Community College Leadership, Post-Baccalaureate Certificate

Certificate Program Objectives

Program objectives for the certificate program in Community College Leadership align with the 6 Competencies for Community College Leaders identified by the American Association of Community Colleges (see https://www.aacc.nche.edu/):

1. Organizational Strategy – using data-driven strategies to address complex organizational and management issues;
2. Resource Management – ethical effective use of all resources, including economic and human resources, to support programs and services;
3. Communication – ability to effectively convey goals and vision to campus community;
4. Collaboration – embrace and engage all members of the campus, local, regional, and state communities in ways that honor and celebrate their contributions and advance the goals of the institution;
5. Community College Advocacy – advocate for the values reflected in the historic missions of community colleges (e.g., open access, learner-centered approaches, and lifelong learning) with political leaders and scholarly publications (i.e., scholarship on teaching and learning);
6. Professionalism – maintain self-care and promote work-life balance and an ethical work environment for all staff, faculty, and community members.

Admission Requirements

Applicants seeking admission to the graduate certificate in community college leadership must hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university in this country, or its equivalent in a foreign institution based on a four-year program, and have a strong overall academic record with a 3.0 average or better overall grade point average (GPA). Applicants should also currently hold a position at a community college or be interested in working at a community college.

To apply for admission to the graduate Certificate in Community College Leadership program, you must submit the following:

1. An application for admission to the graduate school;
2. Official transcripts of all prior university or college coursework (undergraduate and graduate);
3. Three recommendations by individuals in professionally relevant fields; and
4. Personal statement that addresses the following: discuss a current issue facing community colleges today. In what ways would you hope to contribute to addressing this issue as a leader at a community college in the future?
5. Curriculum vitae or resume
6. International students: TOEFL minimum scores of 79 on the Internet-based exam or 550 on the paper-based exam. TOEFL scores are good for two years from the date the test is administered.
7. Application and supplemental documents must be submitted by the published deadline.

Policies Governing Certificate Admission Criteria and Subsequent Admission to Graduate Degree Programs

The certificate admission criteria and policies governing the relation of certificates to graduate degree programs include the following:

1. Non-degree UNCW graduate students who wish to pursue the certificate program must apply for admission to the program before 10 approved credit hours are completed.
2. No transfer credit from another institution will be counted toward the completion of the certificate program with the exception of courses offered as part of an agreement between the certificate program and regionally accredited institutions.
3. A certificate graduate student may register on either a part-time or a full-time basis.

Certificate Requirements (12 credit hours)

The program leading to the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Community College Leadership focuses on a diverse range of topics relevant to the unique context of community colleges.

Core Courses (12 credit hours required)

• EDL 557/657: The Comprehensive Community College    Credits: 3
• EDL 537/637: Organizational Strategy & Resource Management in Community Colleges    Credits: 3
• EDL 538/638: Teaching & Learning in Community Colleges    Credits: 3
• EDL 539/639: Community College Leadership    Credits: 3

Important Note

Please note that credits for courses taken in the Certificate program are part of the approved coursework for the Higher Education specializations of the M.Ed. in Education and the Ed.D. in Educational Leadership. Individuals who wish to enter into the M.Ed. in Education or Ed.D. in Educational Leadership must apply to the Graduate School as degree-seeking students before the completion of 10 credit hours.

CCL courses are offered both on campus and via distance technology, allowing professionals to earn their degrees and/or certificates by taking courses on-campus, via distance technology, or a combination of both types.