MSJC Receives Grant for Online Certificate Programs
August 6, 2019
Mt. San Jacinto College has received a $500,000 state grant to help the college develop and improve online programs that lead to short-term, industry-valued certificates in Computer Information Systems.
The Improving Online CTE Pathways grant from the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office will help MSJC students earn online certificates through four career education programs: Networking: Cisco CCNA; Hardware: Comptia A+; Cybersecurity: Certified Ethical Hacker; and Programming. The grant also provides funding to assist students with their certification preparation costs.
“This grant allows Mt. San Jacinto College to get the word out to our communities about four online computer science and information systems programs that will give our students the edge in securing high-demand jobs in our region,” said Joyce Johnson, Executive Dean of Instruction, who is co-administrator of the grant project. “It also removes barriers to success by paying for the certification testing students need.”
“Success rates for Mt. San Jacinto College students who take online courses are increasing to levels typically seen in traditional on-campus classes,” said Anna Stirling, Director of Support Services/Distance Education and co-administrator of the grant project. “With about one-third of the state’s community college students now taking an online class, this grant helps MSJC to promote career-relevant programs that are delivered in a modality preferred by today’s generation of students.”
The Improving Online CTE Pathways grant program, developed by the California Community Colleges’ California Virtual Campus – Online Education Initiative, awarded the $500,000 grant in June to Mt. San Jacinto College. A total of $27.5 million in grants were awarded to 70 community colleges from the state’s 2018-2019 budget. The online career education grants align with the California Community Colleges’ “Vision for Success,” a strategic plan designed to improve student success outcomes, increase transfer rates and eliminate achievement gaps.
Mt. San Jacinto College serves about 26,000 students in a district covering 1,700 square miles from the San Gorgonio Pass to Temecula.
This communication is supported by the Improving Online CTE Pathways project, funded by the California Community College Chancellor’s Office’s California Virtual Campus-Online Education Initiative (CVC-OEI) as part of a one-year grant award totaling $500,000. For more information, please visit http://cvc.edu/pathwaysgrant