Frederick Community College Facilities Master Plan Chapter 4 Needs Assessment 4-61 May 12, 2023 Continuing Education and Workforce Development (noncredit) Continuing Education and Workforce Development (CEWD) offers a robust assortment of workforce development, personal enrichment, continuing education, adult education, and community education classes designed to meet the needs of students and the community. Continuing Education is included with Qualitative Assessment of need only because viable metrics have yet to be generally accepted and consistently applied in response to unique needs for space and facilities as generated by noncredit programs such as found in continuing education and workforce development situations. It is universally accepted that, unlike with credit programs, noncredit program environments have the distinct need for flexibility and quick response to change. Today’s work environment requires each person to have a broader range of skills and communication abilities than ever before. A wide range of noncredit courses are offered in day, evening, weekend, and online formats that appeal to people of all ages with busy lifestyles. Continuing Education courses represent cuttingedge curricula and quality instruction. Instructors are generally field practitioners who bring firsthand knowledge to FCC’s learning environment. The courses that provide students with hands-on training utilize state-of-the-art equipment. Frederick Community College prepares organizations and their employees to meet the challenges of a diverse, global society through quality, accessible, innovative training and development. FCC’s CEWD team provides programs that reflect the needs, interests and trends in business and industry, and programs that promote the personal and professional growth of the community. Courses tailored to the applications of individual businesses are offered through customized training contracts within parameters convenient to each business. Workforce development courses are designed in conjunction with professional organizations, as well as area businesses and industries. Programs are intended to enhance and update skills or provide entry-level career training. Courses include those which prepare individuals for national certification and licensing examinations or for recertification/relicensing. The following table presents data showing that 15% of Frederick Community College’s Fiscal Year 2020 students were enrolled in Continuing Education (noncredit) courses. Although Maryland space planning models do not fully provide for consideration of continuing education and workforce development student enrollment data when computing space needs, it is rather obvious that the implications of this statistic could have a significant impact on FCC’s future development needs. Student Headcount Comparisons 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 Credit FTE 3,659 3,594 3,424 3,534 3,406 3,318 Continuing Education FTE 560 616 647 652 639 572 Total FTE 4,219 4,210 4,071 4,186 4,045 3,890 Continuing Education % 13% 15% 16% 16% 16% 15% Data Source: Maryland Association of Community Colleges Fiscal Year
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