RUTLAND — College of St. Joseph will launch a new education and training program called Professional Continuing Education, Enrichment and Development at CSJ, or, for short, Pro-C.E.E.D. at CSJ©, in September 2015.
The program offers skills-focused, certificate-bearing courses, workshops, seminars and training/consulting services designed specifically to fit the busy lifestyle of working professionals at both profit and nonprofit organizations.
“The genesis and development of Pro-C.E.E.D. at CSJ© reflects the College’s ongoing monitoring and assessment of overall economic, demographic and psychographic trends in education, both nationally and within Vermont, especially the Rutland area,” said Liz DiMarco Weinmann, vice president of strategic initiatives, marketing and fundraising at CSJ.
In the 2015-16 academic year, Pro-C.E.E.D. at CSJ© will offer four-course certificate programs in three disciplines: Social media, small business management, and leadership principles and practices.
Pro-C.E.E.D. aims to meet important needs for a local workforce. Rutland area business leaders have indicated to CSJ that among their most critical needs is attracting, motivating and retaining a mature workforce that includes loyal high performers (typically, workers over 35) as well as younger professionals with high potential to become managers and leaders in their firms. The most urgent needs, according to business leaders, are social media expertise, business management skills, and effective leadership development.
Nonprofit board members in Vermont report that the skill set most requested are strategic planning, marketing and financial management.
“Continuous improvement of our undergraduate and graduate degree offerings is always our primary goal, so we routinely hold discussions with small-business owners and leaders of nonprofits and other community organizations, as well as workshops for career professionals. What we found is that there is a marketplace need and desire for education geared specifically to adults over 25,” Weinmann said.
Each 12-week training session will take place Wednesdays from 6-9:30 p.m. “Social U: A Micro Course on the Social Web,” will be offered the fall semester 2015. “Small Business Management for Private Sector and Nonprofit Leaders,” will be offered the spring semester 2016. “Leadership Principles and Practices for the 21st Century,” will be offered the summer session 2016.
For more information visit www.csj.edu/proceed.
