Speaker Presentation: Dr. Scott Cashman, Senior Manager, Harper College
Maria Coons introduced Dr. Scott Cashman, Senior Manager of the Community Education programs which is part of Work Force Solutions area at Harper College. In addition to his job, he is a musician and passionate about the environment. He also is a cultural anthropologist and teaches at College of Lake County.
Cashman explained that Harper offers many types of learning opportunities that are not tied to college credit.
Types of Community Education include:
- Career skills to meet employers’ needs.
- Programs to prepare students for college, such as summer programs. The college wants students to have the skills that will help them succeed at college and at a job.
- Lifelong Learning opportunities for the community. A person could attend Harper programs from age 6 to 99. The programs are comprehensive and address the needs of people throughout their lives. The idea is that people should never stop learning. Examples include cooking, home repair, welding, wellness and fitness, culture, wine appreciation, bicycle maintenance, and languages.
Cashman added that continuing to learn has been shown to stave off dementia and to aid mental health.
Children who have family members who have gone to college are more likely to go to college themselves. They see that learning is important to their role models and to the quality of their life. Community education programs add to this inspiration and foundation.
To show the breadth of the Community Education programing, Cashman showed a slide of the many types of programs such as career skills institute, career training, community music, motorcycle safety, InZone kids’ college (over 1000 students every summer from ages 6-14), personal enrichment, and the lifelong learning institute. He also explained the wide variety of lectures that are available in the Community Programs.
Cashman himself leads the “Harper’s Back Porch Review,” which focuses on folk music. Community members can join on a semester basis. Minimal music levels are required. Most songs used are over 100 years old. This is a fun community experience. He notes that May 22, 3PM is the next concert at the Performing Arts Center. He also told the Club about the World Music Experience, a program that has students play traditional music from all over the world. This promotes cultural education and exchange. In addition to these groups, private music lessons for all ages are available.
Writing, technology, and business programs are available under the Career Training division of Community Education, as well as other skills building programs. The college holds graduation for the Career Skills Institute, which is a two year program.
Cashman noted that the average age in the programs is 41 years old. Online and in person classes are offered, and they are available at night and on weekends.
He invited Club members to contact him with questions.