Community College Leadership

 Available:

• Jackson
  

Graduate Certificate in Community College Leadership

The Graduate Certificate in Community College Leadership enhances the leadership effectiveness of community college administrators and faculty aspiring to executive or instructional leadership positions in two-year institutions of higher education.

The curriculum offers students a unique opportunity to receive advanced training while developing expertise in the study of professional situations through continual emphasis on linking theory with practice and research. Additionally, students will have opportunities to collaborate with peers and participate in dynamic learning activities that center on contemporary challenges and demands of leadership in community college settings.

Community College Leadership
The community college leadership program is designed with great flexibility to meet the needs of participants in scheduling coursework for those desiring to pursue graduate study while simultaneously working full-time. Through hybrid, online and face-to-face formats, on- and off-campus offerings as well as evening and weekend classes, the variety and sequence of classes will provide participants with ample opportunities to actualize professional growth.

The Graduate Certificate Community College Leadership is a cost-effective educational route to extending knowledge and acquiring the skill set required of those in decision-making positions at community colleges. For professionals interested in an advanced graduate study in higher education administration with a cognate in community college leadership, the curriculum interfaces well with other degree options in the Department of Leadership and Counseling (i.e. up to 12 credits hours of the CCL graduate certificate may be applied to the master’s, specialist or doctoral program).

Career Opportunities
According to The Chronicle of Higher Education (August 29, 2008), there are well over 1,700 public and private two-year institutions of higher learning. This unique sector of postsecondary education is an increasingly attractive option for collegians as nearly half (46%) of all first-time, entrants and two-fifths of all postsecondary students attend community college (National Center for Education Statistics, 2008).

The community college leadership pipeline is shrinking. Community colleges nationwide are experiencing the following trends:

• While graduate programs concentrating on community college leadership exist, there has been a significant decrease (over three quarters) in the number of advanced graduate degrees in community college administration over the last two decades;
• Many current presidents, chief academic and student services personnel and faculty at community colleges express plans to retire within 10 years (Schultz, 2001).
  

Program of Study
Required Core Courses: 12 hours

• EDLD 551 Contemporary College Students (3)
• EDLD 509 Educational Leadership in a Pluralistic Society (3)
• EDLD 632 Community College Leadership (3)
• EDLD 696 Seminar in Educational Leadership: Organizational Control and Administration of Community Colleges (3)
  

Note: A 2-3 credit hour internship is required if the student lacks experience working in a community college setting.

Selected Elective Courses: 6 hours*

• EDLD 609 Team Building and Consensus Decision-Making (3)
• EDLD 634 Higher Education Finance (3)

Total: 18 hours

*Note: Additional elective courses are available online and off-campus and maybe be taken in consultation with the graduate coordinator.

For More Information

The Department of Leadership and Counseling
Eastern Michigan University
Dr. Eboni Zamani-Gallaher, Coordinator
John W. Porter Building – Suite 304
Ypsilanti, MI 48197
734.487.0255 | Fax: 734.487.4608
www.emich.edu/coe/lc

Read more information by downloading the fact sheet [PDF].