Return to Main Menu

MUHA kicks off GED program to create more opportunities by Katherine Fore Public Relations  Educational Administrators Karen Pressley and Latoya Van Dyke head a program that prompted 35 Medical University Hospital Authority em-ployees to go to school.      “It does not matter how old you are, you can still go back and receive an education,” Van Dyke said. She and Pressley are working on their masters at Webster University.    Pressley presented an idea to Maxine Smith, Ed.D., director of Burke High School and the Community Outreach Program in Charleston County, to implement a GED completion program within the Hospital Authority. Adult Education Associates Susan Friedrich and Martha Herman also joined to help bring the program to MUHA.     With the help of a high school completion program, MUHA Support Services hopes more employees will embrace the idea to go back to school.    The GED preparation classes include eight-week sessions and are currently open to all support services employees. Although the initial sign up date has past, a person may still enter the second session beginning around the third week in March.     The classes fit the needs and schedules of the employees and are offered at no cost to the employees. Crothall and Sodexho, the housekeeping and dietary companies within MUHA, share the cost of the program with Support Services.     Because many individuals have outside responsibilities such as children or a second job, the program will be run at MUHA and classes will be held to coincide with each persons work schedule.    “I work full-time and have a son,” said Ryesha Williams, a first-time student.  “I don’t have time to go to another place to get my GED. I am glad that it is all in one place.”    The Charleston County School District, Burke High School, Adult Education, and the Medical University Hospital Authority formed a partnership and provided accredited teachers to teach the classes. In addition, individuals within the authority structure have volunteered and will mentor and tutor those in the program.     Because of the ideas and initiative of Pressley and Van Dyke, businesses, churches and the Medical University have taken interest in starting their own GED program. “We are proud to say that our program has given many other businesses and companies the opportunity and the ideas to start a program on their own,” Pressley said.     The Hospital Authority is willing and eager to share the information and ideas they have to help others. The idea is there, now it needs to be embraced by the people. “We want people to seize every opportunity possible at the Hospital Authority,” Van Dyke said. “We have people helping people here and we want to continue to do that.”    The desire for others to get involved is there said Pressley.    “ I didn’t realize how important an education was until my children needed help in school and I wasn’t able to help them,” said MUHA employee Dale Carter. “I want to further my education and hopefully continue and be a nurse’s assistant.”    “This program can help you follow your goals and help you advance in your current job,” said MUHA employee Avery Rivers.     Each individual involved with the program want to make sure that others feel comfortable and are able to trust them. “The GED is a great accomplish-ment and we just want others to know that it is never too late,” said Van Dyke.     For additional  information on the GED program, contact Pressley at 792-9624.    Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to petersnd@musc.edu or catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Community Press at 849-1778.