CCRI - News Releases 2002-2003

	December 2003

	CCRI offers intensive driver ed classes over holiday break
	Eligible students may complete their driver education training classes before they ring in the New Year with 33-hours of intensive workshops held during the holiday break. This marks the latest in a series of new initiatives begun since the Community College of Rhode Island took over the administration of the RI driver education program this fall. “The addition of intensive classes held during traditional vacation time is another way for us to improve the program’s accessibility and reduce the waiting time for teens anxious to receive their learner’s permits,” said Emilio Colantonio, director of community education at CCRI. Holiday classes are as follows: CCRI Warwick: Dec. 20, 21, 23, 26 and 27 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; and Dec. 28 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. CCRI Warwick: Dec. 24, 26, 29, 30 & 31 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; and Jan. 2 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. CCRI Warwick: Dec. 28-31 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; Jan. 2 from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.; and Jan. 3 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Moses Brown: Dec. 20, Dec. 22-24, Dec. 26, 29 & 30 from 8 a.m. 1:15 p.m. Portsmouth Middle School: Dec. 22, 23, 26, 29 & 30 from 8 a.m. 3:30 p.m. To be eligible for enrollment in a driver education class, a student must be at least 15 years and 10 months old by the first day of class. He or she must also produce proof of age at the first class session. Cost for the program is $65. Students must pre-register to attend a session. Online registration is currently underway at www.ccri.edu. Call (401) 825-2182 for more information.
	A Passion for Wine
	Paul Brooks of Providence, Barbara Dreyer of Warwick, Constance Evrard of Providence and Susan Symonds of Providence will serve as honorary co-chairs for A Passion for Wine, a CCRI Foundation fundraiser for the Charles Sullivan Arts & Humanities Fund. Taking place on Thursday, Feb. 5, 2004 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Community College of Rhode Island Knight Campus in Warwick, A Passion for Wine features an upscale selection of international and West Coast wines, and a silent auction of food and wine-related treats, including a trip to Sonoma Valley. A dessert buffetcomplete with dessert wineswill include chocolate pecan ganache torte, key lime pie and other confections created by caterer Russell Morin. Chairpersons for A Passion for Wine are Bruce Stein of Warwick and Sheri Norton of Riverside. Wines for the event will be donated by I M Gan Liquors. Tickets for A Passion for Wine are $50 per person, and may be reserved by calling the CCRI Foundation at (401) 333-7150.

	SAT preparation courses
	The Community College of Rhode Island will begin 8-week SAT preparation courses at its Lincoln and Warwick campuses this month. The preparation courses, designed to familiarize students with SAT content and test format, are held from 6:30-9 p.m. Classes at the CCRI Flanagan Campus, 1762 Louisquisset Pike, Lincoln, are held Monday evenings. Classes at the CCRI Knight Campus, 400 East Ave., Warwick, are held on Wednesday evenings. Cost to enroll in the program is $105 and includes the required textbook. Space is limited. For registration information, call 825-1000 (Warwick) or 333-7000 (Lincoln).

	November 2003

	CCRI receives $25,000 from Bank of Newport
	Bank of Newport has awarded the Community College of Rhode Island a $25,000 grant to fund technological equipment at the new Newport County Campus. The grant will help the college equip its distance learning classrooms, where students may use video and data transmission to interact with instructors and students at CCRI’s three other campuses and at colleges throughout the United States. Slated for opening in 2005, the CCRI Newport County Campus will be the most technologically progressive to date of the four campuses in the CCRI network. In addition to the distance learning classroom, the campus will house 16 “smart” classrooms with video and data capabilities, a multi-media presentation room, and academic computer laboratories. Bank of Newport President and CEO Thomas W. Kelly says, “Bank of Newport is proud to partner with the Community College of Rhode Island in its efforts to expand and serve the Newport County community. The Bank has had a long-standing relationship with CCRI through the personal commitment of our Chief Operating Officer, Sandra J. Pattie, who is currently serving as co-chair of the Newport County Campus Citizens Advisory Committee. Sandy’s dedication as a foundation trustee for CCRI is in keeping with Bank of Newport’s heritage of community support through the involvement of our organizational family throughout the state of Rhode Island.” The CCRI Newport County Campus Citizen’s Advisory committee, co-chaired by Pattie as well as by retired educator and former mayor Paul Gaines, hopes to work with East Bay businesses to identify education and workforce training needs in such targeted industries as health care, hospitality, defense and marine trades. For more information on the new campus, log on to the Web at www.ccri.edu/Newport. The Community College of Rhode Island, New England’s largest community college, has campuses in Warwick, Providence and Lincoln and currently enrolls more than 16,000 students in credit courses and thousands more in non-credit and job training classes.

	October 2003


	CCRI Will Host Author/Entrepreneur Seth Godin
	Seth Godin, author of “Purple Cow: Transform Your Business by Being Remarkable,” will present his accompanying workshop at the Community College of Rhode Island’s Knight Campus in Warwick on Friday, October 24 from 9 a.m. to noon. Godin’s workshop focuses on how owners can make their business stand out from any crowd. Tickets are on sale now for $59, a fraction of what Godin’s workshops typically sell for. For ticket sales or for more information, interested individuals or businesses should call 825-1044.

	CCRI Staff Member Named to National Tech Organization’s Program Committee
	Bruce Barrett of Kingston, Director of Networking and Telecommunications at the Community College of Rhode Island, has been named to the Program Committee of ACUTA, the national Association for Communications Technology Professionals in Higher Education. Barrett is the only professional from a community college serving on the committee. In July, Barrett presented his work on how to construct and financially justify a high performance fiber optic wide area network that can support data, voice and video transmissions at the ACUTA national conference.

	CCRI Faculty Members to Present at National Conference
	Community College of Rhode Island English department faculty members Dr. Jean A. Dietrich and Assistant Professor Holly J. Susi have been selected to present at the national conference of the College Reading and Learning Association, October 15-18 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The pair's session is "Turning 'Defiantly' into 'Definitely': Practical Ways to Help Your Students With Multi-syllabic Words," during which they will demonstrate how they have turned reading research findings into practice in the community college classroom. Dietrich, of Exeter, is the college's reading coordinator and presented her dissertation research on adult poor readers at last year's conference. She will receive the CRLA Dissertation of the Year Award at this year's conference. Susi, a Cumberland resident, is a Kellogg Institute fellow this academic year, earning a certificate of specialization in the field of developmental education, a field of higher education which aims to increase the success of college students.
	Maria Rivera-Saillant is the first recipient of the new Deborah Y. Griffin Vocal Arts Scholarship
	Coventry resident and Community College of Rhode Island music student Maria Rivera-Saillant is the first recipient of the new Deborah Y. Griffin Vocal Arts Scholarship. The CCRI scholarship is named in honor of the late Deborah Griffin (CCRI '97), a talented soprano who died in a Wanskuck-area fire in December 2000. Rivera-Saillant is currently pursuing an associate of fine arts degree in music.


