News 21 Nov 2006 12:15 pm
Literacy Center is an asset to community
By Eric Koehler
News Writer
In August 2004, the Canisius College Literacy Center opened their doors to the community as a state of the art facility specializing in literacy based programs for children of surrounding neighborhoods.
A product of several years work, the center is the result of many dedicated graduate students, staff and college administrators.
Now under the direction of Dr. Gillian Richardson, a faculty member of the Graduate Literacy Program and recipient of the Peter Canisius Distinguished Professorship Award, the center has sought and achieved new heights through expanding their programs to include diagnostic literacy testing, tutoring as well as special events such as “Bookworm-Weekends” and “Literacy in Motion” campaigns. All of which are supported by grants, college funding and revenue generated from services rendered.
The center, stating true to their mission statement, has continued to serve as a comprehensive source of these resources while providing literacy education for the community and researching effective teaching methods.
The center consists of two primary aspects, one being the extensive diagnostic testing which takes place and the other being the service learning aspect of the program. The center involves both community members and students from Canisius.
It allows qualified undergraduates to fulfill their service learning requirements through teaching and tutoring children based upon the recommendations from the diagnostic testing. Students of the College complete their service learning requirements in a heart-felt, meaningful environment.
Cheryl Jessel-Yates, an assistant to Dr. Richardson, stated that impacting a child’s life positively is a priceless accomplishment made possible through the one-on-one tutoring program here within the center.
“The success of this center has been heartwarming for myself as well as Dr. Richardson,” Yates said, while explaining the history of this important community asset.
Yates continued to describe the great passion Canisius students have for the center as a whole. Tutoring provides early field experience for education oriented majors as well as first hand experience of humanism involved with many professional careers.
Just off the main campus, located in the rear of the Health Science building, the Literacy Center. However, as an organization which thrives based upon awareness, this is not a title that the center hopes to maintain.
Knowledge of the facility is vital to the promotion of the center. Creating such knowledge is critical for advancing the services provided for children of the community as well as the opportunities offered to undergraduate students.
According to Dr. Margaret McCarthy, Dean for the School of Education and Human Services, the center is “a dream come true.” Part of a common goal within the department, revitalization of the city remains a priority and Canisius’ Literacy Center is seen as a step in this celebrated process.
As of last spring, over 245 children have received services from the center. This year alone it has been forecasted that the center will service and assess an additional 230 clients from the local community.
Because Richardson was unavailable for commenting on the center’s success, it is unclear at this time what role the facility will play in upcoming years.
There have been questions raised regarding the service learning aspect of the program and one-on-one tutoring. It remains uncertain if this portion of the center will continue for future clients and undergraduate students.