Marketing & Communications

News Releases 2006

• December
• November
• October
• September
• August
• July
• June
• May
• April
• March
• February
• January

December

Laborers' Union/CCRI Partnership Promotes Construction Profession

Warwick, RI, December 7, 2006: Producing a workforce of highly skilled construction professionals is the goal of a new partnership program announced today by the Community College of Rhode Island and the Laborers’ International Union of North America, Local 271. The Rhode Island Board of Governors for Higher Education approved the partnership earlier this fall.

To help meet the demand of jobs in the construction industry, the college will grant up to 20 credits for work completed in an apprenticeship program offered after graduation from the Construction Career Academy in Cranston, a charter school created by the Cranston Public School Department and the New England Laborers’ Union. The 20 credits can be applied to the Associate in Applied Science in Technical Studies degree (A.A.S.-T.S.) offered by the college. The remaining credits (40 to 46) can be earned by taking courses in technical and related studies as well as courses in general education subjects.

The A.A.S.-T.S. degree program allows students to tailor technical programs to their own specific needs. A range of general education courses are offered and most often include English, psychology, mathematics and economics. Technical and related courses are flexible and interdisciplinary and might include, depending on a student’s interest, digital electronics, instrumentation, law of contracts and accounting, among many others.

CCRI President Ray Di Pasquale said “At CCRI, we have always understood the value of developing community partnerships. This partnership with the laborers’ union is an outstanding example of collaboration that will give many more Rhode Islanders the tools they need to succeed.”

CCRI faculty member Tom Whitfield, a member of the college team that developed the curriculum, said, “the program has great potential to prepare for the transition of an aging construction industry workforce, and also helps fill the void for people wanting to change careers. In addition to acquiring a degree, participants have the opportunity to earn a good living and to grow within the construction industry.” Other CCRI representatives involved in developing the program include Richard Cardin, faculty member, and Peter Woodberry, Dean of Business, Science and Technology.

Armand E. Sabitoni, general secretary treasurer and New England regional manager of the laborer’s union, said, “We are proud of the work done by both our organizations, which brought this important program to all laborers. Our partnership with the Community College of Rhode Island clearly reflects the mission of the New England Laborers’ Training Trust Fund and the National Laborers’ and Associated General Contractors to offer the most comprehensive and rigorous education to all our members. This partnership allows our members to improve their skills and knowledge so they are the most skilled, best trained and most highly educated workforce in the marketplace.”

Dr. Michael Silvia, executive director of the Construction Career Academy, said, “The field of construction continues to evolve into a profession where highly technical skills are required in order to meet the needs of the industry. The Academy’s partnership with CCRI ensures that students who enter the construction apprenticeship program upon high school graduation are validated for the skill training received during the program.”

Michael Traficante, chairman of the Academy’s Board of Directors, said, “This partnership provides both the Academy and CCRI with the opportunity to support the academic growth of students from the ninth grade of high school into the sophomore year of college. The merging of two academic cultures with the sole purpose of developing students to be self-sufficient, productive and educated members of society is certainly education at its best.”

The new program comes at a time when the construction industry is trying to meet the demand of hiring qualified workers, both locally and nationally. A recent national survey of the construction industry conducted by CIT stated that, “the shortage of qualified workers is the industry’s single most serious problem.” Locally, the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training estimates that the construction industry will add over 4,200 jobs over the 2004 – 2014 projection period.

The Construction Career Academy is a partnership between the New England Laborers’ and the Cranston Public Schools. It offers students a construction-specific curriculum along with required classes in math, science, English, reading and social studies. Graduates from the accredited program can go on to college, or can enter the job market at the apprenticeship level. Individuals who enter the apprenticeship program are required to complete the necessary technical courses for certification as a Journeyman. Selected graduates may also be selected to attend the state-of- the-art construction training academy located in Pomfret, CT. Upon completion of the apprenticeship program, students graduate with 20 credits.

For more information on the program, contact Faith Mansolillo-Orabona, New England Laborers’ Public Relations and Media at (401) 272-4560, or Peter Woodberry, CCRI, at (401) 825-2147.

Upcoming student music performances

CCRI Jazz Ensemble Concert
Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2006 at 7:00 p.m.
CCRI Warwick, Room 0540, $5 Admission

CCRI Student Recital
Thursday, Dec. 14, 2006 at 1:00 p.m.
Classical and jazz students studying independently for credit will perform individually and in small ensembles.
CCRI Warwick, Room 0540, Free Admission

CCRI Honors Classical Guitar Recital: Christine Chito assisted by Mychal Gendron and John Dennewitz, guitarists
Friday, Dec. 15, 2006 at 1:00 p.m.
CCRI Warwick, Room 0540. Free Admission

CCRI Chorus & Chamber Singers with West Bay Community Chorale Concert
Saturday, Dec. 16, 2006 at 1:00 p.m.
St. Mary Star of the Sea Church, 864 Point Judith Rd., Narragansett. Free Admission

CCRI Chorus & Chamber Singers with West Bay Community Chorale Concert
Sunday, Dec. 17, 2006 at 3:00 p.m.
St. William's Church, 200 Pettaconsett Ave, Warwick

Student awarded scholarship

CCRI Student Jaqueline Berthiaume was recently named recipient of the 2006 Phi Theta Kappa National Dean’s List Scholarship. The National Dean’s List is a prestigious compilation of honor students in two-year and four-year degree programs.

November

CCRI and Butler Hospital collaborate on nursing shortage

The Community College of Rhode Island and Butler Hospital have begun an accelerated partnership to educate more nurses in Rhode Island. Through this partnership, Butler Hospital staff members who hold master’s degrees in nursing serve as extra instructors for the clinical portion of the college’s nursing degree program, while CCRI creates eight new seats in its nursing program to enroll eligible Butler employees.

CCRI Dean of Nursing Maureen E. McGarry explains that the collaboration represents an innovative approach toward the state’s nursing shortage. “Butler is providing an additional clinical site, clinical units and adjunct faculty,” she says. In turn, this influx of resources makes it possible for CCRI to educate more nurses over and above the 325 program acceptances it offers each academic year.

This collaboration comes at a time when Rhode Island is facing a growing crisis in qualified health care workers. The SHAPE (Statewide Health Assessment Planning and Evaluation) Foundation reported in 2004 that the Rhode Island’s current nursing shortage—an eight percent vacancy rate among available jobs—could rise to 25 percent by 2010.

Vice President of Patient Care Services Linda Damon notes that while the accelerated partnership benefits the health care workforce, it also benefits both partners, creating “a closer connection between the service industry and academics.” Damon also notes that CCRI students benefit from the wisdom on hospital-based faculty, while the Butler employees/instructors gain important teaching experience.

This is not the first collaboration CCRI has made with a health care organization. In the past few years, CCRI has launched a similar program with Kent Hospital, whereby qualified Kent staffers served as adjunct instructors for Kent Hospital employees enrolled in the CCRI nursing program. And, CCRI and Kent also collaborated on a nursing refresher course to upgrade the skills of nurses who had stepped away from acute care settings during their career path.

In recognition of the nursing shortage, the RI legislature approved 12 new faculty positions in the CCRI nursing program over the past two years, so that the college could accommodate a larger number of nursing students.

The Community College of Rhode Island, New England’s largest community college, educates approximately 16,000 students in degree and certificate programs, and thousands more in non-credit offerings.

October

CCRI Hosts “Real Talk” about Gang Violence

The Liberian Community Association of Rhode Island, in collaboration with the Community College of Rhode Island, will host its second annual youth non-violence summit on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 27 and 28, at the CCRI Liston Campus, One Hilton St., Providence.

