a free consultation contact:
Iraida Delgado, (413) 552-2742; idelgado@hcc.edu
Cooperative Education
Current students gain jobs, experience, credits. Workplaces gain enthusiastic student workers.
For information, contact Janet Rivera, Cooperative Education, Kittredge Center, room 319,
(413) 552-2322; jrivera@hcc.edu or Experiential Education Coordinator Andrea Picard
(413) 552-2342; apicard@hcc.edu
Jump Start Certificate Program
FREE education and training for TAFDC (Transitional Aid for Families with Dependent
Children) recipients. Maximum 16-week, noncredit, full-time program provides free, short-term
education and job skills training. To qualify, you must be receiving TAFDC; have a high school
diploma or GED; score appropriately on math, reading, and writing assessments; be committed
to completing the program, getting a job, and entering full-time employment after graduation.
Department of Transitional Assistance will pay for childcare and transportation during training.
For information and to apply call (413) 552-2042 or (413) 552-2496.
Language Services
For businesses and individuals seeking to improve workplace language skills.
Command Spanish - Real Spanish for Real People (by contract only for six or more employees). The quickest, easiest way for non-Spanish speakers to learn enough Spanish to get their jobs
done. Designed for 27 different professions so you learn just what is relevant to your workplace.
Accent Modification (on-campus course for individuals or group training by contract). Ideal
training for white-collar, foreign-born workers with a good command of English who seek assistance in reducing their accents. Training can signifiantly reduce foreign accents in just 30 hours.
For details, visit: www.thecenter-hcc.org, click ”language training” or contact Robert Griffin
(413) 552-2086; rgriffin@hcc.edu.
Leadership through Culinary Teambuilding
Foster a spirit of trust, creativity, enthusiasm, and team cooperation while building practical
interpersonal and problem-solving skills. Engage in fun, lighthearted cooking activities that challenge you to come together as a successful, highly-functioning team. Workshops are customized
to meet your goals. Contact Iraida Delgado (413) 552-2742; idelgado@hcc.edu
Personal Enrichment Courses
Learn new skills. Improve your life. Meet new friends. See ad on page 5. Course information and
registration available online at www.hcc.edu/ces or contact Community Servicecs at
(413) 552-2320 or 2324.
Professional Development for K-12 Educators
Earn PDPs in accredited self-paced VESI interactive courses packed with practical applications
for the classroom. CD or online format and undergraduate and graduate level courses available.
For courses and info, visit www.virtualeduc.com/holyoke or call Community Services
(413) 552-2320 or 2324.
Professional Development Programs from EANE
Employers Association of the NorthEast (EANE) provides assistance and training, drives key HR
initiatives, and helps companies grow and save time and money. Course and registration
information available online @ www.hcc.edu or call (413) 552-2320.
Project Management Evening Certificate
Convenient. Self-paced. No commute. Classes available on many
topics. View HCC courses and register: www.ed2go.com/holyoke
For information, call Arvard Lingham (413) 552-2320;
alingham@hcc.edu
This 13-week, hands-on certificate program aligns with the Project Management Institute’s Guide
to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK). Great refresher course for current
project managers and for new project managers who want to learn project management
concepts and practices quickly. Learn to plan and execute successful projects using project
management concepts and processes; prepare for Project Management Professional certification
test; and earn 39 PDUs—four more than the required 35 hours required for the PMP designation.
Course materials include templates for a project charter, scope statement, and quality management plan, and exams, quizzes, and 100-question practice PMP certification exam. For start
dates, cost and registration information, call (413) 552-2086 or visit www.thecenter-hcc.org
Gatlin Education Services
Public & Not-for-Profit Professional Development Institute
ed2go Online Courses
Online career training programs in many fields. To view all HCC
courses and register: www.gatlineducation.com/holyoke
For information, contact Arvard Lingham (413) 552-2320; alingham@hcc.edu
HCC’s Corporate College Program
The same comprehensive education and training services through live training
or online learning that Fortune 500 companies provide to their employees. Fees
start at $40 a year and are based on size of business or organization. Provides
discounts on other HCC courses and workforce development grant application
assistance. For costs and more information, call (413) 552-2111
Training and services for those working in government, education, healthcare, and not-for-profit
organizations. For personnel and managers, supervisors and front-line staff in state and municipal government, schools and other agencies.
• Customized professional development days
• Computer software training
• 39-hour Project Management Certificate program
• Professional development training
• AMA Management Certificate Program
For details, visit www.thecenter-hcc.org, click the “professional development” or contact
Keith Hensley (413) 552-2506; email: khensley@hcc.edu
Register now for
summer classes!
Summer credit classes start
June 6 & July 11.
Noncredit classes begin
throughout the semester.
Enrolling is easy!
Continuing students:
Visit www.hcc.edu
New students:
Visit www.hcc.edu to
apply or contact the Office of Admissions
and Transfer Affairs (413) 552-2321;
email: admissions@hcc.edu
Course schedules:
Credit Courses
visit www.hcc.edu for Fall 2011 Registration Booklet
(includes Intersession) PDF. Or click “MyHCC” for the
most up-to-date info about class availability (courses
fill and new sections open continuously), instructor
names and course descriptions. Pick up a print copy on
campus.
Questions? Call the Welcome Center (413) 552-2000.
Non-credit Professional Development,
Personal Enrichment and Training for
Business and Industry
HCC’s Business and Community Services Bulletin,
which includes non-credit personal enrichment and
professional development course information, is
available in early May, online (PDF) and in print. Classes
start throughout the semester. (413) 552-2500 or (413)
552-2320 or login to our online course shopping cart at
www.hcc.edu/ces
Questions? Call the Welcome Center at (413) 552-2000
Home for the summer? Take a course.
Many students who attend colleges and universities throughout the country and are home for summer,
find taking a summer class or two at HCC is the perfect place to pick up some college credits and
save money, too.
A variety of HCC courses—from psychology to mathematics to biology—transfer easily to most universities
and colleges across the country.
You can complete a summer course in two to seven weeks! You’ll find plenty of
options for day, evening, and online courses in this Bulletin.
Why not go back to college this fall with a few more academic credits on your
transcript?
First, talk to your college’s registrar, to make sure the HCC course meets its
requirements. Once you’ve completed an approved HCC course, request a transcript
from HCC to transfer credit back to your home institution.
The HCC classes listed here meet the requirements of most colleges and
universities. But your college may accept plenty of others if you check with them
first.
www.facebook.com/HolyokeCommunityCollege
Questions? Call (413) 552-2000 or email admissions@hcc.mass.edu.
HCC has designated the following summer
courses as transferable to most institutions:
BIO 103
ECN 101
ECN 102
HIS 112
POL 110
PSY 110
SOC 110
MTH 142
ENG 101
ENG 102
HIS 111
Biology Today
Economics I
Economics II
History of the US II
U.S. National Government
Introduction to Psychology
Introduction to Sociology
Statistics
Introduction to Language
and Literature
Language and Literature II
History of the U.S. I
Holyoke Community College, 303 Homestead Avenue
Holyoke MA 01040
www.hcc.edu