SALISBURY, Md.- Wor-Wic Community College's founding president, Dr. Arnold Maner, passed away Saturday, May 23. He was 87.
According to Wor-Wic's current president, Dr. Ray Hoy, who made the announcement about Maner's death, as the college's first president Maner guided Wor-Wic from inception, through the early years and the transition from a “college without walls” to the college's campus location at Route 50 and Walston Switch Road in Salisbury.
Maner’s journey with Wor-Wic began with his appointment as project director for the State Board for Community Colleges. His role was to conduct research to determine the need for a community college in the Lower Shore area, which at the time was the only region in Maryland without a community college. Once the research was complete, it was determined there was a strong need and demand for a community college on the Lower Shore.Maner was selected as the first president of Wor-Wic, then called Wor-Wic Tech Community College.
Now in its 45th year, Wor-Wic opened in November of 1975 and operated as a “college without walls,” renting classroom and office space in various buildings in the community. Nearly 200 students attended n the first year, a much higher number than was originally expected. After the first year of operation, the president was met with praise by the board of trustees who said that “the remarkable initial success of the college is due in large measure to the knowledge, wisdom, devotion to duty and untiring effort demonstrated by Dr. Maner as the first president of Wor-Wic Tech Community College.”
Throughout his tenure, Maner saw the most important goal as continuing the momentum of the college. In 1985, he spoke about the difficulties of being a non-traditional school, without a campus, when he said that “we are hoping to do something about that.” He would see his vision come to fruition. In March of 1993, ground was broken and construction of a three-story building had begun. In August of 1994, the college campus at Route 50 and Walston Switch Road opened. This enabled the college to expand its programs and continue its mission of training local people for local jobs.
After more than 25 years of service, Maner retired in June of 2000. With his guidance, he set Wor-Wic up for success as it entered the new millennium. According to Hoy, upon retirement, Maner believed his greatest accomplishment was the graduates who moved into successful careers with local businesses and industries or transferred to four-year schools, earning higher degrees and then beginning their careers.
"I have always been in awe of his accomplishments—starting a new college with an entirely new concept, a college without walls, and then guiding the transition to a campus-based institution that has filled such a critical need in our region," Hoy said. "The foundation that he laid for Wor-Wic has sustained the institution and allowed it to continue growing. His legacy is the outstanding institution that we have today and the many graduates who have gone on to fill critical roles in our community."