Career College Central

Subscribe at careercollegecentral.com 47 What advice do you have for fellow educators in the career college sector of higher education? Remain flexible, and consistently seek to improve upon skills and knowledge. Always look for new ideas to engage students in the learning process as they continue to grow as individuals who will become valuable assets to an organization. Do not be afraid to challenge students and have them use their critical-thinking skills to work through various situations. It can help build their self- esteem to know they are able to problem-solve when given a variety of tasks or an individual task that requires deeper thinking. ink outside the box and use hands-on activities as much as possible, as I have had great success with this. Students enjoy being able to do something outside of listening to lectures and taking notes. Why are professional development and continuing education important to you? Professional development and continuing education are important to me because I strive to be a well-rounded individual and gain knowledge and skills I can share with others. Remaining current within my job field can open many doors with numerous opportunities to continue personal growth. Students want and expect their instructor to be knowledgeable and current on the subject being taught, and continuing education is as essential for instructors as it is for other professionals. What's one thing you think career education leaders can do to improve institutional performance? Career education leaders can improve institutional performance by looking at the overall atmosphere of the institution. Leaders should ensure faculty and staff understand the institution's mission, vision and goals. It is important to recognize faculty and staff for a job well- done because it is all too common to point out what is not working well. Employees want to feel appreciated and know that what they are doing is helping make a difference for their students and their futures. It is easy to settle into familiar patterns and ways, but that is not always an option. Change is inevitable, so individuals need to be flexible and willing to accept change to enhance and improve upon performance and outcomes. Leaders should seek feedback from all employees and take the necessary steps to make positive changes. CHEP Certification The CHEP certification is awarded by the National Association of State Administrators and Supervisors of Private Schools (NASASPS), an association of state regulatory agencies that govern private postsecondary education in the U.S. 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 48 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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