Entitled ”Real Talk” Summit: Youth Confronting Violence,” the event kicks off Friday at 6 p.m. with appearances by community leaders including State Representatives Joseph Almeida Jr. and Grace Diaz, and continues from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday with working sessions on gang violence, conflict prevention and peace building.

Summit organizer Mator Kpangbai, who is the Liberian Community Association president and the Adelaide Avenue School principal, says his goal is to instill within the community respect, tolerance and the communications skills needed to avoid violence. Kpangbai has already put some of these principals in action by creating a youth group trained in conflict prevention, management and resolution. “Together,” he says, “we can work to save a life.”

Highlights of the weekend include Friday performances by a Liberian dance troupe and a Liberian-Nigerian musical group; and a frank discussion of gang behavior by Anti-Gang Coordinator and Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Rose.* Up to 200 middle and high school students are expected to attend the two-day event.

* Richard Rose is scheduled to speak on Saturday, Oct. 28, at 1:15 p.m.

Certified Nursing Assistant Training

The Community College of Rhode Island will hold pre-tests for those interested in entering the college’s Certified Nursing Assistant Training program every other Saturday morning at 10 a.m. through mid-December. Certified Nursing Assistants provide personal and related health care assistance to those who are sick, disabled or dependent on residential health care facilities. All individuals wishing to be employed as a nursing assistant or home health aide in Rhode Island must complete an approved nursing assistant training course and pass the state boards.

CNA pre-testing will occur at the CCRI Lincoln campus, 1762 Louisquisset Rd., on Oct. 14, Nov. 4 and Dec. 2. Pre-testing will also take place at the CCRI Warwick campus, 400 East Ave., on Oct. 28, Nov. 18 and Dec. 16. Pre-registration for CNA pre-testing is required—no walk-ins are allowed. For more information, contact the CCRI Division for Lifelong Learning at (401) 333-7077.

Once a student has completed pre-testing, he or she can apply to the college’s CNA day program held at the Lincoln campus, or the evening program held at both the Lincoln and Warwick campuses. The program consists of 88 hours of training in the classroom and laboratory and 32 hours of clinical training in a nursing facility. Program tuition is $498.

September

Guitar duo Bill Maker and Eric Christensen will perform a free concert

Guitar duo Bill Maker and Eric Christensen will perform a free concert Monday, Oct. 2 at 12 p.m. in Room 0540 of the Community College of Rhode Island Knight Campus, 400 East Ave., Warwick. The program includes the works “Evening Dance” by Agustin Barrios, “Theme and Variations from Sextet in Bb, Op. 18” by Johannes Brahms and “La Vida Breve” by Manuel de Falla. The concert is sponsored by the CCRI Department of Music.

Maker, a music faculty member at Rhode Island College, has been performing as a chamber musician throughout southern New England for the past 15 years, and has appeared as a soloist with the Rhode Island College Orchestra and the Ocean State Chamber Orchestra. A former CCRI student, Maker holds a Bachelor of Music (B.M.) degree from RIC and a Master of Music (M.M.) degree from the New England Conservatory of Music. Currently a music faculty member at Rhode Island College, he also teaches music at Gallagher Middle School in Smithfield.

Christensen has performed as a recitalist, chamber musician and concerto soloist throughout the United States and Canada, and has performed live on National Public Radio (NPR) in Palm Beach, Florida. He holds a B.M. from Lawrence University, an M.M. from Yale University School of Music and a G.D. from the New England Conservatory. Currently Christensen teaches guitar at Rhode Island College, Roger Williams University, the Gordon School and the Wheeler School Conservatory.

Job Fair at the CCRI Lincoln campus

The Community College of Rhode Island Division for Lifelong Learning is partnering with the RI Dept. of Labor and Training to host a Diversity Job Fair, Wednesday, Oct. 4 at the CCRI Field House, Flanagan Campus, 1762 Louisquisset Pike, Lincoln. The fair is free and open to the public from noon to 4 p.m.

Recruiters from more than 20 area companies will be on hand to meet personally with job seekers. Among the companies slated to attend the fair are AAA Southern New England, AFLAC, Bank of America, CVS, Coastway Credit Union, Goodwill Industries, Home Depot, Horton Translation, Kohl’s, Lifespan, Macy’s, Ocean State Job Lot, PETCO, Providence School Department, RI Army National Guard, RI Housing Authority, Ryla Teleservices, Shaw’s, Stop & Shop, Toray Plastics and the YMCA of Pawtucket. Additionally, the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce will be recruiting for a number of small business owners.

During the job fair, CCRI staff will offer free workshops in résumé writing and interview techniques. Both workshops will take place at noon and will be repeated at 1 p.m.

Also, visitors may visit the information booths of community and social service organizations in attendance. Representatives from the Center for Hispanic Policy and Advocacy, Comprehensive Community Action, the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Progreso Latino, RI Affirmative Action Professionals, the RI Commission for Human Rights, the RI Coalition for Affirmative Action, Rhode Island Housing Authority, the Small Business Development Center and the Volunteer Center of RI will be available to answer questions and connect visitors with services.

“We know that over the last decade, population growth in Rhode Island has included many diverse residents, particularly those that do not count English as their first language,” says Sandra Powell, assistant director of workforce development at the Rhode Island Dept. of Labor and Training. “Regardless of any language barriers, these Rhode Islanders still need meaningful work.”

Powell adds, “Hosting a job fair with the Community College is a natural partnership, because CCRI has a successful track record of delivering English language services to our clients.”

Each year, the CCRI Division for Lifelong Learning offers short-term and customized workforce training to thousands of Southern New Englanders. It is also a key provider of Adult Basic Education (ABE) training, workplace literacy and English as a Second Language (ESL) classes in Rhode Island.

August

CCRI Downcity classes to start next week

The Community College of Rhode Island still has seats available at its Downcity satellite, located in the Shepard Building, 80 Washington Street, Providence. While fall classes at the college’s four full-service campuses began Tuesday, Sept. 5, classes at the Downcity campus begin a week later, starting Sept. 11. At press time, available classes include:

• Introduction to Business
• Compensatory Writing Skills (developmental)
• College Writing
• Composition I
• Readings in the Short Story
• College Success
• Elementary Algebra (developmental)
• Introduction to Philosophy
• General Sociology
• Introduction to Theatre

To register for fall classes, call 825-2003.

The Community College of Rhode Island, New England’s largest community college, offers more than 80 certificate and degree programs through its four comprehensive campuses and several satellites.

CCRI Scholarship and Award Winners

The Community College of Rhode Island students listed below recently received the following scholarships and awards:

Cranston
Lisa Cordeiro
2006 Cooperative Education Scholarship

North Providence
Debra Ricci
2006 Cooperative Education Scholarship

Pawtucket
Kyle Juckett
2006 Cooperative Education Scholarship

Michelle Mercure
2006 Barbara Colavecchio Transfer Scholarship

Warren
Nelson Moreira
2006 Cooperative Education Scholarship

Warwick
usan Palmer
2006 XRI Scholarship for radiography students

West Warwick
Derek Asatrian
2006 Cooperative Education Scholarship

Westerly
Susan Siwinski
2006 Radiography Scholarship

Woonsocket
Alison Horne
2006 Cooperative Education Scholarship

Seats still available in CCRI classes

Seats are still available in a several fall courses offered at the Community College of Rhode Island, New England’s largest community college. Selections of available open classes are listed below by the college’s four campuses in Warwick, Lincoln, Newport and Providence. For a complete listing of CCRI fall course offerings in your area, visit www.ccri.edu and click on “available courses.” Registrations are accepted throughout the week of Sept. 5.

