Community College Journal - December 2010/January 2011

Broadening the
Completion Agenda

Student Success 2020 expands the definition of completion to include credentials that help students prepare for jobs and careers, as well as for continuing their education. It recognizes that students enter and exit community colleges at various stages of their lives and at differing points of their educations. This covers the gamut: those arriving in search of adult basic education, English as a Second Language, or GED preparation courses; adults who already have postsecondary or graduate degrees in search of industry certifications or continuing professional education; high school graduates and dropouts; adult learners seeking credit and noncredit courses, degrees, and professional certificates; and new, transitional, and dislocated workers.

As the “completion agenda” gains traction, it is imperative that community college leaders ensure the credentials, certificates, and degrees awarded by our respective institutions retain their value and relevance. A degree or certificate means very little to a student if it does not help secure a job, advance a career, or contribute to further education.

Many local and national employers
continue to work with the college to
create certifications and other job-
training opportunities for students.
These basic entry-level credentials
often help students take the first step
toward achieving their professional
goals. They, too, are legitimate parts of
the completion agenda. The Bowling
Proprietors’ Association of America, the
association representing the bowling
industry, recently created an educa-
tional certification for its profession.
AACC developed course work for the
credential. Students complete the work
online through the college, and the
association awards the certificate. As
another example, network specialist
Ciena recently developed a credential
for its Carrier Ethernet technology,
which supplies faster online connec-
tions across large computer networks.
AACC is working with industry organi-
zations to validate the certification.

MARTHA SMITH is president of Anne Arundel Community College in Arnold, Md.

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