Harper College Cohort to Graduate With Doctorate of Community College Leadership Degrees

The first fall commencement for Ferris State University's Doctorate in Community College Leadership program will be celebrated Saturday, Dec. 15 as graduates from Harper College of Palatine, Illinois participate in the 1:30 p.m. ceremony in Jim Wink Arena on the Big Rapids campus.

Megan Biller, the coordinator of the DCCL program, said three of the Harper College cohort students have now taken other positions as a result of their learning.

"Harper's president, Kenneth Ender, wanted to grow the talents of his faculty and staff, which is why they sought to have their own cohort," Biller said. "Their cohort, which includes more than two dozen students, is a bit larger than those who have formed each year, through Ferris, and our initial group, at Lone Star College in Texas. We found that the Harper College cohort has really encouraged each other to continue their studies, and succeed in the program. As a result, there has been less attrition."

The exit survey responses from these students indicated 79 percent of the cohort were able to move into a higher role at Harper or took on increased responsibilities during their time in the program, which they began in Summer 2016. Monica Koziol, an adjunct faculty member in Harper's Business and Social Science Department, said she has found the coursework valuable.

"My research skills have improved and are facilitating my publication goals," Koziol said. "I find great value in being able to share and bounce ideas off community college leaders who teach the courses."

The Harper DCCL cohort's hooding ceremony will coincide with the graduation for Ferris' colleges of Arts and Sciences, Education and Human Services, and Engineering Technology.

"We are pleased to bring this first regional cohort to campus, for this unique opportunity to take part in a fall commencement program," Biller said. "It will be exciting to watch their progress, as Dr. Ender offered his college the DCCL opportunity, with the hope of improving the body of community college leadership as a whole."