HCC at The Regent Prepares for Fall Semester

Hillsborough Community College (HCC) at The Regent opened for the fall semester Aug. 22.

HCC at The Regent, located at 6437 Watson Road in Riverview, is a satellite location of the Brandon campus of HCC. HCC owns The Regent and offers classes on the lower level. HCC has five primary campus locations and three satellite locations.

HCC at The Regent has two computer labs and four classrooms. Its fall schedule consists of nine classes, including a beginning teaching class, computers, history, business and more.

Daniel Berkowitz, manager of HCC programs at the Regent, said even if area residents aren’t interested in taking a class, they are welcome to use the well-equipped HCC computer labs or other HCC areas as a meeting space or study location.

One area where Berkowitz would like to see improvement for the site is its Dual Enrollment Program (DEP). The program gives area high school students the opportunity to take college-level courses and receive high school, as well as college, credit.

While many students are familiar with taking Advance Placement, or AP, courses, many do not know about DEP. It allows high school students to earn credit toward a postsecondary diploma, certificate or degree at a Florida public institution and toward a high school diploma. It is an opportunity to take challenging courses and to accelerate educational opportunities.

Students who successfully complete dual-enrollment courses will save time toward their college degree and save money with free tuition and, if a public school student, free textbooks. Private and homeschooled students are responsible for instructional materials.

Berkowitz said he is an advocate DEP.

“I think every high school student should take one or two college courses," he said. "It’s a stepping stone before entering higher education. Sometimes it can be a bit unnerving for freshmen to start college.”

If a DEP course is not offered at The Regent, Berkowitz is willing to investigate the possibility of getting the course scheduled.

HCC at The Regent does offer some courses as a collaborative effort, such as the Silver Sneakers program, a series of workshops being offered through the HCC Continuing Education and Campo Family YMCA.

Berkowitz is just excited to get the word out to the public that classes are being offered at the location.

“I think people kind of know we’re here, but many don’t realize it,” he said. “So we’re working real hard to let the community know we’re here.”

For more information, contact Berkowitz at dberkowitz@hccfl.edu or 813-253-7845.