THE PLAIN DEALER MONDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1986 Community colleges want to shuck image 3a VAN By FARKAS STAFF WRITER When Mark Lewine enrolled Cufahoga Community College in he had been told it was a glorified school and no I found it so creative, vating and academically sound the experience made me decide stay as a student as long as I he said. 2 graduated from CCC then Case Western Reserve with a bachelor's degree and Kent State University with a Indo71, he began teaching at is still at CCC, teaching sociology. For more than 20 years, of Ohio students have gone to nity colleges and have trained or continued on to four-year YiN Butcommunity college officials their institutions, students and are still perceived by some as to their university counterparts. "The stereotype I was given school still persists," said Lewine. still hear that students look at the low -cost third alternative, of whatit should be, the first CCC President Nolen Ellison officials were promoting CCC College of First Choice" and upgrading its image by strengthening the curriculum and academic dards; al "It His an aggressive move Ellison said.
"I think we. good economic choice, and we have to be viewed as a second But community college admit that students enroll lowigrades, lack.of money or time keep them out of four -year tutions. en OnDY00 Community, colleges have everything from cake decorating job training. "Sometimes the nity. colleges got too exuberant tried, to- be all things to all said: Omar: L.
Olson, president Lorain- County. Community "But was in the early phase, for the most part we take a headed to any new gram. Community, college officials on what they should emphasize technical training for jobs or eral so students can fer.to a four year My feeling about community leges is, that they are sometimes fad-driven and need always to the basic building blocks of education, "said James president of Lakeland College in Kirtland. said Lakeland, attracts many. middle-class at 2-year students a meld 1965, high of all ages, backgrounds inner- By KAREN FARKAS York University, but it wouldn't that STAFF WRITER accept all of his credits.
So, to Community college students can- decided to graduate from CCC, then could," not be pigeonholed. go to New York City, where family recently moved, and possiand They range in age from high bly enter a university. University and school 70s. juniors Many to people arrange in their classes 60s Thomas Muenich said he owed from around working and caring for their future to CCC. Muenich, 41, was laid master's.
families. Most never considered off as a lathe operator in 1982. CCC. He college when they were in high "I decided to change occupaschool. tions," he said.
So, he is majoring thousands But all hospitality management. commu- share the same goal "It's been great," he said. "The for jobs self-improvement. teachers are super and are schools. of "I needed to make something Ste- out geared to help.
It is a terrific place say myself," said Jacqueline to learn." faculty phens, 23, who is attending ber first He said he never expected to inferior Community College. "I want a to college and had to complete quarter of classes at Cuyahoga career and want to get a good job." high school equivalency degree in high before he could enroll. "I Stephens, who is majoring in data But he said he wanted a CCC as processing, said she dropped out of steady instead college, but when her son was born recent divorce. high school and never considered job and his layoff contributed to choice." said 17 months ago, she became moti- "When you are losing everything, as "the lency to degree get her and high enroll in school college. equiva- it is a long road," said.
vated he were Freida Frisco, 30, was studying "It is bard coming back, but I feel at a table with Muenich. stan- I can make it," she said. She said she had a good income Dwight Farmer, 20, from Cleve- from selling insurance, but wanted on our land, enrolled at Kent State Univer- 5 to do something else, so are a sity last fall, but transferred to enrolled in CCC's physical therapy do not CCC. "It was too much money," he program. She went to CSU for a choice." said of KSU.
weeks last year, then transferred Farmer said he had some aca- CCC. officials because demic problems at KSU. He said "Being out of school for such lack of CCC classes were smaller. "There long time, it was hard to adjust insti- is no problem getting extra help," the curriculum at CSU," she said. he said.
"It is a tougher atmosphere." offered He is majoring in business man- She said she was able to schedule to agement and plans to go to a small classes so she could study during commu- university after graduating from the day and take care of her three and CCC. children at night when her husband people," Shanele Denton, 18, of Cleveland, attends a technical institute. She of considered Cleveland State Univer- said she was getting straight A's. College. sity but didn't want to risk falling "I graduated from high school and short of its standards.
So she is with straight D's," said Richard hard- majoring in commercial art at CCC. Bennett, 26, of Brooklyn: "High pro- "By the time I get out of here, I school was a place I had to go. Here, know I can compete in a four -year I have to pay." differ college." He attends Lorain County Com- George Athanitis, 21, of Greece, munity College and is majoring a gen- did not want to attend a community robotics. trans- college, but couldn't get into a four- 'He said be was a welder after any, year estate at school. He is majoring in real high school, but a disabling motorcol- ate in June.