	CCRI professors receive NISOD teaching awards
	Community College of Rhode Island educators Maria Mansella of North Providence, Donald Paquet of Smithfield and Eleanor Vanable of Harrisville received excellence in teaching awards this fall from the National Institute for Staff and Occupational Development (NISOD). Mansella, an associate professor of foreign languages at CCRI, has been instrumental in the revitalization of the college’s Italian Club and recently organized a cultural trip to Italy. She has taught at the college since 1992. Paquet, professor of computer studies and information processing at CCRI, has been a strong proponent of distance learning and Web-based technology at the college. He has taught at CCRI for 35 years. Vanable, professor of dental hygiene at CCRI, has been instrumental in developing the college’s dental hygiene clinic, located at the Flanagan Campus in Lincoln. She has taught in CCRI’s Dental Health Dept. since 1978. The Community College of Rhode Island, New England’s largest community college, currently enrolls more than 16,000 students in credit courses and thousands more in non-credit and job training classes. Maria Mansella Donald Paquet Eleanor Vanable

	CCRI Dental Hygiene Clinic offers low cost dental cleaning
	Get a thorough and professionally supervised dental cleaning for just $10 at the Community College of Rhode Island’s Dental Hygiene Clinic, Room 1120 at the CCRI Flanagan Campus, 1762 Louisquisset Pike, Lincoln. Potential patients can call (401) 333-7250 to schedule a cleaning appointment. Each cleaning includes blood pressure monitoring, 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. Each year, the clinic provides services to approximately 3,000 patients. "A lot of people do not have dental insurance, so they come to us for their dental hygiene needs," says Kathleen Gazzola, the Dental Hygiene Program's acting director. Since supervised hygiene care is part of the students' required curriculum, appointments last two hours so that a broad range of services can be given to each patient. Patients should be aware that more than one appointment might be necessary. The initial $10 fee covers additional appointments. The Community College of Rhode Island Dental Hygiene Program has been conferring associate's degrees since 1988 and is the only dental hygiene program based in Rhode Island. Historically, CCRI Dental Hygiene students have passed their licensure exams with 100 percent success rates on the National Board written exam and a 96 percent success rate on the Northeast Regional Board (NERB) clinical exams.

	CCRI to offer shipfitter training at Quonset
	NORTH KINGSTOWNThe Community College of Rhode Island has collaborated with the Quonset-based Electric Boat Corporation and Southeastern New England Shipbuilding Corporation (SENESCO) to offer separate, customized shipfitting programs beginning this October. Both training programs will be held at the CCRI Training and Technology Center located in Quonset Davisville Port and Commerce Park. A shipfitter fabricates and assembles the various metal plates, frames and braces of a new ship in preparation for welding or riveting. To prepare for SENESCO projected growth over the next two years, the company plans to train new hires as well as upgrade the skills of some current employees through the customized 100-hour shipfitting program. Already, SENESCO representatives report that they must bring in contract shipfitters from other states in order to meet current demand. The training collaboration with CCRI, says Palmina Arpino of SENESCO’s Human Resources Department, is “a long-term commitment.” At Electric Boat, CCRI worked with the company’s existing shipfitter training curriculum to create an 80-hour program for unemployed and underemployed workers. This Welfare Investment Act-funded program offers training to current Electric Boat personnel as well as the general public. Program graduates may then be recruited by Electric Boat and other interested manufacturers. The Supervisor of Training at Electric Boat’s Quonset facility, Fred Pendlebury, projects that his company needs to recruit 35 shipfitters to aid with Trident submarine refitting. CCRI modeled its shipfitting training after its successful welding program, which debuted last year in the Quonset Park and from which SENESCO, Electric Boat and the Lightship Group continue to recruit graduates. For information on shipfitting or other customized training at the CCRI Training and Technology Center, call (401) 294-5427.

	September 2003

	Driver education registration goes online
	Today, the Community College of Rhode Island begins online registration for driver education classes throughout the state. As of Oct. 1, 2003, all Rhode Island's driver education classes will be overseen by CCRI’s Division of Lifelong Learning. Interested students may log onto www.ccri.edu/Lifelong/DrEd/DrEd.shtml to view a list of available courses by location and to register online by credit card. To be eligible for enrollment in a driver education class, a student must be at least 15 years and 10 months old by the first day of class. To prove eligibility, students must bring a copy of a birth certificate, baptismal certificate or passport to the first day of class. This summer, the General Assembly passed a bill giving control of all driver education classes to CCRI and the Office of Higher Education from the classes’ original overseeing agency, the RI Department of Education. While the Department of Education offered between 320 and 360 driver education classes annually, CCRI hopes to boost the number of classes to 450 per year. In addition to maintaining driver education classes at existing sites—mainly cooperating high schools—CCRI also plans to improve the program's accessibility by offering classes at its campuses in Providence, Warwick and Lincoln, and at its Training and Technology Center in Quonset. CCRI Director of Community Education, Emilio Colantonio says, "We want to reduce the students' anxiety and their waiting—that's our goal. We also intend to continue the high quality of teaching that Rhode Island's driver education program has maintained for the last 40 years." While the number of classes run by the Department of Education in the past was sometimes limited by budget considerations, Colantonio states that the new CCRI-run program will feature "on-demand" enrollment that can better accommodate fluctuations in interest. Classes are scheduled in a variety of formats, from the traditional 11-week option to a more intensive four-week option. Log onto www.ccri.edu/Lifelong/DrEd/DrEd.shtml for more information or call 825-2182.


	Big Nazo puppets travel to CCRI
	From an ambulatory praying mantis to a one-eyed carnivorous plant, many of the larger-than-life-sized puppets of Big Nazo will go on display in a special exhibition Oct. 6 - 31 at the Community College of Rhode Island’s Knight Gallery, 400 East Ave., Warwick. While the puppets will be on exhibit without their puppeteers, accompanying photographs and video will give visitors a sense of how the puppets appear when “live.” An opening reception for the Creature Creations exhibit will take place Thursday, Oct. 9 from 6-8 p.m., and promises to include an unusual animated guest or two from the Big Nazo performing troupe. Both the exhibit and the opening will be free and open to the public. “I want a visitor to the gallery to feel like he has walked into a taxidermist shop, with these beings arrested in motion,” says Big Nazo creator Erminio Pinque. The Big Nazo puppets are best known in Rhode Island for their First Night antics, when a tribe of oversized and otherworldly creatures romp through the streets of Providence. The Big Nazo Band, in which puppets not only play instruments but heckle their fellow performers, is a staple of the Southeastern New England festival circuit. Pinque, who dons as well as designs some of his puppets, says that puppeteering allows him “to shuck the husk of my social identity,” a decidedly liberating experience. “It is good to feel free to say what you want to people in power. It’s like being jester to the king.” The Big Nazo puppets, created of foam, nylon and latex, are all individually crafted by Pinque and his colleagues in the troupe’s Providence studio. Pinque calls his method a “low-tech” approach, and adds that all he needs to craft a puppet is a stapler, glue, scissors, foam and a Sharpie pen. Many of the puppets to be displayed at the CCRI exhibition have also had design input from Pinque’s students. Throughout the school year, Pinque also offers Creature Creation workshops at high schools and colleges. This October, he plans to work with art students at CCRI to help them design and build their own puppet creatures. For gallery hours, please contact the CCRI Art Department at (401) 825-2220. The Creature Creations exhibition is the latest offering in the college’s arts and humanities series, The Indomitable Spirit. The Indomitable Spirit is funded in part by the CCRI Foundation. The Indomitable Spirit series Fall 2003 Arts & Humanities Calendar Community College of Rhode Island Collage Group Exhibition Reception: Wed., Oct. 1, 5-8 p.m. Community College of Rhode Island Flanagan Gallery, Lincoln Show runs through Oct. 25. Call for gallery hours at 333-7154. FREE Creature Creations: Puppets and Artwork by Big Nazo Reception: Thurs., Oct. 9, 6-8 p.m. Community College of Rhode Island Knight Gallery, Warwick Oct. 6-31. Call for gallery hours at 825-2220. FREE George Sand's Salon: Readings from the Diaries of George Sand and Music of Chopin and Liszt Performance: Wed., Oct. 15, 12 noon Community College of Rhode Island Room 0540, Knight Campus, Warwick Call 825-2460 for more information. FREE *The Maiden's Prayer* A comedy/drama of human relationships for mature audiences Thurs.-Sat., Oct. 16-18 at 8 p.m. Sun., Oct. 19 at 2 p.m. Community College of Rhode Island Flanagan Campus Theatre, Lincoln $8 general admission $6 students, staff & seniors Call the box office for tickets at 825-2219. Contemporary Printmakers Exhibition Reception: Wed., Nov. 5, 5-7 p.m. Community College of Rhode Island Flanagan Gallery, Lincoln Show runs through November 26. Call for gallery hours at 333-7154. FREE Poetry Reading by Xue Di Performance: Wed., Nov. 5, 7 p.m. Community College of Rhode Island Room 2706, Flanagan Campus, Lincoln For more information call 825-2460. FREE Bob Rizzo: Paintings and Mixed Media Sculptures Reception: Thurs., Nov. 6, 6-8 p.m. Community College of Rhode Island Knight Gallery, Warwick Show runs through Nov. 28. Call for gallery hours at 825-2220. FREE *Reflections of Our Ever-Changing Neighborhoods: Growing up in Rhode Island* Poetry slam and storytelling Performance: Thurs., Nov. 20, 2-4 p.m. Community College of Rhode Island Location TBA. For more information, call 825-2460. FREE *The Mikado* A Gilbert & Sullivan Operetta Bobby Hackett Theatre Community College of Rhode Island Knight Campus, Warwick Thurs.-Sat., Dec. 4-6 at 8 p.m. Sun., Dec. 7 at 2 p.m. $8 general admission $6 students, staff & seniors Call the box office for tickets at 825-2219.
	Observatory holds free viewing hours
	The general public is invited to explore the cosmos when the Margaret Jacoby Observatory at the Community College of Rhode Island Warwick campus holds viewing nights on select Fridays this fall (see schedule below). Visitors may peer through the college's 8" Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope to view the planets and constellations in the fall sky, as well as star clusters, double stars and planetary moons. Guests are also taught how to use binoculars to view the stars in their own backyards. Scheduled viewings are free-of-charge. They are also weather-dependent, with viewings canceled due to cloudy or rainy skies or below-freezing temperatures. For more information, call the CCRI Physics Dept. at 825-2212. Sept. 19, 8:30 – 9:30 p.m. Sept. 26, 8:00 – 9:30 p.m. Oct. 3, 8:00 – 9:30 p.m. Oct. 10, 7:30 – 9:30 p.m. Oct. 17, 7:30 – 9:30 p.m. Oct. 24, 7:30 – 9:30 p.m. Oct. 31, 7:30 – 9:30 p.m. Nov. 7, 7:30 – 9:30 p.m. Nov. 21, 7:30 – 9:30 p.m. Dec. 5, 7:30 – 9:30 p.m. Dec. 19, 7:30 – 9:30 p.m. The Community College of Rhode Island, New England’s largest community college, has campuses in Warwick, Providence and Lincoln. Currently, the college enrolls more than 16,000 students in credit courses and thousands more in non-credit and job training classes.

