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SPC to offer classes in Midtown neighborhood
By JON WILSON, Times Staff Writer ST. PETERSBURG -- College credit is on its way to 22nd Street S. In what's believed to be its first such neighborhood initiative, St. Petersburg College will offer courses to students in grades 10-12, allowing youngsters to get a jump on their college careers. The free dual enrollment program allows pupils to receive both high school and college credit for courses they take. St. Petersburg College professor Albert Farr will teach African-American literature starting Sept. 19 at the Main Street office, 1027 22nd St. S. Classes are 5:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Thursdays through the end of the fall college term Dec. 13. To be eligible, students need a 3.0 grade point average. They also must take a college placement test. St. Petersburg College officials will help students prepare, and the test likely will be administered at the Main Street office. "This is all about providing services to an underserved part of the city," said David Moore, SPC's program director for dual credit and international studies. Twenty-second Street S, part of St. Petersburg's Midtown, has been identified by city government as a depressed corridor. Revival efforts are under way, one of them being the Florida Main Street program to rejuvenate fading business districts. The street's Main Street office opened a few weeks ago. Officials hope the college program will be part of the chemistry. "If we're going to promote economic development, we are going to have to consider our young people and provide courses to give them that extra boost for college," said Valerie Hendriex, design committee chairwoman for 22nd Street's Main Street effort. Hendriex said having dual credit offered in the neighborhood should help youngsters who are interested but must depend on buses to and from far-flung high schools, or who have no transportation to SPC campuses. The course was set up as a convenience for the neighborhood, but youngsters who don't live there can attend, too. Part of the idea behind establishing the program on 22nd Street was to extend the college's community outreach, Moore said. The African-American literature course was chosen because it is expected to generate wide interest, Moore said. "We hope to add more courses in the future. What I'd like to do is assess the reaction of the community and see what they need. I don't want to be prescribing what they need. I want to hear from them," he said. Though primarily for the high school age group, adults also can take the three credit-hour course. Adult tuition is $54 per credit hour, plus books, but a few scholarships might be available, Moore said. The dual credit program has been around for public school pupils since 1983. Private school youngsters came aboard in 1990, and home-schooled children joined the mix in 1996. There are 1,546 participating students, Moore said. Twenty-three Pinellas high schools participate. Classes have been available at the high schools and at several SPC campuses. They are free, too. Sometimes results are startling. This year, a young woman graduated from Boca Ciega High School in June, then graduated from SPC six weeks later. Such efforts are possible through a combination of dual credit, summer school and weekend classes, Moore said, though he termed the accomplishment "beyond the norm" and not necessarily something he would always encourage. Course work can be challenging. "We like people to understand that the dual credit program is an honors program. It's really college, it's not pretend college. It's not glorified high school," Moore said. Farr, 33, is about to start his first semester teaching at SPC. The course will range from early African-American literature through current works. "We're going to attempt to start from maybe slave narratives on through the Harlem Renaissance to black nationalism and contemporary times," Farr said. Among the authors Farr said students should expect to study are Florida native Zora Neale Hurston, Richard Wright, Ernest Gaines and poet Robert Hayden. Also planned is a section on rap music as literature. For information about how to sign up, call 322-8129 or 344-4458.
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From the Times South Pinellas desks Letters |
