(September 17,
2018) Dallas, TX – El
Centro College has partnered with the Western Association of Food Chains (WAFC)
to offer the Retail Management Certificate, offered at community colleges
across the country.
The certificate program
allows schools to partner with local grocery chains and all other retailers to
get their existing employees who want to stay in the industry a certificate,
which would put them on the path to eventually earning their associate degree.
In 2016, El Centro was
approved to offer the nationally recognized RMC program that was developed to
prepare retail employees for positions in management. Students who complete
this online program earn an industry recognized certificate that provides 24
credit hours. Each course maps to the Associate of Applied Science Degree (AAS)
from El Centro College with pathways to a bachelor’s degree 4-year institutions
such as Western Governor’s University, University of North Texas at Dallas, and
Columbia College. Most importantly, students gain the knowledge and
skills that empower them to become successful leaders in retail and service
oriented companies.
“I am very
pleased with the partnership that Kroger and El Centro College have built
around the Retail Management Certificate,” said Dana Zurcher, Kroger Division
President. “This is such an important benefit to our associates and reinforces
our company’s commitment to invest in our people.
“Through the
Retail Management Certificate program, the associates benefit from a continuing
education program with the flexibility that works for them. The curriculum
is designed to focus on the growing and evolving business of today, and fosters
leadership skills that help them continually improve.
“Investing in
our associates, through educational growth and development is an investment in
their future. It is an investment that cascades into the strength and
talent of our current workforce, and even further if they stay for a career.”
Bethany
Blankmeyer, Kroger Division Human Resources Manager said, “Last year, we had
less than four Dallas associates enrolled in the RMC Program. Through the
diligent efforts of Andrea Martinez, Recruiting and Talent Manager for Kroger
Dallas, partnering directly with El Centro, Dallas now has over 50 enrolled
associates!
“Together,
Kroger and El Centro continue to refine the program; making it more accessible
and convenient for our associates. El Centro’s commitment of a dedicated staff
to ensure a seamless enrollment process, and ease of scheduling classes for
Kroger associates has been instrumental in growing enrollment. El Centro has
been a valued business partner, sharing a common goal of ensuring our
associates achieve a positive educational experience.”
WAFC Director of the Retail Management
certificate Cherie Phipps says most students finish the program in two years,
but it can be completed in one year.
“This is a highly relevant community
college certificate, but the special thing about it that makes it unique is
that it's a dual certificate," she says. "It combines the expertise
of academia and the credential from the college with industry-driven
expertise.”
Each of the retailing classes for the
certificate is eight weeks long and will be offered face-to-face, online and as
hybrid classes. The program also allows classes to be taken on-site at the
employer's store. WAFC's partners in North Texas such as Kroger, Albertsons/Tom
Thumb, Market Street, and Sprouts.
For more information, please
contact Sherry Jones, Dean of the Business, Design and Public Service Division
at El Centro, at sljones@dcccd.edu. Visit https://www.elcentrocollege.edu/cd/special-programs/pages/retail-management.aspx