Wednesday, July 16, 2003

DBCC offers many programs

By MORRIS SULLIVAN
NEWS-JOURNAL CORRESPONDENT

PALM COAST — Unless a college student is majoring in Spring Break, there’s not much chance he or she will take a final exam at the beach.

However, at least one program offered at the local campus of Daytona Beach Community College lets students do just that.

Dr. Howard Turner, provost for the Flagler-Palm Coast campus and dean of Expanded Learning Opportunities at Daytona Beach Community College, said there are a wide range of programs at the college.

The largest and most popular is the associate of arts degree. Through a statewide articulation agreement with the four-year university system, the two-year program is completely transferable.

“So all the state universities accept those credits from students who graduate (from DBCC) with an AA degree,” Turner said.

Along with the liberal arts programs, the college offers associate of science degrees. Those programs are more career oriented.

“Those two-year programs prepare the student for an occupation,” he said.

There are more than 60 of those programs, including various technical programs, engineering, business and photography. Several health-related programs are especially popular.

“Health programs have been really hot for a number of years,” he said. “Our radiography course, which we conduct in conjunction with Halifax Hospital, is very popular. And nursing is booming because there’s such a shortage.”

One career-oriented program is relatively new but already attracting students from out of state.

“We have a stand-alone program in golf course operations, which exists only at this campus,” Turner said. There are only two similar courses offered in Florida.

The program is designed to prepare students to work on golf courses as assistant superintendents, irrigation techs, spray techs and the like.

“But, ultimately, it’s a very quick way to become a superintendent. If the student is good, they can do that within five years. And that’s a very good job,” he said.

Charles Granger is an associate professor and associate chairman of golf course operations at DBCC. The former golf course superintendent runs the program, now going into its third class. Granger’s background is agronomy and he graduated from a similar program.

So far, the program has graduated eight students. Many of them have followed the track described by Turner, he said, “but some have gone into the landscaping industry and we have a student working for the Milwaukee Brewers doing sports field operations.”

The field open to graduates is “much wider than just golf courses,” he said. “Agribusiness is the largest industry in America so they’re not just limited to golf courses. The underlying thing I have noticed is that (the program) attracts students who want to work outdoors. That’s the common bond.”

Classes are in the afternoons so students can work on area courses while in school. That way, the students get hands-on, real-time experience while studying the academics. That experience, Granger said, “is a must.”

Course work includes everything from basic maintenance to landscape and golf course construction design.

“One of the main things we’re trying to teach is good environmental stewardship,” he said. That includes proper use of pesticides and fertilizers, as well as entomology and plant pathology.

Not all the class work happens indoors, however. The students have built a green and maintain it.

“And for our final exam, we design a mock hole,” Granger said. “Last year, we did it on the beach and they had a great time. Where else can you take a final exam on the beach?”

Along with career degree programs, the college also has many certificate programs.

“Many vocational programs are one-year certificates, like heating and air conditioning, auto mechanics, auto body, cosmetology and manufacturing,” Turner said.

High school students also attend the college in dual enrollment programs.

“That’s a pinnacle program,” Turner said. “High school seniors can come over and do their senior year with us.

“It’s all dual enrollment credit so the credits count toward both high school graduation and college.”

The tuition is free and the school system buys the books so it’s a good way to get a jump start on a college education.

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