THE HISTORY of CCA: FIRST in a FOUR-PART SERIES the Formative Years

InterComInterComJuly 2013 Newsletter Published by College Communications: Contact Lee Rasizer at (303) 360-4728 or [email protected] THE HISTORY OF CCA: FIRST IN A FOUR-PART SERIES The Formative Years

REGULAR MONTHLY COVERAGE BEGINS PAGE 14 InterCom July 2013 Newsletter Page 2

ON THE COVER: Published headlines this point in time from various sources document some ... Aurora has been of the early travails of CCA, including a told that if it wants a story dating back to the early 1950s in the Aurora Advocate -- run by Olen L. Bell “Atcommunity college it’s impossible. (center) -- regarding the gathering of But as long as Aurora has people signatures for a potential ballot measure on a junior-college district. Bell’s who dream of better things, it may influence was felt throughout the years be difficult but not impossible.” in numerous editorials pushing for an Ellin Mrachek, an early pioneer in independent Aurora college. The impact of those articles was felt in the activities the founding of Community College taken by many of the college founders, of Aurora, wrote those words in who included longtime Aurora Board of Education member Ellin Mrachek (square August 1979. Less than five years photo, left) and Pat Kirk, Julia Cisco, later, on May 20, 1983, legislation Marline McCracken and Gwen Thayer was passed that, on paper, created (bottom right). Kirk, McCracken and Thayer helped grow the Aurora Outreach the institution that today celebrates Center, which opened in 1972. Those its 30th birthday. classes predated the formation of Aurora Education Center under the auspices But what is perhaps little known of executive director Nai-Kwang Chang to many residents and even inside -- later CCA’s first president, a “College CCA is there were more than three Without Walls” and the college in its current physical form on two distinct decades of struggle that preceded campuses. the college’s legal formation. Efforts trace back to newspaper publisher Olen L. Bell in the early 1950s and continued through a few highs but numerous lows until Gov. Dick Lamm put pen to paper on Senate Bill No. 170, and beyond. The college has since established itself as a hallmark of the community, with 12,786 students registering for the 2012-13 school year, according to college records. In the next four issues of InterCom, the history of the institution will be chronicled, through newspaper accounts, historical study and numerous interviews with those who were on the front lines of the battle and, finally, on campus at CentreTech and Lowry. Difficulties and dreams are guaranteed to be included. -- Lee Rasizer, CCA Public Relations Coordinator

Aurora’s Police and Fire Building, was converted to the Aurora Education Center in 1979. A sign below welcomes students several years later to park at the CCA Computer Science Center (Photo courtesy Aurora History Museum). InterCom July 2013 Newsletter Page 3 Bell made sure City TIMELINE had read on situation Olen L. Bell used his newspaper like a bully pulpit when it came to the 1950s potential establishment of a community college for Aurora, tracing as far back as the Korean War. In some respects, the former editor of the Aurora Advocate (later the Senti- nel) was the father of the movement, steadily bringing others along with him and staying active in the fray for almost five decades. Bell printed articles and editorials in support of higher education in Aurora that date back to at least 1950 when petitions were gathered, and later, led the charge for a junior college district that would not only serve his town but also Englewood, Littleton, Cherry Creek and Sheridan. His involvement moving forward meant roles as the Chairman of the Leg- islative Action Task Force’s General Ad- visory Committee for the Aurora Edu- cation Center (AEC) – which pre-dated CCA’s legal formation in 1983 – and the advisory committee for what was then dubbed the “Aurora Community Col- lege Center” in ’82. Bell’s motives may not have been com- 1950: Olen L. Bell, publisher of the Aurora Advocate, and Roy Van Dyke, editor, pletely charitable. He was a businessman, spearheaded the first efforts for tax-supported a junior college district designed to take advantage of post World War II growth that would fill a void where there after all, and Aurora getting an indepen- was no two-year public higher education institutions and limited post-secondary dent college couldn’t hurt. But it went far vocational-technical education. Bell would use his newspaper over the years to beyond that potential side benefit. stimulate interest in the idea and secure legislative action. His longstanding efforts Aurora was a small but gaining pop- Olen L. Bell lived to see the eventually culminated in the establishment of the Aurora Education Center, which ulation starting in the ‘50s. Later, the opening of Community College was a major development toward the creation of a separate state college. local public schools and Pickens Tech- of Aurora’s CentreTech campus 1958: Bell enlisted the help of William B. Mansfield, as part of the Aurora Com- nical College didn’t offer college credit. in 1991. He died on Christmas mittee for the Western Arapahoe County Community College, whose goal was to If business was to relocate, potential en- Eve three years later at age 81. carve out a junior college district that encompassed a large section of central and ticements were needed. Bell also knew eastern Araphaoe and Adams Counties. The group gathered community support, the value of an education and strongly including a petition drive, but was drubbed at the polls. believed its citizens deserved that benefit. 1963: Ellin Mrachek, a civic leader voted to the Aurora Board of Education and a Jim Lewien, president and CEO of Commerce Bank, served with Bell on several committees – including CCA’s Presidential 1960s Advisory Council and the GAC -- and recalled asking him after one particular meeting about his proponent of open enrollment and vocational/technical education, longstanding motives. began working on an independent Aurora college. “He said, ‘You know, I just really felt there was 1965: Former Air Force pilot William a need here. Aurora was a city that was growing Hinkley negotiates for Buckley land for and was going to continue to grow and the need a vocational-technical college, since mili- would continue to grow,’” Lewien recalled. tary operations were being curtailed at “He just really felt there was an absolute the base. Aurora Public Schools supports need. Olie was a hometown guy and an old- Vo-Tech. time journalist, and boy, if he felt something 1968: The Colorado General Assembly was right, he’d tell it like it is. He was an abso- enacted a statute establishing a Colorado- lute bulldog. He was a very nice man, but he wide system of community colleges (the State Board for Community Colleges and Occu- could look you straight in the eye and say, pational Education or SBCCOE). Aurora isn’t ‘You’re wrong, and I’m going to prove it.’” considered for one of three sites, despite efforts Bell’s early vision – buttressed in the by Mrachek and Velma Sanford, president of 1950s by support by Advocate editor Roy the Aurora PTA, who launched a campaign for Van Dyke and mayor William Mans- money, land or a building that would entice the field, and later, local education icon El- SBCCOE to designate a campus in Aurora. Area lin Mracheck and his wife, Mary – did legislators expressed only mild interest. The efforts died when Denver and Adams-Commerce City prove correct in the long view. received the designation, with Jefferson County next “He was grinning ear to ear when we got it in line for another campus (later becoming North done,” Lewien remembered. Denver, Auraria and Red Rocks sites). 1969: The district received 112.9 acres of Buckley land This article from the Aurora Advocate pre-dates election on the from the General Services Administration in June. establishment of a community college in the 1950s but was typical of the support the newspaper devoted to the cause. InterCom July 2013 Newsletter Page 4

