By day, Blanca Rivera works at the University of Houston, cleaning the halls and classrooms of the Cullen College of Engineering from 6 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

By night, the 47-year-old Mexican native returns to campus for a different purpose — to learn the language of her adopted country.

“I would like to improve my English,” Rivera said with the assistance of a translator. “I want to communicate better with students, staff and my family.”

Since migrating to the United States in 1975, Rivera has attempted to teach herself English by reading newspapers and magazines, but without much success. Now, she is among nearly 50 employees participating in UH’s first English-as a-Second-Language (ESL) program for staff.

The program, launched late last semester, is the brainchild of Jerald Strickland, interim senior vice president for academic affairs and provost.

“A great university needs a great staff,” Strickland said. “The program provides a mechanism for people to grow within the university. If the university can help employees to develop professionally and retain them, then UH will benefit tremendously.”

The university financed the program with funds from the $300,000 fiscal year 2005 Staff Tuition Scholarship Program, according to Strickland and Monica Baisden, training manager in the Department of Human Resources and scholarship program coordinator.

Baisden explained that all scholarship applicants, 218 in total, received awards, but monies remained from last year’s Staff Tuition Scholarship Program and were used for the staff ESL program.

“We realized that not all staff members are ready academically to pursue a college education,” Baisden said.

With that in mind, the decision was made to establish the program, which may help the approximately 250 staff members who speak little, if any, English.

“Developing an ESL program for staff members is an appropriate way to use the remaining scholarship funds,” Strickland said.

The program offers beginning, intermediate and high intermediate classes through UH’s Continuing Education, according to Mercedes Suraty-Clarke, program coordinator for accelerated learning and languages program Continuing Education.

“Over the years we have provided ESL training to many energy and healthcare clients. It is now so gratifying to offer it here on campus under the auspices of this staff initiative,” she said.

For Rivera, the new program provides a chance for her to better communicate in English with her husband, Jorge, a UH staff member, and their two children, 24-year-old Janette and 20-year-old Jorge Jr., both of whom are bilingual.

“My family is so happy that I’m taking these classes,” she said.

So twice weekly, Rivera attends a two-hour class at the Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel Restaurant and Management, where the continuing education offices and classrooms are housed.

Initally, Rivera was hesitant, but once she met her instructor and discovered that many of her classmates are fellow Plant Operations employees, she became more comfortable. She admits learning English is difficult, but plans to continue the lessons despite her struggles.

Searching for the appropriate words in English to express her gratitude, Rivera said, “I’m so thankful to the university. It’s a wonderful opportunity.”

Francine Parker
fparker@cenrtral.uh.edu