DC 37
College
Success stories
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At the DC 37 campus of the College of New Rochelle, union members are getting the education of a lifetime in a degree program designed especially for working people.
By DIANE S. WILLIAMS
How many times do you get a second chance in life?
For Nina Manning, a Regional Supervising Clerk in the New York Public
Library who is studying at the DC
37 Campus of the College of New Rochelle, the answer is
twice-and counting.
That's because by next August, Ms. Manning will join the more than
2,600 DC 37 members who have graduated with a college degree and
a second chance from DC 37's liberal arts college program for working
adults.
"I started my job as a library page straight out of high school,"
said Ms. Manning, a Local 1931 member who began college at DC 37
in 1994, stopped and returned in 2000. "I worked my way up
the ranks but I never had the chance to attend college until I enrolled
in this program."
Since its inception 30 years ago, the union's college program -
CNR's School of New Resources at DC 37 - has helped members realize
their dream of earning a college degree through an accredited program
that offers accelerated six-credit classes. Most other college courses
are just three credits.
The College of New Rochelle program was the brainchild of current
DC 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts, who in 1972 saw the education
benefit as an opportunity to offer members "a second chance
to improve their lives through education."
"Never say can't"
DC 37 retiree Norman Davis was one of the first DC 37 members to
enroll in the CNR program back in 1972. After writing an eye-opening
essay on African American stereotypes in Hollywood, Mr. Davis was
admitted to the program at 47. "I went to college because my
mother, who found the program in a PEP ad said, 'You need that piece
of paper to get ahead.'"
Three years later he graduated with a liberal arts degree and went
on to develop a master's degree program at Long Island University
for city employees while working to support his family. Since Mr.
Davis often was the only applicant with college degrees, he quickly
advanced up the Parks Dept. career ladder. He said, "Going
to college through DC 37 was a sacrifice that changed my life."
Since then, thousands of city employees have taken advantage of
the union educational program and advanced their careers with degrees
from the school. One fourth of SNR graduates have gone on to become
professionals, doctors, lawyers and college professors. Ms. Roberts'
vision of "a program that allows working adults to earn a college
degree as a means to uplift civil servants" is now a longstanding
reality. The School of New Resources remains a jewel in DC 37's
crown and is the benchmark for other union-sponsored adult education
programs.
School
of New Resources' program
To learn more about the school of New Resources' program, which
is not only accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges
and Schools, but also nationally and internationally recognized
for excellence in adult higher education, come to an orientation
session in room 12 at the Union, 125 Barclay Street on Tuesday,
December 10, 16 or January 3, 2003. Paraprofessionals and Family
Workers should come at 3:30 p.m., others should plan to arrive at
6:00 p.m. If you are interested but cannot attend, look for additional
orientation dates in the January 2003 issue of the Public Employees
Press.