CCRI - News Releases 2002-2003

November 2004

Vacation-week Driver Education Classes Offered Through CCRI

Spaces are still available for vacation-week driver education classes offered through the Community College of Rhode Island. In this intensive day program, qualifying students can complete the 33-hour curriculum in as little as a week's time. Seats are still available in classes held at the CCRI Knight Campus in Warwick, the CCRI Flanagan Campus in Lincoln, the CCRI Training and Technology Center in the Quonset Point/Davisville Industrial Park, and at Portsmouth Middle School in Portsmouth.

To view a complete list of available driver education course, visit the CCRI Web site at www.ccri.edu and click on the driver education link.

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. Students must register in advance of the start date in order to attend.

Cost for the Driver Education program is $65. Students may register online any time through the college’s Web site at www.ccri.edu; by mail at CCRI Driver Education, 1762 Louisquisset Pike, Lincoln, RI 02865; by fax at 333-7237; or in person during designated hours at the Lifelong Learning offices on the three main CCRI campuses. In-person registration for Driver Education takes place Mondays-Thursdays, 3 - 7 p.m. and Saturdays 9 a.m. - 12 noon at the Warwick and Lincoln campuses. In person registration also takes place at the CCRI Providence campus, Mondays-Thursdays, 2-6 p.m. and Saturdays, 9-12 p.m. Registration forms are available online or at all CCRI Lifelong Learning offices. All registration is done through CCRI. Instructors cannot accept registrations.

For more information, call 825 - 2182.

CCRI Alumna will display her digital photographs in a special exhibition held Dec. 2

CCRI alumna Sue Grundy will display her digital photographs in a special exhibition held Dec. 2 through 9 at the Community College of Rhode Island Arts & Humanities Center at the Warwick campus. Grundy’s photographs represent a visual diary of her travels along the famous Route 66 and through the Grand Canyon National Park. An opening reception, to be held Thursday, Dec. 2 from 6 to 9 p.m., is sponsored by the CCRI Artful Afternoon Club and French and German Club. Admission is free to public. For more information, call 825-2352 or 825-2011.

Sisson Appointed Dean at CCRI

WARWICK – Philip Sisson of North Providence has been selected to serve as the Dean of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences. During his five years of service to CCRI, Sisson has assumed a number of key leadership roles including Acting Dean of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences; Dean of Lifelong Learning and Workforce Education; and Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs.

Prior to coming to CCRI, Sisson served in leadership positions in continuing education and community services at Bristol Community College and in student affairs at Nichols College. For the past fifteen years, he has also served as an adjunct faculty member teaching English and developmental reading courses.

Sisson, a native Rhode Islander, earned his B.A. in communications, theater, and secondary education as well as his M.A. in counseling from Rhode Island College. He has completed his doctoral coursework at the University of Massachusetts at Boston.

The Community College of Rhode Island, with more than 16,000 students each semester, is New England’s largest and most comprehensive community college.

CCRI Basketball Goes World-Wide

WARWICK, RI, NOVEMBER 18, 2004: Beginning Saturday, November 20, coverage of CCRI men’s and women’s basketball goes world-wide through a new partnership with RISportsNet, a local company that uses the World Wide Web to broadcast sports programs.

Founded by John Rooke, a veteran broadcaster with 25 years of experience, RISportsNet will provide coverage of eighteen or more men’s and women’s basketball games. (A complete schedule of future broadcasts is attached.)

To hear the games, listeners simply turn on their computer and type in www.RISportsNet.com and click on Community College of Rhode Island.

Louis Pullano, CCRI athletic director, said, “This affiliation with RISportsNet brings our sports programs to a new level and allows more people locally, nationally and internationally to learn more about the community college and its athletic and academic programs. Our student athletes are excited about the upcoming broadcasts.”

John Rooke said RISportsNet is an exciting opportunity created by the “new media.” “CCRI will be utilizing the full services of RISportsNet including, a professional announcer, coach and player interviews and both commercial and college announcements,” Rooke said. “A listener will get everything found in a normal radio sports broadcast, except it’s through a computer.”

The play by play duties will be handled by Nick Cattles, a URI graduate and East Providence native, who did play for play for URI men’s and women’s basketball on WRIU, the college radio station, and also served as sports director.

In addition to creating a series of promotional announcements on college programs and services to be heard throughout the games, athletic officials are also reaching out to local businesses and alumni for paid commercial messages.

Schedule of Games

The proposed dates and games are listed as follows: (All games are at the Knight Campus Warwick R.I.)

Saturday 11/20/04
CCRI Women vs. Lackawanna, CC (PA) Women – 1pm
CCRI Men vs. Essex, CC (NJ) Men – 3pm

Sunday 12/5/04
CCRI Women vs. Globe Institute, (NY) Women – 1pm
CCRI Men vs. Globe Institute, (NY) Men – 3pm

Sunday 12/12/04
CCRI Women vs. Genesee, CC (NY) Women – 1pm
CCRI Men vs. Genesee, CC (NY) Men – 3pm

Thursday 1/13/05
CCRI Women vs. Southern Maine Tech – 1pm
CCRI Men vs. Southern Maine Tech – 3pm

Saturday 1/15/05
Winter Homecoming
CCRI Women vs. Mercer, CC (NJ) – 1pm Semi Finals
CCRI Men vs. Mercer, CC (NJ) - 3pm Semi Finals

Sunday 1/16/05
Winter Homecoming Finals
Women -TBA
Men - TBA

Thursday 2/03/05
CCRI Women vs. Dean College Women – 6pm
CCRI Men vs. Dean College Men – 8pm

Saturday 3/5/05
Region XXI Men’s Semi-Finals – TBA
Region XXI Men’s Semi-Finals – TBA

Sunday 3/6/05
Region XXI Men’s Finals – TBA
North East District Championship – Women – TBA

Saturday 3/12/05
North East District Championship– Men
(Tentative Date if CCRI Wins)

October 2004

Create your own jewelry

The MJSA Jewelry Academy at the Community College of Rhode Island Knight Campus offers four introductory courses to jewelry making, just in time for holiday gift giving. At the completion of each class, students will have designed and crafted an individualized piece of jewelry.

Classes include Introduction to Bead Stringing and Design, offered Tuesday, Oct. 26, and repeated on Thursday, Nov. 4; Introduction to Gluing Jewelry Stones, offered Thursday, Oct. 28 and repeated on Wednesday, Nov. 10; Introduction to Pearl Stringing and Design, offered Wednesday, Nov. 3; and Introduction to Chain Making and Design, offered Tuesday, Nov. 9. Classes cost $49 each and are offered evenings from 6 to 9 p.m. at the CCRI Integrated Manufacturing Center at the Knight Campus, 400 East Avenue, Warwick.

To register, call the Manufacturing Jewelers & Suppliers of America at (401) 274-3840, ext. 3028.

CCRI and the Pi Omicron Chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa Society will host a talk by Yehuda Lev

The Community College of Rhode Island and the Pi Omicron Chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa Society will host a talk by Yehuda Lev, entitled "Jewish Neighbors in a Gentile Nation," at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 3 at the CCRI Liston Campus, Providence. Lev will explore identity issues affecting the two percent of the population who are Jewish Americans, and discuss ways for them to survive as a community in the modern world.

Born in the United States, Lev worked with Holocaust survivors in Europe until 1948 before moving to Israel as a volunteer for the Haganah. He served in the War of Independence and then made his home in Jerusalem where he was a journalist with the Israel State Radio and other news media before returning to this country in 1965. Lev lived in Los Angeles for many years where he was an editor of the Los Angeles Jewish Journal. He moved to Providence 11 years ago when he retired. He writes a column, "A Majority of One", commenting on Jewish matters, in each issue of the Rhode Island Jewish Voice & Herald and teaches Elderhostel courses on Israel and American Jewry.
This event is free and open to the public and intended for a general audience.

