2009 Performance Accountability Report Vol. 2 - Maryland Higher ...

training” is understated. For example, a single contract with the Air Conditioning Contractors of
America (ACCA) provides training for more than 200 companies that belong to that
organization. Even though the College has been serving an average of 62 businesses and
organizations yearly in the past, it anticipates serving the benchmark of 70 contracts each year in
the foreseeable future.
The number of individual students who took contract training courses decreased by six percent
(from 4,034 to 3,792) while annual course enrollments also declined by 6.7% (from 6,329 to
5,907) during fiscal 2008. These slight declines reflect a tighter business cycle with fewer
elective funds available for employee training. However, the College has exerted effort to
achieve the benchmarks in this area.
WD&CE also has seen a “holding steady” trend in enrollment relating to continuing professional
education that leads to government or industry required certification and licensure. In fiscal 2008
approximately 7,306 individual professionals enrolled in such courses, which is a five percent
decline below the figure in the previous year. Annual enrollments in professional licensure or
certification courses increased two percent to 12,349 in fiscal 2008 compared to 12,120 in fiscal
2007. The enrollments in these programs fluctuate based on credentialing year cycles set by the
professional organizations.
Unduplicated students declined in noncredit workforce development courses while enrollments
held steady during FY2008. There were 3,027 fewer individual students involved in workforce
development training in fiscal 2008 than in fiscal 2007 (from 9,476 to 6,449) and very little
increase (.04 percent) in course enrollments (from 14,641 to 14,7060 and recedes from the
benchmark. It is also important to mention that the decline in individual students is indicative of
the recessionary climate. However, overall service levels remained high with 14,706 enrollments
compared to 14,641 during FY2007, even though unduplicated student headcounts declined by
another thirty-two percent (from 9,476 to 6,449) over the same time period. The rationale for
fewer students participating in these typically self-pay courses include a general tightening of the
economy, less discretionary spending, fewer employment opportunities, and a lack of financial
aid for noncredit students. Still, the College continues to be optimistic about achieving the
benchmark, especially if the economic climate reverses its direction.
Credit Career Programs
In addition to the contributions of WD&CE to the workforce, the College awarded 711
Certificates and Associate Degrees in career and occupational programs in fiscal 2008 which
represent a 13.3 percent decline compared to the previous year. The number of awards declined
in four program areas: business (282 to 202), data processing (83 to 62), natural science (19 to
14) and public service (116 to 92). Two of the six programs (Engineering Technology and Public
Service) have exceeded the benchmarks, while the remaining four programs have not had as
many graduates through the programs as anticipated. The continuous efforts in which the College
is engaged to forge articulation agreements with the senior institutions for various program areas
will hopefully reverse the trend of decline in the future. Thus, the College still has some work to
do if it expects to achieve its goals in this area.
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