	Women's Volleyball (9-2) on four-match win streak
	The Lady Knights (9-2, 3-1 in the region) are currently on a tear. Their impressive 12-game and four-match win streak came last week on the road in contests versus Mitchell College, Western New England College, Leslie College and Holyoke CC. Navy will be looking for vengeance tonight (Tuesday) against CCRI in Newport since the Lady Knights eked out a 2-1 victory over the NAPsters in Lincoln on Sept. 13. *Meghan Hickey (Cumberland)* is #4 nationally in aces with 1.0 per game and in digs with 4.4 per game. Setter Lisa Vitiello (*Walpole, MA)* was 24^th nationally and has a superb .989 serve percentage. Freshman middle hitter LaRae Rhodes (*Warwick, Pilgrim HS)* is the team leader in kills with 3.1 per game.

	Women’s Soccer (5-0-1) likely to stay #1 after 1-1 tie vs. #2 Monroe CC
	The defending national champion CCRI Lady Knights had a few streaks broken but are likely to retain their #1 status nationally as they battled #2 Monroe CC on Saturday in Rochester, NY, to a 1-1 tie in two overtimes. (Monroe, six-time national champion, lost twice to CCRI last season, including in the national championship finale.) Down 1-0, CCRI tied the score two-thirds of the way through the second half when freshman forward Kara Hurston (West Warwick.) scored with an assist from freshman midfielder Misa Dellay (*East Greenwich).* The tie ended the team’s consecutive win streak at 27, placing them second all-time in CCRI sports history. But with the team not losing in 28 games over the past two seasons, that ties them with the baseball team (winners of 28 straight in 1988) for most consecutive games without a loss. · All-American Katie Leahy had her all-time career goal-scoring streak of 26 games finally halted on Saturday. She ranks #9 nationally thus far with 29 points. · Kara Hurston now has 18 points while sophomore forward Erica Rico, the team’s second leading scorer last year has 17, and both are among the nation’s top 30 scorers. · Sophomore All-American goalie *Alex Rothemich (N. Scituate, Ponaganset HS)*** shined by making 10 saves in the tie against Monroe.

	Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Runners hold up strong against four-year schools at Umass-Dartmouth invitational
	In two meets thus far, freshman Erica Hird (Providence, La Salle Academy) followed her second-place debut on September 11^th at CCRI with a scintillating time of 20:56 at the UMass-Dartmouth Invitational on Sept. 20, placing 16^th among four-year college runners. That earned Hird the CCRI Female Athlete of the Week award in the third week of action. Erin Bailey (Attleboro, MA) also had an excellent performance. The freshman runner came in 26^th overall with a time of 21:25. Sophomore Keith Jobin (Jamestown, N. Kingstown HS) led the way for the men at the UMass-Dartmouth Invitational. His time of 29:27 placed him 35th overall. The second Knight runner was freshman Eric Estrada (*Providence, Mt Pleasant HS)* in a time of 32:12.

	Men’s Soccer squad currently at 3-1-1 following a 2-1 conquest of Springfield tech.
	The men’s soccer squad is off to an excellent 3-1-1 start following a 1-1, double-overtime tie with Mitchell College in New London, Connecticut on Thursday, Sept.18 and a 2-1 triumph over Springfield Tech. CC on Saturday. In the win over Springfield, sophomore midfielder Daniel Cooney (Newport), Male Co-Athlete of the Week, and freshman defender Nivaldo Rocha (Central Falls) recorded their first goals ever for CCRI. Cooney, dominant all over midfield, delivered on a penalty kick. The other CCRI Male Co-Athlete of the Week is freshman goalie Zach Panchley (*Cumberland), who, in his debut, had five saves to earn the win. Sophomore defender Mario Miranda,* who had an assist, is the team’s leading scorer with two goals and one assist for five points. The squad is one of seven honorable mention teams listed in the most recent NJCAA poll after the top 15. Sophomore goalie Christopher Wordell (Little Compton, Middletown HS) is 9^th nationally in goals allowed per game with an average of 0.75. He has made 35 saves