Learn how Emotional Intelligence, can affect learning and motivation

Rhode Island’s human resource and training community is invited to a free preview presentation of Emotional Intelligence – the Spice of Life, a professional development program run by the Community College of Rhode Island, on Friday, Nov. 5, from 8:30 am to noon at the CCRI Liston Campus in Providence.

Learn how Emotional Intelligence, or EQ, can affect learning and motivation among your employees, and how it can create optimal results in both professional and personal relationships.

This preview is part of the First Friday monthly series of free professional and organizational development events. For more information, contact the CCRI Institute for Leadership and Organizational Development at (401) 455-6188.

Knight Campus in Warwick serves as the site for an informal political forum

The Community College of Rhode Island Knight Campus in Warwick serves as the site for an informal political forum, Tuesday, Oct. 19 from noon to 2 p.m. in room 1134. This student-led event aims to provide impartial information about both the Democrat and Republican party platforms, and includes a question and answer session. The forum is sponsored by the CCRI French & German Club, Artful Afternoon Club, and Students for Global Awareness Club. For more information, contact the English Dept. at (401) 825-2263

September 2004

CCRI professors receive NISOD teaching awards

Community College of Rhode Island educators JoAnn Warren (assistant professor, business), Kimberly Crealey-Rouillier (chair, rehabilitative health; program director, physical therapy assistant program) and Luis Malaret (associate professor, biology) received excellence in teaching awards this fall from the National Institute for Staff and Occupational Development (NISOD).

Local CCRI Student to Serve on Board of Governors

Community College of Rhode Island student Paula Arruda of Coventry was recently appointed to serve as student representative to the Board of Governors for Higher Education. She will take on the critical role of being the voice for her fellow students from not only CCRI, but the University of Rhode Island and Rhode Island College as well. Student representatives are chosen from each of the three state institutions of higher education on a rotating basis.

“I am excited to take on this role,” says Arruda. “It’s important that students have a means of communicating their perspective to the Board, and equally important that the student body be informed of what is going on at the Board level.”

Arruda, 23, is majoring in general studies and concentrates her coursework in the area of social work. As a single mother to her two-year old daughter, she says she has learned the value of her education. Arruda started at CCRI in 2000, shortly after graduating from Coventry High School. She struggled to find focus for her studies at that time, and postponed her studies. She says that when she became a parent, she realized that pursuit of an education was “absolutely the best route to a better future” for both herself and her daughter.

In addition to her responsibilities as a student and a mother, Arruda works diligently with the Access to Opportunity program at CCRI. Program director Tracy Karasinski says, “Paula is a tremendously dedicated student and a wonderful employee.” Arruda became acquainted with the Access program as an eligible student who chose to make use of the support services available to her.

“Access to Opportunity gave me an excellent start, and now as a mentor and peer tutor I am ready and able to give back,” says Arruda. She plans to transfer to URI, where she will study psychology or human development, after completing her CCRI Associate’s degree in Spring 2005.

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.

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Paula Arruda works in the Access to Opportunity office at CCRI’s Warwick campus while Program Director Tracy Karasinski looks on.

Dental cleaning for just $10 at the Community College of Rhode Island

Get a thorough and professionally supervised dental cleaning for just $10 at the Community College of Rhode Island’s newly renovated Dental Hygiene Clinic, Room 1120 at the CCRI Flanagan Campus, 1762 Louisquisset Pike, Lincoln. Potential patients may call (401) 333-7250 to schedule a cleaning appointment.

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.

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, director of the CCRI Dental Hygiene Program.

The CCRI Dental Hygiene Program is the only dental hygiene program based in Rhode Island. Recently, the clinic underwent a $400,000 renovation that included 18 new dental units and the cabinetry to support them, as well as new radiography and sterilization equipment.

The Community College of Rhode Island, New England’s largest community college, has full-service campuses in Warwick, Lincoln and Providence, and operates satellites in both Newport and Westerly. A fourth campus in Newport is under construction and scheduled to open in 2005. The college currently enrolls more than 16,000 students in credit courses and thousands more in non-credit and job training classes

Recent CCRI grads provide promising job and education statistics

In its 2004 Career Placement and Graduate Transfer Report, the Community College of Rhode Island announced that six months after graduation, 94 percent of its recent graduates were employed, pursuing additional higher education, or some combination of the two.

The CCRI Office of Institutional Research surveyed the 1,315 members of the class of 2003 as to their employment, job title, salary and continuing education status. More than 79 percent responded, with the following results:

• 44.8 percent were employed full-time.
• 10.6 percent were employed full-time and enrolled in higher education part-time.
• 11.3 percent were employed part-time.
• 20.7 percent were enrolled in higher education full-time and employed part-time.
• 7.0 percent were enrolled in higher education full-time.
• 3.4 percent were currently seeking employment.
• 2.2 percent were unavailable for employment.

“The results of this year’s Career Placement and Graduate Transfer Report prove once more that CCRI does an excellent job preparing students for further education and highly skilled jobs,” says CCRI President Thomas D. Sepe, noting that the education and employment statistics have consistently surpassed the 90th percentile for the past 18 years. “From nurses to computer technicians, accountants to social workers, the talent CCRI produces and supplies to the workforce makes a huge impact on Rhode Island’s economy.”

Other data in the report underscores CCRI’s distinctly local impact. The vast majority of recent CCRI graduates are pursuing their careers and/or bachelor’s degrees in Rhode Island. Of the 2003 graduates who enrolled in higher education on a full-time basis, 87.2 percent of them were studying in Rhode Island colleges and universities. Similarly, of their classmates employed after graduation, 84.3 percent were working in Rhode Island.

For those CCRI graduates entering the workforce, nursing jobs were the most popular, with an average salary of $45,184/year right out of college. Other popular majors included Liberal Arts (average salary $30,003/year ), Business Administration (average salary $36,891/year), Criminal Justice & Legal Studies (average salary $32,317/year), Human Services (average salary $25,240/year), and Computer Studies (average salary $43,085/year).

Of the 1,315 CCRI graduates queried for the report, 1,157 earned associate degrees and 148 earned certificates and diplomas.

The Community College of Rhode Island, New England’s largest community college, has full-service campuses in Warwick, Lincoln and Providence, and operates satellites in both Newport and Westerly. A fourth campus in Newport is under construction and scheduled to open in 2005. The college currently enrolls more than 16,000 students in credit courses and thousands more in non-credit and job training classes.

The Deadly Consequences of Drunk Driving

The Deadly Consequences of Drunk Driving, a three-part video series detailing the death of Narragansett resident Katie DeCubellis, will soon become an official component in all driver education classes available through the Community College of Rhode Island.

In October 1999, Katie DeCubellis died at age 13 when the car in which she was riding was broadsided by another car traveling more than 85 mph. The blood alcohol level of the speeding driver registered at nearly twice the legal limit. Marsha Bowman, the mother of Katie’s best friend, was also killed in the crash.

At 9 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2004, more than 50 driver education instructors throughout the state will gather at the Community College of Rhode Island Knight Campus to hear John DeCubellis, the father of the late Katie DeCubellis, discuss his daughter’s story and the video that he hopes will help prevent a similar tragedy.

Created earlier this year by the Two Sisters’ Production Company of Cranston, The Deadly Consequences of Drunk Driving incorporates real interviews, home movies, news clips, even the eulogy at Katie’s funeral, into three 20-minute videos: “The Crash,” “Left Behind,” and “Choices.” All three were created with input from an advisory committee that included educators, driving instructors, and emergency room personnel, according to DeCubellis. And, each video is accompanied with an educational guide that offers teaching strategies and discussion topics.

