LA PLATA, Md. — The College of Southern Maryland (CSM) showcased its programs during its annual presentation at the March 3 Calvert County Board of County Commissioners meeting.
CSM’s president, Dr. Yolanda Wilson, said the college has faced some challenges over the last few years — their budget from state and local funds decreased by over $800,000, and they’ve faced declining enrollment. However, enrollment is up this year, and the college is optimistic about students’ participation in their programs.
The county considers CSM to be a strong workforce development partner. As a community college, CSM offers certification and degree programs to help students launch careers or go on to four-year colleges.
Dr. Wilson highlighted the nursing program, which recently underwent a rigorous process to stay credentialed. With a nursing shortage in Maryland, CSM is a vital educational bridge for getting more nurses into health care settings, and the school is working on setting up alternative clinical education possibilities to get more students into the program.
The school is also launching an exciting new program in Aviation Maintenance. Students can pursue a certificate or a degree, and the college is working with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to certify the program and create pathways to jobs. This program is the first of its kind in Maryland.
“We couldn’t be more thrilled to launch this program, the first of its kind in the state,” said Dr. Wilson.
Another highlight for the school is CSM’s dual enrollment program, which served over 1,400 students last year. CSM recently expanded the program to include high schoolers in the Career and Technology Academy (CTA) and want to include more trades programs. The County Commissioners strongly supported this initiative.
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