The Ranger (San Antonio, Tex.), Vol. 76, No. 15, Ed. 1 Friday, February 16, 2001 Page: 3 of 8
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Ranger.
Feb. 16, 2001 ♦ 3
San Antonio College ♦ www.theranger.org
Nicaraguan
District strives
Bulletin Board
Pick a college
for global reach
By Claire Andres
By Claire Andres
*
*
TA5P classes
they would not be tor-
Conrado said.
1
program
builds skills
♦ A new foundation is set to develop
training for trades not being taught.
“You have to
picture a Third
World country.
They’re using
’50s and ’60s
vintage tools.”
globalize the curriculum.
"We have invited faculty in
Conrado explained internation-
al education was not important in
community college systems then.
Eventually, he became the
Conrado said.
The district also has interna-
tional programs focused directly
on its students.
"For the last five years, we have
with OAS.
Aubrey A. Hovey contributed to
KM
said.
Conrado said going public was
one way to keep those who were
wounded," he said. "What we
were looking for was a democrat-
ic system and social justice."
As a lawyer and a
Sandinista coalition took power.
However, in the first and second
year the revolution became more
and more radical — getting away
' > we
were fighting for," Conrado said.
Sandinista movement," he said.
"At that time, the purpose was to
fight against the Somoza dictator- tatorship collapsed.
On his return to Nicaragua,
however, Conrado did not find
the democratic system he had U.S. community colleges.
the colleges to decide. The pro-
gram is reciprocal, with students this story.
Beginning in fall 2001, the dis- professor and
trict will provide a $3,000 mini-
com-
family who fought for Sandanista
cause.
"My father was jailed 27
times," he said. "I was jailed three
times. My uncle was killed."
Conrado did not waver as he
related these experiences, but evi- from the democratic principles
One person credits Conrado
with saving his life.
"One revolutionary who was
killed by the fighting thinks that I saved his life
because I went on television to say director of international programs
I had seen him arrested," Conrado at that college.
In 1994, he heard that the
ACCD was looking for a district
director of international pro-
grams.
Since being hired by the dis-
trict, Conrado has been working
to extend international education
in a variety of ways.
He thinks this is important in
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know each other and planned a
strategy for the conference,
16 to 18 faculty members from
each college to the North
v*z <_z
rational American Free Trade Agreement
The deadline to sign up for a TASP comprehen-
sive review is Thursday.
These sessions will review skills to pass the
Texas Academic Skills Program test scheduled
March 3.
Students can sign up at Moody Learning Center
in Room 712.
There is a $10 nonrefundable fee for Alamo
Community College District students and a $20
fee for others.
The fee allows students to attend one session
review for each section of the TASP test, including
writing, math and reading.
The scheduled times for the writing section
review are from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Feb. 24 and
from 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 28.
The math section review will be from 9 a.m. to
12:30 p.m. Feb. 24 and from 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 26.
The reading test review will be from 4 p.m. to 7
p.m. Feb. 27.
For more information, call Janice Wilson at 733-
2973.
Federico Zaragoza
Vice President of
Administration
at St. Philip's
Southwest Campus
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The transfer center is sponsoring a transfer fair
from 9 a.m. to noon and from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Wednesday in Loftin Student Center.
Dr. Terry Walch, coordinator of the transfer cen-
ter encourages students to browse through the
tables staffed by university representatives to
make an initial contact with an institution.
"If you don't know where you want to go, this
is a good opportunity to pick up brochures,
request catalogs and find out dates transfer stu-
dents are encouraged to come on campus," she
said.
Students should use this opportunity to begin
gathering information about what each university
offers and the steps to take to transfer, Walch
said.
Local universities signed up to participate
include the University of Texas at San Antonio, the
University of the Incarnate Word and Our Lady of
the Lake and St. Mary's universities.
She said the University of Texas Health Science
Center at San Antonio will have representatives
from various programs, such as respiratory thera-
py, occupational therapy and nursing.
Others scheduled to attend include the
University of Texas at Austin and Texas Tech,
Angelo State, St. Edwards, Sam Houston State,
.Southwest Texas State, Texas Southern and Texas
Lutheran universities.
