942sphere's Weblog

EE&C Scholarship Recipient Update

942sphere — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 14:11:01 +0000

Of the 15 EE&C scholarship applicants for spring semester 2009, eight received funds. Of these, three are part of the Building Careers in EE&C (BCE) grant program. Seven were on the roster, but not certified. Of the seven, three are part of the BCE grant program.

Of the 31 EE&C scholarship applicants for spring semester 2010, 13 were certified as ECE eligible and received/will receive fuding for their courses. Of these, five BCE students. Of the 18 who did not receive funding, five are BCE students.

Of the 24 EE&C scholarship applicants for summer semester 2010, 11 were certified as ECE eligible. Of the 11, six are BCE students. Of the 13 who did not receive funding, two applicants are part of the BCE grant program.

According to financial aid office, there are several reasons why certain students did not receive funds. Some of them never applied for admission or registered for courses at BHCC, some are ineligible because they are not making satisfactory academic progress or did not complete their financial aid file, and some may be taking an ineligible course in a given semester.

Results of Advising Meetings

942sphere — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 21:27:48 +0000

Dr. Judy Lindamood successfully met with all 20 students, providing each one with advising services. Her advising meeting report indicates what each planned to do moving forward. They know what they need to accomplish school-wise. One student was referred to disability services due to her struggle with math. Three students needs to matriculate in a degree program. Five students signed up to take the Practicum course in fall 2010. Four students are retaking the math placement test. The remaining students expressed other plans they need to take to move along the education continuum.

ECE112 Student Advising Has Begun!

942sphere — Fri, 28 May 2010 13:15:53 +0000

Dr. Judy Lindamood, chairperson of the ECE/EDU/HSV department, went to the ECE112 class last night to provide one-on-one meetings.

Because the two admissions/transfer officers are out of the office, Dr. Lindamood had to print out the program audits for the ten students she was planning to see. Unfortunately, she couldn’t get the program plans to print off her office computer. It cuts off half the screen and won’t shrink (this problem was actually discussed at the Advising workshop yesterday as a big problem for faculty) so she got busy before hand and did it off of datatel and copied the plans for the ones she hadn’t met with so we both had a copy. There were some students she had on the priority list that were not in class so she met with a few of the others on the non-priority list because they had questions or new issues. She will finish up with the rest next Tuesday.

Enrollment for ECE112 “Families/Community in ECE”

942sphere — Wed, 26 May 2010 20:58:01 +0000

The ECE112 “Families/Community in ECE” course has 20 students. All the students met the prerequisites for taking this course. The prereqs are: Child Growth/Development plus three (3) ECE courses or equivalent. It is the last course in the FY’10 Building Careers in EE&C grant program. Rita Rzezuski is team teaching with Roslind Mann. The course meets Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6:30pm – 9:30pm and runs May 11, 2010 - June 29, 2010.

Yesterday night, a police officer came by the class around 7pm to tell the instructor that no one should be in the building. Apparently, the new campus security director has made it a rule that there shall be no classes between semesters after 7pm. Additionally, no one should be on the premises during national holidays. We did not know this. Now we do. Thankfully, the police officer had sympathy and allowed the instructor to continue her class.

Obtaining Program Audits

942sphere — Thu, 20 May 2010 13:01:17 +0000

In preparation for the upcoming advising meetings between the chairperson of ECE/HSV/EDU, Dr. Judy Lindamood, and students currently registered for ECE112 ”Families/Community in ECE” class, I have requested program audits from Transfer & Admissions office. The college is very busy right now due to summer session I registration. Summer session I begins June 7. I eagerly await for these program audits as they will help Dr. Lindamood give each student the best advising session possible.

Advising Meetings

942sphere — Mon, 10 May 2010 21:29:47 +0000

On October and November 2009, an advising schedule was passed around in class. Students identified the time slot they would be able to meet with Dr. Judy Lindamood. Dr. Lindamood met with 15 students. She spent 15 to 20 minutes with each student.

What BCE Students Have Said

942sphere — Thu, 06 May 2010 12:36:23 +0000

In the Building Careers in ECE grant program, we are not just providing coursework, we are also engaged in recruting, matriculating, and advising activities. These critical tasks support student retention and motivates them to continue their studies at BHCC.

The Early Education & Care department requries that participating students complete the “Building Careers in Early Education and Care Student Survey” as one of the conditions for continued participation. A couple of the survey questions ask students about how the BCE grant program benefitted them and how it has helped them professionally and academically.

I’d like to share with you some of their comments:

“I’m better able to understand and teach the children.”

