Unlocking Professional Growth: A Comprehensive Guide to College Credit Connection

In the dynamic landscape of education, continuous professional development is not merely an option but a necessity for educators seeking to enhance their skills, advance their careers, and stay abreast of evolving pedagogical practices. College Credit Connection (CCC), in partnership with Vanguard University of Southern California, offers a robust and flexible pathway for teachers and other professionals to earn university-accredited graduate-level credits. This comprehensive guide delves into the various facets of the College Credit Connection program, from enrollment and course formats to transcript procedures and the overarching mission of CCC.

The Mission and Vision of College Credit Connection

College Credit Connection, LLC (CCC) is fundamentally driven by a mission to support teaching and learning. It achieves this by providing educators and other professionals with relevant, current, and practical coursework experiences. Coupled with excellent support and a high level of integrity and trust, CCC aims to be the connective force that bridges a learner's individual learning style and available time with the opportunity to transform their professional development experiences into graduate college credit. This earned credit can then potentially be utilized for salary step advancement, professional development requirements, and recertification. The program has been in existence since 2008 and is dedicated to helping educators translate their Continuing Education Units (CEUs), Professional Development (PD) courses, Conference Experiences, Leadership Experiences, and other coursework into university graduate credit. CCC also provides a diverse array of live "Face-to-Face" courses. Accumulated college credit can often be utilized for recertification and/or submitted to a school district for consideration of salary step advancement, though it is always recommended that learners check with their local district for verification and that prior district approval for salary advancement units is obtained, as this is the responsibility of each learner. The courses are primarily designed for K-16 educators. With district approval, course credit may be used for salary step increases and/or professional growth credential requirements.

Understanding Enrollment Processes and Course Formats

Navigating the enrollment process for college credit through CCC is designed to be straightforward, though it varies slightly depending on the chosen course provider. The primary goal is to make the acquisition of graduate credits as seamless as possible for busy professionals.

Enrollment Steps: A Provider-Specific Approach

The enrollment procedure is contingent upon the specific provider of the professional development course.

PDE, Annenberg Learner, and Face-to-Face Courses: For courses offered through the Program for Distance Education (PDE), Annenberg Learner, or through a Face-to-Face format, the enrollment process is streamlined into a ONE STEP procedure. This single step involves enrolling and paying for both the chosen course and the Vanguard University College Credit Tuition directly through CCC. CCC has collaborated with Annenberg Learner to offer graduate-level courses via streamed video sessions and completing coursework assignments. Similarly, CCC is in partnership with PDE to offer a wide format and variety of graduate-level courses. For Face-to-Face courses, CCC partners with Vanguard University and PDE to offer instructor-led graduate-level courses.

Read also: Comprehensive Ranking: Women's College Basketball
ASCD Courses: When opting for courses offered by ASCD, the enrollment process requires TWO STEPS. First, individuals need to sign up with ASCD for their Tuition Credit. Subsequently, they must enroll and pay for their Vanguard University College Credit Tuition with CCC. It is generally preferred that individuals first enroll with CCC and then secondly with ASCD. However, if enrollment with ASCD has already occurred, it is necessary to locate the matching course and register for its tuition with CCC to receive college credit. Once enrolled directly with ASCD and also with CCC for university credit, coursework can commence.

Diverse Learning Formats to Suit Every Educator

CCC understands that educators have diverse needs and schedules, and therefore offers a variety of learning formats designed for flexibility and accessibility.

Online Courses: The Online Learning format provides a great variety of courses with flexibility in time and location, making it an adaptable learning format for teachers to gain accredited university credit in subjects of interest that are also beneficial for their classroom. These courses often involve streamed video sessions and coursework assignments. CCC has collaborated with ASCD to offer a large number of ASCD online courses.
Video Courses: In cooperation with Annenberg Learner, CCC offers graduate semester credit. These courses are delivered via streamed video sessions, allowing for flexible learning.
Face-to-Face Courses: For learners who prefer attending a live class with an instructor and classmates, the Face-to-Face format offers a unique and rewarding option to gain graduate semester credits. These courses are instructor-led, and a coordinator is assigned to each. Some Face-to-Face courses may also require a materials fee, which will be detailed in the course description.

