FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Courtney Davis
Assistant Director for Public Relations
Prince George’s Community College
daviscl@pgcc.edu
Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) and Education Strategy Group (ESG) Launch Noncredit and Credit Alignment Lab
PGCC selected for new initiative to build improved pathways between noncredit and credit programs
LARGO, Md. (February 9, 2022) – Prince George’s Community College (PGCC) announced today its selection by the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) and Education Strategy Group (ESG) to participate in the Noncredit and Credit Alignment Lab (NCAL). The new two-year initiative supports 14 community college governance units, as they develop new or improved pathways between non-credit and credit programs. The project is supported by a $1.2 million grant from ECMC Foundation.
“The gift of this grant allows us to streamline and make more friendly the student experience at PGCC, especially in terms of their progression toward achieving their learning goals with us,” said Dr. Clayton Railey, executive vice president and provost of Teaching, Learning, and Student Success at Prince George’s Community College. “We are grateful for the support of the ACT and ESG in enabling us to integrate further the operations of the college that sustain the momentum of our students along the continuing ed and credit spectrum of courses and programs.”
“It is an honor to be selected as one of the 14 community colleges participating in the NCAL project,” said Angela Anderson, dean of Health, Wellness, and Hospitality at Prince George’s Community College. “In addition to building pathways from non-credit to credit programs in the health and culinary arts disciplines, the project will support PGCC’s continued work to integrate operations and services to strengthen and enhance the overall student experience.”
Non-credit programs can be a steppingstone to further education and training that lead to higher earnings and greater career sustainability for learners. Research shows that systems are often designed to discourage rather than facilitate pathways across non-credit and credit programs, resulting in non-credit students being left without tracks to additional learning, as well as colleges that are unable to take advantage of engaged learners who are ready to enroll in credit-bearing programs. By bridging the divide between non-credit and credit programs, community colleges will promote greater equity and develop more resilient systems.
“Community colleges offer both credit and noncredit programs to support the needs of their students,” said ACCT President and CEO J. Noah Brown. “Aligning these programs is critical for both students and for colleges’ institutional goals. We are grateful that ECMC Foundation understands the importance of this endeavor.”
“To position themselves as drivers of economic recovery and mobility, community colleges need to scale programs in fields where well-paying jobs are growing, and they need to make it easier for learners to gain the skills and credentials needed for success,” said ESG President and CEO Matt Gandal.
“Breaking down the historic barriers that have separated non-credit and credit-bearing programs is a critical step. ESG is pleased to join ACCT in building on the work we began last year with the publication of ‘A More Unified Community College,’ which offered strategies and resources for institutions to begin to aligning their non-credit and credit programs,” he added.
NCAL will provide meaningful spaces for community college leaders to learn and receive support from their peers and national experts. As part of the initiative, the selected community colleges will collectively diagnose current efforts underway to align programs, set a vision, build the case among college constituencies, and receive accountability from their peers to implement. By the end of the initiative, each participating college will develop new or improve current pathways between non-credit and credit functions that address critical barriers to alignment related to program design, institutional policy, governance structures, administrative functions, and student supports.
“The disconnect between credit and non-credit pathways has made it exceedingly difficult for students to advance in their career and educational pursuits,” said Peter J. Taylor, president of ECMC Foundation. “We’re thrilled to support the development of the Noncredit and Credit Alignment Lab because it has the potential to remove those barriers for students transitioning between programs and make meaningful credentials more attainable.”
Learn more about workforce development and continuing education classes offered by Prince George’s Community College here and enroll today.
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 35,000 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 enables 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.
About ACCT
The Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) is a non-profit educational organization of governing boards, representing more than 6,500 elected and appointed trustees who govern over 1,200 community, technical, and junior colleges in the United States and beyond.
About Education Strategy Group
Education Strategy Group (ESG) works with America’s education, business, and civic leaders to expand economic opportunity and mobility by increasing educational attainment. We are driven by the conviction that a robust education system aligned with workforce demands leads to a stronger, more equitable society.
About ECMC Foundation
ECMC Foundation is a Los Angeles-based, nationally focused foundation whose mission is to inspire and to facilitate improvements that affect educational outcomes—especially among underserved populations—through evidence-based innovation. It is one of several affiliates under the ECMC Group enterprise based in Minneapolis. ECMC Foundation makes investments in two focus areas: College Success and Career Readiness; and uses a spectrum of funding structures, including strategic grantmaking and program-related investments, to invest in both nonprofit and for-profit ventures. Working with grantees, partners and peers, ECMC Foundation’s vision is for all learners to unlock their fullest potential. Learn more about ECMC Foundation by visiting www.ecmcfoundation.org and ECMC Group by visiting www.ecmcgroup.org.
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