CCC and expects to gradu- cycle accident a few years too pushed him to look for another work at Athanitis said he felt the classes career. higher were not as challenging as they "I am trying to pick up more than Catanzaro, could be in a university. He said he one major to make sure I I I I I I I I get a job," Community did not have to study much to do he said. "Times are changing, and well. you do not keep up with them, which He wanted to.
transfer to New get left students is the ladder approach to education," that considers you and your students said Sturm. second-class," he said. "For us to be He told the story of a woman in her advocates for students, need to and refocus most are, and early 50s who worked in a restaurant. unconsciously we Her employer wanted ber to take a strengthen our efforts." few courses in hotel and restaurant Carole G. Garrison, assistant promanagement, so she enrolled at fessor of criminal justice at the UniAkron.
versity of Akron's community and Sturm said after she got a one-year technical college, said some commucertificate, she continued for a two- nity. college professors were intimiyear degree, a four-year degree, a dated by university professors who master's and a doctorate. She later protect their image by belittling factaught. ulty at two-year colleges. Lewine said he doubted he would "It is difficult for people who have ever teach at a university.
gone Ph.D. through to a admit lot of schooling who to has get "I can say, 'Here is a student who been skilled as a practitioner has as a a person can't read on a college level, but is much value to contribute to the total bright and he said. "The col- educational scene as the academic in lege must be an advocate, but can't let the ivory tower," said Garrison, who him out of here until he reads at a has a doctorate. A professor at Cleveland State Uniuniversity level." Lewine said he was students. motivated He said by versity said some of his colleagues the diversity of his used to say community college faculty at he was KSU.
bored as a teaching assistant did not have advanced degrees and were not as qualified. But he said that "There were students without prac- rarely happened now. tical experience or a strong motiva- Ellison said his faculty could comtion," he said. pete with any university faculty. Lewine said some faculty were as Lewine agreed, adding, "But I find guilty as others of stereotyping com- the community college professor is a munity colleges.
person who is committed to the want your students to succeed, dent and the community. That is diffibut you also are a part of a system cult to find at a university." access road gets nod anced with an assortment of local and public and private development, said federal tax funds, including a $302,000 Mayor George V. Voinovich. Urban Development Action Grant and By reducing industrial traffic on a $103,000 Community Development neighborhood streets, the new road Block Grant. will help residential development in Federal funds for Detroit-Shoreway Detroit-Shoreway, said Councilman projects have been a catalyst for both Raymond Pianka, D-17.
Bacteria reported in 4 more Brie brands WASHINGTON (AP) The Food Grigg said the agency is also warnand Drug Administration warned yes- ing against consumption of Brie packterday that a bacteria has been found aged under the brand names Rue in four more brands of Brie cheese, Lepic, distributed by Atlantic Cheese which could cause flu-like symptoms. in Frenex, N.J.; Louis XIV, distributed However, no illness has yet been by Safeway Stores of San Francisco; linked to the contaminated cheese, Prestige, distributed by ANCO Foods said agency spokesman William of New Jersey, and J. Linset, distriGrigg. buted by Gastronomie Francais of New Jersey. Last week, the FDA warned against consumption of Brie with the brand The code number is on an inner names Esprit Nouveau, code number 351, and Joan of Arc, code number wrapper, punched in with pinholes, 323.
Grigg said. he his his in all go his his she few to a to AL in ago if you JOIN THE F. 442. Olen robed 30 PLAIN DEALER 4, CARRIER 4 1 1. TEAM! I A NO -3': 4 Spend only about 10 an hour delivering.
a day 20t Al. 1.. 3 TO ant 2 ho 516 12891 JA 1 1 Work right in your neighborhood. THE PLAIN DEALER Earn extra money. who plan to go on to four -year schools, competed with- four -year colleges and must provide a strong general course.
Frederick J. Sturm, acting dean of the University of Akron's community and: technical college, said, "We are in a technical society and we turn out people who get jobs. That is nothing to be ashamed about." Friday, the Ohio Board of Regents tried to clarify some issues regarding the occupational mission of the community colleges by adopting a resolution acknowledging the two-year colleges as "the primary' collegiate provider and coordinator of adult edu-. cation and job training services in their communities." The resolution, asks the two-year schools to form a network to share resources, and the regents said they would try to provide funding so the institutions could coordinate adult training needs in the community. Community, college officials say fulfilling their mission has always been difficult because they serve students.
who work and bave a variety of educational and occupational backgrounds. In addition, they also want to continue to meet the needs of the community by. providing programs with local schools, community groups and businesses. The community college philosophy Zit 7 4,4 1. onstruction will begin soon on a newt industrial "access road expected to reduce truck traffic on residential streets" in the Detroit-Shoreway neighoor hood, city officials said.
for The new road will connect W. 65th 3t. and W. 73rd St. immediately south 'of the Conrail tracks.
street, planned since 1978, is expected to be completed in September. The road has been delayed by efforts to- buy. land, relocate several businesses. and design the street, offi'cials said. Delay's once caused the fed'etal government to temporarily halt aid to the project.
19 Limited access to an industrial strip along -the Conrail tracks has caused disputes between residents and businesses for years. One street is only 11 feet wide and is frequently shared by residents, commuters and trucks, officials said." A The $660,000 project will be fin NATO A an at Learn to operate; Now VE as an business independent person Steven N. BROWN V. IP. IN CHARGE C)F ROUTE 306 Win great prizes in.
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