Read also: Phoenix Suns' New Center
Independent Study Courses: CCC’s self-paced Independent Study courses offer the ultimate in convenience for busy educators. These flexible online classes allow learners to earn graduate-level college credit by downloading course assignment templates and support materials from the CCC site and completing the corresponding CCC college credit assignments. This format includes Book Studies classes, which offer unique and flexible ways to learn and earn college credit simultaneously. Additionally, CCC has introduced new Independent Podcast Study courses based on brain research.
Previous Professional Development and Conference Attendance: CCC provides a creative and unique opportunity for teachers to gain accredited university credit by utilizing their previous professional development experiences, such as conference attendance, previous professional development courses, or Continuing Education Units, to further their learning and enhance their instructional practice. Previous conference attendance is also valid for earning college credit.
Certificate Programs: CCC's Certificate Program is a valuable opportunity for teachers to demonstrate their expertise in a concentrated field of study. These programs can be instrumental in developing professional skills, advancing careers, and improving practice.

Course Details, Costs, and Payment Procedures

Transparency regarding course costs and payment procedures is a priority for CCC.

Understanding Course Costs

The cost of each course can be found on the course detail page, the ALL COURSES page, or the Course Information page. CCC endeavors to provide reasonable and competitive pricing without compromising on quality or personal attention. The listed cost is an all-inclusive fee, which includes the outside professional development provider, regardless of whether payment has been made directly to them. There are no additional costs beyond those outlined in the Course Description and the cost of the College Tuition Credits, except for potential material fees in some Face-to-Face courses.

Read also: About Grossmont Community College

Payment Methods

Payment for college credit can be completed securely online via PayPal, using credit/debit card processing systems. Accepted payment methods include PayPal, MasterCard, Visa, Discover, or American Express. Manual payment via electronic checks, money orders, and/or cashier's checks is available under special circumstances, though this may incur an additional cost. It is important to note that any returned payments or insufficient funds will be subject to a bank fee.

Academic Policies: Deadlines, Extensions, and Drops

CCC has established policies to ensure academic integrity and to support learners in successfully completing their coursework.

Course Completion and Submission Deadlines

All online course requirements must be submitted within six months from the date of course enrollment and must be original work. For a 3-unit online course, assignments will not be graded for a minimum of 7 days after enrollment to ensure appropriate hours are met. Face-to-Face courses and Face-to-Face/Hybrid courses must be completed according to the instructor's directions. The length and timing of a course can vary, and for courses offered by external providers like ASCD, the course length may be determined by that provider.

Extensions and Incomplete Coursework

Students may request an extension to complete their coursework if they face extenuating circumstances beyond their control, such as serious illness, accident, or death of a family member. However, CCC is under no obligation to grant an extension or offer make-up assignments. Requests for extensions are considered on a case-by-case basis by the Chief Academic Officer. An additional extension fee, typically $25 per unit, applies for each course extended. All requests and arrangements for extensions must be received at CCC no later than seven days after the last course session or regular class deadline, or in some cases, 48 hours after the last course session or regular class deadline, depending on the specific policy cited. If an extension is approved, incomplete work must be finished within thirty days following the last class session or regular class deadline. Failure to complete the work within this extended period will result in the grade listed on the Extension Request form being issued. An "Incomplete" grade is granted only for significant personal or family crises.

Dropping a Course

Students wishing to drop a course must do so in writing by completing a Drop/Withdraw Request Form and contacting the CCC office. This request should include the course number, location, dates, and the student's full name and contact information. If a student wishes to drop one class and add another, these are processed as two separate transactions; one class cannot be substituted for another. The refund policy for drops varies:

Within seven days of enrollment: A full refund minus a $25 administrative fee per course canceled.
Within 30 days of enrollment: A refund of 50% of the full price for each course canceled.
Within the first week of class (seven days after the start): A refund of 60% for each course canceled.If a learner does not officially withdraw from a course after a year from enrollment, a "No-Credit" grade will be issued.

