Excellence. That is the word of the day.

Here is my crack at educational excellence in the real world of a two-year college diploma.

[Insert college name] will provide a unique educational experience in which students will be required to demonstrate competency in areas that push their comfort level.

In addition to core critical topics such as financial accounting and tax, students will be required to develop the skills necessary to examine problems, make recommendations and present a compelling argument – both on paper and to an audience. Students will use common work place tools, including Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, Word, the Internet, tax software and accounting software to deliver results.

Job ready skills such as time management, working in teams and personal responsibility will be ingrained in courses and evaluated along with technical skills.

On successful completion of the program students will be ready to assume the responsibilities associated with jobs in the public sector, industry and public practice. The program also lays the groundwork for continuing education, either through professional organizations or through universities.

To deliver this program, the college would need to do two things. The first is to firmly believe that their primary purpose is to prepare students for the workplace. That has been our traditional role and it is valuable and desirable. The second is to be willing to re-examine the methodology of delivery and evaluation. Real life training does not compartmentalize well. In other words, we have to be innovative and find ways to blur the fifteen week, individual course lines.

But a clear statement of intention isn’t a bad place to start.