Issue link: http://howardcc.uberflip.com/i/969762
colleges have on students' lives," said Hetherington. "My focus has always been on continuous quality improvement, and supporting innovation, creativity, and forward-thinking ways of ensuring Howard County residents receive the best educational experience and complete their degree or certificate." Completion has become a leading issue at the state and national level at community colleges over the last decade. It's not a simple goal; community college leaders like Hetherington understand the myriad of roadblocks facing students on their path to completion. These challenges include cost, work demands, lack of preparedness, family responsibilities, and a lack of familiarity with the world of higher education, particularly for students who are the first in their family to attend college. But increased completion has a very real payoff for employees. Research by the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce found that, by 2020, close to 70 percent of Maryland jobs will need some type of postsecondary education or training. To address completion challenges, Dr. Hetherington asked faculty and staff to make data-informed decisions on what initiatives could be improved, expanded, or created to support students. Among the college's strategic changes are a redesigned new student orientation and virtual student advising. Another new program targets Black male students struggling in developmental math, and innovative experiential learning opportunities like internships show students the real-world connection between academics and employment. 7