Higher Education Leadership, Certificate (Post-Doctoral)

Program Overview

The Certificate in Higher Education Leadership (Post-Doctoral) program is designed for current or future employees within a higher education institution. The goal is to develop future leaders in the higher education system through a mastery of the knowledge and skills to make or support leadership decisions, effectively interact with the many areas in the higher educational organization, and to participate in organizational changes. Specific topics of learning are focused on the complexities in the ever-changing world of higher education, analyzing and utilizing data to drive institutional improvement, leadership in diverse cultures, assessment and accreditation efforts, and theoretical practices within the field of education.

Program Outcomes

Graduates of the Certificate in Higher Education Leadership (Post-Doctoral) program will demonstrate the following:

• Goal I: Ability to interpret research, theoretical concepts, and cultural and organizational roles, and relate and apply them to organizational and higher educational leadership.  
• Goal II: Effective oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills.  
• Goal III: Demonstrated research knowledge and skills in the broad field of learning.  
• Goal IV: Ability to engage in and conduct a deep analysis from research and with existing data sets to formulate strategic improvement plans.  
• Goal V: Understanding of theories in andragogy as it relates to organizational and institutional learning.   

Student Learning Outcomes

• Demonstrate the ability to create impactful change within an institution through the application of teaching and learning research.  
• Students will utilize effective communication skills demonstrating an understanding of historic higher education developments and personnel management topics as it applies to an institution. 
• Students will develop a research-based approach to higher education administration based on a deep understanding of an institution’s history in curriculum development, faculty development, and organizational structure. 
• Students will demonstrate their ability to communicate the assessment and accreditation process, initiatives, and results by engaging all levels of the institution’s stakeholders. 
• Students will demonstrate their ability to investigate and create processes for developing assessment initiatives through the understanding and application of assessment and accreditation research in higher education. 

Admission Requirements

Applicants interested in the Certificate in Higher Education Leadership (Post-Doctoral) program are required to meet individually in person or via telephone with an admissions representation to discuss the program and all requirements. Applicants must provide a completed South College application for admission and application to the program. Those selected for admission will provide evident of a completed doctoral degree from an accredited institution of higher education with a minimum grade point average (CPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

Academic Participation and Withdrawal

Participation Policy

New students in their first term must participate and complete one competency/module within the first 28 days of the term.  Failure to participate within this period will result in the student being administratively withdrawn from the program. Additionally, students must complete one formative or summative assessment with the first 28 days of any subsequent term to remain active for the term.

Continuing students, those in their second and subsequent terms, must submit at least one assessment within the first 28 days of a continuing term. Failure to participate within this period will result in the student being administratively withdrawn from the program.

If a student wishes to withdraw from the program, a withdrawal request is considered to be official when the student notifies the Registrar’s Office or the Dean of Academic and Student Services, CBE. No other college official has the authority to accept official withdrawals from the program. Students are requested to submit a withdrawal request in writing via their South College email address.

Administrative Withdrawal Policy

If at the end of a term, at least 50% of one course has not been completed and the student has been inactive for more than 60 days, the student will be administratively withdrawn from the program. If a student, who has been administratively withdrawn (due to non-participation), wishes to continue with the program, the student must formally re-apply through standard admissions process.

Reinstatement and Re-entry after Withdrawal

Within 7 days of a withdrawal request, a student may request to be reinstated to the program. The student must send their written reinstatement request to the President of Competency-Based Education. Reinstatement is not guaranteed and is at the discretion and approval of the President of Competency-Based Education.

If a student would like to re-enter the CBE program after withdrawal outside of the 7-day grace period for reinstatement, the student must apply for re-entry to the CBE program by sending a written re-entry request to the President of Competency-Based Education. Re-entry, if approved, may not be within the same 6-month term and will only be approved in a subsequent 6-month term.