It was the video’s emotional impact, coupled with its strong educational component, that impressed CCRI Director of Community Education Emilio Colantonio enough to incorporate it into all of the driver education classes in the state. “We have to do everything we can to reduce the risk of a teen under the influence of alcohol sitting in the driver’s seat,” he says.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 55 percent of automobile-related fatalities in Rhode Island over the last two years involved alcohol. Nationally, nearly 30 percent of Americans will be involved in an alcohol-related crash at some time in their lives, according to the NHTSA.

Beginning later this fall, the Katie DeCubellis Foundation, with additional funding from Ocean State Job Lot, will distribute complimentary copies of The Deadly Consequences of Drunk Driving to all public and private high schools in Rhode Island, as well as to all of the state’s colleges and universities. The video set ordinarily retails for $99.

Over the past three years, John DeCubellis and his wife Meg have met with more than 30,000 students and parents in the region to discuss drunk driving and to remember their daughter. “We are reliving the entire thing every time we speak to the public,” says John, who notes that had things been different, his older daughter would have turned 18 this month.

“If what we can do can reach one person and convince them to make a better decision, then Katie’s and Marsha’s deaths won’t be in vain,” he explains.

For more information on the Katie DeCubellis Memorial Foundation, visit www.kdmf.org. Video clips from The Deadly Consequences of Drunk Driving can be found on the production company’s Web site, www.twosistersproduction.com.

Since CCRI took over the driver education program last October, it has supplied training to nearly 9,000 young drivers in the state. Available driver education courses as well as registration information are available at the Community College of Rhode Island Web site at www.ccri.edu.

Donating Life: A Multicultural Perspective

In an effort to encourage more minorities to consider organ donation, the New England Organ Bank will hold the informational session, “Donating Life: A Multicultural Perspective,” at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 22 at the Community College of Rhode Island Liston Campus, One Hilton Street, Providence.
Offering testimonials at the event will be 28-year-old Janice Velez of Woonsocket, a Latino who has received kidney and pancreas transplants; and Noy Namsavan of Woonsocket, a Laotian immigrant who donated a kidney to her son Tiger. Also speaking about organ donation and the transplant process is Paul Morrissey, M.D., a transplant surgeon at Rhode Island Hospital

Janice Velez received her first transplanted kidney from her then-boyfriend/now-husband Evilio Matos in 1998. When her body rejected this kidney, she received another donated by her sister in 2002. In 2003, Velez also received a pancreas from a deceased donor.

“My transplants totally changed my life. I went from being so sick and negative to now being healthy and more positive about life,” she says. Now Velez hopes to save other lives; she is currently enrolled in an EMT course at the CCRI Lincoln campus.

Noy Namsavan’s son, Tiger, was born with kidney problems that affected his eating, to the point where he required a feeding tube. In 2002, when the boy turned 3, his doctors determined he needed a transplant. After learning that her kidneys were compatible with her son, Namsavan decided to become a living donor.

After the surgery, she says, “Tiger was walking and running. He was not a sick kid anymore.” She adds that her son, now 5, enjoys showing off his surgery scar, proclaiming, ‘This is my mom’s kidney.’

Minorities account for nearly half of the more than 86,000 people in the United States awaiting a transplant, according to the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network. Some diseases that require transplants in their treatment have a higher incidence rate among minorities. For example, African Americans are three times more likely to suffer from end-stage renal disease than Whites, according to the Coalition on Donation.

With organ donations in short supply, the statistics are daunting. Every 13 minutes, a new name is placed on the national waiting list, according to the New England Organ Bank. And every day, approximately 17 people die while awaiting organ transplants.

Today in New England, approximately 3,800 patients are awaiting organ transplants. With the current shortage of organ donations, a person listed for a kidney could wait three to four years before an organ becomes available.

While the heritages of the donor and of the recipient do not have to match for a transplant to take place, transplant success rates do increase when organs are matched between members of the same ethnic and racial groups. This is particularly true for kidney and bone marrow donations.

Karen Franko, community education coordinator at the New England Organ Bank, says that the CCRI Liston Campus is the ideal place to hold a minority donation awareness event because the campus serves a diverse student population, approximately 40 percent of whom are minorities. She also notes that CCRI offers many nursing, allied heath and human services courses, as well as a Renal Dialysis technology certificate.

The New England Organ Bank is the oldest independent organ bank in the country, is the federally-designated organ procurement organization (OPO) for all or part of the six New England states, and serves 12 transplant centers in the region.

Media Contacts: CCRI Public Relations Officer Laura Hart at 825-1175 or 623-1101 (cell); also NEOB Director of Education Sean Fitzpatrick at (800) 446-6362

CCRI Hires Michael Poindexter as New Vice President for Student Affairs

The Community College of Rhode Island has hired Michael Poindexter, a 29-year veteran of higher education, to serve as the vice president for student affairs. At CCRI, Poindexter oversees the areas of enrollment management, academic assessment, admissions, records, financial aid, advising and counseling, career placement, service learning, student discipline, athletics and federally-funded student support programs.

“The key question for my area is, ‘How do we help students be successful?’” says Poindexter. He adds that the diverse cultures, life experiences and learning styles of CCRI students—who range in age from 18 to 80—require the college to provide top-notch advising and student services.

For the past 12 years, Poindexter has overseen student services and enrollment at Kingsborough Community College in New York and at the Community College of Denver. Under Poindexter’s tenure, Kingsborough achieved an outstanding success rate in the area of student retention, with more than 70 percent of graduates choosing to continue their studies and earn baccalaureate degrees. Similarly, Poindexter’s leadership helped improve the retention rate at his previous post at the Community College of Denver by 30 percent.

Most recently, he has served as an advisor to the Lumina Foundation’s student success initiative, Achieving the Dream, and as a consultant for the educational consulting company, Noel Levitz.

Poindexter holds a master’s degree in education and college student personnel services from the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls. He began his academic career at Forest Park Community College in St. Louis and received his bachelor of arts degree from Creighton University in Omaha.

August 2004

CCRI Fall Classic Set To Tee Off September 27

WARWICK, R.I., AUGUST 23, 2004: Additional golfers and sponsors are sought for the 10th annual CCRI Fall Golf Classic to be held Monday, September 27, 2004 at the Metacomet Country Club in East Providence.

The CCRI Fall Golf Classic is the principal fund-raising vehicle for the Raymond A. Ferland Student Assistance Fund, a revolving fund that has awarded more than $100,000 over the years to needy students, helping them with tuition, fees and books, and in some cases, child care and medical care. “The funds generated by this tournament have helped ease the financial burden for many deserving students,” said Ferland, a retired CCRI professor and administrator.

The classic is a scramble format, with all golfers teeing off at 12:30 p.m. The cost for an individual golfer is $175 and sponsorships levels range from $5,000 to $100. All golfers receive gifts, 18 holes of golf with cart, and dinner following the tournament. Golfers may also attend a pre-event luncheon at 11 a.m. Sponsors receive additional benefits through signage and advertising.

The Metacomet Country Club is described as a typical Donald Ross design that features well-manicured fairways. The fast greens are very contoured, and the tree-lined fairways are somewhat open.

To register or for more information, contact Linda Manish at CCRI at (401) 825-2179.

Now in its 40th year, the Community College of Rhode Island has nearly 50,000 alumni throughout the country, with the majority located in Southeastern New England. Through its three main campuses and several satellites, CCRI provides credit courses to more than 16,000 annually, and offers non-credit training and enrichment courses to thousands more. For more information on the college, visit www.ccri.edu.

CCRI and Manufacturing Jewelers and Suppliers of America (MJSA) will host a grand opening of the MJSA Jewelry Academy

The Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) and Manufacturing Jewelers and Suppliers of America (MJSA) will host a grand opening of the MJSA Jewelry Academy on Thursday, Aug. 26, 2004. The event will take place at 2 p.m. at the CCRI Integrated Manufacturing Center at the Knight Campus in Warwick, Rhode Island.

