Want to get a driver's license and sign up for GCC classes in one easy stop? Now you can. Thanks to a new outreach effort by the Greenfield Community College Office of Admission, visitors to the Franklin County Visitor's Center/Registry of Motor Vehicles Office near the I-91 Greenfield rotary can now learn about GCC's programs and get assistance with applying to college.

GCC viewbooks, program brochures, and other materials are available in a kiosk at the Visitor's Center and GCC Admission staff will be at the Center on Mondays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. to answer questions about the College. The new outreach effort is a collaboration between GCC and the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce that runs the Visitor's Center. Ann Hamilton, President of the Chamber said, "Since the Registry moved its office to the Visitor's Center in June, 5,000 people a month come to the Center to renew their driver's licenses, register vehicles, and do other Registry business. Many of them are local young people applying for learner's permits and driver's licenses. While they wait, they can learn about GCC's great programs and pick up information about area attractions to share with visiting friends and family."

GCC's presence at the Visitor's Center/Registry had its beginnings in conversations between Herb Hentz, GCC's Director of Admission and Bob Barba, GCC's Dean for Community Education. They noticed the increased foot traffic in and near the GCC Downtown Campus when the Registry office was on Main Street. After the Registry moved to the Visitor's Center and the Chamber of Commerce offered GCC space for their Admission materials, Hentz was thrilled. He said, "The people who visit the Visitor's Center and Registry can learn about GCC's credit and community education programs. Also, many of the Center's volunteers have GCC connections, as alumni, parents of alumni, members of the GCC Foundation, and retired faculty and staff. Peg Saulnier, coordinator of the Visitor's Center volunteers and all of the volunteers have been very helpful. As an Office of Admission, we thrive on collaboration. Any time we can collaborate with a community organization or business, we jump at the chance."

For information about GCC and the Office of Admission's outreach efforts at the Visitor's Center, visit the Office of Admission's website at https://www.gcc.mass.edu/admission/ or contact Herb Hentz at 413-775-1809 or

 By Mary McClintock, '82

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