CampusConnection

Program: Compensatory Education

Coordinator: Ken O'Connor

Established: 1983

Location: Pines

Mission: Compensatory Education programs focus on helping adults with mental retardation become as independent and self-directed as possible through acquiring basic and life skills needed to function successfully in daily living.

Highlights:

North Carolina is one of three states in the country that has a program for adults with mental retardation in its community colleges. The program is free to those who qualify and offers adults the opportunity to gain greater independence and develop essential work skills. Student progress is charted and goals set through a portfolio system, which A-B Tech pioneered in 1991 and which has recently been adopted statewide. At A-B Tech, one of the program's greatest assets is its dedicated and highly qualified instructors, all part-time. "They make a lot of sacrifices; they are very dedicated," O'Connor said.

Within Compensatory Education is A-B Tech's Traumatic Brain Injury program, one of only a few in the state. Program goals include improving academic and organizational skills, enhancing short-term memory, and developing stress-management techniques. The program has grown from six to 25 students.

Sidebar: The Compensatory Education program has changed the lives of so many of its students, including one teenage boy who had "major behavioral issues"at school and was unable to talk and live peacefully within his family. O'Connor said within the program, this boy experienced a "remarkable turnaround"especially in the area of communication.

Honda Marketing Group Throttles Forward

The A-B Tech Peak Group, made up of a group of students in Kathy Toler's marketing class, held a Marketing Strategic Meeting (MSM) March 18. The meeting was held with EdVenture Partners, a company that organizes hands-on learning experiences between companies and colleges, and Rubin Postaer and Associates, a Chicago-based full service advertising agency representing American Honda.

The meeting allowed students in the Peak Group to share their marketing strategy for the Honda Element College Program. Each department in The Peak Group made a presentation and received feedback for implementation of their plan. Their plan consists of co-sponsoring A-B Tech's Spring Fling, where they are planning activities and exhibiting the Honda Element, a unique vehicle similar to an SUV, but advertised as an ALV (Active Lifestyle Vehicle) that is being marketed to a young, active consumer.

The group has put in twice their regular weekly class hours doing market research, preparing data and submitting analysis of the data. "It's a dream for a teacher to have students working so hard to do a good job. They even spent two weekends at school preparing their presentation,"says Toler, the Peak Group's Marketing Instructor and advisor. "They really want to be successful."

A Fair and Tender Lady

Regional legend and actress Quinn Hawksworth performed her one-woman show of Lee Smith's acclaimed novel "Fair and Tender Ladies"at the Ferguson Auditorium March 13. The performance was a benefit for the Arts and Sciences Scholarship Fund.

PTK Returns From Regionals

Phi Theta Kappa returned from the Regional Conference, in Charleston, with numerous awards.

Library Assistant Robin Wiggins and Accounts Payable Clerk Tina Fountain were each presented with the Horizon Award for their excellence in advising A-B Tech's chapter, Alpha Upsilon Eta.

The chapter was also awarded an honorary mention for most improved chapter and a plaque showing its status in the 5 Star Program.

The Phi Theta Kappa Society also honored the Alpha Upsilon Eta chapter with the Pinnacle Continued Excellence Chapter Award. This award is presented to a chapter that increases its membership by 10% for three consecutive years. A part of that award was a $100 stipend to be used toward a chapter scholarship.

VITA is Vital To The Community

A-B Tech's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA) program volunteers have prepared returns at a women's shelter, an industry, a historically Black church and a Hispanic community center.

The recently revitalized 20-year-old program assisted 200 taxpayers in the year 2002. "We believe that we will far exceed that number this year,"said Carol Hutchinson, program director.

VITA volunteers provide free tax help at community locations to those who can't afford paid tax help, those who are non-English speaking, persons with disabilities, those with a low income, the elderly and other individuals with special needs.

Volunteers are usually members of the Institute of management Accountants (IMA) student chapter or enrolled in one of the tax classes offered by the department. Volunteers enthusiastically praise the VITA program for giving them "real life"experience in tax preparation, electronic filing, interviewing and communication. As one participant said, "This program gives me the opportunity to interact with others and polish my tax skills in a way that no textbook can. It has deepened my understanding of the whole process."

VITA efforts are underwritten by the Internal Revenue Service, which provides training materials, and software for use at community sites. The Accounting Program and the IMA Student Chapter provide additional sponsorship on the A-B Tech campus.

Farewell Follow-Up

The Community College Times, a national publication, featured a front-page photo of the farewell ceremony at the Enka Site for the 161st Area Medical Support Battalion, which was sent to an undisclosed area overseas in preparation for the war with Iraq.

Art Attack

Don't forget about the LRC Spring Art show on display April 1 - May 9. Submissions include paintings and drawings, photography, sculpture, stained glass, pottery, jewelry and many more works of art. Hours are 8 a.m. - 9 p.m. Monday- Thursday and 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Friday. Come out and support your fellow faculty, staff, and student/artists!

CIP Discussion

Hank Jackson, Chairperson of Mechanical Engineering Technology, was invited to speak at the Curriculum Improvement Project (CIP) discussion at the State Board of Community Colleges Issues Forum. He discussed the proposed plans for the next two years, focusing on benefits, cost savings, curriculum changes, professional development, and industry involvement. Jackson is the Mechanical Engineering CIP Coordinator for the North Carolina Community College System.

Article Published

Dr. Dennis King, Vice-President of Student Services, was published in the University of Austin's National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development newsletter. King wrote an article on Congress - to - Campus: Bringing Vitality to the Classroom. King discussed the importance of bringing retired Congressmen to college campuses and their interaction with the students.

Tech Talk is published for employees of Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College by the College Relations Division.

Executive Editor:
Mona Cornwell
Managing Editor:
Jodi Ford

Send submissions to Mona Cornwell, director of communications, at mcornwell@abtech.edu. Publication of the next issue is scheduled May 1. The deadline for submissions is April 18. This edition of Tech Talk was produced April 2003. Equal Opportunity Educational Institution.

Return to top