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Division of Continuing Education & Economic Development (Non-Credit Instruction)
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 five departments: workforce development (business and industry training), small business development, healthcare training, high school equivalency exam preparation and English Literacy, and personal enrichment. Each department regularly offers a wide range of non-credit general interest courses 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 the business is manufacturing, logistics and distribution, health care, or retail services, these workshops assist participants in attaining organizational goals. The Institute offers regularly scheduled relevant workforce classes for individuals as well as customized/contract training for area businesses and industries. The contract training option, designed to meet the specific business culture, number of employees, schedule, and priorities, is tailored to meet the specific organizational needs of business and industry. Comprehensive services provided by the Institute include customized curriculum design, assessment, course delivery and evaluation, and record keeping. 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. Courses and programs are available on ground and/or online and may carry CEU credit.
Within the Business and Industry Institute is a designated OSHA Training Institute (OTI) Education Center serving Region IV. The primary focus of the OTI Education Center is to present approved OTI Education Center courses through standard classroom instruction. The College offers a broad selection of occupational safety and health classes aimed at ensuring safe and healthful working conditions for working men and women by providing training on hazard recognition and avoidance to workers, employers, and other safety professionals. Train the trainer courses are offered as well for individuals who wish to provide OSHA courses at their workplace. Successful completion of prescribed courses leads to certificates in Specialist in Safety and Health (SSH), Certified Safety and Health Official (CSHO), and the Public Sector Safety and Health Fundamentals Certificate.
The Tennessee Small Business Development Center (TSBDC)
The Tennessee Small Business Development Center is a FREE and confidential one-on-one consulting service for existing and start-up small businesses. The TSBDC provides guidance in the areas of marketing, operations, management or other business service. In addition to the consulting services, the TSBDC also 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 Continuing Education Center of Emphasis
The Health Sciences Continuing Education 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 skills. As an approved American Heart Association Training Center, the COE offers regularly scheduled general core courses (BLS, PALS, ACLS) as well as other specifically designed courses for an individual’s area of expertise. Training programs are available on ground and/or online. Additionally, courses may be customized through the contract training option and be tailored to the specific business or profession. Most courses carry CEU credit.
High School Equivalency Exam Preparation and English Literacy/Civics Education
VSCC manages the Sumner and Macon County Adult Education Programs. The primary classes offered include high school equivalency diploma preparation courses, designed for adults who wish to take the High School Equivalency Test (HiSET). The department also offers English Literacy/Civics education (EL/Civics) courses for speakers of other languages. EL/Civics combines English language learning with information about the United States government and American society. Classes, books, and materials are FREE. There is no application fee. More information can be found at www.volstate.edu/highschoolequivalency/.
Personal Enrichment
Personal enrichment courses are designed to provide instructional opportunities to meet students’ personal goals of satisfying quality of life needs. Courses are offered on a limited basis and fall within the categories of general education and avocational lifelong learning endeavors. The Division office welcomes input from community groups and will assist in developing and scheduling courses of need or interest.
Regents Online Continuing Education Program (ROCE)
VSCC offers the Tennessee Board of Regents Online Continuing Education Program (ROCE), a non-credit program designed to upgrade skills, improve an organization’s and industry’s 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 re-certification 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.
Continuing Education Institutional Certificate Programs
The Division of Continuing Education and Economic Development offers a wide array of non-credit institutional certificate programs designed to meet the needs of the workforce. Upon successful completion of the program, students are awarded a Certificate of Completion. Certificate categories include business, management, healthcare and fitness, hospitality and gaming, IT and software development, media and design, and skilled trades and industrial training. Instruction is provided on ground and online. For a complete list of Certificate Programs, contact the Division of Continuing Education or go to www.volstate.edu/ce/.
Students who have earned the American Management Association Certificate in General Management may apply that certification toward six hours of elective credit to earn the Associate of Applied Science in Business, 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.
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