CGS Community College Leadership

Program Overview

The Community College Leadership Certificate Program at University at Albany equips students with the knowledge and skills to lead and improve administrative processes in community colleges. The 12-credit program focuses on emerging issues and primary activities of two-year colleges, enhancing participants' ability to identify student needs, develop strategic plans, and make data-driven decisions.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

This 12-credit graduate certificate program equips students with the knowledge and skills to lead and improve administrative processes in community colleges within the United States. The program focuses on emerging issues and primary activities of two-year colleges, enhancing participants' ability to identify student needs, develop strategic plans, and make data-driven decisions. Graduates will be prepared to serve students, strengthen communities, and expand educational access in leadership roles at community colleges across the U.S.

Objectives:

• To equip students with a comprehensive understanding of the two-year community college and its role within the U.S. higher education system.
• To develop students' leadership skills and abilities in areas such as strategic planning, data analysis, student needs assessment, and program administration.
• To prepare graduates to serve as effective leaders within community colleges, contributing to student success and institutional improvement.

Program Description:

The program offers a blend of theoretical knowledge and practical application, focusing on real-world challenges and opportunities faced by community colleges. Students will engage in coursework covering topics such as:

• Community College History and Development: Understanding the historical context and evolution of community colleges in the U.S.
• Administration of the Community College: Exploring the organizational structure, governance, and management practices within community colleges.
• Leadership in Community Colleges: Developing essential leadership skills for effective management and decision-making.
• Student Success in Community Colleges: Strategies and interventions to support student learning, engagement, and completion.
• Community College Finance and Budgeting: Understanding financial management and resource allocation within community colleges.
• Assessment and Accountability in Community Colleges: Assessing student learning outcomes and institutional effectiveness.

Outline:

• Core Courses:
• Community Colleges
• Administration of the Community College or Leadership for Cradle to Career Education Systems
• Leadership Elective (choose one - Adult and Continuing Education, Administration of Institutions of Higher Education, Assessment and Accountability in Higher Education, or Higher Education Finance)
• Analytical Elective (choose one - Introduction to Organizational Leadership, Introduction to Social Analysis, or Quantitative Methods in Educational Leadership)
• Sample Courses:
• Community Colleges: Survey the policies, social and economic history of community colleges in the United States.
• Administration of the Community College: Learn how two-year colleges are organized and managed, and complete a major project in your area of interest.
• Adult and Continuing Education: Expand your understanding of the scope, organization, and coordination of adult education systems.

Careers:

• Job Market: The program prepares graduates for administrative positions within community colleges in various areas such as:
• Academic Advising
• Enrollment Management
• Student Affairs
• Financial Aid
• Advancement
• Institutional Research
• Increased Job Opportunities: A significant increase in open leadership positions is anticipated due to the retirement of administrators from the 1960s and 1970s.
• The city of Albany provides an ideal setting for post-secondary education studies, offering applied learning experiences and higher education policy analysis opportunities.
• The program is suitable for individuals with professional goals and supervisor or colleague support that can attest to their qualifications, interest, and likely trajectory.