Public Employee Press

DC 37 College
Success stories

At the DC 37 campus of the College of New Rochelle, union members are getting the education of a lifetime in a degree program designed especially for working people.

By DIANE S. WILLIAMS

How many times do you get a second chance in life?

For Nina Manning, a Regional Supervising Clerk in the New York Public Library who is studying at the DC 37 Campus of the College of New Rochelle, the answer is twice-and counting.

That's because by next August, Ms. Manning will join the more than 2,600 DC 37 members who have graduated with a college degree and a second chance from DC 37's liberal arts college program for working adults.

"I started my job as a library page straight out of high school," said Ms. Manning, a Local 1931 member who began college at DC 37 in 1994, stopped and returned in 2000. "I worked my way up the ranks but I never had the chance to attend college until I enrolled in this program."

Since its inception 30 years ago, the union's college program - CNR's School of New Resources at DC 37 - has helped members realize their dream of earning a college degree through an accredited program that offers accelerated six-credit classes. Most other college courses are just three credits.

The College of New Rochelle program was the brainchild of current DC 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts, who in 1972 saw the education benefit as an opportunity to offer members "a second chance to improve their lives through education."

"Never say can't"

DC 37 retiree Norman Davis was one of the first DC 37 members to enroll in the CNR program back in 1972. After writing an eye-opening essay on African American stereotypes in Hollywood, Mr. Davis was admitted to the program at 47. "I went to college because my mother, who found the program in a PEP ad said, 'You need that piece of paper to get ahead.'"

Three years later he graduated with a liberal arts degree and went on to develop a master's degree program at Long Island University for city employees while working to support his family. Since Mr. Davis often was the only applicant with college degrees, he quickly advanced up the Parks Dept. career ladder. He said, "Going to college through DC 37 was a sacrifice that changed my life."

Since then, thousands of city employees have taken advantage of the union educational program and advanced their careers with degrees from the school. One fourth of SNR graduates have gone on to become professionals, doctors, lawyers and college professors. Ms. Roberts' vision of "a program that allows working adults to earn a college degree as a means to uplift civil servants" is now a longstanding reality. The School of New Resources remains a jewel in DC 37's crown and is the benchmark for other union-sponsored adult education programs.

School of New Resources' program

To learn more about the school of New Resources' program, which is not only accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, but also nationally and internationally recognized for excellence in adult higher education, come to an orientation session in room 12 at the Union, 125 Barclay Street on Tuesday, December 10, 16 or January 3, 2003. Paraprofessionals and Family Workers should come at 3:30 p.m., others should plan to arrive at 6:00 p.m. If you are interested but cannot attend, look for additional orientation dates in the January 2003 issue of the Public Employees Press.