	August 2003

	New manufacturing center on Knight Campus to hold open house
	Integrated Manufacturing Center OPEN HOUSE Tuesday, August 19 5-9 p.m. Room 0100 RSVP at 825-2156 CCRI engineering and technology programs have a new home in the west wing of Knight Campus. The 7,000-square-foot "integrated manufacturing center" will house such precision machinery as Computerized Numerical Control machines, Electric Discharge Machines, robotics, plastics equipment, a measurement room and a Lean Manufacturing cell. Key to the laboratory’s revamping is the open floor plan, so that students who create a product, whether through milling, mold-making or another manufacturing process, can work alongside those who design, assemble and inspect the product. Professor Ed Hanrahan states that the lab’s new integrated design mirrors the way modern manufacturing facilities are conducting business. And, it provides an added bonus of widening his students’ experience. "It gives students in one discipline the opportunity to see first-hand what happens in the other manufacturing disciplines," he says. While some areas, such as the traditional lathe and grinding machines, are organized for teaching of individualized skills, other areas, such as the Lean Manufacturing component, resemble a modern factory floor, where a work team can take a particular design from raw materials to a finished product, all in the space of a few yards. Recently, Engineering and Technology Chairperson Dick Cardin began a tour of the integrated manufacturing center with the Computer Aided Design classroom, a 30-student capacity computer center, where students can learn to design using such software programs as the industry-standard AutoCAD, or the 3-D program Solid Works. "You can design a part in MasterCam, download it, then bring the disk to the machine shop," Cardin said. Walking into the next room, he waved the same disk toward the CNC turning and milling machines, then added, "We can load the design, hit the button, and tell the machine how to make the part." Cardin stressed, however, that the CCRI programs teach both technologically advanced and traditional forms of manufacturing. "Few businesses have moved exclusively to computerized options," he says. On the next leg of the tour Professor of Engineering and Technology Professor Phil Miller discussed how his multi-functional manipulators—a.k.a robots—can use technology to streamline the manufacturing process. His robots, an IBM 7545 and 7547, two Scorbots and two Mitsubishi RM 501s, can perform tasks such as drilling and painting, or they can move objects from work station to conveyer belt to packing crate. "Labor rates are so high in the United States," he explained. "One way to offset that cost is automation. Robots can do things more consistently, so that the cost per unit becomes less." In another change, many of the manufacturing programs will soon incorporate Lean Manufacturing principles into their curricula. Lean Manufacturing is based on a five-part system whereby a work team identifies and sorts the components necessary to manufacture a particular product, removes what is unnecessary from the process, then repeats and evaluates the process. Lean outcomes include the streamlining of inventory control and the reduction of lead times. The Lean system also encourages employee input into the manufacturing process and helps build efficient work teams. The new manufacturing center represents a return home for Cardin and his programs, many of whom had been temporarily housed at a Lincoln factory until construction was completed at Warwick. From curricula changes to an integrated work space, these latest development should ensure that CCRI’s manufacturing programs remain relevant in tomorrow’s workplace.

	July 2003

	CCRI to offer classes “Downcity”
	Providence – The Community College of Rhode Island will offer almost 60 sections of classes this fall in the downcity Shepard building, home of University of Rhode Island’s Feinstein College of Continuing Education. Most sections will be introductory courses in math, English and science. A “late-start” semester, with classes beginning on September 15, will allow students who missed regular registration deadlines to be placed into the downcity classes. This addition of course offerings is a first step toward implementing the City Campus project introduced by the three state institutions of higher education early this spring, CCRI students will occupy several classrooms and labs at the Shepard building during daytime hours, making full use of URI’s facility, which is normally busier at night. The URI library and food services will be available to CCRI students; child care will be continued at the Liston Campus where students can drop off their children and then take a RIPTA trolley to reach downcity. CCRI Downcity students will be eligible for a discounted RIPTA pass. City Campus is a project spearheaded by the Rhode Island Department of Higher Education which seeks to increase the number of Rhode Islanders earning 4-year degrees by making higher education more accessible to Providence residents. Utilizing the combined resources of CCRI, Rhode Island College and URI in Providence, and by working with secondary education, businesses, government and the community, the City Campus will smooth the transition from high school to college and then to becoming a productive, proactive citizen as part of an overall vision of urban renewal. RIC and URI will offer baccalaureate programs built on the foundation of existing CCRI 2-year programs; in cases where CCRI does not currently offer a specific major, CCRI courses will provide the general education requirements leading into a 4-year program. The urban area being targeted is ripe for improvement in educational attainment of its residents. According to Census 2000 data, 25.6 percent of Rhode Islanders over the age of 25 currently hold at least a bachelor’s degree, slightly ahead of the national average (24.5 percent), but lagging significantly behind neighbors Massachusetts (33.2 percent) and Connecticut (31.4 percent). Among Rhode Island’s five counties, Providence County rated the lowest for college-educated residents. Only 21.3 percent of adults in the county have a 4-year degree. Further socioeconomic evidence points to the city of Providence as having great opportunity for improvement in advancing the education of its residents, especially those in lower-income areas. Phil Sisson, dean of Lifelong Learning at CCRI, is providing leadership for the development of the Shepard building classes and is eager to let the City Campus project begin to spread its wings. “This step makes sense. We’re offering additional options for current students trying to enroll in classes that have filled up, and the improvement of the overall accessibility of higher education for Providence area residents,” says Sisson. “This is what we’re striving to achieve with the City Campus and this is a great first step.” To enroll or for more information, students may call CCRI Advising and Counseling at 333-7160 in Lincoln, 825-2301 in Warwick or 455-6063 in Providence, or visit the CCRI website at www.ccri.edu.
	CCRI Staff Member Recognized by RIAAO
	Edna O’Neill Mattson of North Kingstown, director of Facility Use at the Community College of Rhode Island, was recently recognized as “Most Distinguished Friend to RIAAO 2003.” O’Neill Mattson is responsible for booking and coordinating facilities use for all outside events held at CCRI, and has been instrumental in the hosting of an annual fall college fair for RIAAO, the Rhode Island Association of Admission Officers. Her attention to detail was described to a nominating committee as being superior; she was commended for having always anticipated the every need of fair organizers to ensure that the event ran smoothly. This marks the second time that O’Neill Mattson has received this award; she is the first to achieve the distinction twice and was first recognized by RIAAO in 1995.
	CCRI launches Culinary Arts Assistant Certificate
	PROVIDENCE--This fall, the Community College of Rhode Island will launch an 18-credit Culinary Arts Assistant Certificate Program based out of the CCRI Liston Campus and utilizing work sites at Rhode Island Hospital as well as the kitchen facilities at the Metropolitan High School. Chef’s Association of Rhode Island President Kenneth Collins will serve as principal instructor. Guest instructors from area restaurants and food service agencies will also offer instruction. Among the guests scheduled to teach during the fall semester are Newport Harbor Corporation Corporate Chef Casey Riley, URI Nutrition Educator Martha Smith Patnoad, and Warwick Country Club Executive Chef Drew Yerich. During their 225 contact hours, students will undergo training in all aspects of food production and preparation, from knife skills to human resources issues. In addition to receiving hands-on training at the Metropolitan School cooking laboratory, students will also complete internships at Rhode Island Hospital, where they will train in such competencies as food purchasing, production and service. The work experience aspect of the certificate is critical to the program’s goal of helping students attain entry-level positions in the hospitality industry, according to CCRI Director of Community Services Emilio Colantonio. A separate, optional externship component of the program helps students get additional food production experience at such partner sites as the Brown University Faculty Club, The Inn at Castle Hill and Venda Ravioli. Students may also be eligible for state-approved apprenticeship opportunities. To complete the 15-week program, students must make a 25-hour-per-week commitment to classes and laboratory studies. The program cost of $4,299 includes tuition, lab fees and required materials such as books, uniform and knife set. The 18 credits earned can also be applied toward an associate’s degree at the college. To be eligible to enroll, a student must have earned a high school diploma or a GED and must pass reading and math assessments. Prior to launching this program, Collins surveyed more than 70 area eating establishments, nearly all of whom indicated a strong need for a culinary assistant program. Turnover rates in the food trades can run from 72 to 96 percent annually, according to the 2002 Restaurant Industry Operations Report complied by the National Restaurant Association. “Chefs spend the better part of their work day training new employees,” says Collins, who adds that the CCRI program can reduce this turnover rate by providing a pool of trained workers with strong competencies and a demonstrated commitment to the food industry. Program orientations will be held from 3-5 p.m. at the Liston Campus on Tuesday, Aug. 5; Tuesday, Aug. 12; and Thursday, Aug. 14. Each orientation will feature an overview of the Culinary Arts Assistant Certificate program, and include the required math and reading testing. For more information, call (401) 825-2320.
	Center for Advanced Technology Careers opens at CCRI
	The Center for Advanced Technology Careers (CATC) at the Community College of Rhode Island has opened its doors to aspiring information technology (IT) workers searching for job opportunities and trained IT workers wishing to change specialties. Located at CCRI's Warwick campus since March, CATC has offered a combination of IT aptitude testing, skill testing, career advising and educational placement. Funding for the CATC project comes from the Rhode Island Technology Council (RITEC), which received a $2.7 million federal H-1b grant last year to facilitate training in the state's technology sectors. CATC's and RITEC's corporate partners CVS, Care New England, Citizen's Bank, Fleet Bank, and GTECH have provided matching training funds for the project, while CCRI has financed CATC's staff, facilities and computers. And although CCRI is the initial access point for IT information, CATC advisors may recommend training programs from any of the state's public and private 2- and 4-year-colleges. Approximately 70 percent of CATC's clients are referred by public sector assistance agencies, as well as the RI Department of Labor's NetWorkRI employment centers. Those clients unfamiliar with IT careers are introduced to entry-level job descriptions in fields such as Web development, networking, database management and security. Then clients are given a self-administered aptitude evaluation. CATC Director Vincent Balasco explains that the goal is to find the right match between client and career, not to funnel applicants indiscriminately into IT jobs that may not suit them. "We don't want to put people in an industry where they won't be happy," says Balasco. If a client displays an aptitude for a technology career, advisors use a combination of skills testing, interviews, work experience and client interests to craft individualized training plans. These plans include recommended training at any of Rhode Island's degree-granted institutions of higher learning. As part of the RITEC grant, CATC can pay up to $3,000 in educational costs for each client who enrolls in recommended IT training. Incumbent IT workers clients who already have technology-related work experience but now desire to switch specialties or gain additional training skip the aptitude tests and instead take computerized skills tests to evaluate their proficiency in their specified subject area. These workers can then enroll in one many advanced IT courses that have been pre-approved for RITEC funding through an RFP process open to all RI colleges. CATC offers up to $4,000 worth of training for each incumbent worker, with $2,000 coming from the H-1b grant and a matching $2,000 paid out by the corporate partners. RITEC Executive Director Katherine O'Dea says, "The services that CATC is providing are invaluable. We have a goal to serve 250 unemployed or underemployed workers with the grant dollars. In just three months, the CATC staff members have tested and evaluated over 125 individuals. Close to 50 of those clients are already enrolled in training programs." Balasco also explains that the center attempts to encourage minorities, women and the disabled to utilize its services, as they are currently underrepresented in the IT workforce. CATC has fully equipped state-of-the-art Adaptive Assistance Technology (AAT).. Balasco notes that while the growth rate of technology companies has slowed since the boom years of the 1990s, he still feels encouraged by local opportunities in IT, especially in the areas of financial services and biotechnology. He also speculates that the CATC focused model may be applied in the future to other high-growth career areas such as health care and advanced manufacturing. For more information on the Center for Advanced Technology Careers at the CCRI Knight Campus, 400 East Ave., Warwick, call (401) 825-1186 or log on www.ccri.edu/catc.

