B1005 Continuing Education Programming

Policy

Policy Type: Board- Strategic Outcomes
Responsible: President
Related Policies: B1002
Linked Operating Standards: None
Related Laws: None
Related Standards: None
HLC Criterion: 2B22B2 The institution ensures evidence is available to support any claims it makes regarding its contributions to the educational experience through research, community engagement, experiential learning, religious or spiritual purpose and economic development. , 3A3A The rigor of the institution’s academic offerings is appropriate to higher education., 3B3B The institution offers programs that engage students in collecting, analyzing and communicating information; in mastering modes of intellectual inquiry or creative work; and in developing skills adaptable to changing environments., 4A4A The institution ensures the quality of its educational offerings., 4B4B The institution engages in ongoing assessment of student learning as part of its commitment to the educational outcomes of its students., 4C4C The institution pursues educational improvement through goals and strategies that improve retention, persistence and completion rates in its degree and certificate programs., 5A25A2 The institution’s administration uses data to reach informed decisions in the best interests of the institution and its constituents., 5B45B4 The institution’s fiscal allocations ensure that its educational purposes are achieved., 5C5C The institution engages in systematic and integrated planning and improvement.
Monitoring Reports

B1005 Continuing Education Programming PDF

Policy Statement


As identified in the College purpose statement, continuing education programming is an essential service that assists students with developing new occupational skills to use in their current and/or future career.

Students receive value by engaging in the College’s continuing education courses, seminars, certifications, credentials, and programs (i.e. continuing education programming) designed to help them upgrade their skills for their current job, retrain for a new job, or prepare for a new career.  By completing these activities, students potentially increase their employability, mobility, and earning potential.  Students receive greater value when they can document their participation in continuing education programming that meets nationally recognized criteria.  Students receive greater benefits when they can transfer their continuing education course or program between various other systems of professional development (e.g. Continuing Education Units, Continuing Professional Development Units, Professional Development Hours, Professional Learning Units, etc.). Students receive value by maintaining their current or obtaining a new professional license or certification.  Students receive the greatest value when their continuing education programming can be connected to the College’s professional certificate and degree programs.

When employees complete continuing education programming, employers receive value from: an agile and skilled workforce that brings new ideas and creativity to a rapidly changing market and work environment; the alignment of employee skills with business goals and objectives; improved employee loyalty, morale, job satisfaction, and retention.  This leads to a culture of continuity and consistency; improved productivity and profitability; and the opportunity to develop future organizational leaders.

To achieve these benefits, the Board directs the President to establish, execute, and continuously improve a program of continuing education.

 

Key Monitoring Activities:

As it relates to the key performance areas noted in the Monitoring College Effectiveness policy, the Board is interested in community need, student interest, enrollment, employment readiness, and deployment.

The measures and indicators suggested below are advisory in nature and are intended to provide the President with a broad range of ideas as to what the Board might find helpful as it monitors the College’s progress on the key performance areas for this strategic outcome.  The President, at their discretion, can modify the measures and indicators as needed.

Specific measures for community need may include data that illustrates how workforce development needs are being met.  Potential indicators might include the number of College service area and regional employees completing professional development courses; percentage of courses and programs that align with in-demand jobs within the College service area and region; and the number of partnerships w/ external organizations that provide professional development training.

Specific measures for student interest may include data that demonstrates increased program relevance.  A potential indicator might identify the percentage of courses and programs having professional recognition and/or nationally recognized credentials.

Specific measures for enrollment may include data that reflects CEU’s, FTE, and headcount of students taking continuing education courses.  Data aggregated by student demographic profiles is appropriate.  Potential indicators might identify the number of students who participate in continuing education courses and programs; the number of professional CEU’s earned, the number of students who participate in continuing education courses and programs to help them upgrade their skills for their current job, the number of students who participate in continuing education courses and programs to help them retrain for a new job, and the number of students who participate in continuing education courses and programs to help them prepare for a new career.

Specific measures for employment readiness may include data that demonstrates licensure pass rates, pass rates for certification exams, and job placement rates.  Potential indicators might describe the percentage of students that passed licensure exam within 6 months of completion of a continuing education course or program; the number of students that passed nationally recognized certifications exams while enrolled at SCC or within 6 months of completion; and, the number of continuing education course or program completers that obtain a sustainable job.

Specific measures for deployment may include data in the measures of curriculum management and scheduling effectiveness, including breadth of courses, percentage of courses offered in multiple timeframes/formats, number of students who access courses from off-campus locations, the average number of sections per course, average enrollment per course, and average enrollment per section.

 

Change Log Governance Unit: Board of Trustees 
Date Description of Change
03-07-22 Initial Adoption
12-05-22 Added Deployment Measures
12-14-23 Reviewed, No Changes