Aurora resident Bill From left, Ellin Murray Jr. remembers El- Mrachek, Fred Struthers, BringBring lin Mrachek’s son, Bill, once Tom Noonan telling him he was the orig- and Olen inal ‘latch-key kid’ back in Bell at the it on the 1950s. 1993 CCA it on “Because any time he Foundation wanted Ellin, you had to banquet. call her at 6 a.m. She was Home gone the rest of the day be- Home cause she was involved in so many things.” Mrachek settled in on Joliet Street in the ‘50s and Ellin Mrachek’s dual steadily went to work on passion for education multiple causes. She joined board. make things happen.” Aurora Advocate publisher friend Like Bell, Mrachek saw One of her strengths was and Aurora Olen Bell’s fledging efforts since the 1960s and a population boom and a an ability to bring people to obtain a community col- a compatriot on many is- need for a community col- with opposing views to- beginning in the lege when she joined the sues. lege. gether and find big-picture 1950s intersected Board of Education in 1963 Mrachek, who passed Yet, when change didn’t answers to parochial issues. and kept at it relentlessly. away in 2001, also was a occur fast enough, she “It was just her vision,” her with tangible She eventually took the driving force behind Au- spearheaded the Aurora daughter added. “She could fight to the State Board for rora’s vocational-technical Outreach Program in the see what was needed.” results – including Community Colleges and center and mental-health early 1970s to at least pro- Women’s issues and edu- CCA, a mental Occupational Education facility. She founded a lo- vide a local option for those cational causes were par- as one of its members and cal chapter of the Ameri- seeking classes. The grass- ticularly important. health center, and part of the General Advi- can Association of Univer- roots initiative became “When I first came here sory Committee that was sity Women, where she met Aurora Education Center to teach, I thought Aurora technical integral in CCA’s creation. many fellow supporters that and later morphed into the was a bedroom commu- school. “Ellin, by far, carried the she’d convert to action. establishment of CCA. nity and Denver had ev- water. She should get a lot of “It was all about Au- “My mom was a wife, erything,” said Ruth Whit- credit – get the most credit rora,” said Sharon Powers, mother and volunteer,” more, a Mrachek friend really, but supported by Mrachek’s friend and an daughter Lin Mrachek said. since 1958. “She wanted Olie Bell as far as the news- Aurora Mental Health Cen- “But being a volunteer to Aurora to have things not paper was concerned,” said ter employee for three years my mother was a big deal. to all go to downtown Den- Ruth Fountain, Mrachek’s when Mrachek chaired the It was where she was able to ver.” Early 1970s

1973: Aurora Outreach Program had no facilities, no resources. Schedules were typed and circulated. Registration for six classes was announced in the local newspaper. Marline McCracken took over organizational efforts as part-time coordinator and would field calls from prospective students at her kitchen table/ TIMELINE office. Aurora Technical Center later donated office space for McCracken. 1975: Despite rising enrollment in the outreach classes, advertised classes were 1970: A bond issue wasnecessary to retain the rights to the Buckley land. Voters in sometimes cancelled or shifted to the CCD-Auraria Campus. A college commit- March approved an $11.7 million bond outlay. Set aside was $1.5 million to build tee discussed an alignment with Arapahoe Community College or Metro State the first phase of the Vo-Tech out of desperation. Meanwhile, Phase II was completed on Aurora Tech Center Center but the vocational at East Park Plaza, on Sixth and Chambers, increasing the instructional space to division of SBCCOE insisted 160,000 feet. Aurora lacked an “area school 1976: McCracken enlisted the help of her friend and marketing specialist Gwen designation” The inaction Thayer. The pair went to Aurora Mall and supermarkets to publicize and advertise prompted a consortium and from there got several enrollees. A committee of 20 Aurora citizens helped of school board members, develop a plan for a community college in Aurora. The Colorado State Board for several Vo-Tech centers, Community Colleges and Occupational Education supported the development of architects and local coordinator Bud Johnson to come up with an alternate plan. a Aurora community college in Aurora “to meet the post-secondary needs of … 1971: Ground broken on Vo-Tech Center, which was completed in the fall of 1972. citizens who desire to gain college credit” in November. Mrachek’s dissatisfaction with the earlier decision to leave Aurora out of the com- 1977: On March 29, House Bill 1522, or the “Aurora Community College bill” munity college mix prompted a decision to create the Aurora Outreach program. was introduced by Rep. Gerard V. Frank but was effectively killed by the Educa- tion Committee and action indefinitely postponed for the year. Yet it was the first 1972: William C Hinckley HS hosted the Aurora Outreach Program, with courses time that the “facts about the urgent need for the new school” had been presented offered through the Community College of Denver. The original student body was to a legislative committee. Frank held out hope that over the next several months 41. Classes were often cancelled due to lack of supervision and the failure to appear that the proposal could be incorporated into a forthcoming Colorado Commis- by instructors. Phase I of the Aurora Tech Center opens with 17 programs in a sion on Higher Education master plan and get gubernatorial support. Frank did 65,931 square foot building. manage to secure separate “FTE” funding for Aurora students. InterCom July 2013 Newsletter Page 5 TIMELINE TAKING HOUSE CALLS Late 1970s

