Highlights of April 2021
Adapting to meet the evolving needs of the college community, CCBC continues to provide instructional, training and enrichment opportunities on campus and in virtual environments.Virtual gala raises $200K for student assistance
As part of CCBC’s commitment to support the needs of our most vulnerable student populations, this year’s CCBC gala focused on raising funds to support CCBC students affected by the pandemic and in need of emergency assistance. On April 21, CCBC live-streamed its Stronger Together: Connecting community, home and classroom virtual gala to nearly 100 guests. The CCBC Foundation raised more than $200,000 at this year’s event, working together with the Office of College Life, community partners, employees, alumni and friends. As a result, the CCBC College and Community Outreach program was able to provide micro-grants or emergency funds to students for rent, transportation, technology, and other basis needs.
During the event, CCBC students Maitrai Dalwadi and Daniel Harrison shared with viewers how CCBC helped them navigate the pandemic by providing them with personal care supplies, a laptop, and money for food.
Two health care career programs offered entirely online
CCBC is expanding its reach beyond local borders by offering fully online degree programs in two popular health care careers – Human Services Counseling and Health Informatics and Information Technology. Both associate degree programs are designed so anyone can learn online from anywhere.As medical systems are quickly evolving from paper-based to electronic medical records, the need for workers with analytical and data management skills is significant. The college’s HIIT A.A.S. degree program prepares students for a challenging career as compliance managers, quality assurance officers, health data analysts, health record technicians and more. Students who are interested in Medical Coding can complete their Medical Coding credit certificate in as little as 18 months and gain employment in hospitals, clinics, physicians' offices, nursing facilities, insurance companies and other health care settings.
CCBC’s A.A.S. degree program in Human Services Counseling offers three main tracks: Alcohol and Drug Counseling, Elder Care and At-Risk Youth Care. Since the pandemic, the program is using interactive video to practice counseling skills, which aligns with the movement toward telehealth. And with stackable credentials, new students can begin working as Alcohol and Drug Counselor Trainees after the first 15 credits.
CCBC hosts U.S. Poet Laureate Joy Harjo
U.S. Poet Laureate Joy Harjo joined members of the greater college community in a virtual event held April 15 via Zoom.Harjo read from her work and discussed her signature project, Living Nations, Living Words, featuring work by 47 Native Nations poets through an interactive ArcGIS Story Map and audio collection. Harjo is an internationally renowned performer and writer of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, currently serving her second term as the 23rd Poet Laureate of the United States. She is the first Native American to hold this position.
This event was co-hosted by CCBC’s Community Book Connection and Creative Writing Forum.
Partnership promotes low-cost education opportunities
Kaiser Permanente, in a historic partnership with CCBC and Baltimore City Community College, will advance its ALICE initiative – Asset Limited, Income-Constrained, Employed – with a joint marketing campaign seeking to expand access to low-cost or tuition-free higher education opportunities, particularly in communities of color.With the help of a $75,000 commitment from Kaiser Permanente, CCBC and BCCC have increased outreach to those for whom the cost of living outpaces what they earn – sharing that a college education is financially feasible and leads to better income earning employment opportunities. For Kaiser Permanente, this initiative exemplifies the healthcare organization’s commitment to advance economic equity and expand educational opportunities to communities of color.
2021 Ellucian Impact Award honors 'CCBC Cares' initiative
Ellucian, the leading higher education technology solutions provider, has honored CCBC with a 2021 Ellucian Impact Award. CCBC was awarded a $25,000 grant and recognized for its CCBC Cares program to support students impacted by the pandemic.When CCBC campuses closed in March 2020 due to the pandemic, the college launched CCBC Cares, a multi-pronged initiative that made a big impact on access, retention and success for its widely diverse student population. It was especially crucial for vulnerable students who needed technology to switch easily to remote learning. Initiatives under the CCBC Cares umbrella touched close to 10,000 students, addressing their academic, technological and financial needs.
The annual Ellucian Impact Awards celebrate visionaries who are inspiring others to push the boundaries of higher education technology and innovation. The announcement was made during Ellucian Live, the industry’s top global technology conference. CCBC won in the student well-being category.
Manufacturing Virtual Job Fair connects employers and job seekers
CCBC held a virtual manufacturing job fair in partnership with the Regional Manufacturing Institute and Baltimore County Department of Economic and Workforce Development. County Executive Johnny Olszewski and Dr. Sandra Kurtinitis, CCBC president, made video introductions.Featuring more than 150 positions at manufacturing companies including administrative, engineering, sales, and shop floor, nearly 400 job seekers registered for the fair. CCBC’s Job Network team supported job seekers with preparation sessions and by providing in-person help on the day of the fair.
