Culinary Boot Camp, Horticulture, Social Media classes
Fight back at gray clouds and cold temperatures! So much is going on in Northeast Ohio it is hard for anyone to stay at home. Great antidotes to combat the winter doldrums – join your local community college for engaging and exciting programs – just what the doctored ordered. Different class line-ups and content are available, but you have to take the first step. Make contact, ask questions, email or make a phone call. Continuing education describes a professional development curriculum while community education focuses on personal enrichment. Academic classes are for credit while non-academic classes are not for credit.
In Northeast Ohio, we are lucky to have many schools, colleges, organizations, and communities offering a wide array of programs. Cuyahoga Community College encompassing three campuses, Metro, East, and West, Corporate College sites, and offering classes at a variety of off-site venues such as community recreation and senior centers, is widely accessible to residents no matter where they live. “We know we are a community college,” said Sharon Styffe, Executive Director of the Office of Community and Continuing Education at Tri-C. “We pride ourselves in reaching out to and responding to the people where they are. We have a geographically large presence and offer a huge curriculum,” she added enthusiastically. Not only are up-to-date software and technology classes offered like Microsoft Office 2007 Shortcuts, but also digital photography and social media. Horticulture, crafts, and wine education classes and tastings round out the program offerings.
One of the more popular community education classes, the Culinary Boot Camp, teaches the same techniques to non-credit students as it does to the academic culinary students. Divided into three modules, professional chefs instruct students about basic skills: Weights, Measurements, and Knife Proficiency; Cooking Methods including processes and terminology; and Baking and Breakfast Foods including menu items and quality factors. What a great way to add taste and fresh food to your dinner table. Young and older adults sign up for Cake Decorating I & II where students can utilize their artistic skills to make a celebration extra special with a homemade, personalized cake.
“Martial Arts classes are offered on our three campuses,” said Styffe. “It’s worthwhile for all age groups. For women, martial arts training helps get them in shape while becoming better at defending themselves. For younger adults, it teaches them to focus on safety and discipline. “Our youth programs, offered at the campuses and at area schools in an after-school format, put children in a safe environment where they can become comfortable and familiar in a college setting while having fun learning a variety of topics. Fun classes about video game design, the environment, and business entrepreneurship are also offered in the Youth Program.
“Tri-C is a convenient place for realtors, teachers, CPAs, health care professionals, and nursing staff to earn their required CEU’s to maintain their state licensures or certifications,” said Styffe. “Our instructors are highly credentialed and experienced professionals in their own right.” There is a Women-Owned Business series of classes that supports women entrepreneurs in launching their ventures or helps women business owners to fine tune their existing enterprise while networking with successful business owners and professionals. In fall 2009, Boomer U (Boomer University) was added to Tri-C’s line-up focusing on career exploration and assessment complemented by a speaker series. It also includes enrichment programs geared to the tastes of Boomers.
The Encore Campus is a leading educational destination for the mature adults and offers fascinating sessions in history, science, literature, music, personal finance, wellness, computers and many others. “We have 900-1,100 seniors on location registered to attend our one-day per week sessionsat the east, west, and Corporate College West campuses. The latest addition is Encore Campus in Hudson. Encore is an unbelievable value at an affordable price. “Our seniors are committed to lifelong learning and are very interested and engaged in developing these programs,” added Styffe. For more information about Encore, contact 216-987-2274 or cai@tri-c.edu.
So you can see there is something for everyone at Cuyahoga Community College. For more information, contact 1-866-933-5178 or visit http://www.tri-c.edu and look at Personal Enrichment and Career Development.
From Cool Cleveland contributor Susan Schaul, who says the act of writing is like assembling a jigsaw puzzle. The challenge lies in getting the pieces to fit together and make sense.