Division of Continuing Education & Economic Development
In addition to the academic divisions offering college credit instruction, the Division of Continuing Education and Economic Development facilitates lifelong learning by providing relevant, quality non-credit learning opportunities for a diverse and evolving population. Programs and services are designed to foster community and economic development, to strengthen partnerships, and to satisfy a broad range of personal, professional, and workforce development needs of the local community and area business and industry. The division is organized into four departments: personal enrichment, workforce development, small business development, and healthcare training. Each department regularly offers a wide range of non-credit general interest courses (on ground and online) as well as business and industry-specific workforce development courses.
Non-Credit Programs
Non-credit continuing education programs draw upon expertise from College resources, corporate resources, community resources, and technological resources to provide quality adult learning opportunities to meet the needs and interests of a diverse population. Classes are selected for personal or professional enrichment rather than for college credit and are offered in a variety of modes (on campus, off-campus, and online) for the convenience and flexibility of the adult learner.
Special short courses, workshops or seminars may be developed and offered upon the request of a group of individuals or organization. All instruction, designed for the general public or customized for the specific needs of a particular group, is geared toward assisting adults in achieving their educational goals.
Upon successful completion of a non-credit course or workshop, the College awards the Continuing education unit (CEU) and maintains a record (transcript) of each student’s accomplishments. The CEU is a nationally recognized, uniform unit of measurement awarded at the rate of one CEU for each ten contact hours of participation in an organized continuing education experience under responsible sponsorship, capable direction, and qualified instruction.
Business and Industry Training Institute
The Business and Industry Institute provides workforce training opportunities in support of the economic development of the College’s service region. Short courses and workshops are designed to improve workplace knowledge and skills for the enhancement of careers and lifelong learning. Whether your business is manufacturing, logistics and distribution, health care, or retail services, these workshops can help you attain your organizational goals. The Institute offers regularly scheduled relevant general classes for individuals as well as customized training for area businesses and industries. Workforce development categories include: APICS, ASQ review, automotive management systems, business development, computer training, customer service, effective supervision, environmental management, food safety management, health & safety management, home inspection, human resource skills, languages, leadership skills, lean manufacturing, management development, persuasive speaking & presentation skills, quality management, quality workforce skills, and six sigma training programs are available on campus, on-site, and online and may carry CEU credit or college credit.
Contract Training: The Business and Industry Training Institute provides the option of contract training tailored to meet the specific organizational needs of area business and industry. The Institute’s comprehensive services include customized curriculum design, assessment, course delivery and evaluation, and record keeping. In addition to offering basic, open enrollment training programs on our campus each semester, we offer customized programs at your site or ours to meet the specific needs of your business culture, number of employees, schedule, learning styles, and priorities.
American Management Association Certificates
The Division of Continuing Education and Economic Development offers the following online AMA Certificate Programs:
- Certificate in General Management
- Certificate in Human Resource Management
- Certificate for The Administrative Assistant
- Certificate in Strategic Leadership
- Certificate in Business Communications Management
- Certificate in Customer Satisfaction Management
- Certificate in Finance and Accounting Management
- Certificate in Manufacturing Management
- Certificate in Quality Improvement Management
- Certificate in Sales and Marketing Management
- Certificate in Success Skills in the Workplace
These nationally recognized programs provide participants with the opportunity to select areas in which they wish to develop skills, receive recognition for their accomplishments, and provide evidence of professional development to advance in their career. Curriculum guides and requirements are available on the Continuing Education website. Certificate programs are available online.
Students who have earned the American Management Association Certificate in Management or in General Management may apply that certification toward six hours of elective credit to earn the Associate of Applied Science, General Business Administration Option, Management Concentration. A copy of the American Management Association Certificate must be submitted as documentation. Prior to receiving these six hours of elective credit, students must successfully complete fifteen hours of credit coursework at Volunteer State.
The Tennessee Small Business Development Center (TSBDC)
The Tennessee Small Business Development Center is a FREE and confidential one-on-one counseling service for existing and start-up small businesses. Whether the counseling is in the area of marketing, operations, management, or any other business service, the TSBDC provides guidance every step of the way – by appointment please. In addition to the counseling services, the TSBDC offers training seminars on a wide variety of topics for small business owners, assistance with various funding proposals (including SBA loans), and referral to professional services and agencies.
Health Sciences Center of Emphasis
The Health Sciences Center of Emphasis (COE) provides educational and skills training opportunities to healthcare providers to support the economic development of the College’s service area. Courses are designed to meet requirements for certification and licensure or to enhance one’s knowledge base and critical thinking. The COE offers regularly scheduled general core courses (BLS, PALS, ACLS) as well as specifically designed courses for an individual’s area of expertise. Training programs are available on campus, on-site, and online. Most courses carry CEU credit.
Contract Training: The Health Sciences Center of Emphasis provides the option of contract training tailored to meet specific organizational needs. The COE’s services include customized curriculum design, assessment, course instruction, evaluation, and record keeping.
Regents Online Continuing Education Program (ROCE)
Volunteer State offers the Tennessee Board of Regents Online Continuing Education Program (ROCE), a non-credit program designed to upgrade skills, improve organizations, industries, economic performance, and provide enrichment courses for persons who wish to acquire new skills or improve upon existing skills all available fully online. ROCE offers an extensive Continuing Education program in a non-traditional method for adults 18 years of age or older regardless of their educational background. Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are awarded for certification and/or recertification to maintain credentials in a specified field of study/work. These online courses are designed to increase access to workforce training and to accommodate the demanding schedule of the workforce.
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