## FY 2011 Training for Realtime Writers

## Award Abstracts

**Huntington Junior College - P116K10001**

**Initiative to Recruit and Train Students in Realtime Writing Programs Offered at Huntington Junior College**

**Project Period: 01/01/2012 – 12/31/2013**

**Total Funding: $300,000**

Project Director: Catherine Snoddy

900 Fifth Avenue

Huntington, WV 25701

Phone: (304) 697-7550

Fax: (304) 697-7554

E-mail: csnoddy@huntingtonjuniorcollege.edu

Abstract:

The “Initiative to Recruit and Train Students in Realtime Writing Programs Offered at Huntington Junior College” is a two-year program that focuses on training and placement for individuals who can meet the requirements for closed captioning of video programming set forth in section 713 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 613).  The $300,000 program will establish best practices in providing realtime writing programs through distance education.

The campaign consists of three goals that have direct impact on student training and placement:

(1) Enhancing the Existing Distance Learning Experience - $100,000

Huntington Junior College will implement technology that will give students direct access 24/7 to the variety of professional software they are required to use while in the program.  Providing this software at no additional cost to the student will enhance the student learning experience and better prepare graduates for employment.

(2) Scholarship program - $96,000

Huntington Junior College will implement a scholarship program to help reduce the expense associated with completing the high tech realtime writing program.  This scholarship program will reduce the need for students to utilize student loans and allow for more individuals to enroll in and complete the realtime writing program.

(3) Education/Recruiting Campaign - $104,000

Huntington Junior College will implement a television and Google AdWords campaign to educate and recruit students in careers as realtime writers

**Cuyahoga Community College – P116K100016**

**Captioning Enhancement Project**

**Project Period: 04/01/2012 – 03/31/2017**

**Total Funding: $249,000**

Project Director: Lisa O’Rear-Lassen, Captioning and Court Reporting Program Manager

11000 Pleasant Valley Road

Parma, OH 44130

Phone: (216) 987-5214

Fax: (216) TBD

Email: Lisa.O’Rear-Lassen@tri-c.edu

Abstract: 

Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C) is requesting $249,000 over 5 years to support its *Captioning Enhancement Project*which will address the projected increased need for Realtime writers by 1) developing a NCRA-certified captioning track with the CCR Program; 2) Create a formalized mentoring and student support program for both classroom and online CCR students to support student success; 3) Develop an outreach and recruitment strategy to increase awareness of Realtime Writing as a career option, and ensure ongoing growth in program enrollment; 4) Promote job placement by creating an approved certificate program recognizing competency at the level required within the industry for NCRA RPR certification and; 5) provide scholarships to assist students.

Success of the program will be determined by the following performance measures:

· The number of participants who have completed the program;

· The number of program completers who are employed as realtime writers;

· The number of students who receive mentoring and additional educational support services;

· The existence of a Captioning Program and the number of students enrolled;

· The number of students receiving scholarships;

· The amount of scholarship dollars awarded.

The Project Director is Lisa O’Rear-Lassen, the CCR Program Manager.  The Captioning Enhancement Project will hire an enhancement project coordinator, who will report to the Project Director/CCR Program Manager.  The project will also engage a consultant to serve as a curriculum developer.

**New York Career Institute – P116K100011**

**Training for Realtime Writers**

**Project Period: 01/01/2012 – 12/31/2017**

**Total Funding: $430,964**

Project Director: Alfred Ragucci

11 Park Place

New York, NY 10007

Phone: (212) 962-0002

Fax: (212) 385-7574

Email: aragucci@nyci.edu

Abstract:

New York Career Institute (NYCI) is a private degree granting two-year college with the largest court reporting program in the New York metropolitan area.  Currently, there are 525 students enrolled in NYCI’s Court Reporting degree and certificate programs.  NYCI proposes partnering with Stenograph Inc., the largest manufacturer of court reporting equipment and developer of court reporting software, to offer Stenograph’s captioning program in the upgraded computer labs on NYCI’s campus in lower Manhattan.  Stenograph’s captioning program was developed by Christopher Cosgrove of Caption Colorado, the largest provider of captioning in the United States.

NYCI would offer two tracks—a 576 hour program for reporters entering the program writing at 160 words per minute and a 192 hour program for reporters writing at 225 words per minute.  A day program and a weekend program for working reporters will be offered.  The 576 hour program will run on the same schedule as NYCI’s trimester schedule and will take three trimesters (12 months) to complete.  The 192 hour program will take one trimester (4 months) to complete.  The program will be taught by current NYCI instructors who have been trained in captioning by Stenograph.  This program will be an instructor led interactive course which covers aspects of captioning including career exploration, paraphrasing, preparation, and offline captioning.  Upon completion of the program students will be able to 1) take verbatim dialogue at a minimum of 240 words per minute with a 98 percent accuracy rate; 2) demonstrate the ability to prepare three types of realtime captioning; 3) construct dictionaries and create dictionary hierarchy that will prevent undesired translations; and 4) describe aspects and duties of the captioning job/profession.