EMT Courses; Coordinator; Career, Enrichment Courses New at Whitman Center

BEDFORD TWP. — A new state-approved EMT certificate program is coming to Monroe County Community College’s Whitman Center in Temperance.

Last week, the state of Michigan approved an emergency medical technician certification program that will begin Sept. 15 at the Whitman Center. Other projects recently announced at the center include an on-site coordinator, regular counseling and orientation hours and 14 continuing education and professional development courses. This is the first time in years that these types of courses have been offered at the Whitman Center.

In March, MCCC President Kojo Quartey announced that the college was seeking public input on the Whitman Center. The college’s second campus, 7777 Lewis Ave., while in use, was not hosting as many classes as it once did, and the building’s use had declined over the years. About 35 people attended community discussion sessions and offered ideas.

“Community discussion sessions between college officials and area residents in the spring generated many ideas on how to energize the institution that are currently being implemented, with more to come,” MCCC said in a news release.

Previous coverage: Public Makes Suggestions for MCCC’s Whitman Center

EMT Program

Dr. Grace Yackee, vice president of education at MCCC, said the college received approval Sept. 3 from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to offer the new EMT certificate program at the center.

“The two-semester certificate program will prepare students to provide emergency medical care and out-of-hospital transportation to critical and urgent patients accessing the emergency medical services system. Effective communication, critical thinking, safety, and ethical and legal practices will be emphasized in MCCC,” according to the press release.

The EMT program will enroll 20 students per year. There are still a few spots available. The first class, Emergency Medical Technician I, will begin September 15.

The courses and exams required to obtain the certificate include:

EMS I: September 15 to October 11, Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. (mandatory); Friday, 9 a.m. to noon (optional)
EMS II: October 14 to December 9, Monday to Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. (mandatory); Friday, 7:30 a.m. to noon (optional)
EMS III: January 13 to February 28, Monday to Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. (mandatory); Friday, 7:30 a.m. to noon (optional)
EMS IV: March 10 to May 1, Monday to Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. (mandatory); Friday, 7:30 a.m. to noon (optional)
Final practical exam: May 2 (mandatory)

To learn more about the program, visit monroeccc.edu/programs/emergency-medical-technician.

New coordinator

Rebecca Fournier of Temperance has been appointed the new activities coordinator at the Whitman Centre.

“For the first time in more than a decade, the Whitman Center has a full-time activities coordinator on site,” the press release said.

Fournier de Temperance served for two years as administrative assistant to the director of continuing learning at MCCC.

“She has experience in customer service through positions she held at Pavlov’s Brewing Company in Temperance, the YMCA of Greater Toledo and Corpus Christi University Parish in Toledo. She also worked for several years in elementary education as a classroom assistant, playground assistant and keychain supervisor,” the press release states.

Fournier holds two degrees from MCCC: an Associate of Science degree and an Associate of Applied Science degree in Professional Administration.

“As a resident of the Bedford area, Rebecca is very committed to the success of the Whitman Center,” Yackee said. Fournier participated in community discussion sessions for the Whitman Center.

“She’s looking forward to using her relationships in the region and (in northwest Ohio) to help drive interest in the center,” Yackee said.

Fournier will manage the Whitman Center’s administrative functions; assist students with credit and noncredit registrations and general admissions and registration inquiries; process tuition payments; schedule appointments with advisors; and provide assistance to students and faculty, Yackee said.

Advice, consultation hours

Regular counseling and consultation hours will be offered at the Whitman Center.

The hours for the fall semester are: 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to noon Friday.

Part-time advisors are available at the Whitman Center to advise you during scheduled hours and as needed. All other student services offered on the MCCC main campus are available remotely.

Continuing learning and professional training courses

Several personal enrichment and professional and vocational training courses will be offered this fall at the Whitman Center.

Continuing education classes at the Whitman Center include: AKC Canine Good Citizen, Leadership Gold, Lunchtime Yoga, Mindful Morning Art, Photoshop for Photographers, Photography 1 for Digital and Film Cameras, and Puppy Training Good Manner Class. New this year are the Drums Class and Mindful Morning Art Class.

The Whitman Center’s vocational and professional training courses include: Hazwoper Annual 8-Hour Refresher; Becoming an Influencer – How to Personally Impact the Lives of Others; Confined Space Awareness; Everyone Communicates, Few Connect; Lockout-Tagout; NFPA 70E Electrical Safety (4 hours); Lithium Batteries (4 hours).

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To see a list of all continuing learning courses, including several new options, offered at both MCCC campuses, visit monroeccc.edu/LL or call 734-384-4217.

MCCC’s Monroe campus opened in 1964. MCCC’s Whitman Center opened in September 1991 and offered 10 classrooms, a business learning lab, a computer lab, a multipurpose lab, a student lounge and administrative offices, according to MCCC’s website.

MCCC officials said that in recent years, changing student preferences for course delivery, particularly following the COVID-19 pandemic, have impacted the courses and services typically offered at the Whitman Center, according to the news release.

— Contact journalist Suzanne Nolan Wisler at [email protected].