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

Providing Affordable Higher Education
Carroll Community College is proud of its open door admissions policy and relatively moderate
tuition and fee rates, fully embracing the guiding principle of the 2004 Maryland State Plan for
Postsecondary Education that “All Maryland residents who can benefit from postsecondary
education and desire to attend college should have a place in postsecondary education and it
should be affordable.” Carroll’s tuition and fees remain less than half those of attending a
University of Maryland campus. Support from Carroll County and the State of Maryland,
combined with the college’s cost-efficient operations, allow the college to offer these relatively
low tuition and fee rates to students. In FY2008, the college expended $8,312 per FTE student,
compared to an average of $9,232 for other Maryland community colleges.
Increasing the Use of Online Learning
The State Plan recommends increased use of distance education, especially online learning.
Enrollments in credit and continuing education online courses at Carroll have more than doubled
since FY2004, reaching a total of 2,375 enrollments in fiscal year 2008—up 24 percent from the
year before. In FY2008, 1,207 students enrolled in at least one of the 121 online credit sections
offered, generating 2,050 enrollments. One-fourth of the college’s credit students in FY2008
took an online course. A total of 254 students took a noncredit course offered by Continuing
Education and Training online, accounting for 325 enrollments.
Strengthening Teacher Preparation Programs
Carroll has responded to the need to expand teacher preparation programs through introduction
of Associate of Arts in Teaching (A.A.T.) degrees in Early Childhood Education, Elementary
Education/Generic Special Education Pre-K to 12, Secondary Education—Chemistry, Secondary
Education—English, Secondary Education—Mathematics, Secondary Education—Spanish,
creation of the Education Academic Community, and outreach activities that have produced a
growing population of teacher education majors. At 286 students in fall 2008, Teacher Education
is the fourth most-popular major at the college.
The Associate of Arts in Teaching (A.A.T.) degrees give students education and hands-on
teaching experiences at the freshman and sophomore levels that transfer to four-year institutions
in Maryland under the A.A.T. articulation agreement. Thirteen A.A.T. degrees were awarded in
FY2007 and again in FY2008.
Providing Workforce Development
Goal 5 of the State Plan is to promote economic growth and vitality through research and
workforce development. While the college’s mission does not include research, Carroll is
committed to supporting county residents, businesses, government agencies, and community
organizations with improving workforce skills and performance. The college offers Associate of
Applied Science and Associate of Science degrees plus occupational certificates in career fields
including accounting, computer-aided design, computer graphics, law enforcement, nursing,
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