Dakota County Technical College has been granted accreditation to offer associate of science and associate of applied science degrees online.
The accreditation approval was granted following an extensive onsite review conducted last spring by experts selected by the Higher Learning Commission and associated with the MnSCU system’s MnOnline distance education initiative.
As a result of that review, the team found that DCTC had ‘made a conscious decision to integrate online learning into institutional policies, processes, planning, and evaluation,’ that faculty had ’embraced online learning as an option for responding to the needs of individual students and industries,’ and that ‘delivery of programs through distance delivery methods’ aligned with the college’s mission and values, creating an appropriate infrastructure to support and sustain online degree offerings.
The college has been offering classes online since 2000. Since 2004, enrollment in online classes at DCTC has more than doubled, making the accreditation of the online programs an important step to continued growth.
“The accreditation of our online program delivery gives DCTC the opportunity to provide education for employment to a wider service area and opens doors for degree-seeking students who need the flexibility that online delivery offers,” said Linda Foster, DCTC director of instructional technology.
Current programs and certificates that are being offered online at DCTC include the Business Marketing Specialist A.A.S., Marketing Design A.S., Supervisory Management A.A.S., Business A.S., Marketing Communications Specialist Certificate, Sales Specialist Certificate, Supervisory Leadership Certificate, Human Resource Development Certificate, Quality Improvement Certificate, and Meeting and Event Management Certificate.
The fall semester will mark the first fall start for offering the associate of science and associate of applied science degrees online. Most classes are scheduled to start August 27, and interested individuals are encouraged to call 651-423-8301.