At the CCRI Knight Campus, 400 East Ave., Warwick, (401) 825-2003:

• The American Musical
• Basic Concepts of Emergency Preparedness for Bioterrorism
• Basic Spoken Russian
• Drugs and Human Behavior
• Fundamentals of Emergency Management
• Human Sexuality
• Introduction to Computer Repair
• Introduction to Television Production
• Introduction to Travel and Tourism
• Jazz History
• Medical Terminology
• Microcomputer Keyboarding
• Orientation to Biotechnology
• Sign Language I
  

At the CCRI Flanagan Campus, 1762 Louisquisset Pike, Lincoln, (401) 825-2003

• Basic Spoken Chinese
• Human Sexuality
• Introduction to Business
• Introduction to Law Enforcement
• Introduction to Respiratory Therapy
• Introduction to Travel and Tourism
• Jazz History
• Learning Disabilities
• Parent Child Relations
• Principles of Microeconomics

At the CCRI Newport County Campus, One John H. Chafee Blvd., Newport (401) 851-1622

• Art History
• AutoCAD
• Basic Spoken Spanish
• Chemistry of our Environment
• Human Physiology
• Infant Toddler Care
• Introduction to Engineering and Technology
• Introduction to Microbiology
• Introduction to Networking Technology/CISCO
• Introduction to Occupational Therapy Assistant
• Introduction to Therapeutic Massage
• Modern Literature
• Principles of Microeconomics
• Sign Language I

At the CCRI Liston Campus, One Hilton St., Providence (401) 455-6000

• Basic Spoken Spanish
• Black American Literature
• Ceramics I
• Community Policing
• Criminalistics
• ESL I and II
• Human Sexuality
• Introduction to Business
• Introduction to Cellular Biology
• Introduction to Law Enforcement
• Introduction to Renal Dialysis Technology
• Microcomputer Keyboarding

Openings are also available in the following distance learning courses:

• Composition I and II
• Cooperative Education
• Introduction to Music

CCRI Newport to offer associate’s degree in business

A special open house for those interested in Business Administration programs at the Community College of Rhode Island will take place Thursday, August 24 from 3:30-6:30 p.m. at the CCRI Newport County Campus, One John H. Chafee Blvd., Newport.

Beginning this fall, the Community College of Rhode Island will offer an Associate of Science degree in General Business through its Newport County Campus. The 62-credit degree program is accredited by the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs, and includes course work in accounting, management and marketing. Previously, students who attended the Newport-based campus could take business courses there, but had to attend additional classes at one of CCRI’s other three Rhode Island campuses in order to complete their program requirements.

For more information on the open house, call (401) 851-1637. For more information on class availability and registration options, visit the Available Courses page. Fall classes begin the week of Sept. 5.

Free Walking Tours of Historic Knight Farm

This fall, the Knight Estate Historic Restoration Committee will offer walking tours of the historic Knight Farm at the Community College of Rhode Island Warwick campus, 486 East Avenue. Tours take place every Wednesday in September and October from noon to 4 p.m.

Knight Farm is one of the few intact farmscapes in Rhode Island dating from the mid-19th century, and includes a cider mill, a greenhouse, a water tower, a carriage house with attached barn, box stalls with an attached tack room, a corn crib, and a hen house.

Nineteenth-century industrialists Benjamin and Robert Knight made their fortune in the textile industry and were the originators of the brand, Fruit of the Loom. In 1875, they purchased the gentleman’s farm from the once prosperous Sprague family as part of a larger purchase of Sprague-owned mills in the area. The property remained a working farm until it was deeded to the state in the early 1960s as the future site of the Community College of Rhode Island. Today, the three-story mansion that serves as the heart of the farm is maintained as the residence for CCRI’s president.

For more information, contact the CCRI Foundation at (401) 333-7150.

New Computer Courses at CCRI

This fall, the Community College of Rhode Island premieres two new computer studies courses: Beginning Game Programming and Programming in Fourth Generation Languages.

Beginning Game Programming (COMI 8034) is an experimental course in creating two-dimensional games, using Flash and Action Script. These skills translate easily to today’s job market; the software publishing field is expected to grow 65% from 2002 to 2012. The three-credit course is scheduled from noon to 2 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays at the CCRI Knight Campus, 400 East Ave., Warwick.

Programming in Fourth Generation Languages (COMI 1260) is designed for programmers who need to intercede, manipulate and transfer data between databases. The course covers the fundamentals of MySQL, also known as structured query language—the most requested language in job descriptions. Designed for students with little or no relational database management experience, this course is offered in a distance learning format.

Tuition for each three-credit course is $315. Classes begin the week of Sept. 5. For information on these and other computer science offerings this fall, go to the Available Courses page. Registration is available through the CCRI Web site, by calling (401) 825-2003 or by visiting one of our campuses in Warwick, Lincoln, Providence and Newport.

July

CCRI Health Care Interpreter Program to hold Info Sessions

The Community College of Rhode Island will hold information sessions for those interested in its Health Care Certificate Program on Tuesday, Aug. 1 and Thursday, Aug. 3, from 6 – 9 p.m. in Room 1130 of the CCRI Knight Campus, 400 East Avenue, Warwick. Eligible candidates must be fluent in both Spanish and English.

The 15-credit, year-long program offers instruction in interpreting, medical terminology, confidentiality and ethics in a health care setting. During the fall semester, students are introduced to the workings of each body system. In the spring semester, they learn the principles of interpreting and conflict negotiation. Lastly, during the summer, interpreters-in-training complete internships in area hospitals, doctors’ offices and neighborhood clinics where they can put their new skills to use in a supervised setting.

The CCRI Health Care Interpreter Program was created with the help of Su Salud (“Your Health”), a partnership of health care service providers for Rhode Island’s Latino community: Rhode Island Hospital/Hasbro Children’s Hospital, Providence Community Health Centers, Women & Infants’ Hospital, St. Joseph’s Hospital for Specialty Care, and Ocean State Action Fund. Su Salud is funded by a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and is an initiative of the Neighborhood Health Plan.

Information sessions begin promptly at 6 p.m. Reservations are mandatory. To reserve a seat at the information session, call (401) 333-7268.

CCRI Assistant Professor Susi named to educational software company’s advisory board

Holly J. Susi, assistant professor of English and reading instructor at the Community College of Rhode Island, has been named to the educational advisory board of Lexia Learning, Inc, a Massachusetts-based educational software company working with more than 12,000 schools across the United States. Reading instructors at CCRI regularly use Lexia’s “Strategies for Older Students” software to help lower-level readers develop their critical thinking and retention skills; some ESL students use the software as well.

“I’m excited to be a part of the board that will be advising the research and product development team at Lexia Learning,” says Susi. “Lexia Learning uses scientifically based research methods in the design and development of their software and curriculum – a practice that the reading faculty members at CCRI have strongly supported as we have developed reading courses at the college. I hope that my involvement as a member of the educational advisory board with Lexia will benefit CCRI as well as the management team at Lexia Learning.”

Members of the Advisory Committee include expert instructors and administrators from public and private literacy development programs, from early childhood to adult education, located throughout the region. The committee is charged with advising Lexia administrators on improving products and service delivery through program design, strategic planning, market analysis and research.

The Community College of Rhode Island, New England’s largest community college, has campuses in Warwick, Providence, Lincoln and Newport. CCRI enrolls more than 16,000 students in credit courses and thousands more in non-credit and job training classes.

