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Title: Dorrie Williams
Description: Dorrie Williams at the time of the interview was Associate Dean of Cooperative Education. He talks about establishing the Cooperative Education program at the College, the changes in the college, and the future of work. Timestamp summary of VHS interview: (1:16) Talks about work experience at IBM before coming to LaGCC, finding out about the college and coming in for an interview. (2:27) Meets with Sheila Gordon at the new college, and said he thought he went to the wrong address – “it was not a college”. Goes on to describe the M-Building in its original condition as an empty factory. (5:57) He also meets with Gordon’s co-worker Ben Baim. There were only 2 people and the secretary that made up Cooperative Education. (6:50) They could not hire Williams until they hired the Dean of Cooperative Education – The Dean would make the final decision – but they would recommend Williams to the Dean. (7:29) After an interview with Dean Harry Heinemann Williams was hired and started working on May 1, 1971. (7:55) Williams said, that summer there was lots of work in terms of recruiting. (8:52) He said, Cooperative Education was on the 3rd floor of the Main building, along with all of the other college offices. (9:19) President Joseph Shenker (Williams also mentions Dr. Rose Palmer) had mandated the Cooperative Education program for all students and built the mission of the college around the concept. (10:56) LaGCC had a division of Cooperative Education at the Deans level – reporting directly to the President. (12:28) They had looked around the country at other established Cooperative Education programs at Antioch College in Ohio, and Northeastern University in Boston. Also looked at BMCC’s (Borough of Manhattan Community College) program in the CUNY system. (13:40) Talks about hiring new staff and the general excitement at the college- coming right out of the 60s (15:31) Williams spoke about the history of the idea of cooperative education history starting from the University of Cincinnati – LaGCC looked at all theories and spoke about how to attract students in Western Queens. (17:49) Speaks about the curriculum and relevant education. (18:48) Williams discussed technology and the work environment beginning to change – “We as a society had to better prepare our future workers.” (21:35) He said they all sat down, himself, Dean Heinemann, Sheila Gordon, Ben Bain, and other members and agreed to build a marketing plan. (23:17) Williams said they were lucky to have companies here in the Metropolitan Area - they had established a brochure for Cooperative Education. (29:00) Talks about contacting CEOs or Human Resources managers in the first few years of the college “We would send literature of who we were and what we needed and would get back to them.” (41:43) Williams discussed the changes over the first 25 years of the college– society having evolved, the college growing, and changes in student demographics, especially in the end of the 1970s to the mid-1980s. (50:26) Williams discussed the year 1990 and the changing future of work (52:33) Discussed students learning to work and interact with others. (55:16) Summarizes the Cooperative Education program and how the college served as a model for Coop Education worldwide.
Subjects: , 25th Anniversary, Oral History, Williams, Dorrie, Cooperative Education
Publisher: LaGuardia Community College (New York, N.Y)

Title: Enock Charlotin
Description: Enock Charlotin was a student in the Cooperative Education program and talks about his experiences immigrating from Haiti and attending the college. Timestamp summary interview: (1:23) Enock Charlotin came to attend LaGCC in 1989 after his sister referred him to the Cooperative Education program. (2:48) After being accepted, talks about his motivations and how LaGCC supported his goals (3:08) In 1980, he had decided he wanted to learn more about computers and his parents sent him to New York from Haiti, talks about that experience (4:05) Had Professor Washington for his first course Intro to Computers. Describes Professor Washington as a teacher and role model about (5:06) Talks about the quality technology resources at the college and being ahead of other colleges (6:48) In regard to the social setting here at LaGCC – “your friends were from different backgrounds and we were all students we could talk to one another.” (7:43) Charlotin discussed the counselors and how that worked with the Coop Ed PROGRAM (9:32) Talks about his first internship at UAPC/University Application Processing Center in Brooklyn and his current work at UAPC at LaGuardia. (11:20) Talks about the Coop Seminar and guidance he had received. (14:05) Most of the teachers here at LaGCC take the time with students. Goes on to describe several areas and departments of the college that he had help from when he was a student here. (15:20) Was a member of a student club, mentions Ed Hollis, Luis Merchant of Student Services. (19:03) Spoke about the opening of the E building, how that made the college bigger, and how in his opinion made the college more professional and attractive to more students.
Subjects: , 25th Anniversary, Oral History, Charlotin, Enock, Cooperative Education, Students, Immigration
Publisher: LaGuardia Community College (New York, N.Y)