The MJSA Jewelry Academy is a hands-on training facility that pools resources from the industry and the college—including its chemistry laboratory and its Computer Aided Drafting classrooms—to help area jewelry manufacturers train the next generation of skilled workers.

“MJSA’s Jewelry Academy will develop into a premier jewelry program operated by the industry for the industry,” said James F. Marquart, MJSA president/CEO. “The program will not only provide upgraded training for our current workforce but also attract individuals seeking a new profession.”

During the grand opening, several of the academy’s charter members will showcase examples of their products, demonstrate equipment, and provide displays of the jewelry manufacturing process. Charter members of the MJSA Jewelry Academy include B.A. Ballou & Co. of East Providence, Rhode Island; C&J Jewelry Co. Inc. of Providence, Rhode Island; E.A. Dion Inc. of Attleboro, Massachusetts; Herff Jones Inc. of Providence, Rhode Island; Stuller Inc. of Lafayette, Louisiana; and Swarovski North America Ltd. of Cranston, Rhode Island. Attendees will receive a tour of the facilities, as well as information on the MJSA Jewelry Academy curriculum.

This fall, the college plans to offer three 16-hour modules designed in conjunction with jewelry experts: Electroplating Training, Polishing and Mass Finishing, and Joining Metals by Soldering or Brazing. Additional training modules may be added as industry needs arise.

Richard Cardin, chairman of the CCRI Engineering and Technology Dept., explains, “CCRI is the ideal location for a customized training program in manufacturing. The college not only has seasoned faculty and relevant curricula among its resources, but it also houses its own Integrated Manufacturing Center.”

Revamped in 2003, the 7,000-square-foot Integrated Manufacturing Center includes such precision equipment as Computerized Numerical Control machines, Electric Discharge Machines, robotics, and plastics manufacturing machines.

The CCRI Division for Lifelong Learning, the college’s workforce training arm, will oversee the MJSA Jewelry Academy. The Division for Lifelong Learning has successfully responded to the training needs of a diverse clientele, including Electric Boat, Raytheon, Lifespan, Citizens Bank, CVS and Textron.

Many of Rhode Island’s jewelry manufacturers are pleased to see CCRI implement an industry-wide training program. Curtis Ley, president of B.A. Ballou & Co and MJSA Chairman., states, “Our industry is very mature in regards to its workforce. Opportunities like this for young people to come into the industry haven’t been promoted before. The academy is a great opportunity to create a pool of talent to be accessed by the whole jewelry industry.”

Alan Patrick, president of C & J Jewelry, agrees. “It’s been very difficult to get skilled work people for our business,” he says. “We need to grow our own.”

For more information on the MJSA Jewelry Academy, contact the CCRI Division for Lifelong Learning at (401) 825-2399 or MJSA at (401) 274-3840 x3041.

MJSA is a national jewelry trade association representing more than 1,750 members. MJSA’s mission is to unite and empower our members to advance the jewelry manufacturing industry through government affairs, trade shows, industry education, and meaningful member benefits. To learn more about MJSA and its international trade publication AJM Magazine, visit www.mjsainc.com and www.ajm-magazine.com.

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. CCRI operates main campuses in Warwick, Lincoln and Providence, as well as satellite campuses in Westerly, Newport, Downcity and Quonset. A new full-service campus in Newport is currently under construction and expected to open in spring 2005.

CCRI to hire additional nursing faculty

Through the passage of the 2004-05 state budget, the Community College of Rhode Island has gained six new full-time nursing faculty positions (FTEs) to accommodate the growing interest in health care careers in Rhode Island. These additional faculty members will allow the college to boost its first-year nursing classes from a current enrollment of 250 students to approximately 300 in Fall 2004.

Job seekers’ renewed interest in nursing and other health careers can be attributed to many factors, according to CCRI Dean of Health and Rehabilitative Sciences Maureen McGarry. One factor is the availability of jobs in the health care field. The Rhode Island Dept. of Labor and Training reports that the field of Health Care and Social Assistance has created the largest percentage of new jobs in Rhode Island, and has added nearly 15,000 jobs to the area since 1992.

Incentives from health care providers have also fueled the demand for training, with many companies offering tuition benefits or reimbursements to employees who pursue further education.

Lastly, McGarry says that recruitment efforts by area organizations such as Colleagues in Caring and the Health Partnership Council, launched to combat the shortage of nursing and health care workers, have raised awareness among high school students and other job seekers.

The Hospital Association of Rhode Island (HARI) states that the number of applications to Rhode Island nursing schools increased by 71 percent between 2001 and 2003. Yet, HARI reports, the number of students actually enrolled in these programs grew only 48 percent.

This year, the wait list for admission to the CCRI program has grown to more than 700 students. This has translated to a three-semester wait for many qualified candidates.

“It has been frustrating to hear the accounts of students who say they need to move forward and want to achieve their goals, but cannot because they are still on the waiting list,” McGarry says

At CCRI, nursing is a two-year program with two educational pathways. During their first year of full-time study, students complete the practical nursing program, and may take the licensed practical nurse (LPN) licensure exam. Those who successfully complete the two-year curriculum receive an associate of science degree, and may take the registered nurse (RN) licensure exam.

The new FTEs will only bolster the first-year program. To continue to serve a larger student body for the second year of the program, additional FTEs would have to be approved in the 2005-06 budget.

Both Rhode Island College and the University of Rhode Island were also allotted additional nursing faculty positions, with URI garnering four new FTEs and RIC receiving three.

HARI President Edward J. Quinlan says, “The additional faculty positions show that the General Assembly recognizes the importance of nursing in Rhode Island. It will help us immeasurably in our response to the increased interest in health care careers.”

CCRI President Thomas D. Sepe adds, “When you invest in the CCRI nursing program, you create more qualified acute care and long-term care nurses to fill job vacancies, and the whole Rhode Island community benefits. At a time when the nation is faced with a critical nursing shortage, it is imperative that educational institutions such as CCRI are able to step forward and supply the career training that industry needs and demands. That is integral to our mission as a community college.”

Currently, all Rhode Island public higher educational institutions are subject to FTE caps that limit the number of new hires. Moreover, moving FTEs from another department to the nursing department represents another set of difficulties. Because nursing is such a cost-intensive program to run, CCRI would in effect lose revenue if it moved FTEs from a less cost-intensive department to the nursing department.

July 2004

CCRI Employee Completes International Summer Institute

Leigh A. Martin of Cumberland, writing center director at CCRI’s Flanagan Campus, recently completed the International Writing Centers Association Summer Institute held at Clark University in Worcester, MA. The intensive week-long course of study explored theoretical, practical and political elements of writing center work through presentations, discussions, mentoring, and fun with writing center directors and professionals from around the world.

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 Offers Microsoft Project Classes This Fall

The Community College of Rhode Island is offering the opportunity to learn a skill in high demand by most companies, and applicable to any size business or major home project. This one-credit, five-week class teaches the basics of this new project management software. Whether you might be involved in installing a network, implementing a training program, developing a software project, publishing a newsletter, starting a new business or building or renovating a home, Microsoft Project can be used to help with any of your projects. MS Project helps you to plan steps from inception to completion, share information, manage budgets, track progress and project results.

Classes are currently enrolling for this fall, both at the Warwick campus from September 9 – October 7 and in a convenient on-line format from October 12 to November 16. For more information or to enroll, students should visit www.ccri.edu or call 825-2003.

The Community College of Rhode Island, New England’s largest community college, has campuses in Warwick, Providence and Lincoln, with its newest campus under construction in Newport opening in Spring 2005. Currently CCRI enrolls more than 16,000 students in credit courses and thousands more in non-credit and job training classes.

CCRI announces fall driver education classes

The Community College of Rhode Island is currently enrolling students for fall driver education classes.

