ALAMOSA — Adult Education will start up again at Trinidad State’s Valley Campus in Alamosa on August 14 with a free three-week long mini-session. The fall session will start on September 18 and continue until December 14. 

This fulfills a promise made by College President Dr. Carmen Simone to keep the program alive, even though grant funding from the Colorado Department of Education ran out at the end of June. At that time, Simone pledged college resources to fill the need for high school equivalency training for those who have dropped out of high school. 

“Education at this level is an important connection between the college and the community,” Simone said. “We know many in the Valley need these educational services at some point in their lives and we are committed to help.” 

The week of August 14 will be enrollment week according to Director of Adult Education Tammie Mack.    “So anyone who needs our services can show up, we’ll do a Power Point presentation that shows the ins and outs of the program and then we’ll do some intake testing that will show what the students know and what they don’t know; where those education gaps are and what we need to do to fill those in and get them started working toward their High School Equivalency degree.”   

The initial orientation and screening will happen at any time as students show up the first week.  They will then be allowed to start working toward their educational goals.  “It’s really a three-week pilot program to work out some kinks, to get us going again, to see what works and what doesn’t,” said Mack.  “Then we’ll start our regular fall session on September 18.”   

About two dozen students who were in the program in the spring and expressed an interest in returning will be contacted over the coming weeks so they know they will have the information they need to return in the fall.     

Mary Richards, who was with the program previously, will teach language arts and social studies.  Another instructor will be hired soon to teach science and math. 

Regular hours of operation will be Monday through Thursday 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Monday and Wednesday from 1 to 3 p.m. and Tuesday and Thursday from 5:30 to 8 p.m.  The Adult Education Center on the Valley Campus is in the same location as before – Room 203 at the Main Building of the Trinidad State Valley Campus at 1011 Main Street in Alamosa.

For more information call 589-7137 or 800 621-TSJC ext. 5640.