Family College Director Deserves a Timeout
Issue date: 4/1/09 Section: Editorial & Opinion
Located in S105, the Family College Program exists as a miniature version of Wright College, except Wright students can't receive timeouts. While a preschool at Wright may seem like a luxurious idea for hectic student-parents, the director behind this program does little to encourage students to take advantage of it.
While not officially a 'daycare,' according to Director Diane Prosser, the Family College program allows students and virtually anyone, the chance to provide their kin with skills and knowledge under the guidance of 11 certified teachers. Class tuition ranges from $38 - $60 and the program educates children between the ages of 1 and12 for six two-hour sessions per semester. Classes are limited to 12 attendees. Even so, some classes never reach the minimum required, causing some cancellation. This seems odd, considering Wright night classes are busting at the seams.
The Family College program sounds beneficial for parents, but that's only one demographic to appease in a school of 10000. Sessions are open to the public, but as Prosser explained their biggest challenge remains a lack of school advertising. Since Wright sponsors so many programs already and the Family College Program isn't one of them, according to the Continuing Education Department, this keeps part of the family out of the tree.
Prosser explained that the program works as a for-profit school, but failed to mention that this means the program is fueled by the parents' tuition rather than school funding. According to the Continuing Education Department, the program works under the direction of the school but isn't sponsored by it.
Wright College President Dr. Charles Guengerich said, "The tuition and fees that are charged pay for the instruction and administration of the program." So really, it's the program's fault for its lacking publicity, as their only advertisements are within a four-foot perimeter of their doorway.
Wright student Danielle Ryan feels program officials need to promote it more to avoid skeptical remarks. "If they promoted it, they would get a lot more responses," she said. "People ask me where my son goes to school. I say Wright College. They say, 'Wright has a preschool program?' "
While not officially a 'daycare,' according to Director Diane Prosser, the Family College program allows students and virtually anyone, the chance to provide their kin with skills and knowledge under the guidance of 11 certified teachers. Class tuition ranges from $38 - $60 and the program educates children between the ages of 1 and12 for six two-hour sessions per semester. Classes are limited to 12 attendees. Even so, some classes never reach the minimum required, causing some cancellation. This seems odd, considering Wright night classes are busting at the seams.
The Family College program sounds beneficial for parents, but that's only one demographic to appease in a school of 10000. Sessions are open to the public, but as Prosser explained their biggest challenge remains a lack of school advertising. Since Wright sponsors so many programs already and the Family College Program isn't one of them, according to the Continuing Education Department, this keeps part of the family out of the tree.
Prosser explained that the program works as a for-profit school, but failed to mention that this means the program is fueled by the parents' tuition rather than school funding. According to the Continuing Education Department, the program works under the direction of the school but isn't sponsored by it.
Wright College President Dr. Charles Guengerich said, "The tuition and fees that are charged pay for the instruction and administration of the program." So really, it's the program's fault for its lacking publicity, as their only advertisements are within a four-foot perimeter of their doorway.
Wright student Danielle Ryan feels program officials need to promote it more to avoid skeptical remarks. "If they promoted it, they would get a lot more responses," she said. "People ask me where my son goes to school. I say Wright College. They say, 'Wright has a preschool program?' "
Be the first to comment on this story