1978: The Colorado Commission on Higher Education recommended that no new community colleges be established during the 1978-83 planning period. Mrachek and other local community leaders attempted to convince CCHE that the needs of Aurora citizens were not being met at a two-hour public hearing. But a college for Aurora was not a priority in the master plan. However, short-range and long-range planning committees for Aurora were established at the Commission’s behest. At this time, enrollment at Aurora Outreach Center had exceeded 600 students, classes were too full, and students wanted classes available in own neighborhoods so offerings were expanded by three locales: St. Stephen Protomartyr Episcopal Church on Lowry Air Force Base; Fitzsimmons Army Center, Building 619, and the Emporia Building (1400 North). Bill Fielden and Frances Hill are hired as Marline McCracken, above in her Aurora work-study students at Aurora Out- reach Program. home in June, would go to great lengths to sign up students to the Aurora 1979: Aurora City Council recom- Outreach Center., a precursor to CCA. mended that the old City Hall be used The registration phone number was at for the Aurora Education Center as her residence , as seen at left in the late part of the short-range plan but the 1970s). old police/fire/court building at 16th and Elmira became available and could accommodate classes, both day and night, in one location. The city Marline McCracken pitched in $10,000 for renovations. It doubled the classes and provided and her cohorts never more comprehensive education. In total, 60 classes were offered with 712 phoned it in when students enrolled. With the move, Dr. Nai-Kwang Chang became the new it came to service director, with Katie Smolka serving as his secretary. When he arrived, there was an empty old building with no offices and no classes going on. There was no furniture or counter to register The Aurora Outreach Center may only be a The program initially would operate under the people A week before opening classes historical footnote as educational institutions go. auspices of Community College of Denver and at the old police building. Commu- It was also a foot in the door, ostensibly a minor- began with just six classes and 41 students. nity College of Denver provided little league operation until the “big leagues” could ar- More than six years later, McCracken was in- support and a small budget. There was rive in the form of a city college citizens could call strumental in having built a grass-roots operation no money to purchase textbooks, no library, no money to hire help. Aurora their own. into something tangible, despite CCD treating Education was getting 30 cents on the In 1972, efforts to land a community college Aurora Outreach Center as “a stepchild.” dollar in college budget. AEC used had fallen on deaf ears for decades. It was only a “We loved education and helping people and almost all part-time help to start. The few years removed from the State Board for Com- there were so many people that wanted to go back principal purpose of AEC was to ac- munity Colleges and Occupational Education giv- to college but couldn’t because of time and mon- commodate the educational needs of the community. The building at 9859 ing a resounding thumb’s down to the idea of des- ey,” McCracken said in a June interview in her Au- East 16th Ave in downtown Aurora be- ignating Aurora as one of its initial campus sites. rora home. “There were little colleges everywhere came headquarters, with a dedication Rather than mope, civic leader Ellin Mrachek but we were the growing community in Denver ceremony held June 4, 1979 to officially hatched the idea to offer night classes at Hinkley and we didn’t have anything out here, and we just trumpet the “Community College of High School. A year later, Mrachek convinced thought we should have something. Denver, Aurora Education Center.” “But I thought it’s the greatest thing that ever The center remained a part of CCD former teacher Marline McCracken to become but operated under its own executive coordinator of classes for the center before step- director (Chang). A General Advisory ping aside. See Aurora Outreach Center / Page 6 Committee met in November, continuing the push for a separate Aurora community college.. InterCom July 2013 Newsletter Page 6 Left, Gwen Outreach Center: Thayer and husband ‘I called it the Bill at a CCA celebration in 2003. second chance for A spring semester a lot of adults’ schedule From Aurora Outreach Center/ Page 5 from 1979 shows the happened, because look how it took $14.05 per off once we got there.” credit hour The spring of 1979 featured 78 rate for class offerings, 66 of which filled, with Colorado nearly 700 students in attendance. residents. McCracken would depart shortly after the operation transitioned into Aurora Education Center, with Nai- Kwan Chang – later CCA’s first president -- serving as executive director. But the seeds for a community college in Aurora had taken root. “There was enough momentum, and I knew eventually they were going to have a college,” McCracken said. “People like Ellin started getting a lot of citizens on board. They formed a board and they were working on this. The citizens of Aurora … wanted it. And there was enough of a nucleus in place. They could offer more than 600 students to start something. “That’s better than doing a building a seeing who was going to come.” Getting to that point was the hard – and fun – part. It certainly wasn’t for the money. McCracken, a realtor, started at $6 per hour for 10 hours a week, as- sisting Sara Collier, who worked in cents for the beverage, with free re- the community services division of fills. The janitor drank for free since CCD’s Auraria campus. The time he’d have to clean up classroom spills. commitment would soon double to Still, organized efforts to get legis- 20 hours. But McCracken was jazzed lative action on a centralized Aurora that people that were getting back college continued to fail. And CCD, into the work force after a long ab- despite sending administrative and sence, and that veterans and dropouts teaching help, remained lukewarm, who needed help training for a career in spite of Aurora Outreach Center’s had an option. steady gains. “I called it the second chance for a “I helped down at Auraria some- lot of adults,” McCracken said. times,” said Thayer, who remains best Registrations were conducted at friends with McCracken to this day. McCracken’s kitchen table, with her “It was a whole different ballpark home phone number listed on ad- down there. I thought, ‘Oh my golly, vertising. She would also hand type I’m not sure they wanted us to be that the class schedules and produce class successful.’ ” rosters but “it got bigger and bigger Chang’s arrival in 1979 with the and you realize you had to do some- thought of building an Aurora college thing.” Hiring her friend Pat Kirk for independent of CCD and the official 20 hours per week helped lighten the phlets at Aurora Mall, supermarkets we were trying to do, and I thought change to Aurora Education Center load so she wouldn’t have to be at fa- or as ‘take-me’ options on the coun- the reception was very good. It just that June – still under CCD auspices cilities four nights weekly for several ters of 7-Elevens and city day-care kept growing.” – began a new chapter in this local hours each. providers. Classes expanded to numerous lo- educational fight. McCracken aslo would enlist the “Our beginning pamphlets were cales throughout Aurora, to help serve “I just feel blessed I got to do it,” help of her friend Gwen Thayer to not too professional,” Thayer said with citizens where they lived. Kirk would McCracken said. “I just wanted to see help with marketing, which often a laugh. “I would go around to differ- set up shop early at the class sites, an- a college, and it had gotten to a point consisted of brown-bag lunches to ent companies and ask if we could swer questions, and brew mean cups where they could take over. I couldn’t attract students or handing out pam- leave some here and told them what of coffee. Students were charged 10 do anything more..” InterCom July 2013 Newsletter Page 7 rado Commission on Higher Education was to meet to decide ‘if the plan for an autono- TIMELINE mous degree-granting two-year college” was appropriate for Au- Early 1980s rora, then Colorado’s third-largest city. A 1980-81: Dr. Chang wanted to acquire top faculty and hired Tom Brosh as research positive response associate and coordinator of academic affairs and Bud Ulrich as administrator of student from the commis- support services for the CCD-Aurora Education Center. Additionally, Ron Walters was sion would send the hired as a full-time faculty and Jo Roth to Student Services, while Tom Beyeler joined proposal to the 1983 the Center for the Disadvantaged. Spring 1980 enrollment was 894 but ballooned to Legislature via Senator 1,174 for fall with a 25 percent minority base. At the time, Chang knew he was tackling J. Robert Allshouse, a considerable undertaking but had confidence it would eventually amount to a Aurora who represented the community college. His emphasis would be on quality of teaching and student services Aurora area. By this despite lacking the resources/budget to run things the way he wanted. The funding time, enrollment had of the Aurora Education Center remained an issue. In a letter to Dr. Robert E. Lahti, spiked to more than president of CCD, in January, the faculty of the Aurora Center lamented the cancella- 1,750 students with tion of “one-third of course offerings – a much larger cut in proportion to our size than 163 class sections in a other campuses.” Aurora resolution No. 62 proposing that Aurora be named a fourth wide array of course independent community college site and a plan for serving the post-secondary needs and program areas. of community colleges in Denver was submitted. Gov. Dick Lamm in December 1981 AEC full-time support rejected the fourth-campus idea. In the fall, a General Advisory Committee appointed a staff was 13 and faculty task force on a future campus site selection. Tom Pickens is chairman of the Site Selec- numbered 92 – includ- tion Task Force. ing 89 part-timers and full-time instructors 1982: In a letter to US Senator William L. Armstrong, Aurora mayor Dennis Champine, from one of the oth- wrote on behalf of the city council and laid out his case for a future community college Hall and Oates has nothing to fear when Aurora er CCD campuses. and asked for assistance in acquiring federal land for that purpose. Champine cited a Education Center members Tom Brosh, Rella Classroom locations recent groundswell during which numerous resolutions in support of the college had Douglas and Bud Ulrich came up with these college included three high been adopted by the electorate as well as community and business organizations. “The songs in April 1982. schools (Montbello, General Advisory Committee to the Aurora Education Center (presently an extension Overland, Smoky Hill), a child-care center (Aurora Learning Center), two office build- of the Community College of Denver), which is composed of 22 of the community’s ings – East Park Plaza (791 Chambers Rd.) and Buckingham Place (11111 E. Mississippi leading citizens, has diligently engaged in a considerable amount of agency and legisla- Ave), as well as AEC headquarters at 9859 East 16th Ave. Degree and transfer programs, tive lobbying on behalf of the City of Aurora,” he wrote. The committee’s objectives are job retraining and general interest classes were offered. Among the proponents of a per- to help the Aurora Education Center secure more favorable funding so that the citizens manent fix besides the city were various citizens’ groups, APS, Cherry Creek School Dis- can be more adequately served by the Center and to develop a legislative action program trict, Aurora Chamber of Commerce and ECO Aurora, the city’s development agency.” “for the purpose of creating a state-supported community college in 1983.” The land is Yet an independent college couldn’t get off the ground without land on which to build. necessary to “facilitate the overall efforts of the General Advisory Committee” Mean- Linda Capra, an Aurora City Council member, felt a groundswell of support for a com- while, the Site Selection Task Force studied site possibilities and recommended a site munity college and the city has just acquired a 21-acre parcel of land. It was supposed approximately 90 to 160 acres to be acquired on the Buckley Air National Guard Base, to be open space but the city worked with council and other bodies to convince them adjacent to the Aurora Vocational Technical Center. The GAC has approved the recom- the land would be perfect for the community college and that the offer of the “Breshna- mendation of the task force and suggests that 125 acres of the federal land be acquired han” land on Oct. 11 would be great incentive for the state to give a thumbs-up to the for this purpose. The State Board for Community Colleges and Occupational Education long-awaited project. The SBCCOE at this point recommended the establishment of would be the legal owner of the property. In a Jan. 1982 newspaper article, it was stated Community College of Aurora and approved the master plan, which had been directed that “early next year” Aurora would discover the fate of a community college. The Colo- by the governor in preparation for a bill drafted for the 1983 General Assembly.

