There are many Centers of Excellence (COE) in community colleges and universities in the United States. Presently, a number of these provide approximately an extra year beyond various existing degrees. Most of these COEs deal with a variety of training and educational needs and work directly with the appropriate business communities. They provide students with additional training and expertise beyond the normal degree programs. This gives graduates specific educational training on the latest developments in their area of expertise, which makes them more employable and sought out for by businesses. Centers of Excellence: Niche Methods to Improve Higher Education in the 21st Century informs institutions of higher education about COEs that currently exist so interested administrators may initiate Centers of Excellence that are needed in their service areas. Furthermore, the information in this book will assist community colleges and universities in learning how a Center is activated, funded, and supported. The Centers are valuable to students, higher education institutions, and the business community.
Dr. Darrel W. Staat is past president of two community colleges in Maine, one of which for whom he was also the founding president. He was president of a community college in Virginia and the president of the South Carolina Technical College System. He is an associate professor and coordinator of the Higher Education Executive Leadership Program at Wingate University in North Carolina.
Preface Acknowledgments Introduction Chapter 1. Center of Excellence for Community College Teaching Kara McLain Finch Chapter 2. Center of Excellence for Energy Regulation and Policy Analysis Cory Glasser Chapter 3. Center of Excellence for Cybersecurity Pamela Shortt Chapter 4. Center of Excellence for Biotechnology Diana Cavender Dymek Chapter 5. Center of Excellence for Business Roy E. Allen Chapter 6. Center of Excellence for Agriculture and Water Von Locklear Chapter 7. Center of Excellence for International Studies Timothy Gwillim Chapter 8. Center of Excellence for Learning Sciences Shawn Guy Chapter 9. Center of Excellence for Manufacturing Innovation Mark T. Rooze Chapter 10. Center of Excellence for Pharmacy Candice Geiger Chapter 11. Center of Excellence for University Teaching Amber Lennon-Harmon Chapter 12. Center of Excellence for Manufacturing and Technology Lauren Holland Epilogue About the Editor About the Contributors
This insightful book is a must-read for those who are interested in how community colleges and universities are changing their training methods to evolve with the times. From a center working on carbon emission regulation in Wyoming to a center focused on cybersecurity in North Carolina, college and university centers of excellence are working to train the modern employee and positively benefit society. Staat's book is an effective survey of the impact of centers of education across the map. -- Don Miller, dean of distance learning and learning commons, Piedmont Technical Community College, Roxboro, North Carolina Darrel Staat's Centers of Excellence: Niche Methods to Improve Higher Education in the 21st Century does excellent research in defining and comparing twelve various centers of excellence in higher education at the university and community college level. This is a must-read for a higher education professional with an interest in beginning or administering a center of excellence at a higher education institution. -- Jeffrey Merritt, dean of community and technical education, Wake Tech Community College, Raleigh, North Carolina Centers of Excellence: Niche Methods to Improve Higher Education in the 21st Century demonstrates just how vast, creative, and diligent higher education institutions are in bridging their mission, education, and the workforce and the amount of time, money, and vision it takes to create a center of excellence. This book demonstrates the importance of forward thinkers, continuous improvements, and maintaining a clear focus that any higher education setting could benefit from when striving to create their own center of excellence. -- Natalie Winfree, dean of arts and sciences, Montgomery Community College, Troy, North Carolina Centers of Excellence: Niche Methods to Improve Higher Education in the 21st Century gives readers an insightful journey into the inner workings of various types of centers of excellence across higher education. Each chapter explores and unravels these cutting-edge centers and the populations they service. This book serves as a guide to develop effective centers of excellence that model an institution's mission, vision, and values. -- M. Cameron Harmon, dean of math and sciences, Fayetteville Technical Community College, Fayetteville, North Carolina A captivating and informative book! Centers of Excellence provides readers with an in-depth knowledge of various centers existing in higher education. These centers are a strength to students, institutions, the community, and workforce development. -- Carolyn Walker, department head, business technology, Tri-County Technical College, Pendleton, South Carolina
