CSUSB health care program expands

By Jocelyn Colbert |Staff Writer|

The Affordable Health care Act has created a projected boom in the health care industry.

“The Affordable Health care Act has extended health care insurance to individuals who never had it before,” said Michelle King, program administrator of Professional and Continuing Education (PCE). “More people have access to visit a health care professional.”

Recognizing the constant-growing health service industry, CSUSB’s College of Extended Learning (CEL) has expanded its health care courses from being taught exclusively online, to on-campus as well.

CEL now offers new on-campus courses for several health care programs.
“With the online courses, we felt we could reach a broader audience. Students from Florida to Hawaii are enrolled,” said Michelle King, program administrator of Professional and Continuing Education (PCE).

“Anyone can take these online courses.”

The CEL certificate website states, “The College of Extended Learning offers on-campus and online continuing education certificate programs and courses designed to help you advance your career, or provide you with the workforce skills necessary to acquire professional positions in many in-demand occupations.”

In creating new on-campus courses, King, her staff, and partners wanted to target the Inland Empire.

“Unemployment rates are high. We’re working with the Workforce Investment Board to provide opportunities for the displaced worker or transitioning adult. Adding a different modality, face-to-face programs have enhanced the online programs,” said King.

There are many benefits of earning a certificate, which include more job opportunities, higher pay, and job security.

“Why earn a certificate? A certificate narrows your focus and allows you to meet and measure competency in a certain area,” said King.

King handles the administrative part of the program but stated that it’s a team effort to decide what programs are available through various program proposals.

“It takes a village to decide which partners are brought in to offer these valuable and beneficial programs,” said King.

King and her partners researched needs analysis assessments, program proposals and competitive analyses to help measure the impact of the course.

More health care programs in the fall will be offered in addition to the four programs being offered this spring.

“I can talk about this all day. I love people achieving their goals,” said King. “Let’s empower people.”