CCRI announces Dean’s List for Spring 2006 semester

Community College of Rhode Island announces that the following students have been named to the Dean’s List for the Spring 2006 semester. Students who have accumulated at least 12 credits and have achieved a quality point average of 3.25 or higher with no grade lower than “C” are eligible for this scholastic honor. A total of 831 students were awarded this status for the semester. See list below:

REACH program recruits test administrators

The REACH program—(Realizing Educational and Career Hopes)—at the Community College of Rhode Island has immediate openings for four to six test administrators to work with clients participating in the Family Independence Program, a state program that provides financial assistance to families with children. The part-time positions are available in various statewide locations for up to 14 hours a week at an hourly rate of $16 per hour. There is a particular need for candidates who can communicate efficiently in Spanish.

According to Denise Szymczuk, director of REACH, adult educators with a human service background might qualify as candidates, as well as adult educators who have worked with special populations such as those with economic and education disadvantages. “Administrators will test one to ten clients at a time, so it is important that they have group management experience,” she says. Prior to the testing of clients, successful candidates will receive a variety of training, as well as on-site support from program coordinators.

Candidates interested in applying for the positions should contact Szymczuk at (401) 333-7165.

Now in its 14th year of operations, REACH is a grant-funded program that provides academic and career assessment to all current and applying FIP recipients. The professional staff offers remediation and GED services to clients, either for employment and training or post-secondary enrollment.

REACH, which helps its clients acquire the educational, vocational and personal skills required to be self-supporting and gainfully employed, has strong numbers to show for its success. “Of the 907 FIP clients who graduated from the program between the year 2000 and the present, more than 94%, or 857, have become independent of FIP,” Szymczuk said.

For clients enrolled in the program, testers perform an academic and career assessment survey that establishes a path to success. In addition, other services offered include career and academic counseling, academic remediation, GED preparation, post-secondary preparation and post-secondary monitoring.

In the past year alone, REACH has recorded a 61% increase in the number of clients tested, from 1,359 clients in 2004-05 to 2,195 clients in 2005-06.

June

Scholarship and Award Winners

The Community College of Rhode Island, New England’s largest community college, offers more than 80 associate degree and certificate programs, and operates full-service campuses in Warwick, Lincoln, Providence and Newport.

Intensive driver education classes to run this summer

The Community College of Rhode Island will run one-week intensive driver education classes at its Lincoln and Warwick campuses this summer. Classes run Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. during the weeks of June 19, June 26, July 10, July 17 and July 24.

Rhode Island law requires 33 hours of classroom driver education for drivers age 18 and younger. Students must register in advance of the start date in order to attend. To be eligible for enrollment in a driver education class, a student must produce proof that he or she is at least 15 years and 10 months old by the first day of class.

Cost for the Driver Education program is $75. Checks, money orders and credit cards are accepted. Students may register by mail at CCRI Division for Lifelong Learning, attn: Driver Education, 400 East Avenue, Warwick, RI 02886; in person at the Lifelong Learning offices on the CCRI campuses in Warwick, Lincoln, Providence and Newport; or by fax at 333-7237 (credit card only).

For the most up-to-date schedules and availability information, check the available courses page on the CCRI Web site . For more information, call (401) 825-2182.

Workforce Readiness Graduation

Each week for the past two months, 15 students in the Community College of Rhode Island’s Work Readiness program have met at the Florence Gray Center in Newport’s North End to improve their job-seeking and job-keeping skills.

“Many of the people who are chronically unemployed or underemployed do not have the soft skills they need to succeed,” says CCRI Training Coordinator Joanne Galliano. “All the technical job training skills in the world may get you into the company, but they are not going to keep you in the company,” she says.

Galliano recently teamed with the City of Newport and Even Start Family Literacy to create a 30-hour Work Readiness program. While Even Start recruited the majority of the students from their GED program, the city financed the Work Readiness Program through a Community Development Block Grant.

Alan Goodwin, senior development planner for the City of Newport, hopes the program will move more residents into the workforce and improve their standard of living. “Many of the people looking for work have never been employed before,” says Goodwin. “They don’t always have the background for some of the basics.”

Galliano adds, “Companies tell me, ‘I don’t care if they can’t do accounting. I don’t care if they can’t do welding. We can teach them those skills. But what we can’t teach them are the soft skills.’”

Sometimes soft skills are as simple as showing up for work every day and on time, Galliano says, or displaying respect for your fellow employees and your supervisor. One critical skill, she adds, is demonstrating the willingness to take on responsibility and own up to mistakes. “When I meet with students one-on-one, they don’t realize they are missing these skills.”

As part of their 30-hour training, students conduct self-assessments to discover their strengths and weaknesses. They also clarify their values: Is their priority to make as much money as possible? Or is it to have a flexible work schedule? With the help of career-specific software and the internet, CCRI teaches them how to research careers, so that students have realistic expectations of the workplace.

Teaching this program is career counselor Camille Vella-Wilkinson, who advises students to view hiring situations from the perspective of the employer. “You’ve got to build your human resources vocabulary, so that the employer can understand your transferable skills,” she advises. She also tells her students to document their accomplishments as well as their skills. “Make sure the company recognizes their return on investment,” Wilkinson says.

A combined Even Start and Work Readiness graduation ceremony will take place on Thursday, June 8 at 5 p.m. at the CCRI Newport County Campus auditorium.

To be eligible for the program, students had to live on Aquidneck Island residents and test at minimum ninth-grade math and reading levels. They also had either to hold a high school diploma, earned a GED, or been actively participating in a GED program.

May

Stonewalls Lecture

Rhode Island storyteller and educator Marc Joel Levitt and photographer Matthias Oppersdorff will uncover the history of stonewalls in a free illustrated lecture, to be held Sunday, May 21 at 1 p.m at the historic Knight Estate, Community College of Rhode Island campus, 486 East Avenue, Warwick. No reservations are required.

The program, sponsored by the Knight Estate Historic Restoration Committee, the Rhode Island Council for the Humanities, the National Endowment for the Humanities and the CCRI Foundation, will be followed by a walking tour of the Knight estate, one of the few intact RI farmscapes dating from the mid-19th century.

CCRI Commencement ceremonies

Alumna from college’s first graduating class delivers commencement speech

Newport-area grad to address classmates, plans to transfer to Brown

Anne Riccitelli, an NGO (non-governmental organization) representative at the United Nations and former ABC-TV executive, returns to her alma mater when she delivers the commencement speech for the 2006 graduating class at the Community College of Rhode Island, Friday, May 19 at 5 p.m. at the CCRI Knight Campus, Warwick.

Riccitelli was a member of the first graduating class of Rhode Island Junior College in 1966, during a time when the community college enrolled less than 500 students and operated out of a mill building on Providence’s Promenade Street. Forty years later, Riccitelli, formerly of Silverlake, reflects, “We all embarked on something new and exciting, a great opportunity that helped us to develop our potential.”

As part of their 40th reunion, approximately two dozen members of the first class will march with the Class of 2006 during commencement. This year, more than 1200 CCRI students will receive Associate in Arts, Associate in Fine Arts, Associate in Science, Associate in Applied Science and Associate in Applied Science in Technical Studies degrees and one-year certificates. During the ceremony Professor of Nursing Doris Fournier of Warwick will serve as Grand Marshal, while Professor of English Althea Allard will serve as Faculty Marshal.

Also addressing the audience will be 2006 graduate and Newport-resident Jocelyn Ruby, who plans to transfer to Brown University this fall with a full scholarship. Enrolling at CCRI at age 24 after earning her GED, Ruby financed her education through a combination of full-time work and financial aid. “I scheduled my classes around my work schedule,” she said. “Managing my time was incredibly hard.” According to a recent survey by the CCRI Office of Institutional Research, more than 85 percent of CCRI entering freshmen work part- or full-time jobs while they are attending the college.

The Community College of Rhode Island, New England’s largest community college, has campuses in Warwick, Providence, Lincoln and Newport, as well as satellite campuses in Downcity and Westerly.