	Some CCRI publications rely on technology to ease the belt tightening pinch.
	Faced with increasing demands on its limited budget, the Community College of Rhode Island’s Department of Public Relations and Publications found an electronic way to stretch a buck by publishing its annual report online and on CD. Using existing resources, the department published its entire reportcomplete with links to existing Web pages of enrollment data and capital projects on its Web site, www.ccri.edu. In addition, it printed 250 CDs that it distributed to legislators and members of the Board of Governors. The total cost for printing the CDs was $400, versus the nearly $4,000 it cost the previous year to print 1,500, 20-page, 4-color reports. Next month, CCRI will also use a similar model to print its 60-page Career Placement Report, an in-depth survey of recent graduates’ career and educational progress. Rather than print its traditional run of 2,000 copies, the college will print a combination of 500 books and 500 CDs at a savings of nearly $1,000. These are not the only publications the Community College of Rhode Island has adapted to the latest technology. The college’s catalog and available courses are also accessible through its Web site, thereby drastically reducing the print runs needed for both the 192-page catalog and the quarterly course bulletin updates. CCRI Communications Design Specialist David Fischbach says of electronic publications, “They are inexpensive media that we can conveniently update online. They also save trees.” The Community College of Rhode Island, New England’s largest community college, has campuses in Warwick, Providence and Lincoln. Currently CCRI enrolls more than 16,000 students in credit courses and thousands more in non-credit and job training classes.

	June 2003
	CCRI Comprehensive Campaign raises $1.2 million
	The Community College of Rhode Island Foundation recently announced that it has exceeded its comprehensive campaign goal of $1.1 million by nearly $100,000. Among other projects, the campaign's funds will be used to renovate the Dental Hygiene Program located on CCRI's Lincoln campus, to establish an endowment for arts and humanities programming, and to bolster the college's general endowment. Chairpersons for the campaign were Arthur G. and Roberta R. Jenkins of Providence. Other committee members included Roger N. Begin, M. Christine Benoit, Joseph R. Beretta, Augustine Capotosto, Jr., Leonard DiLorenzo, John I. Howell, Jr., Edwin S. Mehlman, Andrew J. Molak, Thomas D. Sepe, and Julie M. White. Arthur Jenkins said, "In addition to raising money in these difficult economic times, the comprehensive campaign has helped the college forge new partnerships with several corporation and foundations that recognize the relationship between a well-trained workforce and the economic well-being of the state — and the value of CCRI's role in that equation. Among the new corporate supporter of CCRI are Amica Mutual Insurance Company, the Bank of Newport, Beacon Mutual Insurance Company, Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Rhode Island, Narragansett Electric, Pfizer, Sovereign Bank and Textron. New foundation supporters include the Champlin Foundations, Ocean State Charitable Trust, and the Fred M. Roddy Foundation. Jenkins also offered special thanks to the Rhode Island Dental Association and the Charles Sullivan Fund for their support. The CCRI Foundation is an independent non-profit corporation, created to encourage and provide college support from private sources. To learn more about the foundation, call (401) 333-7150 or log on to www.ccri.edu/foundation.

	Sheri Norton elected president of the Rhode Island Chapter of (IPMA-HR)
	Community College of Rhode Island's Assistant Director of Personnel Sheri Norton was recently elected president of the Rhode Island Chapter of the International Public Manager's Association for Human Resources (IPMA-HR). Norton also recently earned a certification as a Senior Professional in Human Resources from the Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI). The HRCI is the credentialing body for human resource professionals and is affiliated with the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), the world's largest organization dedicated exclusively to the human resource profession.

