The Housing Authority's Center of Achievement site has room for even more growth.
By JON WILSON
Published December 14, 2003
ST. PETERSBURG - St. Petersburg College has boosted the number of courses at its Midtown campus to more than a dozen, the campus' biggest class schedule yet.
Computer technology, algebra and prealgebra, basic writing, composition, literature and reading techniques are among the courses that will be offered when the college's spring term starts Jan. 12.
"This is dramatically increased from last year. This time we've been able to put these courses in our schedule booklet and promote it as a site," said David Moore, St. Petersburg College's program director for dual credit and international study.
Students can register now up until the day classes begin at the Midtown campus, 1048 22nd St. S. Call 341-4772 for information about classes, fees and financial assistance.
Classes can be taken by qualified high school students for dual credit or by regularly enrolled SPC students.
SPC began its Midtown outreach last year, holding a couple of classes in 22nd Street's Main Street office.
Then it moved the operation across the street to its current site in the St. Petersburg Housing Authority's Center for Achievement. Across the building's front, 10-inch letters proclaim "St. Petersburg College Midtown."
"We're not testing the water. We're committed to building an established base for St. Petersburg College in Midtown," Moore said.
There's plenty of room in the 10,000-square-foot building to add classes if demand warrants it, Moore said.
"People have to vote with their feet, tell us not only that they like what we're doing, but that they want more of it," he said.
The Center for Achievement is part of the federal Hope VI grant that rebuilt the Jordan Park housing complex. The authority is trying to promote its partnership with SPC, said authority spokesman Syl Farrell.
"We think it's a great idea," Farrell said. "That whole Center for Achievement came out of numerous meetings in the community. This is what they said they wanted. They said they wanted education."
SPC and the authority are trying to get out the word about classes through high schools and churches. They may do some low-key advertising.
"We're talking about maybe some radio interviews and spots like that. We're trying to see how much money we have available for such an enterprise. It's a big step for us," Moore said.
Farrell also noted the center has a place where students' children can receive care while their parents are in class. And he said a self-sufficiency program teaching life skills also is available.