Commencement Success Story: Cynthia Bessette

Cynthia Bessette is the first graduate to complete the new Joint Admissions Agreement—a dual enrollment program between CCRI and either Rhode Island College or the University of Rhode Island.

Created by the RI Office of Higher Education in 2005, the JAA program grants conditional acceptance to RIC or URI to CCRI students while they are still earning their associate’s degree. The students receive dual counseling from both CCRI and their intended four-year institution to ensure a smooth transfer. Students who earn their CCRI associate’s degree with a minimum G.P.A. of 3.0 receive a 10% discount on tuition at either RIC or URI; those who earn a 3.25 or better receive a 20% tuition discount; and those who earn a 3.5 G.P.A. or higher—like Bessette—receive a 30% tuition discount. Currently, more than 100 CCRI students are enrolled in the JAA agreement.

Bessette, who works at a law firm, plans to pursue political science at RIC, with a minor in criminal justice. She hopes one day to become a lawyer. She says that she was first drawn to the JAA agreement for the economic benefits, and also praises the dual-institution counseling. “It was very easy to transition to RIC. It made my transfer almost seamless.”

An older student, Bessette declares that key to student success “is not how old you are, it’s your desire.”

Commencement Success Story: Jason Thomas Carr

Jason Thomas Carr says that although he was an unmotivated student in high school, he was a tremendously motivated adult learner. “An a mature adult, I wanted to go back to school. Once you get to a point when you know, ‘This is what I’m going to do,” then you decide, ‘Education is my priority.’ You find a way to make time to study. You find a way to pay for your books.”

Jason had already earned a CCRI associate’s degree in general studies when he decided to pursue a degree in nursing. He says that his five years of working as a certified nursing assistant at Rhode Island Hospital taught him to aspire to a medical career.

“CCRI gave me the means to accomplish my dreams. It’s a place where I can excel academically, professionally and socially.”

Commencement Success Story: Deanna D’Agostino

Deanna D’Agostino had been waiting tables for a long time. Although she knew waitressing was not the ideal career choice for her future, she says, she felt could not afford to take a pay cut and start over in a new profession. Then she heard about CCRI’s radiography program. Approximately 90 percent of CCRI radiography program graduates are employed in their field with an average salary of $45,000 a year within six months of commencement.

D’Agostino, who earned her GED at age 19, dropped out of high school in part because she did not feel challenged. CCRI’s radiography program, however, did more than challenge her; it inspired her. “Radiography is a creative field,” she says. “It’s a surprise everytime you press the button.”

At CCRI, D’Agostino excelled and became president of the college’s radiography club. As part of her CCRI education, D’Agostino underwent clinical training at Fatima Hospital and Miriam Hospital. Staff members at the latter hospital were so impressed with her student performance that they offered her a job as a radiologic technologist starting this June.

Over the next 10 years, health care practitioner and technical occupations are projected to grow twice as fast as other occupations, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. “In the medical field, there will always be a job for you,” D’Agostino says.

Commencement Success Story: Rico Healey

Rico Healey earned his GED right after he dropped out of high school. Even though by age 26, he had worked up to management level in the restaurant business, he was unhappy. “I always knew I wanted to be a police officer,” Rico says, even though not all of his friends approved of his career choice.

In 2003, he decided to commit to his dream, and started attending CCRI full-time. But Rico did not restrict his learning to the classroom. Through CCRI’s CO-OP program, he spent two semesters working with real law enforcement officers—first with the East Providence Police Department and then with the Rhode Island State Police at their Scituate barracks. Not only did Rico learn about the procedural side of law enforcement by helping in the office, he also went on ride-a-longs with the officers, and even learned to shoot a gun. “It was a lot more powerful than I thought it would be,” he reflected on the experience. “There was a lot of kick back.”

Rico reflects on his CO-OP experience, “Now I know what is expected of me. I know that I have to be able to interact with the community, to have good people skills and good writing skills.” He also says his two-year degree will help him compete for jobs in law enforcement. The recommendations from his supervisors in East Providence and the Scituate won’t hurt his chances either, he says.

Commencement Success Story: Silifat Iliasu

When Silifat came to the United States from Nigeria three years ago, she immediately began working toward her GED, which she completed in five short months. She then enrolled in CCRI, a decision she said was economic as well as academic. “My mom works so hard,” she says. “If I can get the same quality of education at a community college for two years, I’d rather come here.” At CCRI, Silifat participated in the federally funded TRIO-program, Access to Opportunity, which provides support to low-income, first-generation college students or students with disabilities.

Also during her time at CCRI, Silifat enrolled in the college’s prestigious honors program, in which students complete independent study projects above and beyond their required coursework. Her most recent honors project included an investigation into the DNA of ordinary foods, such as strawberries. “Learning about DNA can help me know what is going on in my own system,” she says.

At CCRI, Silifat also worked as a peer tutor, helping fellow students master their tough courses. “The best part of CCRI was that I was able to go to classes, I could pass them, and then I could be able to pass that information onto to other students,” she says. “People were dependent on me to help them through their education.

This fall, Silifat will attend Bryant University, with the help of a five-figure scholarship from her transfer institution.

Commencement Success Story: Sovann Khiv

After coming of age in Providence, Sovann Khiv was the only one of his friends to go to college. Living in the West End, he said “was like living in a hole in the ground.” He says he learned from the mistakes of those around him—neighborhood kids who were victims of gun violence and drugs—and chose instead to pursue a better life for himself.

He says enrolling in the dental hygiene program at CCRI, “was one of the hardest things I ever did in my life.” At CCRI, Sovann participated in the federally funded TRIO-program, Access to Opportunity, which provides support to low-income, first-generation college students or students with disabilities. Now that he has earned his associate degree in dental hygiene, he can expect to earn between $40,000 and $50,000 a year in the workplace.

Commencement Success Story: Karen Robinson

When Karen Robinson was an employee at On Semiconductor, she took several courses at CCRI that helped her earn promotions as a supervisor and then a product manager. When she got laid off last year, she knew that one of the best ways to become more marketable was to earn her college degree.

“CCRI picked me up out of the dump and built up my confidence,” she says.

A mother of a nine-year-old and a 19-year-old, Karen also credits her CCRI experience with setting a good example for her younger daughter. “She sees me studying, and she stops complaining about her own homework,” she says with a laugh. “Going back to school shows them (my kids) that you can do anything.”

Commencement Success Story: Jocelyn Ruby

Because Jocelyn Ruby did not have family financial support to attend college, she waited until she was 24—the age at which the government considers her financially independent—to attend college. Combining financial aid with her earnings in the restaurant industry, she managed to attend CCRI full-time.

Many CCRI students like Jocelyn are juggling work and school. According to a recent survey by the CCRI Office of Institutional Research, more than 85 percent of CCRI entering freshmen work part- or full-time jobs while they are attending the college.

Jocelyn says that while managing both full-time school and full-time work was incredibly difficult, she remained very focused on her goal of earning a degree. “I was motivated,” she says. “I wanted to be here.”

She also credits the CCRI faculty with providing a support system for her success. “It wasn’t their job to be my cheerleader and help me figure out what to do with my life, but they did it anyway,” she says. With the encouragement of professors Don Fontes, Jean Billerbeck and Kate Dunnigan, Jocelyn applied as a transfer student to Brown University’s resumed undergraduate program. Not only was she accepted for the fall, but she was awarded a full financial aid package.

Commencement Success Story: Professor Doris “Susie” Swenson

“Continuing education is part of my life,” says CCRI Professor and Music Department Chair Susie Swenson, having just earned an Associate of Fine Arts in Jazz Studies from the college where she teaches. Swenson, who has been working at CCRI for 34 years, holds a bachelor of music degree from the University of North Carolina/Greensboro and a Master of Arts in music from the Eastman School of Music. She has also completed post-graduate studies at the New England Conservatory.