From left, a letter from then-Aurora Mayor Dennis Champine sought favorable funding for the Aurora Education Center and a legislative action plan for the purpose of creating a state-supported community college in 1983; Leo Robertson in the library at Buckingham Place; music faculty Tom Brosh tickles the ivories; 1982 logo for the General Advisory Committee. InterCom July 2013 Newsletter Page 8

First location of the Aurora Education Center, the old Aurora Municipal building at 9859 E. 16th Ave.

BRIDGE to the FUTURE

Dr. Nai-Kwang Chang, executive director of low, right adjacent to the fire department – ‘we’ the Aurora Education Center, walked into the New building for AEC meaning the music department. It wasn’t that old Aurora Municipal Building to check out what bad but it was almost humorous in a way. We would be the institution’s first permanent home rife with old stories were listening to a symphony or something, in 1979. then all of a sudden we’d hear a siren go off to He immediately noticed a single phone sitting alert the firemen. on the floor. Chang quickly learned that was the “Of course, there was always an emergency phone system in its entirety. so it wasn’t that humorous.” A facility that had once housed a courtroom Back then, it was a skeleton crew working and the police station and sat adjacent to a still at the old police/fire building. Chang, Super- functioning firehouse near 16th and Elmira was cynski and Brosh were joined by the likes of Jo chosen as the centralized location for classes and Morgan-Brooks, Bud Ulrich, Tom Beyeler, Terri administration for the fledgling operation. Campbell, Katie Smolka, Rella Douglas, Walt But first, Chang and others had to beg, borrow Schlagel, Everett Perkins, Billy Fielden, and Ron and scrape together the bare necessities, like fur- Walters, an accounting teacher who was the first niture, desks, and yes, additional phones to make full-time faculty hired. this work. They took extras from Community “The building didn’t impress me much ei- College of Denver, piled them to the ceiling and ther way,” recalled Ulrich, who was coordinator trucked them over. of student services at AEC. “I had a counseling At least the lease from office and counselors and an admissions office. the city was cheap. The thing that struck me about starting back “It was a mishmash,” then like that was the functions of the people. said Florian Supercyns- The attitude of us there in that building was that ki, a student at AEC and we’re not staffed with a director of admissions or an early “gopher” charged with setting up req- each of the offices you might expect at a college so everybody had to pull uisitions with CCD among other varied duties. their weight, whatever they could, no matter what the job description was. “There were very few classrooms. Everything In fact, we didn’t pay attention to job descriptions. It was get the job done.” was spread apart, and it didn’t have the feeling Rooms evolved as necessary, too, depending on class sizes. of being a school -- especially with a jail cell sit- “We had classes that were rectangular, square, and others I’m not sure ting in there.” what they were,” remembered Jim Weedin, a part-time science teacher at The fire department at 9859 E. 16th Ave. the time and a cog in the CCA culture for 30 years. was connected on the west side and a library At least no one had to occupy the holding cell unwillingly, though a few branch sat to the east with AEC in the middle homeless people often graced the interior premises. There were numerous section police had abandoned for more mod- complaints around the neighborhood about parking problems. ern amenities. Fielden manned maintenance, night security – and registered students. AEC faculty Tom Brosh taught down- “Many, many nights I’d remember the alarm would go off at the old fire stairs, and his classes featured more than music to department and he’d get out of bed and drive down there, and we lived quite his students’ ears. aways on Buckley Road,” longtime CCA employee Edna Fielden said of her “We’d hear the first alert siren to get everybody going,” he recalled. “It late husband. “It was the wind many times rattling the door and setting the didn’t really affect the rest of the people because we were kind of down be- a l ar m off .” InterCom July 2013 Newsletter Page 9 “Petitions Circulate on College” – area,” Dunning said. He indicated Aurora Advocate, Undated: Petitions that, if the Vo-Tech center gets the to hold an election on the desirability sought after designation, it will prob- of establishing a community college ably begin as a kind of extension of district are now being circulated in Arapahoe Community College.” Aurora. It is hoped to hold a spring “Community College topic of election and if the college is approved PAPER planning: After 26 years, talk con- it would probably open in 1950. tinues” - Aurora Advocate Sentinel, “College Plans Being Read- April 21, 1976: When it comes to ied” – Aurora Advocate, Oct. 3, higher education in Denver’s suburbs, 1957: Preparations were getting Aurora is still low man on the totem underway last week to draft the pole. Community colleges are serving first concrete plan in the found- TRAIL the core city’s suburbs to the north, ing of a Junior College to serve Au- south and west – but none in the east. rora, Englewood, Littleton, Cherry As a topic of conversation, creation Creek and Sheridan school districts. of an Aurora Community College has At a special meeting held last week been a perennial favorite. But as a designed to acquaint school district solid reality – a tax-funded commu- residents with the problems involved, nity project – it is still low on the list a 10-member steering committee of popular priorities. agreed tentatively to meet Oct. 16 “Aurora college near last state ob- with the aim of drafting preliminary stacle” – Aurora Sentinel, Nov. 17, plans for the institution. 1976: Step by step, governing bodies “Mansfield Calls for Jr. College are giving their endorsement to es- Committee Here” – Aurora Ad- tablishment of a community college vocate, Nov. 7, 1957: Plans to get in Aurora. underway in forming a district for Last week the idea was endorsed by a community college took another the State Board for Community Col- step forward Thursday evening when leges and Occupational Education, the chairmen of the citizens commit- which directed its staff to assist the tees met at the Englewood Board of Aurora Community College Com- Education office. The school districts mittee in implementing its plans. involved are the five western districts … State Rep. Gerry Frank (D-Au- of Arapahoe County, Aurora, Cherry rora), a member of the Aurora com- Hills, Englewood, Littleton and Sheri- mittee … said plans were to open the dan Union. William B. Mansfield, Au- college in September 1978. rora councilman and chairman of Au- “Committee crushes Aurora col- rora’s committee, represented Aurora. lege bill” – Aurora Advocate Senti- “Board Approves Election On nel, March 30, 1977: Aurora won’t Community College for Area” – have its community college – at least Aurora Advocate, March 13, 1958: for the foreseeable future – because An election on the establishment of the Education Committee of the Col- a community college in Arapahoe orado House Tuesday killed (the) bill county (sic) will be held sometime Printed accounts for more than to create the college. this spring. Rep. Gerard V. Frank’s measure The state board of education ap- three decades illustrate the fits was probably foredoomed. Although proved the election Wednesday and House Bill 1522 was listed first on the petitions will be presented to the and starts it took for Aurora committee’s calendar, it was the last Arapahoe county superintendent of to finally get its own college called up for hearing when the com- schools. The superintendent will then mittee chairman crisply told the Au- set the date for the election. rora Democrat he had 20 minutes to “It’s a wonderful thing the state make his presentation. board has done,” said William Man- “Community College open to all ing ahead to expanding the facility to “Community college in Aurora sfield Wednesday. He is Aurora chair- Aurorans who want to gain skills, include more adult education classes, suggested” – Rocky Mountain News, man of the movement to establish the education” – Aurora Advocate, Au- and, eventually, a community college Dec. 30, 1982: The staff of the Colo- college. gust 21, 1968: The newly instituted for the city. rado Commission on Higher Educa- “Fall Election on Junior College” Community College of Denver presi- Vo-Tech officials this week began tion will recommend next week that – Aurora Advocate, May 1, 1958: dent said this week that his school is soliciting letters of support from local a community college be established in An election on the question of estab- prepared to accept anyone with a de- civic and business leaders to include Aurora. lishing a junior college in Arapahoe sire to get at least a two year college with an application to the State Board The recommendation calls for county (sic) will definitely be held education. In his remarks to a group of Community Colleges and Occupa- classes to be held in existing public fa- tional Education for “designation as sometime in late September or early of newmen (sic) President Leland B. cilities, such as the Aurora Public Li- an area tech center.” October, Mrs. Beulah Davies Ander- Luchsinger stated “… The College is brary, to avoid the estimated $8.7 mil- son, superintendent of schools told If granted such a designation would lion cost of constructing a building. truly an Open Door Institution.” the Advocate this week. make the Vo-Tech Center eligible for But Aurora officials, who long have The date became cleared after the “Vo-Tech looks to community state monies to expand its facilities, sought a community college, have steering committee for the proposed college” – Aurora Advocate Senti- according to Director of Vocational designated a 21-acre site for a campus college met and asked Mrs. Anderson nel: March 14, 1973: Officially, Auro- Education Harold Dunning. at Chambers Road and East First Ave. to set the election next fall. She want- ra’s Vocational-Technical Center will “We’d like to service more adults “It’s a foot in the door, obviously it ed to avoid conflict with a bond issue be just one month old Thursday, but and get going on the community col- is,” said Kay Miller, city lobbyist for election in Cherry Creek district. Vo-Tech planners are already look- lege so we can start service in that Aurora, of the staff recommendation. InterCom July 2013 Newsletter Page 10 Chang(E) In 1979, Community College of Denver picked a leader for its growing educational institution in the east metro area. He’d leave having achieved a local dream that was three decades in the making, building consensus along the way.