“It has made me a better teacher.”

“The BCE program helps me towards my degree.”

“Without this program, I would not have been able to afford the courses.”

“I will become successful in the ECE field.”

“The BCE program got me closer to an associate degree and I am consistently taking classes.”

“Without it, I couldn’t have gone to school. Too expensive.”

“It has increased my hourly wage, more understanding of children and famlies I serve. I feel more competent in my practice as a teacher.”

There you have! The impact the Building Careers in EE&C program it is having on ECE educators is significant. Students who would not have had the opportunity due to cost are now able to take advantage of these classes paid for by the grant. As educators now need a minimum of an associate degree to continue working with children, this grant has pave the way for them to realize their educational and professional goals.

Centers & Agencies We served in 2009-2010

942sphere — Wed, 05 May 2010 13:26:34 +0000

We offered ENG111 “College Writing I” during the Fall 2009 semester. Students are employed at the following centers:

Graceworks Medford, Somerville YMCA, Malden Early Learning Center, Transportation Center Child Care Program, Malden Tri-Cap Head Start, Stoneham Tri-Cap Head Start, Revere Capic Head Start, Winthrop Pleasant Times, Revere Kiddie Koop, and Somerville Early Head Start.

We offered ENG112 “College Writing II” during the Spring 2010 semester. Students are employed at the following centers:

Child Focus Center, Somerville Early Head Start, Tri-Cap Head Start in Malden, Cambridge/Somerville Head Start in Somerville, Catholic Charities inMalden, City Hall Child Care in Boston, Malden Early Learning Center, Kings School in Cambridge, Tri-Cap Head Start in Stoneham, and Kiddie Koop in Revere.

In the Summer 2010 semester (May-June), we will offer ECE112 “Familiies/Community in ECE”. Students are employed at the following centers:

Medford Public Schools in Medford, Hollow Reed in Jamaica Plain, Malden Early Learning Center, Transportation Center in Boston, Mulberry Child Care Center, Somerville YMCA, Somerville/Cambridge Head Start in Cambridge, Capic Head Start in Chelsea, Capic Head Start in Revere, Kings School in Cambridge, 6 Acres Preschool in Medford, Kiddie Koop in Revere, Chelsea Preschool, Early Head Start in Somerville, St. Joseph’s Preschool in Medford, Mrs. Marley’s Preschool in Winthrop, East Boston Social Center, Smiles PS Roxbury, Henry Buckner School, Somerville/Cambridge Head Start, and Tri Cap Head Start in Malden.

68 Students Served During FY’10

942sphere — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 22:11:03 +0000

The BCE grant program at BHCC served a total of 68 unique students (non-duplicated headcount) for FY’10 (July 2009 – June 2010).

An Update for FY 2010 (July 2009 – June 2010)

942sphere — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 13:32:37 +0000

In FY’10 (July 2009 – June 2010), BHCC provided three, three (3) credit-based, cohort courses: ENG111 “College Writing I”; ENG112, “College Writing II”; and ECE112 “Families/Community in ECE”.

Two building careers coordinators, Jack Chan and Rita Rzezuski, provided recruitment and student support services i.e., registration, matriculation, computerized placement tests.

Rita Rzezuski, screened and recruited eligible students for this program by visiting their workplaces to promote the program. As a result of her efforts, students were recruited from CPCs and childcare centers from the following cities/towns: Boston, East Boston, Roxbury/Jamaica Plain, Dorchester, Somerville, Cambridge, Revere CPC, Chelsea, Winthrop, Malden, Medford, Melrose, Watertown, Everett, Woburn, and Wilmington.

The chair of the Early Childhood Education and Human Services Department, Dr. Judy Lindamood, provided individual academic advising prior to and during class times in the evenings.

Building Careers in ECE students did not have to pay for the three cohort courses; they also received textbook rebates to reduce their out-of-pocket expense.

Building Careers in ECE students are encouraged to apply for the Early Educator & Care Scholarship. To apply, applicants must first matriculate/enroll in a degree program. Once matriculated, they complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)application. Only after they have applied for financial aid can they complete the EE&C scholarship application.

Having the scholarship in place affords greater flexibility in enrolling in any coursework they need, but not offered through the Building Careers grant program. Although students can take both BCE grant-funded coursework and course(s) paid for by the EE&C Scholarship, it was surprising to find that none of the BCE students took advantage of the scholarship. Only a small handful of BCE students applied for the scholarship, but did not register for coursework. This is attibuted to the fact these students are employed full time. Juggling work and family commitments prevent them from taking more than two courses per semester.