Grants & Gifts

Mobile computer lab helps workers

Morris teaches, works in nursing profession

Enrollment at community and technical colleges sets record

Community College Week
September 29, 2003

Grants & Gifts

Maysville Community College in Maysville, Ky., received a $58,445 grant from the Kentucky Agricultural Development Board for the construction of a greenhouse. The greenhouse will be used for workshops focused on the needs of tobacco-impacted families, college students and high-school students.

Mobile computer lab helps workers

HANSON - The RV parked in front of Carhartt's Hanson plant doesn't offer a vacation getaway.

The vehicle, which has been fitted with 10 computer workstations, is a place where plant employees are learning basic computer application skills on their own time with the help of instructors from Madisonville Community College's Adult Centers for Educational Excellence.

"It's just real convenient when you get off work at 2:30 and it's right there," said Rita Roberts, administrative supervisor. "You don't have to go to the college. You don't have to go home."

The RV is one of two Kentucky Adult Education Mobile Skills Labs that travel the state to offer continuing education classes at remote locations. It has been at Carhartt throughout September and will return in November.

"Eugene Summers, the plant manager, human resources folks and the union representatives agreed they wanted to be able to offer some basic skill upgrades to the work force," said ACE2 Coordinator Cris Crowley. "They wanted to offer them on-site, which would make it easier for them to participate."

Workers take the free classes before or after their regular shifts.

Seventy-six people initially expressed an interest, with 47 enrolling, Crowley said.

"We thought that basic computer applications skills would be a good place to start," she said. "No. 1, because their facility is so computerized and No. 2, that would give those folks the skills they need in order to participate in our online learning products."

Carhartt officials are pleased with the response, Human Resources Manager Jennifer Meredith said.

"It's just an opportunity to enhance their skills," she said. "Also, if there are people who don't have their GED, we wanted to give them the opportunity through other classes to get their GED.

"A lot of the work that we do, of course, is computer-related," Meredith said. "In the warehouse, they use a device that they put on their wrist and they actually key in the information. It's like a mini computer. A lot of the computer skills will definitely be used in the plant."

Allison Carter, administrative union steward, said the class has taught her about setting up Web pages and online courses offered through Kentucky Virtual Adult Education.

"There's a lot of interest," she said. "Everyone is curious. Not everyone got to take it, so the ones who didn't, want to do it. The word just spreads so fast. ... Everyone just wants to see what's going on in here."

The main reasons employees give for enrolling in the class is to learn more about computers, brush up on skills before continuing their education, and improve their ability to help their children with homework.

"Everything's on computers now," Carter said. "My son is a kindergartner, but he knows more about it than I do."

Chief Steward Ty Barnhart said he took the class "to learn more, try to see if I can go online and take some classes to help better myself."

Response to the classes has been positive, he said, with workers asking if more general computer knowledge classes will be offered in the future.

This month, ACE2 plans to offer classes in workplace math and interpreting data at the plant. GED preparatory classes will also be offered.

"We will have the mobile skills unit back in November," Crowley said. "Because the program has been supported and the employees like it, we want to continue some type of basic skill training at their facility."

Messenger-Inquirer
October 1, 2003

Morris teaches, works in nursing profession
Making the Grade

Unlike most teachers, Kelly Morris practices what she preaches.

Morris works full-time at Owensboro Community and Technical College, teaching the next generation of nurses.

But as needed, Morris works as a nurse herself at Owensboro Mercy Health System.

"Teaching has always been some aspect of my career," said Morris, coordinator of the nursing programs at OCTC. "I enjoy watching somebody else learn. I enjoy being a part of that process. I enjoy spreading that process."

"Kelly has an excellent reputation as a team builder," said Peggy Howard, division chair for allied health at OCTC, who also works part-time as a nurse.

Working part-time as a nurse "helps to keep us current and maintains a certain amount of credibility with students. You walk the walk and talk the talk."

OCTC has selective admissions for its nursing degree and diploma programs, which means that not everyone who wants to become a nurse can earn credit at OCTC, said Morris, former director of the medical services line at Owensboro Mercy Health System.

There are about 100 nursing students at OCTC this year, Morris said.

"Last year, we had about 100 applicants and I had to turn away about 50," Morris said.

The reason so many are turned away -- even with nationwide nursing shortages -- is that so many aren't likely to cut it as nurses, Morris said. A student with poor grades is less likely to pass the state exam that finally qualifies a nurse to go to work, she said.

"We have to know that they can pass the state boards," Morris said.

But beginning next year, OCTC will interview students enrolling for an associate degree in nursing, Morris said. Interviews are already conducted for students wanting to enter the practical nursing program, a year-and-a-half diploma program, she said.

"Before, we selected by numbers: grade point average, ACT scores and nursing entrance test scores," Morris said. "It was a very subjective process. But we want to meet those students. We've heard from students that they want to be interviewed. They want a chance to tell their story and introduce themselves, not just be a number on a spreadsheet."

Morris has worked as a nurse at OMHS since 1989.

A native of Rockport, Ind., Morris earned a bachelor's degree in nursing from Kentucky Wesleyan College in 1994 and master's degree in nursing administration from the University of Evansville in 1997.

Kelly Morris

Address: Owensboro

Job: Coordinator of the nursing program at Owensboro Community and Technical College.

Family: Husband, Byron, and two children: Jacob and Daniel.

Fast Fact: Morris has worked as a nurse at OMHS since 1989.

Glasgow Daily Times
September 18, 2003

Enrollment at community and technical colleges sets record

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) - More than 71,000 students have enrolled or will enroll this semester in colleges that are part of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System, officials announced Wednesday.

In a report to the state Council on Postsecondary Education, the system estimated an enrollment of 71,061 students, which would be a 4.8 percent increase from the fall 2002 semester. The estimated number includes students already in class and those who will enroll in course sections that will open in the coming weeks.

The system must report final enrollment numbers in early November.

In each of the past two years, the November numbers exceeded the September estimate.

The final enrollment for the fall 2002 semester was 67,812.

Enrollment in colleges in the system has increased by 56 percent since the fall 1998 semester.