Dr. Nai-Kwang Chang during a retirement celebration at CCA in the late-2000s ...

lain and simple, Dr. Nai- ucation Center for whom he’d serve would be I was too naïve to think I Kwang Chang was sent as executive director merely would could handle the job.” to Aurora to fail not be- be a stepping stone to creating an The Aurora Education Center come a pioneer. independent community college in was successful, piggy-backing off PCommunity College of Denver, a city that had failed on that count the efforts of its precursor, Aurora for whom Chang once served in a for nearly three decades. Outreach Center. In late 1982, vice presidential role, had fallen out His attitude from the start was nearly 1,800 students attended of favor with the institution’s new steely and determined. At the time classes at eight locations. But the president, Dr. Robert E. Lahti, and he thought, “I’m going to raise an setup was impractical and despite it had taken the backing of some Army and go back to the Capitol,” it’s successes felt second class. ... and in this 1983 newspaper powerful cohorts to even have the Chang said bluntly. “And so it hap- Only an independent college photo at the state capitol. opportunity to be transferred to the p e n e d .” would placate Chang and a grow- Dr. Chang at a glance suburbs. Not easily. Citizens locally seem- ing number of proponents. Chang envisioned the move as ingly had the will, but what of the “He went out and started mak- • Came to the United States in such: “Exile,” he said, adding, “Even politicians? Chang not only would ing a whole bunch of waves in the 1954 from Taiwan to attend Gos- community about a college out hen College in Indiana the lawyer of the committee for the have to convince Aurora’s city school advised me to look for an- council, mayor and business com- there and it drove CCD crazy,” • Earned an MBA from the other job and move on if I can.” munity that he was the man to fi- said Jo Roth, who began at AEC in University of Denver and a Ph. D 1979 and left in 2001 as CCA’s VP from the University of Northern But Chang had put in more than nally get this project to pay dirt but, Colroado in Greeley two decades in state higher educa- more importantly, figure out how of Student Services. “Because they tion, and he wasn’t about to be bul- to placate a state legislative body were just thinking, ‘A little outreach • Served as a full professor and center, a couple classes out there, supervisor of the division of insti- lied so easily. Perhaps that resolve that had regularly thumbed its let him do his thing and ignore him tutional research for Community also traced back to his upbringing. nose at Aurora. It didn’t help that College of Denver “Oriental stubbornness: one rea- not only CCD wasn’t in favor of a and maybe he’ll go away at some son,” the 83-year-old Chang said in Community College of Aurora but point.’ But Chang started beating • Was VP of Planning, Research the drums in Aurora and got every- and Development for the Central a June phone interview from Cali- there were detractors all around the Administration of CCD fornia. “Because failure is some- state community college system, at one whipped up and got everything thing I don’t accept.” Aurora Public Schools and Pickens happening.” • Became executive director To his employees, Chang was of Aurora Education Center in So, instead of merely turning the Tech. 1979 calendar pages toward eventual re- Asked how difficult a fight it something of an enigma. He was tirement, Chang made up his mind ended up being, Chang paused considered nice by some and a task- • Served as first CCA president from 1984-86 to fight. His vision: The Aurora Ed- before responding, “My answer See Chang / Page 11 InterCom July 2013 Newsletter Page 11 Chang succeeded as a ‘relentless campaigner’

