In an area of new growth, Ancilla College is offering eight one-year certificates. Certificates in Criminal Justice, Business Administration, Exercise Science, General Studies, Behavioral Science, Logistics, and two certificates in Nursing are being provided by the junior college.
The first of the two certificates in nursing is Administrative Medical Assistant. Ann Fitzgerald, Division of Nursing and Health Sciences Director said, “This certificate is 16-17 credit hours and will prepare the student to complete clerical and record keeping work in a medical or dental office. Duties might include greeting patients, taking medical and insurance information, making appointments and other non-clinical tasks.”
The second nursing Department certificate, Clinical Medical Assistant, builds off of the Administrative Medical Assistant program. “This certificate requires a total of 30 credit hours and will prepare the student to work hands on with other health care professionals in a medical office or clinic. Duties might include taking patient vital signs, electronic charting of medical information, performing venipuncture, and other Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA), related lab tests or procedures in the office or clinic setting,” Fitzgerald said.
Dr. Joanna Blount, vice president of academic affairs, said, “These certificates are another stepping stone in higher education that can help students be of more value in the job market. Ancilla acknowledges that not everyone has two years to devote to an associate degree, of which we have 18 available. These certificates allow our students to complete two semesters in one year with about 30 credits and come out with a recognizable document employers and other colleges will accept as proof that you not only learned specific criteria for your chosen field, but also that you have the persistence to complete projects – an important life skill.”
Sam Soliman, chair of the division of history, education, business & behavioral science said, “The certificate will verify they’ve taken classes in a particular field which will make them more marketable. However, we hope students will see after attaining a certificate that getting a college degree is within reach and motivate them to continue.”
This approach is in keeping with Indiana’s move toward a Transfer Single Articulated Pathway. As an institution accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, the certificate programs have also been approved by the commission. This will also help the college show completion rates – a tool used to evaluate effectiveness. “Since we are a two-year institution, sometimes our students leave to join a larger school’s athletic team or transfer to one of the four-year schools with which we have agreements,” said Eric Wignall, vice president of enrollment management. “These students are still success stories because Ancilla College helped them meet their personal goals. But if you don’t graduate with an associate degree, it doesn’t appear that way to the statisticians.”
Financial aid is also available for the certificate programs. Each year over $2.5 million is distributed to over 93 percent of Ancilla students in the form of grants, scholarships and work-study opportunities. Ancilla College awards over $400,000 annually in need-based scholarships and $900,000 in direct grants (not based on financial need), neither of which need to be repaid.
To find more information on the certificate programs, visit https://www.ancilla.edu/academics/majors-minors/#certificate-series-non-degree-professional-development.
Ancilla College (www.ancilla.edu<http://www.ancilla.edu/>), part of The Center at Donaldson, offers 18 associate degrees and 10 athletic programs. Since 1937, the College has been a sponsored ministry of the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ. It is a small, private, liberal arts school in Donaldson, Indiana. It is located two miles south of U.S. 30 on Union Road near Plymouth, Indiana.
