By Eric Stevick
Herald Writer
MONROE — As Stu Barger tells it, Everett Community College learned a simple and profound lesson after bringing some short-lived college-level courses to Monroe in 1993.
"We decided what classes we thought they would want rather than asking the community what they would want," said the EvCC vice president of instructional services.
The lesson: listen to the customer and work closely with the Monroe School District and those who know the community.
Between the 2000 and 2001 school years, EvCC enrollment in Monroe increased from 296 to 504, with the college reaching everyone from recent immigrants trying to learn English through noncredit classes to high school students trying to get an early jump on their college transcripts.
Not included in those numbers are college-level technical preparation courses for high school students, with classes ranging from business technology to computer-aided drafting. Those numbers rose from seven to 203. Many of the students are likely to enroll in college after high school to continue in a technical certificate program.
This fall, EvCC is expanding its list of college-level courses in Monroe, including English, Spanish and social science classes that can be taken sequentially from fall through spring.
Clearly, many east county residents want transferable college credits without enduring a lot of traffic headaches by traveling to Everett, Barger said.
"Once people get home from work, they really don’t want to go back across the trestle," Barger said of the Hewitt Avenue approach to U.S. 2, known for long backups even before this summer’s road work made it even worse.
"We are a service organization, and we need to take it to our community."
Sheila Dunn, director of EvCC’s east county program, agreed.
"It’s interesting when you set up a satellite like this, you set up relationships that you can’t really have until you penetrate the community," she said.
The school district has been a vital partner, she said. EvCC courses are offered at Monroe’s high school and junior high school.
Night courses vary from basic education classes for people seeking their GED (General Educational Development) certificate to specific high-technology classes.
"We are very pleased with the cooperation from EvCC and their willingness to site programs out here," said Bill Prenevost, superintendent of the Monroe School District.
EvCC has recognized the concept that the college is "not necessarily bricks and mortar in Everett" but an institution that must offer life-long learning opportunities by reaching people in their own communities, Prenevost said.
The success in Monroe will be studied as EvCC looks to expand its presence in north Snohomish County.
"I think it would be the model for what we do up there," Barger said.
You can call Herald Writer Eric Stevick at 425-339-3446
or send e-mail to stevick@heraldnet.com.
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