Registration for Community Church College trips and classes well underway
By PHYLLIS HODGES
BILL HODGES PHOTO
Since Community Church College’s fall semester offerings were announced, Karl Buffington, left, and Larry Piechoski have been busily tallying registrations for trips and classes. They have been assisting with the college’s administrative tasks for about five years. “We just enjoy meeting and working with people,” said Piechoski.
In early August, the Community Church College (CCC) in Sun City Center announced the fall 2018 semester (Oct. 8 through Nov. 16) curriculum, but this year something was different. For the first time in the college’s 42-year history, they said there would be no designated day for in-person registration.
Dean Anne Ginevan explained their reasoning this way: “Years ago, there were lines out the door on open registration day, but the lines kept dwindling year to year as more people turned to the internet to enroll.”
There are two semesters — spring and fall. For last year’s fall semester, they had 1,000 registrations for trips and classes; for the spring semester, which is typically more heavily attended because part-time residents are back, they had 1,200. At press time, they had logged 500 registrations with another six weeks to go before classes start. Instructors are volunteers willing to give back to their community by sharing their knowledge and talent in a wide variety of areas.
The college draws from surrounding communities because there is no Sun City Center residency requirement for attending. Although there is no specific day to enroll for the $30 six-week courses, those who prefer to sign up personally can stop by the office until classes begin on Oct. 8. Walk-ins for unlimited classes must register in the office because that cannot be done online. The office is normally open Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to noon, but it is closed for vacation Aug. 29 and 30, and for Labor Day Sept. 3.
The purpose of the classes as stated in the CCC catalog is to “inform, entertain and inspire” in an informal and relaxed environment. It serves as an adult education outreach program offering noncredit courses. No previous education is needed to enroll in the classes.
It began in 1976 as a mission of the United Community Church at 1501 La Jolla Ave. in Sun City Center (now SouthShore United Church of Christ). Then-pastor Dr. Robert Gingery felt the area offered a lot of activities but needed more to challenge the intellect and keep the mind active.
Community Church College rents space for office and classes in the church, but curriculums and programs are planned and implemented independent of the church. Course tuitions, grants and donations are used for operating costs, although endowments are used when income falls short.
The course catalog, along with registration and mail order forms are available on its website at www.4lifelearning.org. Just follow the links for Classes and Trips. Catalogs with registration forms are also available in and just outside the office. They have also been distributed throughout the community, i.e., medical offices, SCC library, Information Center, etc. For more information, call 813-634-8607, or email communitychurchcollege@gmail.com.