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 $65. Checks, money orders and credit cards are accepted. Students may register online any time through the college’s Web site at www.ccri.edu; by mail at CCRI Driver Education, 1762 Louisquisset Pike, Lincoln, RI 02865; by fax at 333-7237; or in person during designated hours at the Lifelong Learning offices on the three main CCRI campuses. In-person registration for Driver Education takes place Mondays-Thursdays, 3-7 p.m. and Saturdays 9 a.m.-12 noon at the Warwick and Lincoln campuses. In person registration also takes place at the CCRI Providence campus, Mondays-Fridays, 1-5 p.m. Registration forms are available online or at all CCRI Lifelong Learning offices. All registration is done through CCRI. Instructors cannot accept registrations. For more information, call (401) 825 - 2182.

Meeting days and times vary with each location. Classes may be added through the semester dependent on community interest. For the most up-to-date schedules and availability information, visit the CCRI Web site at www.ccri.edu.

Barrington: Barrington High School, Sept. 20-Oct. 4

Central Falls: Central Falls High School, Sept. 20- Oct. 19

East Greenwich: East Greenwich High School, Sept. 2-30 or Oct. 21-Nov. 18

Lincoln: Davies Career and Technical School, Sept. 14-Oct. 6 or Oct. 13-Nov. 9

Middletown: Middletown High School, Sept. 14-Oct. 12

North Kingstown: North Kingstown High School, Sept. 2-30 or Oct. 4-28

North Smithfield: North Smithfield High School, Sept. 14-29

Portsmouth: Portsmouth High School, Oct. 18-Nov. 12

Providence: Central High School, Sept. 13-Oct. 28

Providence Academy of International Studies, Sept. 8-29

Smithfield: Armory, Sept 2-30

Smithfield High School, Sept. 20-Oct. 20

South Kingstown: Neighborhood Guild, Sept. 13-Oct. 20 or Oct. 25-Dec. 1

Westerly: Westerly High School, Oct. 4-28

Raytheon gives generous contribution to the CCRI Newport County campus

After viewing the progress at the new Community College of Rhode Island campus under construction in Newport’s North End, CCRI President Thomas D. Sepe (left) offered his thanks to Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems President Dan Smith (right) for the company’s gift of $35,000.

“Raytheon’s generous contribution to the CCRI Newport County campus represents a leadership gift among area businesses,” said Sepe.

Sepe added that CCRI has a history of collaborating with Raytheon on leadership and technical training. “Educational partnerships like the one CCRI shares with Raytheon are critical to creating a skilled workforce and growing our economy, both in the East Bay and throughout Rhode Island.”

This latest gift moves the college one third of the way toward its comprehensive campaign goal of $1 million. Co-chaired by Newport Mayor Richard Sardella, Newport Hospital President and CEO Arthur Sampson, and Raytheon Vice President Rick Buchanan, the fund-raising campaign is centered on outfitting the new campus with state-of-the-art technology and equipment.

Part of a four-campus community college system, the Newport County campus will serve as a resource for the entire East Bay when the campus becomes operational in 2005.

June 2004

CCRI Students Win Gold at SkillsUSA National Championships

Two Community College of Rhode Island students recently won top honors at the national level in a competition hosted by SkillsUSA. Dorothy Leon of Johnston took the coveted gold in the Nurse Assisting competition, while Melkon Megerdichian of Cranston came away with first place in Action Skills for his demonstration of CPR. Both Leon and Megerdichian are nursing students at CCRI.
SkillsUSA is a national organization for students in secondary and post-secondary career and technical education. The SkillsUSA partnership among students, educators and industry is dedicated to preparing today’s students to be tomorrow’s skilled workforce and leaders. Established in 1965, SkillsUSA has nearly 300,000 members nationwide; the Rhode Island chapter was established in 1976 and is the largest career and technical student organization in the state, boasting almost 5000 members.

CCRI Students Inducted into National Honor Society

Forty-three new members were recently inducted into the Community College of Rhode Island’s chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, a national honor society. To be invited to be a member of Phi Theta Kappa, students must have at least a 3.75 average and have completed between 24 and 48 credits. There are currently over 200 members in CCRI's chapter, Pi Omicron.

New inductees are:

Steven M. Abatiello, Rumford Kimberly A. Hurst, Norton, MA

Steven J. Amaral, Portsmouth Deborah F. Kelleher, Charlestown

Kristin A. Beaudry, Coventry Jenay A. Martignetti, Wrentham, MA

Angela M. Bothwell, E. Greenwich Brenda L. McGlynn, Franklin, MA

Ashley M. Firth, W. Warwick Kathryn O. McNamara, Portsmouth

Elaine D. Boyer, Coventry Jennifer L. Mieczkowski, Coventry

Lorene L. Chippo, Woonsocket Wendy E. Moretta, Bradford

Kimberly F. Claxton, E. Providence Stacy L. Naragon, Norwich, CT

Joseph D. Curci, Warwick Gregory J. Paquin, N. Kingstown

Christopher T. Denelle, Seekonk, MA Jennifer R. Passarella, Cranston

Lisa M. Dorval, Pawtucket Ryan A. Presbrey, Pascoag

Jody Draine, Pawtucket Jennifer J. Prew, Barrington

Sandy P. Ellinwood, Ashaway Jamie A. Richardson, Cumberland

Pamela A. Fayntz, North Smithfield Deborah A. Saillant, Cumberland

Michelle R. Fecteau, W. Warwick Cheryl A. Saucier, Coventry

Susana M. Figueiredo, W. Warwick Liane M. Scherza, Cranston

Angela M. Fournier, North Smithfield Cheryl A. Sulyma-Masson, Rehoboth

Beni T. Gonsalves, N. Kingstown Stephanie M. Sylvester, N. Prov.

Leslie E. Good, Pawtucket Justine Tate, Middletown

Jessica M. Goyette, N. Providence Donna S. Tibedo, Uxbridge, MA

John A. Greene, III, E. Providence

Michael R. Handy, Woonsocket

Danielle L. Henry, North Smithfield

CCRI announces Dean’s List for Spring 2004 semester

Community College of Rhode Island announces that the following students have been named to the Dean’s List for the Spring 2004 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 795 students were awarded this status for the semester.

Full listing of Dean's List (Only in PDF format)

The CCRI Alumni Association holds its annual Golf Outing

The Community College of Rhode Island Alumni Association holds its annual Golf Outing, Monday, June 21 at the Cranston Country Club, 69 Burlingame Road. A shotgun tee off begins at 8:30 a.m. Alumni and the general public are welcome to attend. Entry fees are $90 per golfer and include lunch after the event. All proceeds from the day benefit the CCRI Alumni Association.

Certificates are given for best ladies’ foursome, best men’s foursome and best mixed foursome. In addition, CCRI will also hold a raffle at the event, with prizes that include gift certificates to such area merchants as Salon 611 Image Center and the Grille on Main Street.

To register, contact the CCRI Alumni Association at (401) 331-7150.

Now in its 40th year, the Community College of Rhode Island has nearly 50,000 alumni throughout the country, with the majority located in Southeastern New England. Through its three main campuses and several satellites, CCRI provides credit courses to more than 16,000 students annually, and offers non-credit training and enrichment courses to thousands more. For more information on the college, visit http//:www.ccri.edu.

May 2004

CCRI alumni invited to march with Class of 2004

The Community College of Rhode Island invites any interested alumni to march in the college’s 39^th commencement ceremonies, Friday, May 21, at the Knight Campus in Warwick.

At last year’s commencement, several alumni with ties to the college or its graduating class donned robes and processed to Pomp and Circumstanceincluding the aunt and grandmother of one of the new graduates.
“Marching gives our alumni a chance to reconnect with their classmates and to celebrate with the latest graduates,” says Marisa Albini, director of alumni affairs at the college. Albini adds that alumni celebrating their classes’ significant reunion milestones-five year, ten year, etc.-are encouraged to attend.

