Rockland Community College: RCC Launches New Micro-Credentialing Initiative Programs Designed To Help Students Distinguish Themselves In ...

New City NY

24 December, 2021

9:22 AM

Description

Press release from Rockland Community College: 2021-12-23 ROCKLAND COUNTY, N.Y. (December 23, 2021) – Rockland Community College has announced a new micro-credentialing initiative to help students distinguish themselves in a competitive marketplace.  Micro-credentials fully leverage workforce capabilities with highly marketable skills by gaining specific knowledge in emerging fields and promoting professional growth for students in a new distance economy.  They are aligned with high demand industry areas to help employers navigate digital transformation and identify a new way of doing business while closing the skills gap.  Micro-credentials and skills badges are used by students to up-skill for better career opportunities or stack toward a degree for better marketability. At present, credit bearing micro-credentials are offered in RCC's Hospitality and Culinary Arts program, Front Office Management program, IT Support Professional program, and the Fitness Trainer and Sports Nutritional Specialist programs. "This initiative is about meeting the needs of our students, our employers, and ultimately supporting the economic development of our society," says Dr. Michael A. Baston, President of Rockland Community College. "We are closing the skills gap for students and employers, and our programs provide students with employability skills and credentials to become competitive in their job search in the current economic climate." An Incremental Credentialing Model was developed through an 18-month planning, research, and testing project support in 2019-2021 through a Lumina Foundation grant: Credential As You Go (CAYG).  The National Advisory Board comprised of leaders from all sectors in the credentialing space includes Dr. Susan Deer, Provost and Executive Vice President.  "Micro-credentials will give students the skills they need today and the ability to use those micro-credentials to build into a degree for tomorrow. We offer courses in different formats so students can achieve their goals."  RCC offers courses online, in-person, full semester, and flex start (8 week) sessions. In the Hospitality and Culinary Arts Program, students take a set of three to four college courses to earn a micro-credential and digital badge for Baking Fundamentals, Baking Specialization or Food Preparation. A ServSafe certification, accredited by the National Restaurant Association, is required for the culinary micro-credentials, and is offered at the College as well. "Employers are contacting us daily to find employees with these specific skills because the demand is so high," says Chris Spezial, Program Director of the Hospitality and Culinary Arts Program. About Rockland Community College, State University of New York This press release was produced by Rockland Community College. The views expressed here are the author's own.