	Providence-Journal Bulletin Scholarships awarded
	Rebecca Whipp of Providence and Irena Harvey of Woonsocket each received $500 Providence Journal-Bulletin Scholarships in recognition of their outstanding performance on their five General Educational Development (G.E.D.) tests, taken at the Community College of Rhode Island. To be eligible for these scholarships, which are administered by CCRI, students must not only achieve high scores on their G.E.D. tests, but also plan to pursue higher education. Both Whipp and Harvey intend to pursue associate's degrees at CCRI.
	Liston Campus holds G.E.D. ceremony
	PROVIDENCE--More than 40 Providence-area adults received their G.E.D. diplomas in a special ceremony at the Community College of Rhode Island Liston Campus Thursday evening, June 26 at 6:30 p.m.. Guest speakers included Mayor David Cicilline, English G.E.D. recipient Nicolle Fevry and Spanish G.E.D. recipient Luisa Roman. Many of the students at the ceremony had been involved in the college's Workplace-Connected Adult Literacy Program, a Human Resource Investment Council (HRIC) funded-initiative that offers Adult Basic Education classes, G.E.D. preparation, remediation, computer training and career advising at the campus and at worksites. Other graduates had prepared for the G.E.D. through programs at area social service agencies, such as Dorcas Place and Progreso Latino. All took their G.E.D. exams at the CCRI Liston Campus. A G.E.D., or General Educational Development diploma, is a viable alternative to a high school diploma and is recognized as its equivalent by more than 95 percent of U.S. employers, according to the American Council on Education. To earn a G.E.D., a student must successfully complete standardized tests in writing, social studies, science, reading, and mathematics. The success of these G.E.D. recipients is positive news for Rhode Island, which has the highest percentage of residents below basic literacy standards in the New England area, according to a recent report by the Nellie Mae Education Foundation. The report also states 41 percent of New England adults lack necessary literacy skills. CCRI Program Director Leslie Gell said, "Receiving one's G.E.D. is an extraordinary milestone for individuals who, for a variety of reasons, did not receive a high school diploma through traditional schooling. It's important to formally acknowledge and celebrate the accomplishments of the folks who had the determination to get that credential, often in spite of enormous barriers and obstacles." An example of this determination is the story of Providence resident Nicolle Fevry, a former lab technician in her native Haiti, who studied for a G.E.D. in the hopes of entering the CCRI nursing program. "You cannot get anywhere without the diploma," she said. Graduates honored at the ceremony included: Willie Allen, Princess Alvarez, Ruth Barrios, Amelia M. Blackie, El Hadji M. Boye, Deise E. Brito, Alvaro Cabrera, Laura Cerna, Kathy Delgadillo, Nicolle Fevry, Secilia Franco, Sarah Soto-Gomez, Marsha Greaves, Ledimo Hernandez, Mildred Jacinto, Raelene C. LaCourse, Heidy Lopez, Antonio Martinez, Rudy Micheli, Johnny Montanez. Dawn C. Moone, Marco Morales, Jacquelyne A. Omulo, Xiomara Pabon, Rafael E. Paula, Kristen Pierson, Karen Rego, Teresa Richardson, Heather Rickett, Luisa M. Roman, Theodore Sanford, Donetta Smith-Shavers, David J. Swenson, Donna L. Valenti, Aneury Vargas, Ingrid A. Vargas, Jessica M. Vazquez, Rebecca L. Whipp, Candace Wilkinson, Jarvis Williams, and Melissa A. Winell.
	CCRI to offer course in speech recognition software This fall, students can learn to create documents at speeds of 120 words per minute — hands free — through the new course, "Speech-Recognition Software Applications I," offered by the Administrative Office Technology Department at the Community College of Rhode Island. This 15-hour, one-credit course first teaches students how to train their computer in the use of Dragon Naturally Speaking Preferred v.7.0 voice recognition software. Using a headset, each student recites predetermined paragraphs into a voice file that adapts to a user's unique pronunciations. Once trained, the computer is able to translate the student's spoken words at speeds of 120-160 wpm and with an accuracy rate of over 95 percent. In contrast, the average data entry person types between 45-65 wpm. Students also learn Natural Language Technology voice commands, such as those that signal the start of a new paragraph or the closing of quotation marks. The software is also programmed to identify homonyms — "too" and "two," for example — and to alert the reader to any ambiguity. Dragon Naturally Speaking Preferred interfaces with many other software programs such as Microsoft Word and Excel. Who can benefit from speech-recognition software? "It can be used by anybody who wants to enhance computer-use efficiency," says Teresa Squizzero, chairperson of CCRI's Administrative Office Technology Department. She adds that speech recognition software is an important option for workers suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome, or for anyone who has difficulty manipulating a keyboard. Squizzero feels that while the use of speech recognition software in the workplace "is just getting started," in the near future it will become as common an option for data input as a keyboard, a scanner or a mouse. She hopes eventually to offer training in other speech-recognition programs, such as XP Voice Recognition and IBM Via Voice. For more information on Speech-Recognition Software Applications I, call (401) 825-2155. Or, register on line at www.ccri.edu. The course code is listed under "Office Administration—General" in the Available Courses menu. The Community College of Rhode Island, New England’s largest community college, has campuses in Warwick, Providence and Lincoln. Currently CCRI enrolls more than 16,000 students in credit courses and thousands more in non-credit and job training classes.
	CCRI to offer sailing excursions on the Brandaris
	This summer, the Community College of Rhode Island takes to the seas with its Wednesday night sailing series aboard the 63-foot Tall Ship Brandaris. The excursions run from 7 to 9 p.m. and leave from the Wickford Town Dock on Brown Street. Trips are limited to 20 passengers. July 2: Taste of the Bay includes such raw bar appetizers as oysters and little necks. $41. July 9: A Taste of Provence features French fare from the Wickford Gourmet and a wine accompaniment. (Passengers must be 21 years of age or older.) $41 July 16: An Ocean of Desserts offers confections from the Pastry Gourmet in Wickford. $36. July 23: Plum Point Lighthouse Sail offers a close-up look and history of this Narragansett Bay light currently undergoing restoration. $31. July 30: Wine Tasting Cruise provides cruise-goers a chance to experience the finer points of wine stewardship and appreciation. Wines are provided by Wickford Package Store. (Passengers must be 21 years of age or older.) $41. August 6: A Taste of Tuscany features cuisine from the Wickford Gourmet and a wine accompaniment. (Passengers must be 21 years of age or older.) $41. August 13: A Cruise into History provides a tour of Wickford Harbor and an oral history of the area. $31. August 20: Sailing with Sea Shanties features live entertainment in the tradition of sea-faring ballads and work songs. $38. August 27: A Wine Tasting Cruise offers a selection of fine wines along with wine-tasting pointers from the ship's wine steward. (Passengers must be 21 years of age or older.) $36. To sign up for a sailing excursion, call the CCRI Division for Lifelong Learning at (401) 333-7070 or log on to www.ccri.edu. Members of the CCRI PrimeTime Program for adults ages 50+ can enroll at a 10 percent discount.

	CCRI Training and Technology Center to offer summer computer courses
	The CCRI Training and Technology Center located in the Quonset Davisville Port and Commerce Park will offer several computer courses geared to the business community this summer. Prices range from $1495 to $2195. Offerings include: Installing, Configuring and Administering MS Windows 2000 Server / Mondays and Wednesdays, 6:30-9:30p.m., and Saturdays, 9a.m.-6p.m., July 7-26. Implementing an MS Windows 2000 Network Infrastructure / Monday-Wednesday, 9 a.m-6p.m. July 7-9; or Mondays and Wednesdays, 6:30-9:30 p.m., August 4-18 and Saturday, 9am-4pm on August 24. Intro to JAVA / Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., July 14-18. Advanced JAVA / Monday-Friday, 8 am-5 p.m., July 21-25; or Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., August 25-29. Visual Basic 6.0: Introduction / Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., July 14-18; or Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., August 11-15. Visual Basic 6.0: Distributed Applications Design and Development / Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Aug. 18-22; or Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., September 15-19. Located at 129 Airport Street in North Kingstown, the recently opened CCRI Training and Technology Center offers classes welding, lead and asbestos abatement, computer training, leadership development, ESL, Lean Manufacturing, Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) and Commercial Driver's License (CDL). For information on these or other customized training options, call (401) 294-5427

	May 2003
	Governor Donald L. Carcieri to deliver CCRI commencement speech
	Rhode Island Governor Donald L. Carcieri will deliver the keynote address at the 38^th commencement of the Community College of Rhode Island, Friday, May 23, 2003. The ceremony, held at the CCRI Flanagan Campus, 1762 Louisquisset Pike, Lincoln, will begin at 5 p.m. Approximately 1,500 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 at the ceremony. "The 1,500 graduates at this year's CCRI commencement exemplify the important connection between education and job creation," says Carcieri. "One of the best defenses our state can have against economic turmoil is an educated work force. The Community College of Rhode Island is a critical access point for those seeking that education. Right now, CCRI is training the nurses who will help reverse the health care worker shortage. Its students are learning the technology they will need in the 21st-century workplace. Chemists and social workers, accountants and mechanical engineers: CCRI prepares them all for a bright future." While Carcieri, a former CEO of Cookson America, is well-known for his business acumen, he also has experience as an educator. For several years, he taught at Newport's Rogers High School and at Concord Carlisle Regional High School in Concord, MA. A native Rhode Islander, Carcieri was born and raised in East Greenwich. He attended Brown University on an academic scholarship and graduated in 1965 with a degree in international relations. The Community College of Rhode Island, New England’s largest community college, has campuses in Warwick, Providence and Lincoln, as well as a satellite campus in Newport. Currently CCRI enrolls more than 16,000 students in credit courses and thousands more in non-credit and job training classes.

