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Robotics board against separating park from CalhounAug 30, 2009 (The Decatur Daily - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- A suggestion to separate the Robotics Technology Park from Calhoun Community College met a negative response from the park's executive board. An advisory committee of educators from area universities, community colleges and secondary education asked the executive board at its monthly meeting Thursday to let the park stand on its own even though it's across U.S. 31 from the Decatur campus. "They are concerned that the park will be perceived as Calhoun and their students will feel like they have to enroll at Calhoun to take the classes," said Ronnie Smith, assistant director, North Alabama, for the Alabama Industrial Development and Training Institute. Partnership The park's development is a partnership between Calhoun and the institute. The plan is for Calhoun to take over the park's management when the three-phase facility is complete and in operation. Gov. Bob Riley awarded the park to Calhoun in June 2008 after a stiff competition with Wallace State Community College in Hanceville. Calhoun President Marilyn Beck, a board member, said separating the two isn't possible if the park wants to offer collegiate credit. The park needs the college for accreditation. It would be a difficult, lengthy process to earn accreditation separately, she said. "We view it (the robotics park) as part of Calhoun," Beck said. "It will be marketed as a major program of our college." Bethany Clem, dean of technology and work force development, said Calhoun already has partnerships with the state's universities and community colleges that allow their students to take classes at Calhoun and get credit at their home schools. For example, Clem said, an Alabama A&M University electrical engineering student needed a training course that wasn't available at A&M, so he took the class at Calhoun. The student has an A&M scholarship, so Calhoun sent an invoice to A&M for tuition reimbursement. Beck said Wallace offers a radiography program, and it would be redundant for Calhoun to offer the same program. She said her students take the basic classes at Calhoun and then go to Wallace for the specialized, hands-on classes to complete the program. Board chairman Joe Sparks said marketing for the park on its Web site and brochures needs to make it clear that Calhoun has these partnerships. New member In other business, Riley appointed Mike Selby, president of Automatic Screw Machine Products Company of Decatur, to the board. He fills the position left vacant when David Minor resigned in June. Selby attended his first meeting Thursday. To see more of The Decatur Daily, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.decaturdaily.com Copyright (c) 2009, The Decatur Daily, Ala. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. |