From the Texas A&M system, Walch is expect-
ing representatives of the branches at Kingsville,
Corpus Christi, Commerce and the International
University in Laredo.
For more information, call the transfer center at
733-2099 or stop by the office in the Balditt
Counseling Center on the first floor of Moody
Learning Center.
Flex 2
• : ' ■ ■ ■■ : 7 ■ 7-7 : •
Registration for Hex 2 session classes continues
through March 8 and is only available at this time
via telephone and the Internet.
Ojkpus registration will be March 8 and
tuition and fees are due for classes by March 9.
Flex classes meet March 19 through May 13.
Call 301-2520 to register by phone, or log on to
wwzu.accd.edu to register online.
Teen conference
.
WomeX/YoeunS2 Sen's SnfeT^TcX 900 foSh
Women s/Young Men s Conference for 900 high
school students from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday
in the auditorium of McAllister Fine Arts Center.
The theme for this year is "New Voices: New
Visions," said Judy Kovacs-Long, assistant coordi-
nator of the women's center. _
"It's geared toward young people to create a Fl
dream of what's possible and bring them on cam- I I
pus to know what it's like to be on a campus,"
Kovacs-Long said.
MeTendreTofMaefo
Michael Villarreal; writer and activist oandra
^:^S’^^erpresi-
The Alamo Community College District foun-
dation, financial services and other sources have
donated $60,000 to award 20 full-time scholar-
ships to high school students attending the confer-
ence.
Board meets Tuesday
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The Alamo Community College District board
of trustees is scheduled to discuss a utility escrow
settlement with the city of San Antonio at its regu-
larly scheduled meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the
George E. Killen Community Education and
Service Center, 201 W. Sheridan St.
Escrow funds of $3.14 million have accumulat-
ed as a result of a dispute between the city and the
district over the city's 14 percent share of CPS rev-
* enues.
The board unanimously approved developing
a technology workforce training center Sept. 19.
Originally, the city proposed the district build
on city land but the plan has been revised to refur-
bishment of Building 210 at Kelly Air Force Base.
The remaining funds would then be used on
training and technology.
Also scheduled is action on bids for purchasing
patrol and transport vehicles for the ACCD
Department of Public Saftey.
Assistant Chief Derrick Patten said a sport util-
ity vehicle is needed to transport bikes and police
equipment from one campus to the next.
In addition, a meeting of the policy and long-
range planning committee will begin at 6 p.m., fol-
lowed by a meeting of the budget and finance
committee at 6:30 p.m.
ship." ’
"It was a very oppressive, dry-
wind dictatorship," Conrado said.
He was not the only one in his longed for. "Some people believe interna-
"The last of the Somoza family tional programs are only good for
had left the country, and the people with four-year degrees,
but for so many students, this is
the only opportunity to be
exposed to an international expe-
rience," Conrado said.
"Sixty percent of our students
only complete a two-year pro-
Conrado explained the national gram."
government formed by the Conrado also said this educa-
Sandinistas began to eliminate tion is of particular significance in
the San Antonio area.
"It is of more importance here
for historical, cultural and geo-
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provide for those needs."
The study was based on an existing design,
Zaragoza said. However, the design had to be mod-
ified because some of the terminology used is differ-
ent in Nicaragua.
"We understand the term 'bricklayer' here,"
Zaragoza said. "There the term is albanil."
Zaragoza said these are not simply language dif-
ferences but differences in what jobs entail.
A questionnaire was given to five companies in
Nicaragua to identify changes needed, and alter-
ations were made. A partner organization, Habitat, a
Nicaraguan company, then hired about 10 students,
primarily architecture majors, to interview 92 com-
panies using the questionnaire.
"We trained the five individuals who would
supervise the surveys," Zaragoza said.
After the questionnaire was completed, the data
had to be compiled.
"We contracted with a Nicaraguan statistician
who used a software program to analyze the data to
establish trends," Zaragoza said.
