FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 24, 2003
CONTACT: Elizabeth Eguia-Garcia, Palo Alto College Director of Inst. Advancement and Public Affairs
210.921.5269
PALO ALTO COLLEGE’S NEW ADULT EDUCATION CENTER GRAND OPENING AND RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY
Palo Alto College will host the Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony of the new Adult Education Center on Monday, December 8 at 11:30 a.m. featuring keynote speaker the Honorable Congressman Ciro Rodriguez, District 28.
In 2000, Palo Alto College was awarded a $362,720 grant from the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Hispanic-Serving Institutions Assisting Communities. Through HUD and an additional $274,787 grant from the U.S. Department of Education’s Community Technology Centers awarded in 2001, Palo Alto initiated the El Pueblo Program. El Pueblo is an adult education program that provides computer and health literacy classes at no cost to participants. The Adult Education Program offers qualifying residents of south San Antonio and Bexar County an opportunity to take adult literacy classes and provides access to computer literacy classes.
Community Colleges nationwide recognize the importance of providing programs to the adult learner. "In 1991 approximately 32 percent of the U.S. adult population over the age of 16 participated in some form of adult education program," according to Jerret LeMay, senior analyst of Market and Survey Research at Brookdale Community College.
With the new dedicated space for the program on the Palo Alto campus, the adult learners will familiarize themselves with the college atmosphere and ease the apprehension of entering or re-entering into college.
The Adult Education Program partners include: AVANCE, Benitia Family Center, Bexar County Housing Authority- Remigio Migrant Housing Center, Columbia Heights and Margarita Huantes Learning and Leadership Development Centers, JOVEN, Miracle Center Ministries, San Antonio Housing Authority- Mission Park Apartments, and Somerset Independent School District.
For more information about the new Adult Education Center, please contact Jane Velasquez at 921-5174.
Palo Alto College is a fully accredited community college located on the Southside of San Antonio, and awards associate degrees, short-term certificates and offers non-credit continuing education classes. The college is recognized nationally for its high transfer rate. The campus is located at 1400 West Villaret Blvd. at I-410 South and Texas Hwy. 16.