Career College Central

Subscribe at careercollegecentral.com 45 What advice do you have for fellow educators in the career college sector of higher education? ere are a couple of points that I would like my peers to keep in mind. We were once in the same exact spot as our students are now: we made the decision to change our careers, our lives, and our futures. I think sometimes we get so caught up in the day-to-day operations that we forget that excitement and determination we had as students. Another thing—and I tell this to every single student in my program—is that I am not here to get you through career college and mark you off as being trained enough to get your diploma. I am here as a professional to train colleagues in my field: once they receive their license, we stand shoulder to shoulder as equals. I want the best for my field and I expect the best from the students I am training to become part of it. Remember those things, and I think it will make a huge difference. Why are professional development and continuing education important to you? I thoroughly enjoy professional development and continuing education classes. We are all still students, growing and becoming better at what we do. Professional development and continuing education keep me from stagnating in my career, both as an educator and a licensed professional. It also gives me the opportunity to stay abreast of new research, new methods, and new modalities, ensuring not only that am I up to speed with what is happening in the industry, but that I can incorporate that information to make sure my students are ready and current in the field they will find themselves in upon graduation and licensure. What's one thing you think career education leaders can do to improve institutional performance? In a previous career at a large theme park, everyone who worked in offices or management was required to work two days, twice per year, in one of the parks in a front-line position. I think that many institutions can improve their performance by doing just that. Allow the campus leaders more front-line exposure, letting them see what is transpiring with the students on a day-to-day basis, instead of only engaging students when a problem arises. I believe that as daily demands pile up, sometimes our leaders can lose sight of why we are here: to change lives through career education. Campus leaders spending time in the classroom once every three to six months as a guest instructor, classroom assistant, or as an observer will remind them what it is all about. I think it would also be beneficial for the students, in terms of further engaging them, to know that everyone in the organization is visible, accessible, and invested in their future. CHEP Certification The CHEP certification recognizes employees of career schools, colleges, and universities who strive for excellence in their respective positions, with the ultimate goal of enabling institutions to develop high- performing, compliant, and ethical employees to better serve students. CHEPs have successfully completed forty- eight hours of approved training in their area of concentration and are required to complete eight hours of approved training annually to maintain their certification. Visit www.cheponline.org to learn more about the CHEP certification.

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