Tips from the trenches

by Deb Lockwood

It's June! And what does that mean? It's summer. Summer is not just a great time to frolic in the lovely Colorado weather and go on vacations, it is a great time to think about going back to school. No…I'm not kidding.

About September, have you ever said to yourself, "Hey, the kids are back in school, and lots of adults I know are going back to school. Maybe I'll just take that (fill in the blank) class I've been wanting to check out"? Well, I have. What usually happens to me at that point is that I find out that (a) the class has already been filled to capacity; (b) the class was canceled because nobody signed up in time; or (c) to get reimbursed by my employer; I had to apply for reimbursement four weeks prior to registration.

It is not only a good idea to take a class now and then in your field of expertise just to brush up on the basics, but it is also helpful to branch out occasionally. If you are a writer or editor, why not take a class in a software language, or in graphic design, or in project management? If you are a procedure writer, try taking a grant and proposal writing course. Stretch yourself.

Assuming I've made my case about checking out courses during the summer, let me give you a few resources that might help with your search.

Colorado Colleges and Universities

Of course, the Internet is a great place to begin. The following links will take you to the Web sites for accredited colleges and universities in Colorado:

• Adams State College http://www.adams.edu/
• Colorado Christian University http://www.ccu.edu/
• Colorado College http://www.coloradocollege.edu/index.cfm
• Colorado Community Colleges Online http://www.ccconline.org/
• Colorado State University http://welcome.colostate.edu/
• Community College of Denver http://ccd.rightchoice.org/
• Fort Lewis College http://www.fortlewis.edu/
• Front Range Community College http://ccd.rightchoice.org/
• Mesa State College http://www.mesastate.edu/
• Metropolitan State College of Denver http://www.mscd.edu/
• Red Rocks Community College http://www.rrcc.cccoes.edu/
• Regis University http://www.regis.edu
• University of Colorado - Boulder http://www.colorado.edu/
• University of Colorado - Colorado Springs http://www.uccs.edu/
• University of Colorado - Denver http://www.cudenver.edu/index.htm
• University of Denver http://www.du.edu/
• University of Northern Colorado http://www.univnorthco.edu/
• University of Southern Colorado http://www.uscolo.edu/
• Western State College http://www.western.edu/

This list is far from complete. Just run your own search in the Google search engine, and you'll see more references, including technical colleges.

Other Classes and Information Links

Of course, you should always check out the STC's resources first. Go to http://www.stcrmc.org and click the Professional Resources link. Especially check out the Distance Learning Programs at http://www.stcrmc.org/resources/resource_degree.htm.

When I recently researched the topic for a friend who wanted to take a "brush-up" writing course, I was reminded of the InfoMap writing method. See http://www.infomap.com/ for more information about this method and the classes being offered.

There is a wealth of information at the www.about.com Web site. Type writing or classes in writing and check out those links.

Conclusion

In conclusion, in my opinion, summer is the best time to start thinking about what you are going to be doing this fall. Think seriously about taking a class - online or in person. And don't be afraid to branch out into an area that's not quite so familiar to you. I know that you will be glad you did!