Coast Guard Island Home to Service's Largest Learning Center Story and Photo by PA2 Mariana O'Leary, PACAREA Public Affairs COAST GUARD ISLAND, ALAMEDA, Calif. (Jan. 3, 2006) The largest and most innovative learning center in the Coast Guard is now located here. The 3,000 square-feet of classroom space, computers, study hall and a library, house programs dedicated to advanced education and career development in the Coast Guard community.
U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer Mariana O'Leary
The nearby screech of a drywall nail and an overhead banging loud enough to make a machinist mate flinch doesn’t seem to phase Michael Franceschina, Coast Guard Island’s new education services officer. He pauses to patiently and loudly explain to a young-looking seaman the intricate mysteries of obtaining a transcript, while proudly showing off the construction project.
Housed in a historic white building, shared with the base security office, the 3,000 square feet of space will soon be home to the largest learning center in the Coast Guard and unprecedented learning and outreach programs.
“Ultimately our goal is to provide the Coast Guard and its personnel with quality products and services to support its mission through enhanced education, training, professional development and personal achievement,” said Franceschina.
The center plans to be a centralized place for members to do a variety of activities. Tutoring will be available for math, with retired Army Lt. Col. Dan Lufkin volunteering his time to the program. English and reading tutoring will also be available, along with guidance toward improving test scores, or helping a member pass an end-of-course test. “Other programs such as “A” and
The learning center also brings a new program onboard that offers study hall until 10 p.m., and lunchtime classes. An innovative outreach program for cutter crews offers courses with materials that are downloaded to personal data assistants, and tests proctored by a certified person onboard. “Now they won’t have to try to vie for time on the ship’s Internet to take courses,” said Franceschina. “We’re going to do everything we can to bring it to them.”
Due to an aggressive completion schedule, and the hard work of Integrated Support Command Alameda’s Facilities and Industrial Engineering Division and Electronic Systems Support Unit (ESU), the learning center’s testing room, conference center, and study hall are completed with new computers, tables, and couches that help create a comfortable, relaxed atmosphere to study or test in. The ESU is presently completing an installation of 25 networked computers in the classroom and establishing necessary connections for 15 computers provided by
Along with Columbia College, which already offers classes on base, advisors from Excelsior College, Thomas Edison College, Coast Line Community College, and Vincennes University of Indiana, will be available at regularly scheduled times to assist students with distance learning courses.
The learning center’s goal is to have a historical theme. The lobby is being designed as a ship’s quarterdeck, and the rooms will be dedicated with names such as the Cutter Room, the Aviation Room, the Freedom Room and the Nathan Bruckenthal Library, which will include the commandant’s suggested reading list, and the Freedom Room.
Even with all this already set in motion, plans are in the works to create an opportunity for Coast Guard members, dependents, and other members of the community, to take classes at the Coast Guard housing complexes in
“We’re just getting started,” said Franceschina. “You increase quality of life through quality of learning. It’s a chain reaction, and it’s starting right here.”
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