	CCRI professor selected to participate in the Summer Research Seminar, "Trans-Oceanic Exchanges"
	Providence resident Wayne C. Solomon, an assistant professor of sociology at the Community College of Rhode Island, has been selected to participate in the Summer Research Seminar, "Trans-Oceanic Exchanges," to be held this July at the Library of Congress in Washington D.C. The seminar, sponsored by the Community College Humanities Association, The American Historical Association and the Library of Congress, invites 20 faculty members from U.S. community colleges to discuss the political, social, environmental and economic impact of global processes, and ways to incorporate those subjects into their college curricula.

	High school drop-out hopes to be future principal
	Julia Jones tried to finish high school after she had her baby in the early 1990s. In fact, she was one of the first at Central High School to use the day care program there. But she still dropped out in 11th grade, saying, "Motherhood and school just didn't work." Jones later enrolled in a special parenting program for teenage mothers (Project HOLD) and earned her GED in 1993. She then attended CCRI for a semester before dropping out. "I wasn't college-ready," she says. "It had nothing to do with academics. I guess it was the commitment." Instead, she enrolled in vocational training through Job Corps and became a certified nursing assistant. In 2001, she was older, wiser, and ready to come back to CCRI's Liston Campus in Providence. "I was gung ho," she says. "I went full-time with summer classes." She also held a work study job at the Providence campus while going to school, and is graduating with a 3.8 GPA this May. In the 10 years between her time at Central High and her second time at CCRI, Jones got married and had two more children. Her youngest, now three, was enrolled in CCRI's on site day care program when Jones attended classes. Her goal is to become a teacher, and later, a principal. "I want to give back, I want to encourage others," she says. "I want to be that principal that says, 'You can do it. I did it. You can still make it.'" "The way that I came up, I didn't always make the best decisions. But, the things that once held you down make you stronger." "I want to be there when the students are on that fence making that decision to stay in school," she says.

CCRI Training and Technology Center to hold ribbon cutting ceremony

NORTH KINGSTOWN--The Community College of Rhode Island will officially open the new CCRI Training and Technology Center, located in the Quonset/Davisville Port and Commerce Park, at a ribbon cutting ceremony on Thursday, May 8 at 3:30 pm at 125 Airport Street, North Kingstown.

Scheduled to speak are Executive Director of the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation Michael McMahon, RI Board of Governors for Higher Education President Frank Caprio, Commissioner of Higher Education Jack Warner, CCRI President Thomas D. Sepe, CAS America President Joseph Cannon, Jr., and Electric Boat Site Manager John Holmander.

At the Quonset-based facility, CCRI will offer customized training geared to such industries as boat building, information technology and construction. Classes will be scheduled Mondays through Saturdays from 8 am - 10 pm, with possible third shift options. Among the course offerings planned are fiberglass and metal fabrication, welding, lead and asbestos abatement, computer training, leadership development, ESL and Lean Manufacturing. Classes are already being offered on site for CCRI's Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) and Commercial Driver's License (CDL) programs. The CCRI Training and Technology Center is overseen by the college's Division for Lifelong Learning.

The center, formerly a manufacturing facility, has undergone a major renovation which includes the installation of two computer labs, a new welding area, a machine shop, a classroom and a 1,100-square-foot multi-purpose training space.

"The CCRI Training and Technology Center is the Community College of Rhode Island's first facility to be dedicated to the needs of business and industry," says President Sepe. "It offers businesses a ready resource for accessible, cost effective and up-to-date employee training. By offering on-site training, CCRI's very presence in the park may be an advantage in drawing companies to the area. Whether it is bringing new jobs to the state or improving the performance of existing workers, the CCRI Training and Technology Center is helping Rhode Island create new, higher paying jobs."

For more information, call the CCRI Center for Training and Development at (401) 294-5427.

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

Employees can learn to improve their productivity while gaining college credit in the new Bridges to Lean Manufacturing certificate program offered by the Community College of Rhode Island in collaboration with Rhode Island Manufacturing Extension Services (RIMES). This 15-credit program combines CCRI courses in math, English and business with a 5-credit RIMES lean training program.

While the certificate program is open to the general public, it is geared to operations managers, manufacturing managers, supervisors, product cell teams and leaders, and quality and ISO leaders already involved in manufacturing. Credits earned can be applied to an associate’s degree at CCRI.

Originating on Toyota's manufacturing floor, Lean Manufacturing is based on five core principles called the five Ss—seiri, seiton, seiso, seiketsu and shitsuke—principles that revitalize work environments and boost efficiency. The 5s, loosely translated, represent a system whereby a work team identifies and sorts the components necessary to manufacture a particular product, removes what is unnecessary from the process, then repeats and evaluates the process. Lean outcomes include the streamlining of inventory control and the reduction of lead times. The lean system also encourages employee input into the manufacturing process and helps build efficient work teams.

CCRI Dean of Business and Technology Peter Woodberry says that one of the Bridges to Lean Manufacturing certificate program's greatest strengths is its flexibility. "Whether you make wooden cabinets or water depth gauges, you can benefit from these courses," he says.

For the convenience of participating businesses, Lean Manufacturing classes may be offered at a variety of locations, including CCRI's campuses, Network RI offices, and at the CCRI Technology and Training Center in the Quonset/Davisville Port and Commerce Park.

For information, call Ed Hanrahan at CCRI at (401) 825-2227 or Cathie Greco at RIMES at (401) 294-3535.

Introduction to Terrorism course to begin this month

Beginning May 15, the Community College of Rhode Island will offer Introduction to Terrorism, one of three new CCRI courses focusing on disaster response. Introduction to Terrorism explores the origins of terror and the ways in which it influences public policy. The curriculum also covers the practical aspects of identifying a potential threat and preparing against an attack. This three-credit course cost $264 plus fees and will be held Tuesday and Thursday afternoons through the end of June at the CCRI Flanagan Campus, Lincoln.

"The idea of terror goes way back into history, although we continue to change the names," says George Hickey, instructor for the course. Hickey, a former bio-medical service officer and disaster response specialist, uses real-life examples of terror tactics, from the Trojan Horse to the Oklahoma City bombing, to show his students how terrorism works "to confuse and confound."
CCRI debuted its series of disaster response courses in the fall of 2002 with Fundamentals of Emergency Management, and will offer the third in the series, Bioterrorism, in the fall of 2003. All three courses are designed to fit the needs of a diverse audience. Dean of Nursing and Rehabilitative Health Maureen McGarry explains, "The training appeals to a broad spectrum of students, for health care professionals, for fire personnel, for department of health personnel, emergency management workers, even administrators of schools."

The disaster response courses grew from a two-year collaboration between the Community College of Rhode Island and the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Higher Education Project, which is working to promote college courses in emergency management. Because CCRI already has a successful track record for training first-responders—from nurses to fire fighters and EMTs—FEMA found the college to be the obvious site to house such a program.

