Owens adds offerings in downtown program
1/23/2011The Learning Center at The Source in downtown Toledo soon will have more offerings for students pursuing two-year associate's degrees or trying to become certified as nursing assistants.
Owens Community College operates the revamped facility and said it soon will be offering 73 classes, up from 69 last year.
The Learning Center's director, Willie Williams, said the additional classes provide more opportunities, especially to a segment of the population that has a hard time getting around.
"We're bringing higher education to downtown," said Mr. Williams, who acknowledged that there is "a population that had transportation or other barriers that got in the way."
The Source has two new instructional classrooms, plus one state-of-the-art computer laboratory, according to Owens.
Student enrollment has skyrocketed to about 600 from 275 about four years ago.
The school's 14-week classes at the facility begin Jan. 24.
The renovated center is bigger and more modern and can accommodate a greater number of students, Mr. Williams said.
The only coursework that can be completed at the downtown center is that for nursing-assistant certification.
Core academic classes can be taken there as well and can be used as credits for programs finished elsewhere.
"You could become a schoolteacher, or take some early childhood classes to become certified as a day-care worker," Mr. Williams said. "General automotive could be driving and maintaining equipment, vehicles, Caterpillar equipment, or diesel."
Classes are $131 per credit hour and scholarships and Pell grants are available, Mr. Williams said.
The 12,726-square-foot educational facility now features eight classrooms, three computer laboratories, two offices, a reception area, and a special classroom for instruction and hands-on learning specific to the nursing assistant curriculum, the school stated in a written release.
More information is available at www.owens.edu.
Contact Christopher D. Kirkpatrick at ckirkpatrick@theblade.com or 419-724-6134.