Title: Andy Saluga
Description: Andy Saluga was the College's first Recreation Coordinator Timestamp summary of video: (0:00)Andy was very active when he attended college at Western New York State in 1968 to early 1970s. He was involved in the Student Government and in civil rights. He had decided to leave the college because of issues at the university and may have been shutting down. (2:57)He had worked in construction in the 1970s and was then offered a teaching assistant position at an elementary school. He had liked to help people. (3:38)Andy had attended a special program at Hunter College in 1974 and then came to LaGuardia to attend a program here at the college. Andy didn’t realize there was a college here. He met Fern Khan and Rich Homes a counselor here at LaGCC. The college had been convenient for him to attend from where he was living. (5:36) Andy began to take courses here at LaGCC in education. He had liked the diversity here at the college. In 1976, the Main building was under construction “The Great Hall” was also under construction. It had been used for recreation. (6:36) Andy had graduated with an Associate degree in Education and received encouragement from professors. (7:46)The college had been much smaller and faculty, counselors and Cooperative Education staff all worked together as a team. Andy had worked at the elementary school with 1st and 2nd graders, and had attended college in the evening. The Board of Education was in fiscal crisis and cuts were being made which would not allow Andy to keep his position at the elementary school. Andy was offered an hourly position at LaGCC and had worked with Professor Irwin Feifer. (13:49) The college was awarded a grant and Andy was able to keep his position. He had worked at the Career Resource Center and was hired as a staff member. He had worked with students to provide them with information. In 1977, Andy was appointed to the professional staff and continued his work at the Career Resource Center. (16:08) The college had celebrated its 10th Anniversary and he had worked with the Recreation department on the 10K Race. Andy had been recommended to work at the Recreation department in the 1980s and had joined the department. In the early years of the college, there had not been a recreation facility. They had used “The Great Hall” as the site for recreation. In 1977, there was a new recreation facility. (18:02) Recreation was a voluntary program. The college didn’t offer physical education courses. The LaGCC Recreation department opened 6 days, morning until night and the opportunity to visit is all day long and the pool is also open. (19:48) LaGCC stressed for space so the Recreation area was used as a social space. (21:06) “With increases in enrollment members of the college were asked to talk about any dreams they had for the college. The Recreation department gave the idea of the swimming pool, to the college space committee. Because of 31st Street being closed, we were able to have the swimming pool. We could not have a fitness center in the E building, but the swimming pool was very popular a good decision.” (24:06)Various activities would go through cycles, roller skating during the disco era. Basketball, handball, indoor soccer the Recreation department tried to respond to needs. (25:35)The weight room had intimidated people who didn’t know about weight training, especially female users were not comfortable. Plans were made for a fitness center to have more women using the facilities, they wanted to draw women to the facility. (27:41) “[LaGCC] is always the place to be – the attitude is all things are possible. People of LaGCC are very special and remarkably diverse.” (31:20) “People work hard here at [LaGCC]. [LaGCC] has a sense of community as we get bigger and older I hope we can maintain that.” (32:05) Total time
Subjects: , 25th Anniversary, Oral History, Saluga, Andy, Recreation Department
Publisher: LaGuardia Community College (New York, N.Y)

Title: Barbara Carson
Description: Barbara Carson first came to LaGuardia Community College as a student, but returned as a tutor and stayed on in a variety of teaching and administrative positions. Timestamp summary: (00:42) In 1981, Barbara Carson graduated from LaGCC and at time of interview works in the Theatre department. (1:26) Came to LaGCC for Secretarial Science talks about her decision to switch to Liberal Arts to concentrate on teaching. (3:24) Talks about the coziness and supportiveness of the college, describes the M-Building and the Cooperative Education Division in the L & P Building over the pizza factory (4:17) After she graduated from LaGCC, Carson attended a 4 year college but missed the sense of involvement and encouragement from LaGCC. (4:44) Professor Marian Arkin offered Carson a job in the Writing Center as a tutor, Carson talks about how that affected her educational decisions. Goes on to describe courses and internships (6:48) Describes the Coop Seminar and how it prepared students for the transition between school and work and how to think of your career over the long term. (7:54) Talks about student life on campus (9:21) Gives examples of her personal/direct interactions faculty as a students and how they directed her toward literature and teaching. (10:17) Describes the student body, describes the students as having very realistic goals and going to LaGuardia for the purpose of education for a career. (11:17) Talks about working at LaGuardia while completing a bachelors’ degree at Queens College and the differences between the two schools (13:42) Covers her positions as Assistant to the Dean and Assistant to the Theatre Director and her want to help students (15:01) In 1988/89 she teaches Basic Reading in the Communication Skills department and talks about her positive experience as a teacher (16:14) Talks about how the college has in expanded in size over the years (17:42) “The 25th Anniversary theme sums it up – Tradition of innovation – LaGCC has never been afraid of trying something new if it benefits the student.” Total time is 18:48
Subjects: , 25th Anniversary, Oral History, Carson, Barbara, Students, Writing Center
Publisher: LaGuardia Community College (New York, N.Y)