The Community College of Rhode Island counts more than 48,000 graduates among its alumni, the majority of whom still live in Rhode Island and Southeastern New England.

To arrange to march, call the Alumni Affairs office at (401) 333-7150.

April 2004

Moore Named to Position at CCRI

Dennis W. Moore of Cranston has been named assistant to the

president and director of public relations and publications at the
Community College of Rhode Island.

As a member of the College’s senior management team, Moore has leadership responsibility for developing and overseeing policies and practices in the areas of public relations, publications, government relations, advertising, marketing communications, and community visibility. Moore also provides counsel to the Office of the President in supporting the College’s presence, image and influence with broad public and internal constituencies.

Thomas D. Sepe, president of CCRI, said, “We are very pleased to have Dennis join the team at the community college. With his diverse background, we look forward to his leadership in the exciting and challenging times ahead.”

With more than 30 years of experience in public relations, communications and community affairs, Moore brings a great deal of knowledge and expertise to the college.

Most recently, Moore was the director of public relations for Moore Media, Inc., where he developed communications, marketing and public relations programs for a variety of profit and not-for-profit companies, including Cox Business Services, Inskip Auto Center and L’Oreal.

From 2000 to 2003, Moore was vice president of public relations & development at Roger Williams Medical Center in Providence, and was director of corporate relations for BankBoston from 1985 to 2000. He began his notable communications career as the news director for Armed Forces Radio & Television in Panama while serving in the U.S. Army.

Moore studied at the Powers School of Radio, Television and Theater in Boston and the Department of Defense Information School in Indianapolis, IN. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from Bryant College.

Active in many community organizations, Moore serves as a board member of the Woonsocket Industrial Development Commission, the Odeum Theatre, and the Arts & Business Council of Rhode Island. He is a member of the Community Advisory Committee for Sovereign Bank, the Public Relations Society of America, and the Marketing Committee of the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce.

Moore is also serving as the 2004 corporate walk chair for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Light the Night Walk.

CCRI announces $1 million capital campaign

At a luncheon held on the site of the future Newport County Campus, the Community College of Rhode Island announced a $1 million comprehensive campaign to provide up-to-date technology and furnishings for the new campus.

Among the funds already raised for the campaign by the college’s charitable institution, the CCRI Foundation, are a $100,000 gift from Bank Newport, a $30,000 gift from the Stride Foundation, a $25,000 gift from Amica corporation, a $25,000 gift from NewportFed and a $25,000 gift from People’s Credit Union.
The three co-chairpersons of the campaign are Newport Mayor Richard Sardella, Newport Hospital President and CEO Arthur Sampson, and Raytheon Vice President Richard Buchanan.

Honorary chair for the campaign is the Honorable Claiborne Pell, former U.S. senator from Rhode Island. Among the senator’s many accomplishments during his 36 years as a public servant is the creation of Federal Pell Grant program that offers financial assistance to students pursuing associate and bachelor degrees.

While a $10.9 million bond passed in 2000 financed the campus’s construction (with an additional $1.5 million allotted by the state legislature last summer), money has not been allocated to outfit the campus with the furniture and technological hardware necessary to make the campus operational. The campus is slated to open in 2005.

Mayor Sardella explained, “When the bond passed, it included only the bare necessities. Since that time, technology has changed and the needs of the students have changed.” Citing the Thompson Middle School campaign, Sardella added that the local community has been very supportive of education in the past, and that he hopes for even greater business participation for the CCRI campaign.

Sampson has had some highly visible fundraising experience in the area, having recently completed a $16 million dollar campaign for Newport Hospital. Rather than considering it a conflict to raise funds for another local institution, Sampson considers it a necessity in the current health care climate. “Selfishly, the students are CCRI represent my future workforce. I need nurses. I need rehabilitative health workers. The Community College of Rhode Island can provide local people with the right set of skills. This makes economic sense,” he said. Currently, more than 600 students are enrolled in classes held at Newport Hospital, which serves as an official CCRI satellite. In fall 2001, when CCRI was faced with budget cuts that would have forced the closing of this satellite, Sampson was instrumental in brokering a deal whereby CCRI could waive its rent and pay only nominal costs until the new campus became operational.

Just as Sampson represents the educational needs of the health care industry, the third co-chairperson on the campaign, Raytheon’s Buchanan represents the educational needs of the area’s defense industry.
“Our three chairpersons—Mayor Sardella, Arthur Sampson, and Richard Buchanan—represent the diverse audiences on Aquidneck Island, from public service to non-profit institutions to the private sector,” said CCRI President Thomas D. Sepe. “They all have one thing in common, however: the need for quality education to propel the community and the local economy forward. By supporting CCRI, you are supporting your neighbors who can further their education and receive relevant job skills right in their own backyard. And, you are supporting every business in the area that relies on skilled workforce to succeed.”

Among the naming opportunities associated with the campaign are the 25-seat auditorium ($250,000), the campus’s student services wing ($50,000), the nursing lab ($25,000) and the 16 technologically “smart” classrooms ($20,000 each).

Additional members of the comprehensive campaign committee are: Thomas Brady of Brady Enterprises, Inc., William Corcoran of Newport Tent Company, Thomas Delaney of the Hyatt Regency Newport, David Gordon of the Newport School Committee, Ellen Ford of People’s Credit Union, Dr. Robert Healey, Marilyn Kaplan, Mary Jan MacLean of the Newport Public Education Fund, David Miller of SEACorp, Stephen Ostiguy of Church Community Housing Corporation, Leonard Panaggio, Jr., of Newport Harbor Corporation, Dr. Charles Shoemaker, and Charlotte Yeomans of Van Liew Trust Company. In addition to the campaign committee, CCRI has organized a 25-member citizen’s advisory committee and a 20-member education committee.

Among the programs to be offered at the Newport County Campus are Nursing; rehabilitative health programs such as Occupational Therapy Assistant, Physical Therapist Assistant and Therapeutic Massage; career programs such as Business and Accounting, Computer Technology, Criminal Justice, Hospitality/Culinary and Human Services; liberal arts programs such as Art, Biology, Chemistry, English, Foreign Languages, Math, Physics, Psychology and Social Sciences; and a variety of non-credit training, community service and personal enrichment courses.

More than 1,000 students from the East Bay—Barrington, Bristol, Jamestown, Little Compton, Middletown, Newport, Portsmouth, Tiverton and Warren—attend classes at either CCRI’s Newport satellite, located at Newport Hospital, or at one of the college’s main campuses in Warwick, Lincoln and Providence. However, while the statewide average of high school graduates enrolled in CCRI is 17 percent, the average of East Bay high school graduates enrolled at CCRI ranges between 5-15 percent, thereby demonstrating a compelling potential for growth. Sepe estimates the headcount enrollment for the Newport County Campus to climb to 2,000 after a single year of operation.

This latest capital project represents the realization of a 40-year-old plan by the RI General Assembly to create a four-location community college network—a network that will make higher education accessible to all Rhode Island residents. The Newport campus will be the fourth in a statewide network of community college campuses, including current CCRI locations in Warwick, Lincoln and Providence, and will be situated on land donated by the U.S. Navy.

Boating safety courses

Community College of Rhode Island will offer boating safety courses at its Warwick location this May. The seven-week safety program, geared to sailboat, powerboat and jet ski owners, cover such topics as navigation, radio procedures, piloting and seamanship. This course meets the state-mandated educational requirement for youthful operators of personal watercraft.

Participants can choose between two sections of Boating Safety at the Knight Campus in Warwick, either Wednesdays from 6:30 – 9 p.m. beginning May 19 or Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. – 12 noon beginning May 22. Cost for the program is $25. Participants may register in person at any Lifelong Learning Office on any CCRI campus or may mail a registration form which can be obtained at www.ccri.edu/lifelong/registrationinformation.shtml. For more information, call (401) 333-7070 in Lincoln.