The data was used to pinpoint the 20 fastest grow-
ing occupations. The data also showed that for 70
percent of those 20 occupations no training exists in
Nicaragua.
Zaragoza said this is primarily because the occu-
pations that need to be filled use what, in Nicaragua,
are new technologies.
"You have to picture a Third World country,"
Zaragoza said. "They're using '50s and '60s vintage
tools."
He said the next step is to define training needs in
those 20 areas and develop curriculums to meet
them.
"We contracted with Conalep, the national voca-
tional, technological and industrial training agency
for Mexico," Zaragoza said.
This agency will supervise the Dacum, an occu-
pational analysis that through observation and focus
groups defines what competencies are needed in the
20 occupations.
"They'll be doing that for the next week,"
Zaragoza said, adding the next phase will be devel-
oping the curriculum.
"That is the most exciting part because we have a
lot of resources," Zaragoza said. "We will exhaust
our faculty resources wherever possible, and then
look at what else is available."
The projected date for having the curriculum
developed is the end of May. "Once the curriculum
is developed, the contract calls for training the train-
ers," Zaragoza said.
He said between five and 10 instructors will then
go to Nicaragua in early June to teach Nicaraguan
trainers how to teach the curriculum.
Conrado said this project will have several bene-
fits for the ACCD and for San Antonio.
"It gives our faculty and administration the
opportunity to be involved in the international
arena," he said. "It gives the local business commu-
nity the opportunity to expand to another country
and to create new jobs in San Antonio."
Conrado said the benefit for students will be indi-
rect but not small.
"The project will benefit the area and the colleges
economically, which will benefit the students,"
Conrado said.
Zaragoza echoed this sentiment, "It's not just a
feel-good thing," he said. "It's got long-term busi-
ness potential.
The project is funded by the Inter-American
Development Bank, which will provide $1.2 million,
and the Nicaraguan builders association, which will
provide $300,000.
To protect itself from liability and to increase its
participation in international consulting projects like
this one, the district has created a nonprofit corpora-
tion, the Alamo Community College District
Foundation for International Consulting Inc.
trade and the environment.
Five students who participated
in the mock conference spent a
weekend in Monterey, Mexico.
There the group learned about
been taking 20 students to Saltillo, parliamentary procedure, got to
The district asks the president Mexico," he said. "Students stay
of each college to have individual with a host family for one week."
Conrado called this a "total Rogers said,
immersion program" and said
Eduardo Conrado, district director of international programs, oversees student and faculty educational travel.
Rebel from Page 1
leader Augusto Sandino,. who
Conrado said was
Somoza family.
The Somoza family's rule,
begun in 1937, was backed by the
United States.
"At the beginning, I was one of
the lawyers who supported the jailed from disappearing.
In 1979, while Conrado was in
the United States, the Somoza die-
-'-"' A w*
The Alamo
College District strives to promote
students with the skills they need sors in different areas combining based on the Organization of the
to function effectively in the classes. Conrado said in this American States.
world, the director of internation- model, professors provide an "It is a forum to discuss the
al programs, said Monday. international perspective in their common problems for the States,
Eduardo Conrado said people own areas. such as drug use, drug trafficking,
in a modem global society need a Conrado said having faculty money laundering, immigration,
global orientation regardless of members interact on these com- terrorism or how to use resources
to fight poverty," he said. "Each
college represents a country."
Conrado said the district sends
five students and one instructor
dence of the pain the memories
cause him was written in his
expression.
He said the role his family
played in the revolution was non-
violent.
"Sometimes we were hiding "The . main newspaper, La
people — people who had been Prensa, was closed," Conrado graphical reasons," Conrado said.
"To serve our community, we
need to offer our students the
a global
international education.
One of the approaches is to
focus on faculty.
"We need to give our faculty a
global perspective," Conrado
said. "Students get what the
instructor provides to them."
Since 1996, the district has sent grant per semester to each
mittee, for the implementation of lege when they participated in
its ideas, Conrado said.
