– Dick Mason

– The Observer

The Blue Mountain Community College satellite campus in La Grande is moving into a higher orbit.

The BMCC La Grande center is expanding its curriculum. In 2006-07 the center will offer everything from developmental math to home improvement, American Sign Language and health care provider courses.

"We are trying to find our educational niche in the community,” said Gary Hopson, the BMCC Union County coordinator.

The niche Hopson speaks of is easier to fill because of the relatively new location of the BMCC Union County center. The center, at 1901 Adams Ave., features a classroom with a dozen computers and a large study area. The space is making it possible for BMCC to offer things such as computer programming. BMCC moved into its new office in January.

New classes include a Certified Nursing Assistant course. Students who complete the six-week course qualify for a CNA license, which allows a nursing assistant to work at a long-term care center for the elderly and disabled. Oregon CNA licenses are also recognized in Idaho and Washington.

Many long-term care centers require their CNAs to be licensed.

The CNA classes are taught by Bernie McClure of Cove and Deborah Burke of Wallowa Lake. McClure emphasized that becoming a CNA is an excellent step toward becoming a health professional.

She noted that licensed CNAs have a better chance of being admitted to nursing school. Individuals who are already CNAs have demonstrated an interest in providing health care, and have a firsthand understanding of the challenges nurses face. McClure said that sometimes students complete nursing school and then discover that they do not want to work as an RN.

"They find that is is not what they expected it to be,” she said.

The CNA course offered by the BMCC La Grande center has 150 hours of class time, Hopson said.

Another program Hopson is excited about is the dual credit program for Union County high school students. Through the program students can take college-level classes in high school taught by an approved teacher and receive community college and high school credits. Students will pay just $10 for a BMCC credit that normally costs about $60.

In Union County high schools, dual credit courses are being offered in classes such as accounting, metals and welding, crop science and word-processing procedures. The dual credit classes offered vary by high school.

BMCC is offering the dual credit program in partnership with the Umatilla-

Morrow Education Service District.

Hopson emphasizes that the BMCC La Grande center is reaching out to people of all ages.

A good example is its GED program. Over the past year everyone from teenagers to those who have been out of school for decades have come to the La Grande center to study for their GED exam. They are tutored by BMCC’s Stacey Merrigan.

The GED is a certificate students receive if they pass a high school equivalency test.

Students who have earned their GED are more likely to go on to college, whether it be BMCC or a four-year university like EOU.

One of Hopson’s goals is to help people move on to higher education.

Many classes offered at the BMCC La Grande center, including its math classes, are designed to prepare students for college.

The BMCC La Grande center also offers free placement tests to help students preparing to move on to college. The tests indicate what level people are at so they know what classes to begin.

"We see so many people who have never been to college and are totally unsure about going to college. We want to offer any services that will help them make that transition smoothly,” Hopson said.