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 Host Women in Technology Expo

WARWICK – The Community College of Rhode Island will host the 4th annual Women in Technology Expo on Friday, May 14 at the Warwick campus. Programs run from 8:30 to 2:30 and the free registration is open to the general public. The Expo will allow women and girls interested in a technical career to meet female role models from various technical fields, to talk with potential employers, to participate in hands-on demonstrations in CCRI laboratories and to find out about educational options.

Annette Tonti, founder and Chief Marketing Officer of Bluestreak, an advertising and marketing technology company, will kick off the day as keynote speaker. Tonti has extensive background in communications technology at organizations such as M.I.T., Vanguard and Computer Sciences Corporation.

Expo sponsors Cox Communications and Pfizer have given generous support in the planning of the Expo and will be on hand at the event. Attendees can participate in a live videoconference with Science Officer Mary Lynne Dickson aboard the Endeavor, the University of Rhode Island oceanographic research vessel. Fields of expertise covered include biotechnology, marine technology, Cisco networking, manufacturing, robotics, computer repair, web design, animation, process control, chemical technology and video conference communications.

To register, or for more information, interested individuals should go online to www.ccri.edu/WomenTech/index.shtml or call Sharon Hoffman at 825-2436. Lunch will be provided for pre-registered participants.

Virtual job shadow of dental careers to be first in U.S.

The Community College of Rhode Island, in collaboration with the Hospital Association of Rhode Island/Health Partnership Council (HARI/HPC) and the Rhode Island Dental Association, will use distance learning technology to broadcast the nation’s first virtual job shadow of dental careers at 8:30 am on Tuesday, April 27. The interactive broadcast, enabled by the RINET network, will originate at the CCRI Dental Hygiene Clinic, 1762 Louisquisset Pike, Lincoln, and feed into classrooms at Cranston East and Cranston West High Schools, Cranston Career & Technical School and Newport Career and Technical School.

Dentist Karyn Johnson, dental hygienist Rafael Sanchez (CCRI ‘01 ), dental assistant Pam Coletti and dental laboratory technician Ryan Napolitano will perform a teeth cleaning and exam on volunteer Robert Burrell of the CCRI Information Technology department. The four professionals, representing four different aspects of a dental team, will answer student questions as they work. A short video highlighting dental programs at CCRI will precede the live feed.

The Hospital Association began its virtual job shadow program in 2002 to encourage young people in Rhode Island to train for careers as medical professionals. “Healthcare is predicted to be the fastest growing occupation through 2006, according to the U.S. Dept. of Labor and Training. This program makes the connection between healthcare and education that is needed for a competitive and qualified workforce of tomorrow,” says HARI President Ed Quinlan.

Ruth Ricciarelli, director of workforce development at HARI, adds that the best way to encourage students to enter the healthcare fields is to catch them early in their high school careers, so that they have time to take the necessary courses to continue in the field. “I tell them, ‘You need to take the math and the science in high school if you want to go into health care,’” she says.

Overseen by director Kathleen Gazzola, the CCRI Dental Hygiene Clinic serves as more than an educational facility for the associate degree program’s 72 students. It also serves as a dental health provider to the community, offering teeth cleanings, dental x-rays, fluoride treatments and oral cancer screenings to 3,000 patients each year. Recently, the clinic underwent a $400,000 renovation that included 18 new dental units and the cabinetry to support them, as well as new radiography and sterilization equipment.

The clinic’s reasonable rates make dental care a reality for many Rhode Islanders who otherwise could not afford it. “A lot of people do not have dental insurance, so they come to us for their dental hygiene needs,” says Gazzola. Cost for a two-hour visit is only $10 per person.

The clinic forms an integral part of CCRI’s dental hygiene program, the only dental hygiene program in the state. Since its opening in 1988, the program has produced hygienists with stellar credentials. Not only have CCRI Dental Hygiene students historically 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, but they have also enjoyed a remarkable 100 percent job placement rate.

Located on the Flanagan Campus, the CCRI Dental Hygiene Clinic is open for appointments Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Certain procedures may require a patient to attend more than one appointment. However, patients are eligible for only one cleaning a year. To schedule an appointment, call the dental hygiene clinic at 333-7250.

CCRI Offers Lifeguard Training Classes

LINCOLN – The Community College of Rhode Island is offering lifeguard training and review sessions this spring. Those seeking to spend the summer soaking up sun while saving lives can take a short, intensive class at the Lincoln campus to prepare for lifeguard certification testing.

Two-week training classes will be held:

May 3 – May 14, Monday-Friday, 4 p.m. - 7 p.m.

May 17 – May 28, Monday-Friday, 4 p.m. - 7 p.m.

*Students registering for these classes must have taken the required pre-requisite, PHED 1410: Swimming II, or have permission from the instructor.

One-week review classes, ONLY for those with permission from the instructor and holding a current lifeguard certification, will be held:

May 24 – May 28, Monday-Friday, 7 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

For more information, or for the permissions listed above, interested individuals should call Kevin Salisbury 333-7324. Students may then register online at www.ccri.edu.

Sen. Teresa Paiva Weed to deliver CCRI commencement speech

Rhode Island State Senate Majority Leader M. Teresa Paiva Weed will serve as commencement speaker at the 39th commencement of the Community College of Rhode Island, Friday, May 21, 2003. The ceremony, held at the CCRI Knight Campus, 400 East Ave., Warwick, will begin at 5 p.m.

An estimated 1,300 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.

Delivering the charge to the graduates will be John Holmander, site manager at Electric Boat’s Quonset Point facility. In recent years, CCRI has held associate’s degree classes for Electric Boat employees at their Quonset Point workplace. This is the first year that students enrolled in the Electric Boat-based programapproximately 20will graduate and participate in a CCRI commencement.

Elected to the RI State Senator in 1992, Paiva Weed is the first woman in the state’s history to serve as Senate Majority Leader. Paiva Weed has been instrumental in passing the Family Independence Act and restructuring the Victim’s Compensation Fund.

The Community College of Rhode Island, New England’s largest community college, has campuses in Warwick, Providence and Lincoln, as well as satellite campuses in Newport and Westerly. A fourth full-service campus is currently under construction in Newport County, and is scheduled to open in 2005. Currently CCRI enrolls more than 16,000 students in credit courses and thousands more in non-credit and job training classes.

Kaiser and Rodgers to perform in faculty recital

Susan Rodgers	Community College of Rhode Island music dept. faculty Audrey Kaiser and Susan Rodgers will perform musical works from the Romantic Era through the 20th century at a free performance, Wednesday, April 28 at 12 noon in Room 0540 of the CCRI Knight Campus, 400 East Ave., Warwick. Rodgers, a contralto, and Kaiser, a pianist, team up to perform Frauenliebe und -leben, Op. 42 by Robert Schumann, as well as Schumann’s Widmung, Claude Debussy’s General Lavine, Heitor Villa-Lobos’s Impressoes Seresteiras and Fats Waller’s Honeysuckle Rose. A Rhode Island College alumna, Kaiser holds a doctor of musical arts degree from the University of Kentucky, and has toured the United States extensively in more than 50 musical theater productions. Also a RIC alumna, Rodgers holds a master’s degree from New England Conservatory in vocal pedagogy, and has sung leading roles with the Goldovsky Opera National Tour, the New York City Opera’s Education Department and the Pittsburg Opera Theater, among others. For more information on this performance, call the CCRI music dept. at (401) 825-2168. 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.


Audrey Kaiser

CCRI Dental Hygiene Clinic will celebrate with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday, April 13 at the Flanagan Campus in Lincoln.

The Community College of Rhode Island Dental Hygiene Clinic will celebrate its recently completed $400,000 renovation with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday, April 13 at 8:30 a.m. at the Flanagan Campus in Lincoln.

