Interested in learning how to promote your business through blogging? How about becoming an improv comedian, protecting yourself from street crime or improving your memory?
This fall, the continuing education department at Howard Community College is offering more than 50 new noncredit classes, more than ever before, said Joanne Erickson, marketing coordinator for the Division of Continuing Education & Workforce Development at HCC.
"This is the highest number of new courses we've ever had," she said. Some classes are for academic enrichment, professional licensing, or serious goals such as getting a job or building a business. Others are for fun.
The offerings range from seminars that are a couple of hours long to classes spanning six weeks or more. Classes that are new this fall promise help with practical topics such as finding a federal job to more esoteric fields, including business etiquette (from the course catalog: "If you've ever had to make small talk with a VIP and been lost for words, you know how agonizing such moments can be"), finding your personal colors ("Create your own personal color palette by identifying how color reflects your unique personality and lifestyle") and putting photos on digital video discs ("Turn your collection of digital photos into a multimedia production that tells your story").
A three-hour class in intermediate beer appreciation is being offered Oct. 15 as a follow-up to a successful beginner class on the topic. The $49 course, for students who completed the beginner class, will focus on brewing techniques, beer styles and food pairings.
HCC officials explore many avenues when thinking of new classes to add to the growing catalog. They take seriously suggestions that come from instructors, students and members of the community. They also study trends and get together with officials from other colleges to talk about what might be popular.
"A lot of times, we will get people who will send in their own course ideas," said Marge Cangiano, the college's coordinator for lifelong learning. "They can even send them in online. We talk about trends and what we think people in our county would be interested in, and we just go from there," Cangiano said.
Said Erickson: "If there are certain trends that are hot right now, we try to generate a course."
