Program offers new beginnings to transitioning students
by Ashley Smicker
reporter

(Part 3 in a four-part series on the women in New Roles program at all TCC campuses.)
   Nicole Prince has been out of school so long she needed help to get back into the swing of things.
   The Women in New Roles program did just that by assisting Prince and others returning to college.
   WINR has no entrance requirements other than TCC admission for credit registration.
   The program offers aid in testing, counseling, career placement and Internet orientation, networking and mentoring.
   The WINR courses are customized for women in transition and are designed to help them answer the questions: “Where have I been? Where am I now? What do I want? Where am I going?” The classes are taught in a non-traditional, interactive manner.
   Women take two three–hour courses in human relations and applied psychology (career focus/ work focus).
   Core classes are offered on South, SE, NE and NW campuses.
   The semester is spent in activity and study specifically geared for the women and their careers.
   The program offers guided practice, resume writing, exposure to available career opportunities and studies, including self-awareness, communication skills, both intrapersonal and interpersonal relations for confidence building.
   Anita Peters, NE counselor, teaches psychology for the NE Campus New    Beginnings program, and Paula Vastine, director of student development services, teaches a blended course objective.
   “ I love this program; it’s one of my favorite classes,” Amy Kauffrott said.
   Some of the benefits are monthly networking, health forums, art and music reviews, career expos and support groups, Peters said.
   “ It’s been inspiring to me and helped give me confidence to be who I needed to be,” Mary Lowry said.
   Vastine invites guest speakers to talk about different topics in the program.
   In February, Saundra Marling, Career Horizon counselor, spoke to the class about personal traits that will help students determine the types of jobs they could go into, Vastine said.
   “ This program has been rewarding to me,” she said.
   “ It’s a wonderful program for women to look at themselves and their strengths and to find work satisfying and become successful,” she said.
   In Vastine’s class, the women will learn how to identify communication skills and understand goal setting and how to explore personal needs, careers and job markets.
   For more information on this program, visit the Web site at www.tccd.edu/win-r.