Certificates continue to make steady progress for implementation beginning with a pilot stand-alone certificate in summer 2021, and several curriculum-embedded certificates planned/in development for Fall 2021.

The Certificates Work Group has continued to meet every other week to vet the certificate design process. The process is refining and differentiating between curriculum embedded, and stand-alone certificates. We have a draft certificate policy and a draft certificate design handbook that continues to be refined as we work with faculty, work force partners and the implementation team to establish how the college infrastructure will support both grad-applicable and non-grad-applicable credit certificates.

This past month, Sue met with multiple leaders working at community colleges (i.e., SPSCC, Pima CC) and four-year colleges (i.e., UW, Lewis and Clark) to learn more about successful approaches to establishing work-force oriented certificates in a professional studies program.  The most important take away from these meetings is the consistent message that a financially successful program requires public and private workforce partners. Once the unit is financial stable, and generating revenue, offering a wider variety of certificates including certificates that cost the unit money but provide an important community service is feasible.

The Certificates Lead Group was recently established and meets every other week to coordinate activity between the provost, deans, implementation team, and the college of graduate and professional studies design work group.

Summer Institute. Sue and Abir will offer a summer institute to work with interested faculty on designing certificates.  The institute is planned for July 29-30.