From Chang / Page 10 “His approach was, ‘We’ll master by others. He could be both solve problems when demanding and grateful. One former they come up. We’re worker described his approach as “the not going to fool around carrot and the stick at the same time,” with it.’ And some combining management by fear with people, like myself, liked a milder side. The academic segment that. He demanded seemed to feel it received the stick results.” most often. “I really appreciated his approach,” Bud Ulrich, Aurora said Bud Ulrich, who was Chang’s Education Center head of right-hand man from 1980-84 and student services and an CCA’s first dean of student develop- early Chang confidante ment. “There was no weak-willie ap- proaches to solving problems. Prob- lems were solved. If a teacher did not cooperate with attempts to questions of students or their teaching, they wouldn’t be back or they could be fired on the spot. So his approach was, Dr. Nai-Kwang Chang had a ‘We’ll solve problems when they come personality that was extremely up. We’re not going to fool around straightforward. “I don’t know,” with it.’ And some people, like myself, he said recently. “I’m pretty strict. Right is right. Wrong is wrong.” liked that. He demanded results.” But Chang also had a manner Jim Weedin, a 30-year veteran at that could be gracious, charming CCA and AEC, recalled Chang once and unassuming, as some of telling him that the stern approach his workers discovered in this was a byproduct of his background, undated photo. which meant “that he was the leader, therefore he should direct things or flat-out tell you what to do.” “Other times he might discuss it,” Weedin added, “but it always came back to him. Yet, he’d also reward ally build CentreTech campus. Chang y ou .” even managed to smooth the edges Certainly, Aurora eventually would with a new CCD president, G. Owen reap the benefits of his work ethic. Smith, who didn’t stand in the way Several key moments set the stage and, Chang said, worked well with for CCA’s creation. One of the biggest him. was forging a relationship with state “Chang was a relentless campaign- Sen. Robert Allhouse, an Aurora Re- er for making this a real community publican at the time, who convinced college,” said Linda Cracraft, who 38 legislators to co-sponsor his bill to served on the Aurora City Coun- create the college, which would pass cil from 1980-88 under her maiden in May 1983. name, Capra. “We settled for a com- Chang said that Allshouse “was munity college without walls in the blamed by many people that he did beginning, but Chang was just like very little for his community” and a pit bull in trying to contact all the helped convince the senator that a political people and try to bring in ev- community college in his district eryone who was interested in making would go far in dispelling that reputa- this happen and getting them moving tion. Allshouse also was the chairman forward to get it done. He was great.” independence had been won – for the “It was a matter of principle. It of the education committee, so it was An old story that was circulating college, and, in a sense, Chang, who was,” he said. “Because I was doing the a plum opportunity for him to take a when Chang first arrived illustrates was no longer under the thumb of right things. I don’t play games.” lead role. just how far he did come in realizing CCD. He instead had built his Army of “To pay his debt,” is how Chang his vision. Workers that were there It took “a lot of patience, luck and won, as planned. And as Chang re- put it. upon his arrival in Aurora recall friends” to get through what in many flected, he said getting the last laugh Convincing the Colorado Com- Chang walking into the office with cases was nasty politics, Chang said. on his initial detractors that predicted mission on Higher Education to get his executive secretary, Katie Smolka, And, it occurred despite “naivete his failure “selfishly speaking” is a onboard also was a pivotal step, as carrying a couple of cardboard boxes on my part,” as well as “wear and tear good feeling. was the acquisition of 13 acres of land with personal items. Banished. and lots of nerves.” Looking back, “I cannot say I en- from the City of Aurora known as Four years later, celebrations filled In the end, though, Chang noted joyed with love every minute of the the Breshnahan property to eventu- Aurora at the news that, at long last, the headaches were worth it. way,” he chuckled. “But I survived.” InterCom July 2013 Newsletter Page 12 Sleeper cell The name game Walt Schlagel coordi- Some of the early incar- nated the computer area at nations of CCA prior to Down it gaining approval as an Down Aurora Outreach Center. But he was known as much independent college in for his nighttime habits as 1983: teaching bytes and bits. • Western Arapahoe MemoryMemory Schlagel lived in Colorado County Community Col- Springs, so in order to avoid the lege (failed petition 1950s) commute, he would sleep on a • Eastern Community small mattress he provided in College (1977, failed effort the ‘drunk tank’ or holding cell spearheaded by Aurora LaneLane that was part of the old Municipal Building that first housed Aurora Representative Gerry Education Center. Frank) TidbitsTidbits fromfrom thethe earlyearly daysdays “Which got interesting by the way,” science faculty Jim Weedin • Aurora Commu- recalled. “He got sick one time with the flu and he needed to go to the nity College Center (1982 ofof aa collegecollege attemptingattempting toto taketake restrooms and once you get out of that room, they had alarms set. He change from Aurora had to punch in the numbers to stop the alarm to go do his business, Education Center, with rootroot come back, put the codes back in and go back to bed. understanding that legal “I hear one night he had to do that three times.” status name change was required if legislature approved the campus status Quote to note Is this seat issue in the 1983 General “I thought it would never taken? Assembly) happen. That was my Back in the AEC days, Jo personal feeling back Roth was better known as Jo then. We were hoping Morgan-Brooks. The former GAC members against hope and when part-time academic counselor it did happen I was a and future CCA vice president in the ‘70s, ‘80s little surprised. I don’t recalled the frequent presence of were the real know why I felt that way. some uninvited guests at during Things were going so slow the old days at the former Auro- go-getters legislatively and things ra Municipal Buiding: “Did anyone tell you about the homeless Members of the General were not coming and I Advisory Committee to the had a feeling like, ‘I guess people that used to come in off the street? In the ladies room Aurora Education Center, it’s never going to happen.’ there used to be a little sofa whose task it was to urge I guess I had the feeling couch, one of those little leather the Colorado State Board that all the other legisla- day beds and in the morning for Community Colleges tors didn’t want Aurora you’d have to go chase them out. and Occupational Educa- to have anything because There were only one or two. But tion to adopt the master plan for Community Col- if Aurora got this thing you’d go into the ladies room in lege of Aurora: it was probably going to the morning and there would be blossom and take away a homeless person sleeping on the little day bed. It just became Olen L. from their thunder.” Hoosier daddy? Bud Ulrich recounts an early en- Bell, Hal part of what you dealt with, and counter at the Aurora Education counseling office: “I gradu- -- Florian Supercynski, they’d leave as soon as you asked Dunning, ated from Purdue University many years ago and traveled in Margaret AEC/CCA employee them. I never had any problems various states – Oregon, Ohio and finally had the chance to Gerhart, 1981-99 with them.” come to Colorado. I worked in the Colorado Department of Dennis Education and finally got employed at Community College of Hansen, Job titles held by Tom Brosh from Aurora. Our main competitor and rival at Purdue was Indiana James 13 1980-2001 University and so I’m sitting in the little office in the fire station Hekkers, Bruce talking to a student who wanted me to evaluate his credits from Hulley, Aurora Education Center (1980-82) Indiana. So I took the approach that Aurora doesn’t recognize Ruth Fountain, • Research Associate Helen circa 1973 Indiana University. It just doesn’t match up. We talked a little Kahn • Coordinator of Academic Affairs while and he couldn’t believe it. We didn’t recognize Indiana? • Coordinator of Center Services Molly Link (secretary), Lois Finally I told him I’m from Purdue, then, of course, we went Martin, Guy L. McElroy, Community College of Aurora (1983-96) ahead and did his business. It was that kind of situation. You David Price, Patricia Prue, • Music Department Lead Teacher could have fun with people as well as know you were in a devel- Donna Shear, Dan Tauri- • Music Dept. Coordinator oping college that was a minor blip on the screen.” ello (chairman), Micahel • Music Dept. Chair Thomas, Linda Dee Davis, • Asst. to the Division Chair of Arts and Humanities William L. Dominguez, Ruth • Interim Division Chair of Arts and Humanities BY THE NUMBERS Fountain, Harriet Heil James • Division Chair of Humanities and Fine Arts, As- A breakdown of enrollments of Aurora Education Center: C. Lewien, Alfred E. McWil- sociate Dean of Humanities and Fine Arts Year Budgeted FTE Actual FTE Differnce Annual growth liams, John W. Messervey, Ellin Mrachek, Thomas F. • Dean of Humanities and Fine Arts 1979-80 300 340 plus-49 -- 1980-81 415 509 plus 94 46 percent Noonan (vice chairman), • Dean of Humanities, Fine Arts and Social Sciences Lee “Ace” Phillips and Bob 1981-82 600 724 plus 124 42 percent • Acting Dean of Math and Sciences Thompson. IN THE NEXT ISSUE THE HISTORY OF CCA: A FOUR-PART SERIES

thethe 1980s1980s

Coming soon: Community College of Aurora finally takes flight. The East Park Building opens. A School Without Walls emerges. And development begins on a new campus with a new president, Dr. Larry Carter. (Photo by Dave Jennnings, Courtesty of Aurora History Museum)

