PGCC Administrators and Staff Lead Conversations on Best Practices at Community Colleges
Article by: Tabresha B. Langham
For Immediate Release
LARGO, Md. (March 13, 2019) – Prince George’s Community College (PGCC) administrators and staff met with a delegation from South Africa on Tuesday, March 12, and administrators and staff from Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC) on Wednesday, March 13, to discuss effective measures in community college education.
The delegation’s visit provided an opportunity for the group to discuss effective strategies in launching and operating a community college and improving technical and vocational education. They were interested to learn about student to faculty ratios, requirements for department size, and how new programs are approved and funded. This discussion could lead to a similar model for post-school education in South Africa and ultimately result in opportunities to educate and train a quality workforce there.
Prince George’s Community College’s strategic approach to drive student success has focused largely on industry and workforce needs within the county and the region. The meeting with the delegation highlighted the college’s work to bridge the demand gap for a quality workforce through specialized programs and a simplified process to help students complete their degree, transfer to four-year colleges, and enter the workforce.
In 2018, PGCC transitioned to a pathways institution and implemented a model designed to address challenges with degree completion. Community College of Baltimore County’s visit focused on this model and how PGCC implemented it. The PGCC team shared that the transition was a collaborative effort between administrators, faculty, and staff to evaluate relevant courses and programs and condense program offerings to align with workforce needs. Two major outcomes of the pathways implementation are the ten academic and career pathways and the launch of Navigate, a tool that helps students with advising and registration.
Prince George’s Community College has more than 60 years of experience in community college, technical, and vocational training. The college continues to demonstrate leadership in creating sustainable models that show the value of community colleges and the role they play in improving lives and contributing to economic equity. The meetings with the delegation from South Africa and CCBC allowed participants to be transparent about the work of college and share knowledge that can be leveraged around the world to impact the lives of more students.
About Prince George’s Community College
Named a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance designated by the National Security Agency and Department of Homeland Security (2015-2020), Prince George’s Community College (PGCC) provides high-quality education and training for the progressive and career-oriented residents of Prince George’s County. From new high school graduates and career seekers to more seasoned professionals and senior citizens looking to enhance their skillsets, PGCC is comprised of students who represent a wide range of ages, backgrounds, and goals. Serving nearly 40,000 individuals annually, the college is the first choice for higher education for residents of Prince George’s County. Collaborative partnerships, responsive degree and training programs, and a commitment to student success enable PGCC to address diverse education and workforce development demands. For more information, visit the college website at www.pgcc.edu. Prince George’s Community College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, 3624 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104; (267-284-5000); www.msche.org. The Middle States Commission on Higher Education is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council on Higher Education Accreditation.