“Studying jazz changed my outlook on teaching classical music theory—my specialization—and helped me communicate better with my jazz students,” she says.

Her biggest challenge, she reports, was learning to play Gershwin’s “I Got Rhythm” from memory. “All those chord changes…in any and all keys, at the drop of a hat!” she laments.

Commencement Success Story: Joshua Vizzacco

From the time he was ten years old, Joshua Vizzacco knew he wanted to be an artist. In Coventry High School, he enrolled in every art course he could. But, when it came time to consider college, he felt that art school was out of reach. “I felt like I wasn’t ready—that my portfolio wasn’t ready—for a four-year-school,” he says.

So, Vizzacco enrolled at CCRI, where he took courses in drawing, painting and digital arts, systematically building his portfolio as he earned his associate’s degree. This time, when it was time to consider applying to a four-year school, Vizzacco felt confident enough to apply to his dream school: Rhode Island School of Design. His work so impressed RISD admissions representatives that not only has Vizzacco been accepted as a sophomore for the coming fall, but he has been allowed to waive the RISD summer transfer program required of the majority of transfer students. According to Vizzacco, RISD has offered him more than $20,000 in financial aid for next year, with the promise of similar support for the following two years.

April

Channel 12’s Karen Adams & Providence Mayor David Cicilline to co-host Fabulous Fundraiser

Providence Mayor David Cicilline and Channel 12 Anchor Karen Adams serve as hosts and auctioneers at the CCRI Foundation Fabulous Fundraiser, to be held Friday, April 28 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Community College of Rhode Island Liston Campus, One Hilton St., Providence. Proceeds from the event will benefit both the non-profit CCRI Foundation and the Charles Sullivan Fund for the Arts and Humanities.

More than 70 items are currently slated for the fundraiser’s live and silent auctions. Adventurers may chose to bid on a Waterfire boat ride for four, a Sunset Sail on the Catamaran Flyer, dinner and an overnight at Castle Hill Inn in Newport, or a weekend in Nantucket, while sports fans may chose to bid on a Willie McGinest autographed football, or tickets for two to the U.S. Women’s Golf Open. Tickets to shows at Providence Performing Arts Center and Trinity Repertory Company may appeal to theater-goers, while catering services, one-of-a-kind cakes and dinners to numerous area restaurants may pique the interest of gourmands.

The event also features wine and beer from Australia and New Zealand and hors d’oeuvres by Fine Catering by Russell Morin. Jazz musician and CCRI alumna Lois Vaughn (’99) will provide music for the evening.

Sponsors for the event include I.M. Gan Liquors and Sovereign Bank, as well as BankNewport, Citizens Bank, Independence Bank, Newport Financial Associates, the Providence Journal Company, and Susan Symonds Interior Design. Other sponsors include Atrion Networking, CCRI Athletics, CCRI Student Governments and Constance Evrard.

In addition to Mayor Cicilline and Ms. Adams, Fabulous Fundraiser committee members include Paul Brooks, Barbara Dreyer, Constance Evrard and Charles Sullivan of Providence, Annmarie Garceau of North Kingstown, and Bruce D. Stein of Warwick.

Created in honor of long-time CCRI professor and arts advocate Charles Sullivan, the Charles Sullivan Fund for the Arts and Humanities helps fund a variety of cultural opportunities at the community college’s multiple campuses.

The CCRI Foundation supports college-wide projects, such as student scholarships, educational equipment purchases, campus beautification, athletics and library acquisitions.

Tickets for the CCRI Foundation Fabulous Fundraiser cost $50. For more information, please contact the CCRI Foundation at (401) 333-7150 or Foundation@ccri.edu.

CCRI trains school bus drivers on terrorism awareness

Where: CCRI Flanagan Campus, 1762 Louisquisset Pike, Lincoln, Room 2710

When: Friday, April 7, 2006, 6 p.m.

This month the Community College of Rhode Island School Bus Driver Training program is collaborating with the Dept. of Homeland Security and the National Association of People Transportation to run the School Bus Watch training program, a terrorism awareness program for bus drivers. This training will make Rhode Island the first state in the nation to have all its school bus drivers registered through the School Watch Program.

“Everybody knows that there’s a list of first targets for terrorists,” says Gary Culbertson of the CCRI School Bus Driver Training Program. “What they don’t know is that the first one the list of secondary targets is our schools,” he says. Culbertson adds that schools are vulnerable to attacks because of their public impact value, what he calls “hitting us where it hurts.”

During their training, school bus drivers will become acquainted with types of weapons of mass destruction, including biological, chemical and explosive devices. “A half pound of C-4 inside a bus can peel it like a sardine can,” says Culbertson, who adds that a half pound of C-4 is equivalent to two decks of playing cards in size. In contrast, a child’s backpack can hold up to 15 pounds of the same explosive.

Culbertson adds that the training will teach drivers new protocols for handling situations, such as an abandoned backpack on a bus. “They are not supposed to let anybody back on the bus until the unidentified item is dealt with,” he says.

CCRI Director of Community Education Emilio Colantonio adds, “We live in times that require preparedness for all sorts of situations that were once unthinkable. By training Rhode Island’s school bus drivers, we may be helping to avert a potential catastrophe some day.

Through its Division for Lifelong Learning, CCRI trains about 250 new drivers and recertifies about 1800 existing school bus drivers annually.

Holy Wars Sculptural Installation

Where: CCRI Knight Gallery, 400 East Ave., Warwick

When: Opening reception, Saturday, April 8 from 6 to 8 p.m.

Shows runs through April 30

“Hero” – “Deaf toll” – “Ruby silt tomb”

In the sculptural installation Holy Wars, four-letter words like “hero” and “ruin” are encased in glass sculptures placed around the room. At the CCRI Knight Gallery in Warwick, RISD graduate Meris Barreto has created a three-dimensional poem, with each word individually displayed in one of 50 separate glass squares that the artist describes as wind-blown. While Barreto explains that Holy Wars is not a specific response to any current military conflict, she is quick to point out that “Iraq” is also a four-letter word.

For information on viewing hours, call the CCRI Art Dept. at (401) 825-2220.

CCRI Gets Fit Rhode Island at Health and Wellness Fair

Where: CCRI Knight Campus, 400 East Ave., Warwick

When: Wednesday, April 5, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Community College of Rhode Island brings wellness to the workplace at the CCRI Health and Wellness Fair. Visitors can get a free massage from CCRI Therapeutic Massage students, or try a taste of healthy cooking, courtesy of CCRI culinary students. “Ask the Doctor” and “Ask the Pharmacist,” are among the booths staffed by Roger Williams Medical Center. Lifespan Community Health will perform body scans and body fat analysis for participants. In all, more than 50 exhibitors are participating in this special event, created this year in response to Governor Carcieri’s Get Fit Rhode Island initiative for state employees.

New England Educational Opportunity Association holds annual conference in Rhode Island

Focus on low-income, first generation college students & students with disabilities

Guest speaker: NCDE director Hunter Boylan

More than 200 advocates for equal educational opportunities in higher education throughout the six-state New England region will meet in Providence from April 4 - 7, 2006, at the Westin Hotel.

“Inspiring Voices for Change” is the theme of the 30th annual conference of the New England Educational Opportunity Association, an organization that advocates for access to and success in postsecondary education for low-income individuals, first-generation college students, and students with disabilities.