REGULAR MONTHLY COVERAGE BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE InterCom July 2013 Newsletter Page 14 GREAT SCOTT : Forensics expertise places adjunct on rare ground For most of us, “throw me a bone” is merely an expression. Not for Gary Scott. “The Police Department has lit- erally done that,” Scott said with a laugh. “ ‘Here’s a bone. Come look at it. …’” There’s good reason Scott’s number is on speed dial, whether it’s police detectives, medical examiners, cadaver dog trainers or other law enforcement on the other end. Scott has spent his adult life find- ing artifacts, identifying relics, and most recently, getting deeper into the forensics side of things. A Com- munity College of Aurora adjunct for about 16 years, many of the subjects he discovers in the great outdoors (and less inviting indoor settings in police settings) can then Gary Scott has been at CCA for more than 16 years. His core classes be knowledgably discussed with his Faculty have been Introduction to Cultural Anthropology, Introduction to students. Archaeology, and Forensic Anthropology. Over the last two years, he’s em- Profile barked on a project alongside Dr. of the on his plate, he’s also the owner of During his career in his various Cathy Gaither of Metro State Uni- Month a paint company for more than fields, Scott has gotten to dig, un- versity, where she’s established a Hu- 12 years. So he’s part Picasso, part earth and exhume in five different man Identification Lab to assist the Quincy? Scott instead sticks to the states: Utah, Colorado, Minnesota, upon to aid law enforcement out in medical and archaeological commu- office, where he can, hopefully, mine North Dakota, and Tennessee. His the field. He’s done an excavation of nities in cataloging their finds in the profits. archaeology pursuits have taken the bones of a Native American at a history books. Many nights, it’s then off to the him to historical prehistoric sites local company site. He’s also had to Scott’s practical and field experi- classroom, where he gets to be col- that have uncovered lithic or stone respond during halted construction ence in forensics took root there, orful – and informative. artifacts to actual physical dwelling to identify findings with the hope of touching upon the actual identifica- In 2012, Scott was given the Tom structures of past villages. The old- resuming the project. In that case, it tion individuals or trying to gauge Brosh Award at CCA, recognizing est item he believes he’s ever found the cause of death. was an elk bone, so rev back up the the college’s top adjunct. dated back 2,000 years, but he did “I would say we’ve had 30 cases Caterpillar trucks. “It’s just a passion. I just en- explore a site that was three times we’ve dealt with and these cases can But Scott also has been at crime joy face-to-face teaching,” he said. that old. range from just whether it’s human scenes that bring a more serious tone “Personally, I enjoy the interaction “It’s intriguing because it’s a link or not or whether it’s archaeological to the proceedings, and, perhaps can with students and seeing them get to somebody else that either manu- or forensic or not, so there’s a full test one’s resolve with the unpleas- enthused about their education. I factured or built something. In a range of analysis.” antness that can be discovered. But also like to really promote students sense it’s part of their garbage but it Scott and Gaither often switch Scott insisted he’s able to compart- having a real understanding of what does tell something about the people roles as analysts and peer analysts mentalize in such situations. their degree will or won’t provide who lived there. I enjoy it. It does on cases, meaning one does the re- “The methodology would be the them in terms of future occupations fulfill a personal interest of wanting search and the other attempts to same,” he explained. “The unpleas- and jobs. to know more about the folks who confirm the findings. Their associa- ant component of dealing with de- “If they want to be an anthropol- lived in the past.” tion could grow in the future, as composing bodies is something I ogist, I want them to be fully aware In the present all of these experi- Metro State currently is in the push back and approach in a clinical of what it’ll take for them to become ences are put front and center to his process of deciding whether it will fashion. Everybody’s aware it’s a very one and what the compensation will CCA students. This isn’t textbook build a regional forensics center, but real person that’s passed, whether be at the end. And if they’re not go- stuff. there are still numerous stages be- it’s murder, suicide or just natural – ing into anthropology, I like them to It’s real-life experience brought fore an actual facility is erected. drugs or whatever. For myself, this is have an appreciation for what an- to the fore, minus some of the pri- At the same time, Scott is hard- what my job is, what I have to focus thropology can offer, even if they’re vate details of criminal work. Yes, ly confined to a lab. Outside of his on and make sure I do it correctly.” going to be going into law or some- it’s true. He won’t throw them any classroom work, he has been called As if Scott didn’t have enough thing else.” bones. Just part of the job. “It’s just a passion. I enjoy face-to-face teaching. Personally, I enjoy the interaction with students and seeing them get enthused about their education. I also like to really promote students having a real understanding of what their degree will or won’t provide them in terms of future occupations and jobs.” - Gary Scott InterCom July 2013 Newsletter Page 15 Elite National Guard unit gets a taste of real life

Scenario wreaks havoc, realistically tests soldiers Real-life events in recent months in weapons on mass destruction. in Boston, Waco, Texas, Oklahoma That elite force allegedly discovered City and elsewhere have shed an im- trace amounts of potentially lethal portant light on the training neces- chemicals and mitigated the explo- sary to combat wide-scale disaster sive devices, setting the action on scenarios, whether resulting from the ground at CCA in motion. manmade or natural causes. “What’s most important is that we Such incidents served as a back- have different areas that are unique drop for a training exercise June 8 and present different challenges,” hosted by Community College of said LTC Seamus Doyle, command- Aurora that featured a combined er of the Colorado National Guard force of more than 200 National CBRNE Response Force package. Guard soldiers from both the Army “What’s great about the location at and Air Force that could be called to Community College of Aurora is respond to such real-life events at a that we have a building that we can moment’s notice. tear up to replicate an actual disas- This particular unit ensconced ter-type event occurring at that loca- Top left, a medical team works on a high-tech simulation mannequin in training is one of only 17 Chemi- tion and also the area outside of it for in the medical tent after triage; above, first responders into Building cal, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear establishing our area of operations 900 examine the damage inflicted by an alleged “explosion.” and Explosive (CBRBE) Enhanced and a rubble pile. Response Force Package teams in the “What that does is stress us to teams. scenario. country. deploy multiple teams simultane- An outdoor rubble pile was con- “When I found this place, I didn’t The training at CCA highlighted ously in different types of events that structed to mirror a collapsed con- know what to expect,” said SFC Joe the military’s expertise in search and we don’t really get in other training crete parking structure, with a car Ziser, incident commander for the evacuation, decontamination, and areas. So it’s unique that CCA has buried underneath, hiding potential exercise. “But the training venues that medical capabilities. The scenario different areas that require different trapped victims and/or casualties. are provided, between the simulation was built around an overarching skills that we can customize.” The scope of the activity could be laboratories in the DMI as well as the storyline in which multiple explo- Building 900, a former Air Force monitored from the Disaster Manage- 900 building are fantastic. And the sive devices allegedly leveled a park- sleeping quarters, was outfitted with ment Institute (DMI) on CCA’s cam- flexibility to add and subtract training ing structure, resulting in mass ca- jumbled hallways and guest rooms pus that serves as a fully functional opportunities based on our require- sualties and injuries at an adjoining just after an explosion. Remnants Emergency Operations Center and ments is huge.” “hotel,” which was actually Building of the bomb blast were evident ev- allows incident command to assess In the mock scenario, intel 900 on CCA’s Lowry campus. erywhere on the first two floors, the exercise from afar via technology suggested there were 677 occupants “Chemical dispersal devices” including “injured” live actors, who rare to a community-college setting in the hotel prior to the explosion were placed in areas adjacent to the had undergone moulage (detailed around the country. and 189 unaccounted for. The team target. In such a real-world crisis, makeup) to mimic injuries consis- The City of Aurora’s fire chief established a footprint for command fire agencies and FBI would respond tent with this type of event, and “deserved as an incident commander and control, decontamination, but their involvement was under- ceased” guests, portrayed by man- on the civilian side working hand medical, and search and evacuation, stood as having already occurred. nequins. Additionally, high-tech in hand with command-‐and-‐ con- while beginning tactical objectives. Also assumed in the mock scenario simulation mannequins owned by trol in the military to oversee all Both Doyle and Ziser said em- were that Chemical, Biological, Ra- the college’s Center for Simulation operations. Pony Anderson from the phatically that training will return to diological, Nuclear and Explosive mimicked specific medical con- Center for Simulation was the point CCA in the future to take advantage (CBRNE) alarms were activated, ne- ditions as part of the assessment person working with the military and of its spaces, resources and knowl- cessitating aid of expert team trained process by the triage and medical setting up the disaster scene -- and edge staging such events. InterCom July 2013 Newsletter Page 16 Information bank