Withdrawal Policy (within term)

If a student withdraws before the 5th month of any 6-month term, the student will be issued a W grade for any uncompleted courses, unless the student was on academic probation for not completing a course the prior term. In this case, the student will receive a letter grade of F for the course.

If a student withdraws after the 1st day of the 5th month of any 6-month term, any course that is not completed will be assigned the letter grade of F.

 

Academic Standards, Candidate Progress, and Grading

Upon entering the graduate program, students are encouraged to confer with their Student Success Mentor as needed. Student academic progress is monitored each 6-month term to ensure satisfactory progression, which is considered mastery of at least two courses per 6 month term. A student who has not completed a course by day 1 of the 4^th month of the term will be placed on Academic Warning. Students who do not meet satisfactory academic progress (SAP) within 60 days of being placed on Academic Warning must complete an Academic Plan by day 1 of the 6^th month outlining how they will reach course completion. The Academic Plan must be signed, approved, and on file prior to the start of the next term.   

Students who complete the minimum requirement of two course completion by the end of the term will be removed from Academic Warning and return to Good Standing. Students who do not complete the minimum requirement of two course completion per term will be placed on Academic Probation at the end of the term. Students who do not gain approval for an Academic Plan before the end of the term are not eligible for the 28 day probationary period and will be dismissed from the program. A student may only be placed on Academic Probation one time.

Students placed on Academic Probation who do not complete the required two courses within 28 days of the next consecutive term are not eligible to progress and will be notified of dismissal from the program.

Students who were  dismissed or voluntarily withdrew from the program and who wish to return to the program must submit a formal application for re-entry. Program requirements in effect at that time of approved reentry must be met. A student may only be readmitted to the program one time.

Student deficiencies that may impact academic standing, which may include probation or dismissal from the program, are monitored by the Student Success Mentor.

Categories of Academic Standing for Program Candidates are:

• Good Standing: Status of a student who has met academic requirements in a satisfactory manner.
• Academic Warning: Status of a student whose academic performance places him/her in jeopardy of falling below the minimum stated grade required or progression. Students who have not completed a course by the 1^st day of the 4^th month of their term will be placed on Academic Warning.
• Academic Probation: Status of a student who has failed to receive mastery in at least two courses within a 6-month term.  Following a 28-day period of Academic Probation during the next consecutive term with an Academic Plan approved and in process, the student will either return to Good Standing by satisfactorily completing the minimum required courses during the probationary period or be dismissed from the program for not completing the minimum required courses. Students may only be placed on Academic Probation one time.

Grading

Course Instructors determine mastery of competencies and the resulting final grade in all courses. The requirements of each course are found in the course syllabus.

Letter Grade	Quality Points	Percentage Score Range
A (Mastery)	4.00	90-100%

Grievance Process

Students are encouraged to discuss any concern with their Mentor. If satisfaction cannot be attained at this level, and the students wants to make his/her concern official at the School of Education level, the student must complete a Grievance Form. Every effort will be made to resolve the concern at the School of Education level. If the grievance cannot be resolved at that level, the students should then follow the College’s grievance process outlined in the current South College Catalog and Student Handbook available on the institutional website and on the student portal.

Graduation Requirements

For a student to graduate from the Certificate in Higher Education Leadership (Post-Doctoral) program, the student must be in a good academic and professional standing, have had satisfactory progress in all quarters of the academic program, and satisfactorily complete the following: 

• Successfully complete the required quarter credit hours of academic coursework. 
• Evidence a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.00 or above for the required coursework. 
• Achieve a designation of “mastery” for all course competencies.
• Complete all required South College and program documents in preparation for graduation. 
• Honor all professional and financial obligations to South College. 

South College reserves the right, and the student, by the act of matriculation, concedes to give South College the right to require withdrawal at any time the college deems it necessary to safeguard the standards of scholarship, conduct, and compliance with regulations, or for such other reasons deemed appropriate by South College as set forth in the South College Student Handbook and/or the South College Catalog.