Distinguished speakers include Dr. Hunter R. Boylan, director of the National Center for Developmental Education and professor of higher education at Appalachian State University in North Carolina; and Dr. Adolph Bermeo, a senior scholar with the Pell Institute for the Study of Higher Education and a national expert on the relationship of immigration to college access for low-income students.

In addition to a number of plenary and workshop sessions, conference leaders will present awards to Senator Lincoln Chafee, (R-RI), Rhode Island College President John Nazarian and Senator James Jeffords (I-VT). Also, CCRI social science professor Jack Every and former CCRI student and URI graduate Jorge Elorza will be recognized with TRIO Achiever’s Awards at a conference luncheon on April 5. Monica Teixeira de Sousa and Robyn Lotspeich, Upward Bound graduates from Rhode Island College and Lyndon State College (VT), respectively, will also be honored.

Community College of Rhode Island Assistant Dean Tracy Karasinski, also regional vice president and conference chair, said the conference theme “honors NEOA’s 30-year legacy as a vital and effective voice for change.” She added, “‘Inspiring Voices for Change’ highlights the need to inspire students, colleagues, community leaders and elected officials to participate in the ongoing battle for additional resources and meaningful educational opportunity.”

For more information about the conference, contact Tracy Karasinski at (401) 825-2305 or by email at tkarasinski@ccri.edu.

March

Alcohol Server Training at CCRI

Beginning this April, the Community College of Rhode Island will offer the alcohol server training program known as TiPS—Training for Intervention Procedures—at its Providence and Newport campuses. The program, geared toward new employees in the hospitality industry, is coordinated through the CCRI Division for Lifelong Learning.

RI State Legislation now requires that those working as bartenders, bouncers, valets or alcohol servers must complete a certified alcohol server training program within 60 days of their first working day.

Among the topics covered in TiPS are the proper checking of IDs, effects of alcohol and signs of intoxication, strategies for dealing with an intoxicated patron and liability issues for servers. Students will also learn how to create a log for alcohol-related incidents.

CCRI will offer TiPS training sessions for a cost of $49 (plus a $5 registration fee) at the following dates and times:

Tuesday, April 11, 5 – 9 p.m., CCRI Providence, One Hilton St.
Saturday, April 15, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., CCRI Providence, One Hilton St.
Tuesday, April 18, 5 – 9 p.m., CCRI Newport, One John Chafee Blvd.
Saturday, April 22, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., CCRI Newport, One John Chafee Blvd.

Other sessions may be held this spring and summer, depending on public demand. For more information on the TiPS program, contact Pam Berry at the Division for Lifelong Learning, (401) 455-6188.

Adult Literacy Services Fair

Approximately one dozen adult education agencies and organizations will be on hand for an adult literacy services fair, Thursday, March 16 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon hosted by the Community College of Rhode Island at its Newport County Campus, One John Chafee Blvd. The event, which is free and open to the public, showcases programs for improving workplace skills, earning GEDs and transitioning to college.

State Director of Adult Education Johan Uvin remarks, “Events such as the CCRI fair are important because they let the 177,000 adults in need of adult education services know what exists in Rhode Island. Every year about 10,000 persons make use of these services to build their skills so they can pass the GED, get a job, advance in their careers, better assist their children with homework, and become more active citizens.”

Uvin adds that the need for these programs is critical, as one-fourth of the RI adults either test below high school literacy levels or test at high school levels but have not earned their diploma or GED.

The Community College of Rhode Island is one of the largest providers of adult literacy services in the state. Annually, CCRI educates more than 2,700 ESL, GED and developmental reading students in both its academic reading programs and its non-credit literacy programs.

For more information on the adult literacy fair, contact the CCRI Division for Lifelong Learning at (401) 455-6059

The Community College of Rhode Island is New England’s largest community college, with comprehensive campuses in Warwick, Lincoln, Providence and Newport.

Energy Savings Seminars

Need to take a little chill out of the air? Some heat off your checking account?

The Community College of Rhode Island is teaming with the RI Governor’s Office, National Grid, New England Gas Company, the Oil Heat Institute and the Rhode Island State Energy Office to offer a free public seminar on energy conservation techniques this March. Ideal for homeowners, renters and contractors, the seminar will premiere from 7 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, March 7 at the CCRI Lincoln campus, 1762 Louisquisset Pike and will be repeated at the following times and locations:

Wednesday, March 8: 7 to 9 p.m. at the CCRI Newport campus, One John Chafee Blvd.
Saturday, March 11: 10 a.m. to 12 noon at the CCRI Warwick campus, 400 East Ave.
Monday, March 13: 7 to 9 p.m. at the CCRI Providence campus, One Hilton St.

“I encourage Rhode Islanders to take advantage of these free seminars and learn from the experts,” said Governor Carcieri. “Increasing the energy efficiency of our homes is an important way that all of us can reduce our energy costs.”

“This set of seminars will go a long way toward helping families save real energy dollars that they can put to use right now,” says Andrew Dzykewicz, Chief Energy Advisor to the Governor.

January

CCRI Financial Aid Workshops

Community College of Rhode Island financial aid officers will offer one-on-one assistance to current and prospective CCRI students when the college holds a series of financial aid workshops February 2 and 3. The free workshops, held at electronic classrooms on all four CCRI campuses, will help students to apply for financial aid on-line as well as through the traditional mail-in format. The state priority deadline to file for Fall 2006 financial aid is March 1. The federal priority deadline in May 1.

One-hour workshops at the CCRI Knight Campus, 400 East Ave., Warwick, will be held in Room 2108 at the following times: Thursday, Feb. 2 at 2 p.m.; Friday, Feb. 3 at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Workshops at the CCRI Flanagan Campus, 1762 Louisquisset Pike, Lincoln, will be held in Room 2640 at the following times: Thursday, Feb. 2 at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.; and Friday, Feb. 3 at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Workshops at the CCRI Providence Campus, One Hilton St., Providence, will be held in Room 1160A at the following times: Thursday, Feb. 2 at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.; and Friday, Feb. 3 at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Workshops at the CCRI Newport County Campus, One John Chafee Blvd., Newport, will be held in Room 257 at the following times: Thursday, Feb. 2 at 2 p.m.; Friday, Feb. 3 at 10 a.m and 2 p.m.

In addition to the lab hours, the Office of Enrollment Services will have staff available to assist students on a walk-in basis on February 2nd and 3rd.

Students who wish to apply for state or federal financial aid must fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid form, also known as a FAFSA, which requires social security numbers and income tax information for both the student and the his or her parents. Students are advised to bring their 2005 taxable and non-taxable income statements to the workshops.

Associate Dean of Enrollment Services Christine Jenkins says that while filling out the FAFSA form may seem like an intimidating task, “it’s not as scary as it looks.” She hopes that by providing one-on-one help, she can make the process of filing for aid both easier and more understandable.

In particular, Jenkins says, the relatively new on-line format helps minimize errors in the application process. “The computer program will not allow you to proceed unless you have answered all the questions,” she explains. Jenkins suggest that students contact CCRI Enrollment Services in advance of the workshop in order to create a personal online computer account. The main number for Enrollment Services is (401) 825-2003.

For more information, visit the Financial Aid Frequently Asked Questions page.

CCRI Foundation awards scholarships

The CCRI Foundation recently awarded scholarships to several Community College of Rhode Island students.

Alana Caputo of Peacedale, Elizabeth Banuchi of Central Falls, and Flor Roman of Cranston each received Jonathan Fund Memorial Scholarships. Flor Roman also received a John W. Ruscito Scholarship for computer studies students.

Shannon Belcher of Cranston received a Lloyd S. Kaplan Music Scholarship.

Valerie Montgomery of Pawtucket received an Andrew & Mary Conroy Scholarship for second year liberal arts or fine arts students.