For more information on Introduction to Terrorism, Fundamentals of Emergency Management or Bioterrorism, call the CCRI Division of Health and Rehabilitative Sciences at (401) 333-7102.

The following Community College of Rhode Island faculty and staff received service awards at the annual Recognition Award Dinner, held Thursday, April 17, 2003:

Service Learning Faculty Awards
Professor of English Deborah Brody (Cranston)
Assistant Professor of English Laurie Sherman (Clayville)
Professor of Psychology Denise Turgeon (North Kingstown)

Special Recognition Awards
Director of Skills USA-VICA Robert Carosi (Cranston) for his work with VICA and Delta Epsilon Chi Association
Associate Professor of Foreign Languages Maria Mansella (North Providence) for her work with the CCRI Italian Club

Outstanding Service Award Staff assistant Pam Bowden (Pawtucket)

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

The following Community College of Rhode Island students received awards at the annual Recognition Award Dinner, held Thursday, April 17, 2003:

Student Government Leadership Awards:
Joshua Klemp and Jeff Francois of Providence,
Kenneth Rankl of Woonsocket

Black American Student Association Leadership Awards:
JoAnn Logan of Providence
Catherine Washington of Pawtucket

Delta Epsilon Chi Association & Skills USA/VICA Leadership Awards:
Joshua Davis of East Providence
Heather Newell of Cranston

Latin American Student Organization Leadership Awards:
Alicia Luzon of Providence
Aime Tolentino of Central Falls

Phi Theta Kappa Honor SocietyLeadership Award:
Lisa Piner of Johnston

Psi Beta Honor Society Leadership Awards:
Meaghan Fiske of Cranston
Debra Perkins of Bristol

Psychology Club Leadership Awards:
Ellen E. Lau of East Greenwich
Jason Stedman of Westerly

Newman Club Leadership Awards:
Shannon Creighton of West Warwick
Melissa Sousa of East Providence
Melissa Stanziale of Johnston
Monica Valenti of Barrington

CCRI Student Awards

Strategic Knights Leadership Awards: Jerry Duhamel of Charlestown, Christopher Finch of Hope Valley, Richard Gaudet of North Kingstown, Kathryn Green of Jamestown, Christopher Hall of Shannock, William O'Donnell and James Roderick of East Providence, Jennifer Wilkicki of West Warwick.

CCRI Americorps Service Awards: Agnes Cunniff of Cranston; Yahira Gonzalez, Delores Medina and Giselle Sanchez of Providence; Jocelyn Haley of Pawtucket; Roderick Machado of East Providence; Monica Maroon of S. Attleboro, MA; Kemmy Nixon of Bellingham, MA; Melissa Odell of Hope Valley; Erica Sproul of Cumberland; Amy Wyrostek of West Warwick

CCRI VISTA Service Award/Community Service Coordinator JoAnn Logan of Providence

Student Services Coordinator Award JoAnn Logan of Providence

Service Volunteer Awards: Jenn Ingalls of Providence; John Hoyas of Lincoln

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

WARWICK--The Community College of Rhode Island Music Department celebrates spring with several public musical performances at the Knight Campus, Warwick.

For more information, call the Community College of Rhode Island Music Department at (401) 825-2168.

CCRI to hold Career Expo

Job seekers can meet with representatives from two dozen local companies at the Community College of Rhode Island's Career Expo, Wednesday, April 30 from 4:00-6:30 p.m. at the Knight Campus, Warwick.
Expo participants not only can network with health care, hotel and tourism, manufacturing and technology representatives, but also can receive résumé advice from CCRI career placement specialists in this event organized by the CCRI Cooperative Education and Career Placement office.

Companies look for a range of experience in job applicants, from completion of a few courses to a professional degree, says Anne Marge, director of cooperative education at CCRI. "Some companies, particularly in the health care field, come to recruit future graduates, while other areas are more concerned with what experience a person has," Marge says.

Health care seems to be the employment area with the most opportunity at the moment, Marge notes. "If students looked at this expo and tried to decide what to go into, they would find excellent job prospects in the health care industries, as well as good pay and job security."

Companies to have signed on for this year's expo include Electric Boat, Fleet Boston Financial, Saint Anne's Hospital, Walgreen's, Care Link and Genesis Elder Care.

The CCRI Career Expo is free and open to the general public. For more information, call (401) 825-2050 or (401) 333-7254.

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

SPAM club to hold poetry slam

The Community College of Rhode Island holds "Show & Tell: A Poetry Slam Evening," on Thursday, April 24 from 6-7:30 p.m. at the Bobby Hackett Theatre, CCRI Knight Campus, Warwick. The event is organized by CCRI Students for Poetry, Art, Music, etc., also known as SPAM. SPAM encourages both first-time and experienced writers to share their work with the audience during open mike.
Poet Laura E. J. Moran, Providence's first Grand Slam Champion and the host of the Providence 2000 National Poetry Slam, kicks off the evening with a public reading.

New York City folk singer Jack Hardy, whose renown songwriters workshop has nurtured such talents as Shawn Colvin, John Gorka and Suzanne Vega, closes the evening with a short performance of original songs.
Free and open to the public, "Show & Tell" is sponsored by the CCRI Foundation. For more information, call (401) 825-2263.

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

Lieutenant Governor Fogarty's Operation Support Our Troops - RI

CCRI will participate in the statewide drive to send 2,000 care packages to RI's troops overseas. On May 10, packages will be assembled and shipped from National Guard Headquarters in Cranston. To donate items, call 333-7159 at the Lincoln campus, 825-2316 at the Warwick campus and 455-6054 at the Providence campus.

Care package items may include: dental floss, hand creams, hand and facial cleansing pads, cooling strips (to be worn under chemical suits), non-medicated eye drops, hand and feet warmers, white tube socks, mole skin and blister packs, underwear, soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, disposable razors, shaving cream, toilet paper, flashlights, AA and AAA batteries, vitamins and lozenges, prepackaged snacks, games, air fresheners, fly swatters, mouse traps, battery-operated personal fans, gallon-size freezer-weight plastic bags, phone cards, stationary and pens.

Other items requested include pictures of snow for the troops stationed in Kuwait and pictures of the beach for the troops in Afghanistan.

Items that may not be included in care packages are: tobacco products, pork products, flammable items, alcohol, religious articles, fresh fruit or plants, and suggestive or pornographic material.

Pasta Cook-off raises more than $2,000

This year’s Pasta Cook-off, which pitted CCRI’s athletics personnel against one another, raised more than $2,000 for Dollars for Scholars.

Athletics Director Lou Pullano won for best sauce (or gravy, depending on who you ask) and softball coach Bev Wiley won for best presentation. Women’s soccer coach Dennis Grassini, tennis coach Joe Pavone and men’s basketball coach Dave Chevalier offered some stiff competition, bringing in a total of $2,200 for a great cause.

“Each year we strive to host an event that not only raises scholarship monies, but also brings the college community together in a purely fun way,” said ACCESS director Tracy Karasinski. “This year’s Cook-Off was a great success and I am deeply appreciative of the strong support we received from the entire college community. The chefs did a fantastic job and we easily met our goal on both counts. ”

And Pullano and Wiley weren’t the only winners that evening; the following are among the lucky raffle prize winners:

Mary Pecchia won two tickets to Trinity Rep; Joyce Felici won two tickets to Avon Cinema; Suzanne Jackson won IMAX tickets; Charlene Henderson won a $25 Cafe Luna gift certificate; Sharyn Vicente won Showcase Cinema tickets; Phyllis DiMaria won The Wealth of Nations book donated by the CCRI Foundation; Heather Smith and Cindy Akers each won an Italian basket made by Liz Mancini; and George Souza, Marisa Albini, Lynn Benson,

News Releases for 2003

News Releases