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Learn ‘History of the Holocaust’ with New Spring Course at BCCC
Bucks County Community College, which has been responding to residents’ educational needs since its founding nearly sixty years ago, introduces History of the Holocaust, a three-credit course offered for the first time in the spring semester.
In addition, later in the spring, the College is hosting a panel discussion with the author of the book, Life in a Jar: The Irena Sendler Project, which tells the story of a Polish woman who saved several hundred Jewish children from the Warsaw ghetto.
Professor Paula Raimondo, who first proposed the new course last summer, says students will explore the history of the Holocaust through multiple perspectives, and as a framework for interpreting modern genocide.
“Studying the Holocaust is a starting point for looking at such a broad range of human behavior,” said Raimondo, who is a Ph.D. candidate in Holocaust and Genocide studies at Gratz College. “For instance, think about all of the human rights and the democratic institutions that we take for granted, how fragile they are, and how important it is to protect them.”
Some of the topics to be discussed are the motivations, roles, and responsibilities of individuals, groups, and governments when confronted with civil and human rights violations, war crimes and genocide.
“What you stand to learn in a class like this is so much more than history,” added Raimondo. “You’ll learn critical thinking skills and information literacy skills. You will really start to build a framework for interpreting the world and how we should treat other people.”
The course comes at the right moment, amid a rise in antisemitism in our country, according to Kevin Antoine, J.D., the College’s Associate Vice President for External Affairs and Chief Diversity Officer.
“For some historians, the 2020s are echoing themes that started the rise of antisemitism in the 1920s,” Antoine noted. “In this course, students will be exposed to the brutality of falsehoods that led to the genocide of a people. The course will examine how to prevent the Holocaust from happening again, and how to build trust and civility between people of faith who worship differently.”
History of the Holocaust will meet from 10:50 a.m. to 12:05 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, starting January 18 and concluding May 9 (no classes during spring break, March 19 and 21). Tuition is $165 a credit for Bucks County residents, plus additional fees. The course is open to guest students, so no prerequisite or placement testing is required. To register, visit Spring 2024 and look for course number HIST 133.
Meanwhile, Raimondo says the public is invited to a free panel discussion April 16 with Jack Mayer, author of Life in a Jar: The Irena Sendler Project.
As part of a secret World War II organization called Żegota, Irena Sendler (1910–2008) rescued several hundred Jewish children from the Warsaw ghetto — providing false identities and hiding places in orphanages, convents, and private homes. Mayer’s book weaves Sendler’s story with that of the Kansas students who helped tell it to the world.
“We will unpack what it means to resist, rescue, and build community in times of war and conflict with the panelists,” Raimondo said.
In addition to author Jack Mayer, the panel will feature:
Rabbi Anna Boswell-Levy of Kol Emet, Yardley;
Barbara Simmons, Adjunct Professor, International Peace and Conflict Resolution, Arcadia University, and Executive Board of NAACP, Bucks County Chapter; and
Nancy Isserman, Co-Director, Transcending Trauma Project, Director, Operation Home and Healing, Council for Relationships and Faculty, Holocaust and Genocide Studies, Gratz College.
“Life in a Jar” panel discussion takes place at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 16, in the Zlock Performing Arts Center on the Newtown Campus of Bucks County Community College, 275 Swamp Rd., Newtown, Pa. Admission and parking are free.
To learn more about the History of the Holocaust course or the April 16 panel discussion, contact the Department of Social and Behavioral Science at sb@bucks.edu or 215-968-8270.
Celebrate the Magic of Christmas with Keith Spencer and Friends in Concert
Two performances are available on Friday, December 15 at the Zlock Performing Arts Center in Newtown Two performances are available on Friday, December 15 at the Zlock Performing Arts Center in Newtown
The Zlock Performing Arts Center at Bucks County Community College is proud to present a unique performance of holiday music with Bucks County’s own Keith Spencer and his friends within this original holiday special concert, Friday, December 15 with performances at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Embrace the festive spirit and immerse yourself in the enchanting sounds of the holiday season as Keith Spencer, accompanied by his wife Amy, and special guests Jessica Edwards and John D. Smitherman, take center stage in a Christmas concert like no other. This musical celebration will be backed by the incomparable Sounds of the Season Trio, promising an evening filled with joy, nostalgia, and the timeless melodies of your favorite Christmas classics.