The installation of the intercom system is part of the immersive and game-based at CCA continues throughout the first teaching initiative and participation and/ couple weeks of July. It ultimately will or simply observing are equally fine. allow broadcasts throughout both campus -- during emergencies, the IT department Tammy McKenzie’s one-woman announced. exhibition is now on display at the Donna Cables are continuing to be run Moravec Gallery and will run through through buildings at Lowry and Cen- Aug. 9. Additionally, the accomplished treTech. The work will not affect classes photographer will be giving an artist talk in session. July 17 at 3 p.m. and also lead a workshop Any questions or concerns, please on July 27 at 3 p.m. To RSVP to the latter contact Sandra Tompkins, director of event, please contact Celia Miller-Mor- information technology, at 303-360-4738. risey at 303-340-7335 or celia.miller@ -- ccaurora.edu. Tutoring will continue throughout McKenzie is a Denver native who has the summer months, Academic Support had her work exhibited on multiple oc- Coordinator Paii Nazaryk Molai an- casions at the Arvada Center for the Arts nounced. and other shows including at The Denver Faculty is encouraged to advise stu- Public Library and Colorado Photograph- dents of this ongoing service. ic Art Center. Some of her art includes Math tutoring is available on a drop-in nature photography and work with alter- basis in Classroom building, Rm. 109. native processes and “toy” cameras. Students taking ESL classes can receive The Moravec Gallery is located in assistance in July in the same room. Building 901, North Quad, at Lowry. It’s Writing Studio is by appointment and open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through available to students through Student tab Friday. in MyCCA. The link to the Writing Stu- -- dio group application is in the Academic Nicole Hockert began in a new posi- Support channel under Tutoring. The Photographer Tammy McKenzie’s exhibit has already opened in late tion as admissions specialist on June 3. Hockert previously had worked in tutoring schedule also is posted online in June and runs at the Moravec Gallery through Aug. 9. Outreach and Recruitment/Concurrent this location. Enrollment. NetTutor, or online tutoring, is avail- Those hours are Monday (2-5 p.m.), cultural Events Programmer; Leadership Hockert’s new duties span from ap- able to students through D2L on the Tuesday (11 a.m.-5 p.m.), Wednesday Programmer; and Publicity/Marketing plication to graduation and beyond. She Course Home page. Writing feedback is (10 a.m.-4 p.m.), and Thursday (9 a.m.-2 Programmer. assists students in advising, registration, given through their Paper Center. The p.m.) Board members will meet with Student residency determinations, transcripts, turnaround time is guaranteed at 72 The counseling office is located in Life staff and Student Government to plan admissions requirements, and more. hours, but the average return time is 35 the Advising area of the Administration implement student activities and events Hockert is a former CCA student hours. Math tutoring is synchronous/live building at CentreTech. Appointments and discuss the use of student activities who also owns a bachelor’s degree in using a white board. can be made through Javon Brame (303- fees. anthropology from Community College -- 360-4932). The positions require a 10-hour or of Denver. The Student Government Association Additionally, the Aurora Mental greater commitment weekly. -- is holding fundraisers at Lowry (June 29, Health Crisis Line number is 30-617-2300 For application information, log on Several departments have undergone outside West Quad) and at CentreTech if counselors are unavailable. to http://www.ccaurora.edu/about-cca/ name changes. Administration has been (July 30, outside walkway). Both events -- student-activities-board-sab, or contact recast as Office of the President. Student will run from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tim Cali has begun working as the Tim Cali at 303-360-4726. Services has become Office of Student Food choices will include a beef burger, new Coordinator of Student Life. Affairs. Also, Fiscal Affairs now has VP veggie burger or hot dog with a side and a Cali has a bachelor’s degree in History Effective July 1, there will be new Test- Richard Maestas under its umbrella, drink for $5. with a minor in Urban ing Center hours at CTC in Administra- rather than him holding an “Administra- -- Sociology from Illinois tion Room 205, Registrar/Director of tion” designation. Xerox machines around both cam- State University. He Admissions Kristen Cusack announced. -- puses are beginning to be fitted with comes to CCA with The schedule is as follows: 9 a.m.-5 Two new employees have been added card readers that require magnetic key broad experience in p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays to the Information Technology department, its director, Sandra Tompkins fob/card access. Magnetic key cards can student affairs, includ- and Fridays. Hours run from 9 a.m.-7 announced. be acquired via the CCA IT Helpdesk ing student activities, p.m. on Wednesdays and 9 a.m-1 p.m. on Tyler Fullerton has been added as (A201L) at CentreTech or through Glen orientation, financial Saturdays. Full assessment must start 90 server administrator, where he will deal Murphy (Bldg. 859, Room 105) at Lowry. aid, international stu- minutes prior to the day’s closing; partial with infrastructure, file and print sharing, The issued card will work on all Xerox dents, veteran’s affairs one hour before closing. Cali Windows Exchange, virtual environments machines in the Classroom and Fine Arts and disability services. The Thursday closing time will be and more. buildings at CentreTech and building 859 Cali’s role at the college will be to pushed back two hours during July 15- Fullerton comes to the college from at Lowry. develop student activities and events Aug. 31 and Dec. 15-Jan. 31, as those are All Covered, where he was a Level II Logging in manually is possible by in- and forge and inclusive community that considered “peak hours.” Engineer. He has an associates degree in putting the same username and password facilitates student engagement, fosters The Testing Center has responsibility Computer Networking Systems from ITT used to log into college computers. For leadership development, and promotes for Accuplacer and CPL testing. Tech in Thornton, Colo. more information, contact the IT support positive citizenship. -- Kathleen Potter will serve as adminis- desk at 303-360-4900. -- Front Range Community College trative assistant, where she will be tasked -- There are four openings for work- will be offering a session on Immersive with purchasing and inventory issues and Counselors will be available through- study or unpaid interns (with a minimum Learning Environments from July 7-29. It fill in on the help desk. out the summer within a revised 2.5 GPA) on the Student Activities Board. is open to all educators. Interested parties She comes to CCA from Red Rocks schedule, VP of Student Affairs Betsy Those positions are as follows: Social should contact Kae Novak at kae.novak@ Community College, where she studied Oudenhoven announced. Events Programmer; Educational/Multi- frontrange.edu or call 303-404-5470. This Web Design InterCom July 2013 Newsletter Page 17

Around campus

Clockwise from top: Some furry visitors make their presence known at Lowry campus, as captured by Bob Woods, director of Computer Science; adjunct faculty Ryan Ronnebaum didn’t let his time go to waste june 18 in spite of a tornado warning that sent his students out into the safe zone. Ronnebaum continued to teach his Anatomy and Physiology II class in this photo submitted by Marialane Guillory-Flippen, grant project manager; summertime at CenterTech near the Administration Building is kept in full bloom with a much needed drink, delivered by groundskeeper Bobby McKie; emergency vehicles park as close as possible June 20 to the Fine Arts Buidling as a joint training exercise between Aurora Public Schools, CCA, Aurora Police, Aurora Fire is conducted.