Mu FaCeS at BtwC when Vivian McCullum enrolled at bTwc in 2010, she says it was like coming home. That helped overcome her fears about starting college in her 40s.
dr. John parente, director of services for the venture, assures prospective students that cost doesn’t need to be an issue. most low- income students qualify for enough federal and state aid and mercyhurst scholarships to cover tuition at bTwc. more problematic for many students is the confdence gap: many are intimidated by the prospect of tackling college-level work. staying within their comfort zone helps; so does individualized attention from faculty and staf. The location makes transportation easier, and a schedule packed with evening and weekend classes accommodates students with family and work obligations. it’s a small community where children are welcomed, too. shantel hilliard, a 2002 mercyhurst graduate who’s associate director of the bTwc, says the goal is to place students in situations where they can succeed and provide them with all the support they need to do so. The frst step for many of them is his contemporary social problems class, where students learn to research and think critically about complex issues and become confdent in their ability to express opinions orally and in writing and to present in front of a group. at the start in 2010, 13 students enrolled at bTwc and just three courses were ofered each term. This fall, more than 70 students are enrolled and they could choose from 16 courses, ranging from biology to microeconomics to music appreciation. This year, for the frst time, students will be able to complete an associate degree in business right at bTwc. other students hope to continue in allied health programs at mercyhurst north east, or are taking liberal arts courses that will allow them to transfer to another mercyhurst campus or elsewhere. parente, who holds a doctorate in higher education from penn state university, came to erie when his wife, dr. amy parente, joined the chemistry faculty at mercyhurst. he was quickly recruited to oversee the fedgling program at bTwc. “we get to witness some incredible transformations,” he refects. “mercyhurst is a factor for their success, but it’s the drive of the students that pushes them toward their goals. i tell our students all the time to ‘use us,’ to take advantage of the opportunities that are before you.”
course load. in 2014, she says, she may tackle the nursing program at north east. eventually she wants to earn a bachelor’s degree in nursing – and dreams of one day entering medical school. while she says her family has been a huge help, the convenient location and caring staf at bTwc have made it possible to keep progressing toward her ultimate goal – a good life for her and her daughter. Jaci Davis , 38, is fnally completing the college education she began on mercyhurst’s main campus after her graduation from east high in 1993. she had fnished her freshman year and was looking toward a career in education when a high-risk pregnancy threw her of course.
Vivian McCullum
she was part of the center’s youth council in the late ‘70s. later she and her four kids used center services from after-school and summer programs to medical and dental clinics. after a divorce, as she raised the kids alone, a caseworker recognized Vivian’s potential and pointed her toward an ofce skills training program at gecac. she’s worked full time at the erie social service agency for nearly 20 years now, but she always wanted more. once her kids started college, she laughs, she knew she couldn’t allow them to have higher education than she did. by the end of this academic year, Vivian hopes to have her associate degree, and she’s looking ahead to a four-year degree and a career as a case manager. “someone helped me,” she says. “There’s a young woman out there who needs to hear my story and realize that life doesn’t end just because you have children.” Twaneshia Johnson , at 19, is a traditional- aged college student with some untraditional responsibilities. she had planned to enter mercyhurst north east for winter term 2012 until she learned that she was pregnant and that her baby was due the frst day of classes. parente found a way to let her start college on time, just at a diferent location. when daughter Zhiya arrived, Twaneshia missed the frst two weeks of classes. after that, understanding instructors helped her catch up and then complete her frst two courses. since then she’s carried a full-time
John Parente and Jaci Davis
now she’s pursuing a business degree focusing on human resources, and she’s philosophical about that long gap in her studies. “i needed that 20 years of,” she says. “when i went to college the frst time, it was because it was expected. it’s totally diferent now. i’m my own investment and i’m going to make good on that investment.” Jaci still works part-time as a nurse aide, but now she hopes for a more fnancially rewarding career to support her family. “i’m driven by that,” she says. “i want my children and grandchildren to be proud of yaya.” she worried that her age, her other responsibilities and her lack of computer skills would hold her back. instead, she’s become part of a family at bTwc, in which the goal is for everyone to succeed.
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