The Zlock Performing Arts Center will be transformed into a winter wonderland, providing the perfect setting for an evening of festive cheer and musical delight. Keith Spencer and his talented friends will serenade the audience with a selection of beloved Christmas favorites ranging from cherished classics to contemporary holiday tunes, creating an atmosphere that captures the magic of the season.
Don't miss this opportunity to experience the joy and warmth of the holiday season through the power of music. Tickets for the event can be purchased online or at the Box Office the day of the show. The Zlock Performing Arts Center is located inside the Gateway Center building on the Newtown Campus of Bucks County Community College at 275 Swamp Rd., Newtown, PA. Parking is free.
Tickets start at $30 and are free for current Bucks County Community College students with valid student ID. Senior discounts also available. For more information and to purchase tickets visit Zlock Performing Arts Center, or call 215-968-8469.
Follow the event on Facebook and Instagram for updates, behind-the-scenes content, and more.
Bucks Cited as Top PA Community College for Transfer-Out Rate
A recent U.S. Department of Education report highlighting the top two- and four-year colleges and universities supporting student transfer was released earlier this month with groundbreaking data. Nearly 40% of students transfer at some point during their collegiate journey, and they lose more than 40% of their credits on average when they transfer from one institution to another resulting in lost time, money and all too often, the degree or certificate they are pursuing due to never completing their graduation requirements. As a result, the U.S. Department of Education has launched its “Raise the Bar: Attaining College Excellence and Equity” initiative with the goal of improving the student transfer process to boost degree completion by working with higher education leaders across the country.
The Department of Education study looked at a substantial sample of students who began their collegiate journey in 2014. Bucks County Community College has the highest transfer-out rate (44 percent) of Title IV students among Pennsylvania community colleges. Title IV funding refers to federal financial aid such as Federal Direct Student Loans and Federal Pell Grants. Of the 700 Title IV students who started a 2-year cohort in 2014, 311 of those enrolled at a 4-year institution within eight years. In addition, the Bucks County Community College and Temple University transfer partnership was recognized as having the best completion rate in the state.
“Students participating in the Temple University dual admission transfer agreement benefit from being conditionally accepted to Temple, having their application fee waived and access to merit scholarships up to $2,000 per year depending on their GPA,” according to Bucks’ Provost, Kelly Kelleway, PhD. Dr. Kelleway adds, “Bucks has dual admission agreements with 28 colleges and universities providing many options to students seeking a bachelor’s degree.” In total, the College has transfer and general articulation agreements with more than 66 institutions.
However, the Department of Education’s “Raise the Bar” initiative is not focused exclusively on four-year degree pathways. The effort involves improving access for students from all socio-economic backgrounds to succeed in whichever academic or occupational pathway they choose. In fact, the focus of the initiative in 2024 will be on improving completion rates and ensuring student outcomes lead to better employment and earnings potential.
Bucks County Community College stands ready to meet the needs of academic-minded and career-focused students alike. With 23 occupational degrees resulting in an associate degree and 27 short-term certificate programs, Bucks helps prepare students for entry-level positions in the workforce as well as career advancement in a wide gamut of professions ranging from culinary arts to diagnostic medical sonography, information technology to brewing and fermentation science, and furniture/cabinetmaking to firefighting. In total, there are more than 90 transfer and occupational majors available at Bucks. In addition, there are numerous career and technical education and training programs, many with funding provided through grants and free to eligible students.
"Skull Sessions" Group Art Exhibition Opens November 20 at BCCC
The Hicks Art Center Gallery at Bucks County Community College is pleased to announce the opening of the group art exhibition, “Skull Sessions,” on view from November 20, 2023–January 6, 2024. The Gallery is located in the Hicks Art Center building on the campus of Bucks County Community College in Newtown, Pennsylvania.
