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Doctorate in Community College Leadership Cohort Seven Prepared for Fall Classes

Ferris State UniversityTwenty-five college instructors, administrators and other professionals have entered their Fall 2016 coursework in Ferris State University’s Doctorate in Community College Leadership program. The seventh cohort pursuing this three-year cycle of courses began its studies in May, and 14 participants in this group work at colleges outside the state of Michigan.

DCCL program director Roberta Teahen said they were pleased by the geographic reach and the diversity found in the composition of this cohort. There are 16 females in the cohort, two of the students are of Hispanic or Latino backgrounds and eight are African-American.

“There are three new states represented in this group, with students from Colorado, New York and Massachusetts,” Teahen said. “It appears there is more of an urban emphasis in the makeup of this cohort.”

Ferris began offering the DCCL program in June 2010, and that inaugural cohort included 29 students from 10 community colleges throughout Michigan. Cohort Seven’s students will continue their classwork, taking six to seven credits per semester through the Spring 2019 semester, when they will deliver their dissertations and prepare for graduation. Teahen said that faculty are impressed with the early coursework that has been submitted by members of this cohort.

“Our program is about developing leadership at all levels of community college administration,” Teahen said. “We expect that our students will become deans, vice presidents and presidents of community colleges.”

Teahen said that DCCL participants are able to network with their peers, and that experience continues after they complete their studies. The administration and instructors in Ferris’ program believe that has promoted excellence and boosted the completion percentage achieved by DCCL students.

“Many of our faculty are current community college presidents and that helps make their instruction, and the program relevant,” Teahen said. “Our students learn about current issues and practices in community college leadership. Ferris’ DCCL program is gaining in national visibility.”


PHOTO CAPTION: A seventh cohort of Ferris State University Doctorate of Community College Leadership students began fall semester classes recently. They will continue their coursework through April of 2019, with instruction in Grand Rapids, and on Ferris’ main campus in Big Rapids.