Good afternoon,

While I don't think Ginny was being dismissive either, I'd like to add
that I taught RM classes at Houston Community College (HCC) from 1988
until I left in 1995.  Students could take these classes and in
conjunction with other requirements, could graduate with an Associates
degree with a major in Records Management.  During that time, I think
that the North Harris County Community College (Houston area) also
offered an associates degree program in RM, and in addition to those
two, I believe that the San Jacinto Community College (again, in/near
Houston) also offered RM classes but not a degree or diploma program.

Now, these were three major educational institutions (a combined student
body of well over 50k) in a major US city that offered college-level RM
courses in response to [what was then] a healthy demand.  Many of my
former students were clerical or support level RM'ers who, going to
school part-time, used their educational experience to move up into
entry level supervisor and lead positions at major Houston companies and
city/state government agencies.

Since then, however, I'm not sure what has happened but I don't believe
any of these schools offer a RM program of any type anymore, not even
general RIM classes.  In a city like Houston I can't imagine the demand
has decreased, but it is still a puzzle to me as to why these programs
no longer exist.  Certainly while not comparable to a bachelors or
advanced degree, I know from feedback of my former students (some of who
still recognize me at either the ARMA International or Houston Chapter
conferences) that the community college RM education and diploma
programs were helpful to their careers and advancement opportunities.
The curriculum at both colleges were much more than "filing methods and
rules with a smattering of general RIM overviews," and I hope that any
former students of any of those programs currently on the ListServe now
will chime in to attest to that.

What with so many RIM educational programs disappearing from our
colleges and universities, I applaud Chippewa Valley College's efforts
to continue to offer some sort of college level education in this
profession, albeit online.

I also taught the last RM class offered at the University of Akron's
Community and Technical College during the Fall semester in 1996.

First COTY and now the Astro's in the World Series, way to go
Houston--good luck!

Cheers!

Earl Johnson, Jr.
Consultant (Millican & Associates) to DHS Records Management
Department of Homeland Security
7th & D Street SW, Room 3636-22
Washington, DC 20528
Office:   (202) 205-5803
E-mail:  [log in to unmask]

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