Jennifer Prucha of Ashaway received the Dr. Domenic DiLuglio Scholarship.

A list of student scholarship opportunities can be found on the CCRI Foundation Web page.

The Community College of Rhode Island, New England’s largest community college, has full-service campuses in Warwick, Lincoln, Providence and Newport, and operates satellites in Providence and Westerly. The college enrolls nearly 16,000 students in credit courses and thousands more in non-credit and job training classes.

CCRI students direct at college theatre festival

On Saturday, Feb. 4, Community College of Rhode Island theatre students Rusty Herman of Coventry and Jessica Grossman of Cranston will serve as assistant directors at the 5 x 10 Play Festival, a series of five 10-minute student-written plays performed as part of the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival Region I Festival. In addition, CCRI Guest Artist and CCRI alumna Linda Murphy Sutherland has been asked to served as director for one of the student works. The Region I Festival, honoring college theatre in the New England area, will take place Jan. 31 through Feb. 5 at Fitchburg State College, Fitchburg MA. This is the first time CCRI students have performed at the festival since 1991.

Herman will also serve as director for a CCRI student production of Sister Mary Ignatius Explains it All for You, written by Christopher Durang and to be performed at the festival on Wednesday,
Feb. 1.

Vice President of the Dominican Republic visits CCRI Providence campus

WHEN: Saturday, Jan. 14, 6:30 – 9 p.m.
Speaking program begins at 7 p.m.

WHERE: CCRI Liston Campus, One Hilton St.,Providence

A delegation from the Dominican Republic, including Vice President Rafael Alburquerque and Secretary of State for Youth Manuel Crespo, will host a community awards ceremony at the CCRI Liston Campus Saturday. Among the 14 Dominican Republic community honorees are CCRI English as a Second Language graduate Arelis Valerio, a pediatric asthma health educator through Hasbro Children’s Hospital; CCRI alumna Rosa Rivas, a medical interpreter at Rhode Island Hospital; and CCRI student Guillermo Santos, who hopes to pursue a career in medicine.

Musical guests scheduled for the evening include Cesar Santana, Republica and the Salsa singer Sex Appeal.

Providence Mayor David Cicilline, RI Commissioner of Higher Education Jack Warner, and University of Rhode Island President Robert Carothers plan to attend.

CCRI Prepares More Nurses for Workforce

When: Friday, Jan. 20 at 6 p.m.
Where: CCRI Flanagan Campus, 1762 Louisquisset Pike, Lincoln

The Community College of Rhode Island’s latest group of nursing graduates will be honored at a pinning ceremony, Friday, Jan. 20 at 6 p.m. at the CCRI Flanagan Campus, 1762 Louisquisset Pike, Lincoln. The 58 day and evening program graduates completed their more than 80 college credits of classroom, laboratory and clinical experiences in December 2005. With both a one-year Licensed Practical Nurse educational track and a two-year Registered Nurse educational track, CCRI is the largest producer of nursing program graduates in the state of Rhode Island.

The CCRI graduates slated to be pinned on Friday include:

Chepachet:
Kama Gentile, Karen Van Pelt

Coventry:
Jennifer Capron, Melissa Horibin, Lesley Ward

Cranston:
Jeanne Brown, Amy Gesualdi, Denie Poulin, Nascenza Souza

Cumberland:
John Cunningham

East Greenwich:
Kathleen Mills

East Providence:
Sally Sousa

Greenville:
Lorene Dexter

Harrisville:
Kimberly Toste

Hope Valley:
Carrie Wilcox

Johnston:
Sivinath Oung

Manville:
Tammy Holleran

Middletown:
Marie Sanchez

Narragansett:
Jodie Stanley

North Providence:
Anna Cukier

North Scituate:
Corinne McLaughlin, Jessica Nickerson

North Smithfield:
Danielle Harry

Pascoag:
Deborah Yasick

Pawtucket:
Margarida Costa, Maria Dagraca, Shirley Johnson, Antoinette Kai, Kim Keenan, Rosabel Magalhaes, Sylvester Makor, Susie Pierre

Portsmouth:
Mary Arkins

Providence:
Georgina Adu-Gyamfi, Lorinna Anderson, Olusola Awokoya, Tara Brown, Nina Davies, Lisa Gazin, Nadege Hilliard, Michele Lopes, Lesley Suchite, Aramide Taiwo

Riverside:
Karen Winchell

Smithfield:
Richard Bolvin

Warren
Christina Violett

Warwick:
Melanie Alves, Claudia McClaren, Kerri Lyn Pelletier, Jessica Schmid

West Warwick:
Yehia El-Araby, Susanna Stranahan

Woonsocket:
Shane Cotter

Attleboro, MA:
Susan Toffling

Blackstone, MA:
Roger McClure

Fall River, MA:
Paula Kiely

Seekonk, MA:
Melissa Newman

Danielson, CT:
Jean Moreau

Driver Educators Get New Tools to Reach Teens

When: Saturday, January 28 at 9 a.m.
Where: CCRI Warwick Campus, Room 1128

Any parent of a 16-year-old knows that modern teenagers have short attention spans, seek out visual stimulation, and learn better by doing. Now Rhode Island Driver Educators can tap into these teen traits when they teach their students how to drive responsibly.

On Saturday, driver educators from all over the state will gather at the Community College of Rhode Island to adopt a new interactive teaching tool entitled DRIVE. Developed by the Illinois-based Moorshire Group, DRIVE includes a quick-paced 67-second video laced with clues—clues revealing common teenage behaviors that put new drivers at risk. It also offers problem-solving exercises in a variety of hazardous driving situations, from road rage to bad weather, that students must solve collaboratively.

One of the biggest hurdles teenage drivers must overcome, says CCRI Director of Community Education Emilio Colantonio, is developing an appropriate attitude. “Teenagers think they are invincible in all aspects of their life, and that includes behind the wheel,” he says. “The DRIVE program helps students discover for themselves the value of safe driving habits. DRIVE also shows them how the attitudes they choose can affect their decision-making on the road.”

Automobile safety research demonstrates the importance of driver education programs like DRIVE. Studies by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety show that teenage drivers are more likely than older drivers to be involved in automobile crashes, and that those same teenage drivers are more likely to be at fault than their adult counterparts. Moreover, a newly released AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety study states that two-thirds of fatalities from teenage driver crashes are not the drivers themselves, but passengers, other drivers and non-motorists.

CCRI coordinates all driver education classes throughout Rhode Island. Students must be a minimum of 15 years and 10 months of age in order attend classes. Check for available classes here, and visit the driver education web site.

Dental cleanings for $10 at CCRI Lincoln

Get a thorough and professionally supervised dental cleaning for just $10 at the Community College of Rhode Island Dental Hygiene Clinic, Room 1120 at the CCRI Flanagan Campus, 1762 Louisquisset Pike, Lincoln.

Each two-hour cleaning includes an oral cancer screening, periodontal examination, polishing, fluoride treatment and personalized oral health education. Other services, such as x-rays and sealants, are available for a minimal fee. Patients should be aware that more than one appointment may be necessary. However, the initial $10 fee covers these additional appointments.

Seatings for the dental clinic are Mondays through Fridays, 8 a.m., 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, evening seatings are also available at 6 p.m. Potential patients may call (401) 333-7250 to schedule a cleaning appointment.

A state-of-the-art facility, the college’s dental hygiene clinic in run by the CCRI Dental Hygiene Program, also housed at the CCRI Lincoln campus. CCRI offers a 39-credit certificate in Dental Assisting and a 78-credit associate degree in dental hygiene, the only programs of their kind in Rhode Island.

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This page last modified on: November 08, 2008