Patsy Joyner
Columnist

Several noncredit community education courses are being offered during spring semester. Following are some examples:

Introduction to studio photography

If you are curious about how professional photographers create such beautiful portraits and want to photograph people or objects, this class is for you.

Using studio lights, reflectors, props, and a backdrop, instructor Shirley Whitenack will explain and demonstrate metering, lighting, and posing, and each participant will have many opportunities to practice the techniques and take pictures.

Participants should bring a camera, instruction manual, film/digital media, questions, and lots of energy for this hands-on class — plus a bag lunch. ARTS 8024: Introduction to Studio Photography will meet March 26, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Room 124 at the Hobbs Suffolk Campus. The cost is $90, and the deadline for registering is March 23.

Dog obedience class

In this course, Dwayne Nolan teaches dogs and their owners the basics of obedience: heel, sit, down, come, stay, and off. In addition, owners will learn to communicate better with their pets for a happier, healthier relationship.

Requirements for each dog include proof of a rabies shot, a six-foot leash, and a training collar (type to be determined in the first class). RECR 8000: Dog Obedience Class meets Thursdays from 5:30 to 7 p.m., April 7 through May 5, in the parking lot for the College’s Regional Workforce Development Center on 100 North College Drive at the Franklin Campus.

The cost is $50, and the deadline for registering is April 4.

Facebook for seniors

A new course, Facebook for Seniors, began this week. Meeting on two consecutive Tuesdays from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Regional Workforce Development Center, the class covers the basics on how to establish a Facebook account and build a profile. The response was so positive (full class) that other sessions are being planned for the near future.

For more information on these three special-interest classes and other community education offerings, call 569-6050.

Spring open house

A reminder that the college is hosting an open house on April 9, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Hobbs Suffolk Campus. Scheduled activities include a tour of the Hobbs Campus and its Learning Resource Center; an overview of college programs of study and course offerings; on-site applications and registration for classes; and the opportunity to try out VaWizard, an online tool for career planning. For more details, call Dr. Harriette Arrington, Dean of the Hobbs Suffolk Campus, at 925-6302.

For information on other options available at PDCCC, call 569-6700, or visit the college website at www.pdc.edu.

Dr. Patsy Joyner is the vice president for Institutional Advancement at PDCCC.