Thriving Student Life Culture Evident

By George Berkheimer, STAFF WRITER



The most obvious difference between Howard Community College and a traditional four-year institute is the lack of residence dorms at HCC. Even so, that's no reason to expect less of an emphasis on student life culture on campus. From student government and organized clubs to athletic programs, arts offerings and special events, it all can be found at HCC.

For most students looking to enrich their college experience, the Student Life office is the logical starting point. Student Life's four full-time staff members, two part-time office managers and collection of student workers can help students find ways to get involved, or just get entertained.

"The fact that our students are integrated in communities off campus makes the challenges different for us, so we have to approach our programs differently than a residential college would," said Tracie Palm, Student Life's coordinator of co-curricular programs. "There are a lot of things vying for their attention already ... so it changes how we plan. We have to take a very entrepreneurial approach."

For starters, she said, many of HCC's student entertainment and speaker offerings occur during the day while the bulk of the student body is on campus. "Those who take evening classes have obligations during the day, either with kids or with work, and aren't really interested in the same types of programs. They just don't have the time to sit down and watch a long performance or lecture."



Getting Involved

According to Student Life Director Llatetra Brown, HCC students tend to rank extracurricular involvement lower on their priorities list, but programs focusing on leadership have been well received.

"We have offered a leadership series through our Student Government Association (SGA) for the past three years, as well as a leadership retreat that's open to all students," Brown said.

Despite the lack of a captive resident population, clubs and organizations are still popular, noted Palm. "Any student on campus can start one," she said. "They tend to be related to majors, but we also have some that are religious, cultural or just for fun."

Student Life's wellness center offers educational materials and workshops, along with awareness activities and referrals.

And of course, the SGA provides a vehicle for student involvement in the administration, legislation and judicial governance of the college. The elected body provides student representation to college committees, giving students a say in issues as wide ranging as curriculum and instruction, diversity, enrollment management, facilities planning, food service, organizational development, renovations, and even safety and technology.

Students looking to voice an opinion without the commitment of holding office can write for the HCC Times, a monthly publication that serves as the student body voice on news and issues.



Stages of Success

The arts are well represented on campus, with the Peter and Elizabeth Horowitz Visual and Performing Arts Center housing the Rouse Company Foundation Gallery, the Art Department Gallery and Smith Theatre.

Moreover, HCC's Rep Stage holds the distinction of being the nation's only professional theater company in residence on a community college campus.

"It's similar to Everyman Theatre in Baltimore or the Olney Theatre Center," Producing Artistic Director Michael Stebbins said of the organization's performance caliber. Performances are held in the Black Box Theatre in the Horowitz Center.

Now in its 16th season, the nonprofit Rep Stage has won seven Helen Hayes awards, the regional equivalent of the Tony Awards, and has been nominated 36 times. It draws from a wide pool of regional professional talent and engages faculty, staff and students in its operations.

Its offerings have proved so popular that Rep Stage expanded its season to six productions last year, and also expanded its three-day performance week to five days this year - Wednesday through Sunday - while expanding the number of performances per week from five to six.

"We have a strong subscriber base," Stebbins observed. "People are looking for what we're offering season to season, and we bring regular talent back year to year. We're entrepreneurial ... in that we try to offer the classics along with some newer stuff. Because we're educating through the arts, we also offer post-show discussions."



Competitive Strategy

No learning institute would be complete without an athletics program, and HCC offers soccer, basketball and lacrosse for men and women, women's volleyball, and a co-ed program that includes cross country and track and field.

HCC's athletes compete as part of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA), the Maryland Junior College Athletic Association (JUCO), and Region XX.

HCC's track and cross country, women's soccer and men's basketball and lacrosse teams have placed in the top 10 in the nation. Women's soccer placed third at Nationals in 2003, and the school's track coaches were selected as National Coaches of the Year by the NJCAA in 2004.

One of the biggest challenges for community college sports programs, said Athletic Director Diane Schumacher, is building and sustaining a following for events.

Part of her vision is to attract the best coaches available and provide them with the resources they need, Schumacher said. Her strategy has included internal program changes that have enabled an increase in salaries.

She also provides recruiting stipends. "No other college in our conference does that," she said. "It's not a lot, but it shows the coaches that they are expected to go out and recruit [athletic talent]."

Another change Schumacher made was to discontinue the college's old Iron Horse logo and create a school dragon mascot. Affectionately named Duncan for HCC's immediate past president, Mary Ellen Duncan, the mascot was designed to create spirit and atmosphere at special events for other departments throughout the school, not just on the athletic field.

As in so many other aspects of student life culture on HCC, Schumacher has found that an entrepreneurial approach to the athletic program is a big part of the key to its success. "You have to sell an atmosphere to be successful," Schumacher said, "and that starts with leadership."