Higher Education

The aid Dr. Kitchens gave to our community college To the editor: Some several weeks ago, I telephoned Dr. Claud Kitchens to say how much my wife and I enjoyed the articles about his educational experiences that have been appearing in The Herald-Mail. During our conversation, I promised to write a letter to the editor about what may have become "a taken-for-granted action" regarding the development of the Hagerstown Community College campus. From the time of its beginning in 1946 until 1971, the college operated under Washington County Board of Education supervision.

WASHINGTON COUNTY -- For the second straight fall, enrollment at the University System of Maryland at Hagerstown has increased by 15 percent. Executive Director C. David Warner III said the downtown campus is growing after a rough start. Hagerstown Community College's enrollment numbers also are up this semester - about 4 percent higher than last fall, following increases of 3 percent in fall 2007 and 2 percent in fall 2006. Jennifer Fisher, HCC's director of admissions, records and registration, said interest in community colleges rises when the economy falters.

HAGERSTOWN -- Several teachers in higher education received high praise on Friday. Six colleges and universities with classes in Hagerstown honored outstanding faculty members at the first Academic Excellence in Higher Education Awards. At Duffy's on Potomac in Hagerstown, teachers more accustomed to recognizing their best students instead were the recipients of kind words and gifts. They included Ed Gift, an adjunct faculty member in history and sociology at Hagerstown Community College for 35 years.

WASHINGTON COUNTY - Given the recent economic climate, eight political hopefuls had the rare opportunity to entertain the notion of having unlimited funds to spend on education in Washington County. The eight candidates competing for four open seats on the seven-member Washington County Board of Education say what they would do with that money in this Sunday's newspaper. Over the next month, candidates will respond to questions in their own words in the Sunday Herald-Mail. Some of the questions will be posed by staff members, and some will come directly from voters.

Given the recent economic climate, eight political hopefuls had the rare opportunity to entertain the notion of having unlimited funds to spend on education in Washington County. The eight candidates competing for four open seats on the seven-member Washington County Board of Education say what they would do with that money on page A3 of today's newspaper. Over the next month, candidates will respond to questions in their own words in the Sunday Herald-Mail. Some of the questions will be posed by staff members, and some will come directly from voters.

SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. - Diane Melby of Winchester, Va., has been named vice president for advancement at Shepherd University effective Sept. 16. Melby had served as associate vice president of the Spirit of Shenandoah Campaign at Shenandoah University. Since 2004, she provided leadership for the comprehensive campaign and guided the campaign from $7.5 million to $55 million in three years. At Shenandoah, she also served as interim vice president of development (2007-08)

Kaplan College's Hagerstown campus will host a free career roadmap workshop Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m. at 18618 Crestwood Drive. The school's staff will speak to guests about setting career- oriented goals and how higher education can help them achieve their aspirations. The staff also will discuss educational programs offered at the campus. Guests will have an opportunity to meet individually with campus staff to discuss their career goals in detail. During the workshop, the college will offer tours of the campus, as well as refreshments.

HAGERSTOWN -- Five of the 18 staff jobs at the University System of Maryland at Hagerstown were cut Tuesday because of lagging enrollment. A USM-H press release says "enrollment has not met projections for which the current staffing level was anticipated. " The campus opened in 2005 and had 356 students that fall. This spring, there were 380 students, an increase of almost 7 percent. C. David Warner III, USM-H's executive director, said that when the campus opened, he was hoping for at least 500 students.

WASHINGTON COUNTY -- Familiarity played a part in recent negotiations for University System of Maryland at Hagerstown funding. Some key players who helped reach a deal this month previously stood in each other's places. The university system's Annapolis point person, Patrick J. "P.J. " Hogan, was a state senator until last year. Within his Senate Budget and Taxation committee, he chaired an education subcommittee. He also chaired a separate state commission on higher education.

"If the sheriff's department has a bullet shortage, maybe they can send someone up to the former shooting range near Hancock and dig some of the bullets out of the trees and recycle them. " - Hancock "So a House subcommittee announced cuts that may cause the closing of the (University System of Maryland) in Hagerstown. Maybe the County Commissioners should consider taking that over, instead of the Franklin Street boondoggles. At least the university property should not need extensive repairs or changes.