In addition, Conrado's office
Seminar in Mexico each year. has written a proposal to the
Conrado said the seminar is Department of Education, seeking resenting
geared toward business and trade,
so the first year of the seminar,
classes. Conrado said in this
model, professors provide an
international perspective in their
own areas.
Conrado said having faculty
members interact on these com-
their vocational or professional mittees has been beneficial,
fields, and he outlined several "Before, each department was
ways the district incorporates isolated," he said. "Now, they are
interacting."
Conrado said this may lead to from each college to this three-day
the colleges creating degrees in meeting and has done so for the
international business or interna- last three years.
tional studies. Dr. Philip Rogers, government
’an advocate of
using simulation to learn, super-
vised seven students from this col-
a
mock Organization of American
States conference Nov. 9-12.
At the meeting, 22 schools rep-
different countries
a $250,000 grant. attempted to pass resolutions,
"We think that by next month, focusing on five issues, human
faculty who taught in these gener- we will know if we get it," rights, security, drug enforcement,
al areas were selected to go, but
this changed.
"After the first seminar, we
opened it to everybody, because
the experience is enlightening for
anyone," Conrado said.
free enterprise and freedom of
speech.
"The . main newspaper,
One way to do this is to select from Saltillo then coming here.
textbooks containing international He said another program
Community components, he said. directly involving students and
' ! Ariother possibility is to intro- run by the World Affairs Council
international education to provide duce team teaching, with profes- of San Antonio is a mock meeting,
lX. *
The Alamo Community College District is in the
midst of the first phase of a consulting program for
work force development in the Nicaragua construc-
tion industry.
The proposal for the project was written in the fall •
by Federico Zaragoza, vice president of administra-
tion at St. Philip's College Southwest Campus, and
Eduardo Conrado, director of international pro-
grams for the district.
Zaragoza and Conrado traveled to Nicaragua in
October to sign the contract.
Conrado said this is the first program of its kind
taken on by the district.
"We aren't training students — we are designing
a model for a work force development project and
continuing education and training for the
Nicaraguan builders association."
Conrado said Zaragoza was selected as chief
investigator of the project based on his expertise in
work force development.
"He has a Ph.D. in work force development, and
has been designing, for many years, in different
cities of the United States,
programs similar or larg-
er than that in
Nicaragua," Conrado
said.
The term chief investi-
gator is a generic label
given to the lead person
in research studies.
Zaragoza said a sup-
ply and demand study
began in October.
"This is a blueprint,"
he said. "It shows where
the gaps are between the
work force needs and the
capacity of the trainers to
departments select who will
attend the seminar. immersion program" and said Rogers said he plans to incor-
Conrado said another way the students from the United States porate the annual mock confer-
district is encouraging interna- attend classes with the students ence into his Government 2302
tional education is by working to from the host family. American Government: Problems
Conrado said the district gives and Policies, course in the fall
the colleges guidelines on what using the first third of the course
each college to create a committee type of students should be select- to train and familiarize students
to start working on a way to intro- ed to go, and from there it is up to
duce a global perspective into the ' “ - . - —
curriculum," Conrado said.
***«szs
dean at the sive system to a left-wing oppres- perspective."
He held his hands up with fin-
gers entwined and said, "In Texas,
we are like this."
"San Antonio is doing business
with Mexico and Latin America,"
Conrado said. "We need a local
work force that is is international-
ly oriented."
Conrado was able to do more than
hide revolutionaries,
could
said. "We were fighting for free-
dom, and in two years, we were
moving from a right-wing oppres- opportunity of getting
Nicaraguan National University, sive system.
"I decided this is not for me,"
Conrado said. "I have to agree
"We could present legal with my own conscience. I better
defense for those who were taken go back to the United States."
to jail so they would not be tor- Upon his return to the United
tured. At least, we were a voice," States, he was taught sociology at
C-----1---Id. El Paso Community College.
; A
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San Antonio College. The Ranger (San Antonio, Tex.), Vol. 76, No. 15, Ed. 1 Friday, February 16, 2001, newspaper, February 16, 2001; San Antonio, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1352176/m1/3/: accessed July 11, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting San Antonio College.