Continuing Education & Workforce Development
FY 15 Certificate of Completion Programs - Overview
1. Definition
A Continuing Education Certificate of Completion may be awarded to a student upon satisfactory
completion of a series of objectives that represent a distinct body of knowledge. Some
certificates may require the satisfactory completion of multiple courses including electives and
credit bearing classes. The student must satisfactorily meet all specified certificate requirements
as described in the Anne Arundel Community College Noncredit Schedule of Classes. Any
schedule may be used provided that it is for the current year or one of the three preceding
instructional years, and is for a year in which the student completed at least one course within the
program.
2. Procedures for Certificate Approval
The program director will submit to the school certificate review committee, Form #1 – Proposed
New Continuing Education Certificate, Form #1A – Proposed New Continuing Education
Certificate Marketing Description & Course List and Form #1B – Continuing Education
Certificate Outcomes outlining the program competencies of the Continuing Education Certificate
(CEC).
a. A program must provide a distinct body of knowledge and is not limited to work-related or
career skills. However knowledge in disciplines generally recognized and valued by
prospective employers should be emphasized.
b. A program may consist of a single or a series of Anne Arundel Community College (AACC)
courses.
i. On-line courses are permissible.
ii. It is recommended that all career oriented certificate courses award CEUs.
iii. State funding eligibility is not necessarily required for courses that comprise certificate
programs.
iv. Programs having an external certification will be tracked as having two levels of
completion: 1) the Continuing Education Certificate itself and 2) the license or
certification (if the department receives official notification of pass rates).
c. Any program entry requirements or prerequisites must be fully defined.
d. Each course must have defined, measurable standards for successful completion.
e. A program should be well established having run at least one full cycle of a program
(preferably more) before requesting certificate status.
f. After presentation and justification of the program to the committee, final approval is given by
the Supervising Dean/Executive Director and the Vice President for Learning.
g. The program approval cycle ideally will dovetail with the Noncredit Schedule of Classes
production calendar.
h. Eligibility for student financial assistance should be considered when designing certificates.
3. Certificate Program Students
a. Programs with entry requirements and prerequisites must have a defined entry process.
b. Students declare an intention to participate in a certificate program by:
i. Listing the program code on a continuing education registration form.
c. Student must complete a program within the specified time.
Certificate Overview – rev. 9/16/14
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Continuing Education & Workforce Development
FY 15 Certificate of Completion Programs - Overview
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Certificate
a. Elements
i. Student name
ii. Certificate program title
iii. Signatures – Vice President for Learning
iv. College seal & security paper
v. Date (end date of last class)
System Requirements
a. Registrar will establish program codes for all approved continuing education certificate
programs;
b. Post to student record;
c. Establish tracking report format.
Student Entry
a. Program office screens applicants when there are prerequisites and/or qualifying
requirements for entry to a certificate program
Process for Awarding
a. Program office determines certificate completion criteria and submits to Dean/Executive
Director for approval. Method of learning assessment must be clearly stated.
b. Program office creates template letter to be mailed to students upon entry to designated first
course for certificate. Letter states certificate of completion requirements including – list of
pertinent courses, satisfactory completion criteria and reminder that student must complete
an application for certificate of completion after registering for the last course in the series but
no later than 3 months after the last course is completed.
c. Upon receipt of student application, the Instructional Support Center (ISC) determines that
the student has completed the requirements for the Certificate of Completion.
Student Application for Certificate of Completion
a. ISC verifies final grade of “Y” in all required courses, no account holds, and current
demographics;
b. ISC Director/Assistant Director signs and sends application to Registrar where degree audit
and graduation process is completed and paperwork is signed;
c. Certificate is generated, imaged and linked to student record in Records Office;
d. Certificate, official and unofficial student record are sent to ISC;
e. ISC includes congratulation letter generated in Dean’s office with certificate and mails to
student.
Procedures for Certificate Modification
There should be an identified need or “track record” of student/employer interest before a series of
classes are proposed as a certificate. Once approved, the program office should carefully consider
the ramifications of proposed changes to the certificate and its impact on current students.
All changes must be fully described on Form #2 – Modification to Existing Continuing Education
Certificate, Form #2A – Modification to Continuing Education Certificate Structure and/or
Form #2B – Modification to Continuing Education Certificate Outcomes and submitted to the
certificate review committee before implementation. The Director or initiator should come to the
review meeting prepared to discuss the substantiated need, proposed date for change and number
of students enrolled in the program.
Certificate Overview – rev. 9/16/14
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Continuing Education & Workforce Development
FY 15 Certificate of Completion Programs - Overview
10. Certificate of Completion Committee
Committee
Faith Harland-White, Chair
Charlene Templeton
Cheryl Schram
Jill Bennett
Caren Anthony
Quentin Frost
Dean, School of Continuing & Professional Studies
Executive Director, Community & Professional Programs
Director, Instructional Support Center
Assistant Director, Marketing Research & Strategy, PRM
Office Manager, Instructional Support Center
Administrative Assistant, Community & Professional Programs
Meeting dates/times
2nd Tuesday of the month scheduled through June 2013 at 11 am for 1 hour.
Certificate Forms
On G Drive CEWD / Operations / Certificate of Completion – Noncredit
Procedure to propose or modify a certificate(s):
1. Send Quentin Frost all forms electronically. As soon as possible, forward hard copies of
supporting data no later than COB the 1st Tuesday of the month.

Committee has one week to review proposed certificate(s).

Director (and support person/initiator) attend meeting on 2nd Tuesday of the month.

Director may be asked to bring any other paperwork to the meeting, as appropriate.

Details will be finalized at the meeting.
2. Signed forms will be given to Lynne for processing (record and forward to Office of VPL)

Forms returned to Quentin….Originals kept in binders in Dean’s office.

Copies made of entire packet are sent to Cheryl Schram, Jill Bennett and responsible
director.

Copies of Form #1, #1A, #1B or #2, #2A, and #2B only are sent to Linda Daye and
Bonnie Garrett.

Copy of Form #2 and #2A only sent to Stacie Kinstler.
3. Tasks

Linda Daye – establishes program code and enters into Datatel.

Quentin Frost – Table of Contents (TOC) updated and placed in the front of binder #1
and updated on G drive.

Jill Bennett – copy used for marketing reference (web site, literature, publicity etc.).

Caren Anthony – adds copy to binder (in ISC area) and updates spreadsheet for John
Grabowski including all required courses and book costs.

Cheryl Schram – updates SS2020 spreadsheet.
Certificate Overview – rev. 9/16/14
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