Academic Credit Limits and Semester Crediting

To maintain the integrity of its educational offerings, CCC implements guidelines regarding the number of enrollment credits allowed per semester.

Semester Credit Limitations

CCC's diverse learning formats are designed for flexibility, but it is important to maintain academic standards. The specific guidelines are:

A maximum of 15 credits during the Fall, Winter, and Spring semesters.
A maximum of 18 credits during the Summer (or Off-Track) Semester.

Crediting Semesters

The learner will be credited in the semester for which the learner has COMPLETED the course. For online courses, the date in which the course grade is posted becomes the new End Date for that class.

Transcripts and Grade Reports

Upon successful completion of a course, learners receive a Grade Report, and official transcripts can be obtained from Vanguard University.

Grade Reports

The learner will be issued a Grade Report within approximately two weeks of satisfactorily completing the course. CCC follows this policy to expedite the process for teachers, and some districts accept a Grade Report temporarily in lieu of a formal transcript.

Official Transcripts

Official transcripts can be requested through the Registrar’s Office at Vanguard University of Southern California. Official transcripts are typically available within approximately two weeks following course completion.

The first two official transcripts requested through Vanguard University are complimentary; thereafter, a minimal fee applies ($4.00 per transcript for paper orders, $8.00 per transcript for electronic orders).
All transcript requests must be received in writing along with payment.
It is crucial to note that if you are sending a transcript to another college, it will be deemed unofficial if you open the PDF document or hard copy before submitting it.
Transcript orders may be blank or not include the latest course grades if specific instructions are not followed.

Technical Requirements and Support

While CCC strives to make its online courses accessible, certain technical requirements are necessary for optimal participation.

Minimum Technical Requirements

Basic computer literacy skills are essential for most online courses. This includes proficiency in word processing (creating and saving documents), internet browsing, and using a mouse for navigation. The CCC website tends to work best with free downloadable browsers such as Firefox, Safari, or Google Chrome.

Course Materials and Facilitation

Materials required for courses can vary significantly depending on the instructor and/or the professional development provider. Learners are advised to consult the Course Description for specific details. For online courses, coursework may be submitted before the official end date, but grading will not commence until at least seven days after enrollment for a 3-unit online course to ensure appropriate hours are met. ASCD courses are not facilitated by ASCD directly, and requirements for external providers should be submitted to that provider.

The CCC Team: Expertise and Dedication

College Credit Connection boasts a team of dedicated professionals with extensive experience in education and administration, ensuring a high level of service and support. Key personnel include:

Dr. Constance Wells: Chief Executive Officer, holding doctorates in Clinical Psychology and Counseling Psychology, with over 40 years of executive experience, including 26 years as a Senior Vice-President at Walt Disney Studios.
Dr. Jerry Ternes: Chief Academic Officer (recently retired), holding a Doctorate in Education (Ed.D.) from UCLA, with over 33 years of experience in education, including roles as a teacher, principal, school administrator, and Dean of Graduate Education.
Ms. Dana Schwartz: Director of Operations and Office Manager, with 20 years in education and extensive experience in founding non-profit organizations and supporting school development.
Colleen Falletta: Administrative Consultant, with a background in elementary education, business administration, and extensive volunteer and teaching experience.
Gloria Ternes: Sales Consultant, with a strong background in sales, hospitality, and customer service.
Conner Wells: Digital Media Specialist from Conner Creative, responsible for digitizing course materials and recording/editing new classes.
Brian Okazaki: Legal Counsel, a partner at Okazaki Law Offices.

The team also includes a distinguished group of educators and consultants such as Dr. David Hallstrom, Dennis Garrahy, Stephen Blum, Lisa Anchick, Kathryn Angarano, Fred Becker, Dr. Skyler M. Garrahy, Valerie Hetherington, Dr. Sarah Martinez, Tyler Ternes, Danielle Fawcett, and Debra Leach, each bringing a wealth of experience and expertise to the program.

tags: #college #credit #connection #information