The clinic serves as more than an educational facility for the associate degree program’s 72 students. It also serves as a dental health provider to the community, offering teeth cleanings, dental x-rays, fluoride treatments and oral cancer screenings to 3,000 patients each year.

The renovation includes 18 new dental units and the cabinetry to support them, as well as new radiography and sterilization equipment. “Each unit is self-contained,” says Kathleen Gazzola. “When the students see their patients, everything that they need for patient care is stored within the unit, so they don’t have to move around the clinic.” Gazzola adds the new cabinetry maximizes patient privacy while maintaining an effective learning environment.

Funders for the project include the Champlin Foundation, Amica Insurance Corporation, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island, Hasbro and the Textron Charitable Foundation.

The clinic’s reasonable rates make dental care a reality for many Rhode Islanders who otherwise could not afford it. “A lot of people do not have dental insurance, so they come to us for their dental hygiene needs,” says Gazzola. Cost for a two-hour visit is only $10 per person.

The clinic forms an integral part of CCRI’s dental hygiene program, the only dental hygiene program in the state. Since its opening in 1988, the program has produced hygienists with stellar credentials. Not only have CCRI Dental Hygiene students historically 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, but they have also enjoyed a remarkable 100 percent job placement rate.

Located on the Flanagan Campus, the CCRI Dental Hygiene Clinic is open for appointments Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Certain procedures may require a patient to attend more than one appointment. However, patients are eligible for only one cleaning a year. To schedule an appointment, call the dental hygiene clinic at 333-7250.

Dental Hygiene Clinic offers low cost cleanings

Ribbon-cutting celebrates $6.6 million expansion and renovation of CCRI Providence campus

The Community College of Rhode Island will celebrate the $6.6 million expansion and renovation of its Providence-based Liston Campus at a ribbon-cutting ceremony, at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, April 20. Former CCRI student and Harvard Law School graduate Jorge Elorza will be the featured speaker, while students from participating local high schools will be among the invited guests.

“The new addition and renovations to the Providence campus will improve the overall educational experience for both its hardworking faculty and its growing student body,” says CCRI President Thomas D. Sepe, who notes that in its 15-year history, the campus has more than quadrupled its enrollment. “By expanding higher education opportunities for South Providence, the CCRI Liston Campus continues to play a critical role in the economic success of the area.”

The bond-funded 30,000-square-foot addition and the 20,000-square-foot renovation have managed to increase the Providence campus capacity of 2,000 students by one third. The expansion includes a new hard sciences laboratory, a criminology lab, a distance learning center and 10 technologically “smart” classrooms. The campus now provides expanded space for such allied health programs as phlebotomy, renal dialysis and Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Also, an additional 125 parking spaces have been added to the existing 200.

Among the renovations are the creation of a “One-Stop Center,” where students can enroll in courses, sit assessment tests and receive academic counseling all in a single central location; the consolidation of GED, ESL and literacy programs to a more accessible first-floor location; and the enlargement of an on-site child care center. A new, technology-laden Student Success Center will centralize information about many of the educational and social services available to students. Lastly, corporate training space for the Division of Lifelong Learning has doubled, allowing for the expansion of leadership development programs on campus.

The Robinson Green Beretta Corporation of Providence served as architect on the project, while A.F. Lusi Construction of Smithfield served as general contractor.

CCRI Liston Campus Director John White, who remembers when the campus opened to a population of 650 students in December 1990, says that the college’s latest capital project represents not just an expansion of space, but an expansion of the community college’s commitment to the inner city. “If the expansion hadn’t happened,” he says, “we would have been capped at 2,000 students. When you cap the enrollment, you cap the opportunity,” he says.

The CCRI Liston Campus is located at One Hilton St., behind the Rhode Island Hospital campus. The Community College of Rhode Island, New England’s largest community college, has full-service campuses in Warwick, Lincoln and Providence, and operates satellites in both Newport and Westerly. A fourth campus in Newport is under construction and scheduled to open in 2005. The college currently enrolls more than 16,000 students in credit courses and thousands more in non-credit and job training classes.

Professor Holly J. Susi presenter at 84th annual convention of the American Association of Community Colleges

LINCOLN – Holly J. Susi of Cumberland, an assistant professor of English at the Community College of Rhode Island, will present on the college’s involvement in national pilot of The Bridge Partnership at the 84th annual convention of the American Association of Community Colleges in Minneapolis, Minnesota, April 24-27. CCRI is one of just 12 community colleges in the country chosen to participate in The Bridge Partnership. Susi is lead coordinator for the effort at the community college which has partnered CCRI with West Warwick high school to form a partnership bridge from 10th grade to admission to college credit coursework. CCRI recently invited 60 West Warwick high school students to the college for a day-long visit where the students also took the college’s academic placement tests. Susi will be presenting with Ana Guzman, president of Palo Alto Community College in Texas; Robert McCabe, Senior Fellow, League for Innovation and national director of The Bridge Partnership; and Cindy Peterka, Dean, Learning and Student Development, Community College of Baltimore County, MD.

Susi, a reading instructor at the community college, is a Kellogg Institute Fellow this academic year, earning a credential as a developmental education specialist.

CCRI spring music performances

The Community College of Rhode Island Music Dept. will hold of series of free, public performances this spring in Room 0540 of the CCRI Warwick campus, 400 East Ave.

On Thursday, April 22 at 1 p.m. and on Tuesday, April 27 at 12 noon, CCRI Classical and Jazz students will perform individually and in small ensembles at the CCRI Applied Music Students Recital.
On Wednesday, April 28 at 12 noon, contralto Susan Rodgers and pianist Audrey Kaiser will perform works from the Romantic Era to the present in a faculty recital entitled, Schumann and Beyond.
On Thursday, May 6 at 7:30 p.m., the CCRI Chamber Ensemble, directed by Cheri Markward, will perform its annual spring concert.

For more information on these and other CCRI Music Dept. events, call (401) 825-2168.

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.

CCRI Hosts SkillsUSA Rhode Island Skills Championships

On March 12, the Community College of Rhode Island was once again the site for the annual SkillsUSA Rhode Island Skills Championships. Over 1000 students spent the day at the CCRI Knight Campus in Warwick competing in a range of career skills, technical skills and leadership contests.

Students from 11 Rhode Island secondary career and technical centers joined students from CCRI, Johnson & Wales University and New England Institute of Technology to compete for prizes and scholarships valued at over a half million dollars. Rhode Island businesses, industries and educational programs provide these awards to tomorrow’s young leaders. Contests were designed and judged by experts from business and industry. Gold, silver and bronze medals were presented to the winners at an Olympic-style awards ceremony at Rhodes-on-the-Pawtuxet on March 30. Gold medalists will be traveling to Kansas City, MO in June to attend the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference.

This marks the 28^th year that CCRI has hosted the competitions. Students competed in such skill contests as job interview, prepared speech and community service. Career and technical skill contests include such areas as automotive technology, precision machining, nurse assisting, basic health care skills, cosmetology, advertising, carpentry and a job skills demonstration.

SkillsUSA Rhode Island prepares today’s students to be tomorrow’s skilled workforce and leaders. SkillsUSA is a national student organization for students in secondary and post-secondary career and technical education. Established in 1965, SkillsUSA has nearly 300,000 members nationwide; established in 1976, the Rhode Island chapter is the largest career and technical student organization in the state, and boasts almost 5000 members.

Below: Gold, Silver and Bronze medal winners

2004 Rhode Island SkillsUSA
Contest Medalists

Cranston = Cranston Area Career & Technical Center

Woonsocket = Woonsocket Area Career & Technical Center

East Providence = East Providence Career & Technical Center

News Releases for 2004

News Releases

The Community College of Rhode Island Music Dept. will hold of series of free, public performances this spring in Room 0540 of the CCRI Warwick campus, 400 East Ave.