After a long run of offering courses and training at the Albany Extension Center, located at 175 Central Ave. in Albany, Hudson Valley Community College is relocating to the Albany Educational Opportunity Center (EOC) location at 30 North Russell Road. This is just two miles away from the original location. While this is a bittersweet change for the college and its Workforce Development Institute (WDI) after so many years at “175 Central,” it also opens up some exciting possibilities for the future!
The college first offered courses in Fall 2002 at the Albany Extension Center, the building that also includes Career Central. It has also been the home of the WDI’s Pharmacy Technician Program. For 16 years, the Albany Extension Center has served the downtown area well. Staff from the office of Continuing Education, Summer Sessions and Workforce Development were located there during the day and an advisor was available in the evening for many years, providing needed services to countless current and potential students. Career Central, with its mix of social service and employment agencies located in the building, also referred prospective students to our office, where staff provided information about the college and WDI.
The courses held during the day and evening included English, math, psychology, sociology, and others. Over the years, the mix of students taking classes there remained pretty stable. It included both matriculated and non-matriculated students, covered all age ranges, employment status and career interests.
Unexpectedly, the opportunity to co-locate with the Albany EOC became available and will provide Hudson Valley with access to more classroom and office space, bigger and better facilities for both students and instructors, and conveniently remain on the same Central Avenue bus route. By being immediately next to Westgate Plaza, there will be quick access to stores, restaurants and other nearby services.
It is hoped that proximity to the Albany EOC will prove to be an an in-house stepping stone for students interested in continuing their education at a location they already know. EOC students will be able to more easily transition into college courses or WDI training.
It is anticipated that while the college will continue to offer similar types of credit courses at the new location, we will now be able to expand into other topic areas and expand WDI course offerings in Albany.
If you would like to offer a course at the new Albany location, please contact me (Debra Kowalski at d.kowalski@hvcc.edu) to discuss room availability.
Published: Tue, 05 Jun 2018 18:09:05 +0000 by d.kowalski