The online Graduate Certificate in Community College Leadership is designed to develop professional leadership capabilities to meet the needs of potential and current community college leadership personnel.
Students of the program will gain:
- Skills to support college communities.
- An in-depth understanding of the issues facing community colleges.
- Leadership expertise that can be applied to grow community colleges.
Who should consider this program?
- Individuals already employed at a community college.
- Individuals who are or aspire to be in an instructional leadership appointment or a senior administrative position.
The Community College Leadership Certificate (CCLC) is comprised of three components.
- Component 1: The university component includes a set of five courses that develop the knowledge and capabilities for effective leadership of the community college. The five courses are designed individually and collectively to cover the key areas of knowledge and skills needed to lead community colleges in a rapidly changing environment. While addressing a broad range of capabilities, we believe that leadership cannot be developed based on what can be learned in college courses alone.
- Component 2: The second component includes involvement in professional associations related to the community college. As part of the certificate experience, we encourage and expect CCLC participants to continue their learning through opportunities for further development afforded by membership in professional networks and associations or by participation in institutional or community-based leadership initiatives.
- Component 3: The final component involves institutional support to develop leaders. CCLC participants must be currently employed at a community college and have an institutional sponsor or mentor with whom they can discuss aspects from both the UNL coursework and the professional development activity as they pertain to the employing institution.
The Certificate will be awarded only to those individuals who successfully complete each of the three components as agreed upon with their advisor and reflected in the culminating university course.
Note: Students who complete the certificate as a stand-alone credential and subsequently apply for, and are admitted to, an Ed.D. degree program may request that the credit hours completed in the certificate program be accepted in a graduate program of study. Acceptance of the credits earned in the certificate program requires Office of Graduate Studies and supervisory committee approval and is not guaranteed.