From realism to narrative installation, the artworks in the exhibition “Skull Sessions” represent a current survey of the range of genres in which artists amongst their art group peers are currently practicing.
The title of the exhibition takes its name from the strategy-building sessions that are more typically associated with athletics—especially football. In “Skull Sessions,” the art will speak for the artist with ideas shared and communicated to the viewers as if they are players on a united team. Like an art fair format, the artworks and installations in “Skull Sessions” will be arranged within the areas of Hicks Art Center designated to the following 20 different artist-run collectives and cultural organizations in the Bucks County and Philadelphia regions:
African American Museum of Bucks County
Art at Kings Oaks
Arts and Cultural Council of Bucks County
ARTWRKD
Automat
fjord
Grizzly Grizzly
Newtown Historic Association
Past Present Projects
Peep Projects
Pink Noise Projects
Rush Arts Philadelphia
Space 1026
Termite TV Collective
The Upstairs Gallery of Bucks County
Vox Populi
Zach's Crab Shack
The groups will be represented by artworks or displays from their board members, curators, directors, or members at large, some of whom do not often exhibit their own works collectively. “Skull Sessions” will offer a unique opportunity for the public to see the 20 participating artist-run spaces and cultural organizations in one location together for the first time ever.
There will be an opening reception on December 6, 2023, from 4–7:30 p.m. at Hicks Art Center. All are invited and welcome to meet the artists and cultural organizations’ members. Free and open to the public.
Gallery hours are Monday through Friday 9 a.m.–4 p.m. and Saturdays from 12–4 p.m. Please note that the gallery will be closed in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday November 22–November 25. For winter break, the gallery will be closed from December 22, 2023–January 2, 2024.
For more information, please visit Hicks Art Center Gallery or call 215-968-8425.
[Image: Avtomat, Death Buy Adidas, digital print on acrylic, dimensions variable, 2010 courtesy of Rush Arts Philadelphia]
BCCC and UBCTS Announce First Partnership to Introduce Esthetics Program
Online information session Monday, December 18 at 6 p.m. Bucks County Community College and Upper Bucks County Technical School (UBCTS) are announcing the first partnership in the institutions’ history, teaming up to introduce an Esthetics Program for adults as well as high school seniors who are interested in pursuing a career in the field of esthetics. An online information session will be held Monday, December 18 at 6 p.m. to provide details about the program as well as potential student funding opportunities.
“Given the rapidly growing demand by Bucks County employers for workforce training and the national growth rate for the beauty services industry projected as high as 19% by 2030, we see this program as a natural collaboration with Bucks County Community College,” says Dr. Michael Herrera, Executive Director, Upper Bucks County Technical School.
The Esthetics Program, which will be administered by Bucks County Community College and held at Upper Bucks County Technical School, will cover a wide range of topics including skincare techniques, makeup application, waxing, facial treatments and more. Students will receive in-depth instruction and hands-on training in a modern esthetics lab simulating salon environments and equipped with the latest skincare technology and products. The program will be led by experienced instructors with a passion for esthetics and a dedication to student success through mentorship, career guidance and job placement assistance. Graduates of the program will have the knowledge base and skills to successfully complete the state licensing exam.
“This partnership represents a significant step forward in enhancing the educational and career opportunities available to students,” says Donna Kirn, Executive Director of Community Education & Professional Certification at Bucks County Community College. “It aligns perfectly with the College’s and UBCTS’s commitment to preparing students for a successful future and contributing to the local workforce by offering industry-relevant programs.”
Classes will be held Monday through Thursday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. beginning January 16 and running through June 20, 2024, at the UBCTS Bedminster Township campus located at 3115 Ridge Rd, Perkasie, PA.
Through the state-funded Aim and Attain Grant awarded to the Bucks County Department of Workforce and Economic Development, individuals who were previously enrolled in a degree or certificate program and were unable to complete it between 2021 and 2023 may be eligible to participate in the Esthetics Program at no cost.
To learn more about the December 18 online information session, call 215-968-8409 or email veronica.drumm@bucks.edu.
