Going to College on Island

Living on Martha’s Vineyard means many positive things, but one of the negatives is that if you are an adult wishing to continue your education, you have to go off Island in order to do so. However, , also known as ACE MV, is on the road to changing this fact. “What we are trying to do at ACE MV, and also in collaboration with the Health Education Collaborative and others, is to build relationships with institutions of higher learning so that they will help establish a branch right here on Martha’s Vineyard,” said ACE MV Director, Lynn Ditchfield.

Since the fall of 2009, ACE MV has offered five courses from Cape Cod Community College (CCCC) with a focus on those working towards an Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education.

“We have an amazing amount of local resource people who are experienced professors and educators and are excited about being able to offer courses here on the Island. At the same time, we hope to attract many others who are interested in going to college or getting back to higher education but have been unable due to the large expense of travel, ferry and scheduling,” said Ditchfield.

This winter and spring ACE MV will be offering three additional classes through CCCC. These are Psychology 101, English 101- neither requiring other prerequisite college courses, and Early Childhood Education 202. Additionally they are offering two courses from Fitchburg State for graduate and undergraduate credit and for enrichment. One is Teaching Global and Community Competency through Arts and Culture, and the other is Teaching Practicum in Brazil tied to the ACE MV International Social Service Exchange trip to Brazil this spring.

“ACE MV is a community based learning program meaning that we recognize that an essential part of the learning process happens inside the classroom and the community,” said Ditchfield. “The dynamics that happen in a face-to-face or even a hybrid - part face-to-face instructor, part online - classroom are phenomenal. Students not only learn from the talented instructor, but also from each other and from the surrounding community. The relationships therefore are ongoing and meaningful beyond the actual confines of the class.”

Those interested in learning more or signing up for courses can come by the lobby of (MVRHS) from 4:30 pm – 6 pm on January 17^th and 18^th. There will be an informational session for all credit courses on Tuesday, January 17^th at 6:30 at MVRHS room 115.

All Thursday evening ACE MV classes at MVRHS offer free childcare.

For more information, to view the new catalog or to register online, visit the ACE MV website: www.acemv.org or call ACE MV 508-693-1033 x 240, or 774-310-1131 or e-mail lynn@acemv.org. Catalogs are also widely distributed in all libraries and schools, and other public places.