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Calbright College Launches New Programs, Announces 1,000th Certificate of Completion

The college publicly introduced its Project Management and Network Technology programs, updated its Medical Coding program, and developed new certificate programs in Human Resources Learning and Development

Sacramento, Calif., January 08, 2025, – Calbright College, an online community college in California dedicated to boosting economic mobility and access to skills-based training for underserved communities, announced it will offer four additional programs to current and prospective learners this year. Building on the success of its start-up phase, the expansion will allow the college to continue its tremendous growth in enrollment and certificate completions–a more than 400% increase within two years–and follows the milestone of its 1,000th awarded certificate at the end of 2024. The added programs, offered through a competency-based education model, support Calbright’s mission to provide access to higher education for California’s working-age adults with the flexibility, support, and resources necessary to reach their career goals.

“Reaching the milestone of our 1,000th awarded certificate of completion is a celebration of the hard work and dedication that our talented students and staff bring day in and day out,” said Ajita Talwalker Menon, president and CEO of Calbright College. “Each certificate represents a step towards a better future – empowering our learners, who span all corners of the state, to thrive in today’s economy. At Calbright, we are building on this momentum to expand the impact of our transformative model: Meeting learners where they are, engaging them with innovative and flexible educational experiences and support, and equipping them with skills needed to drive their success beyond the virtual classroom.” 

“Calbright’s programs are amazing, and industry relevant. [The programs] give good examples and opportunities to practice in digital playgrounds, that is something very useful,” said Pratima Koka, a recent alumna of Calbright’s Customer Relationship Management Platform Administration program and current Data Analysis student. “Data Analytics, Cybersecurity, Networking, IT Support … these are things that someone can learn and apply and get into a job in that industry. I’m spreading the word. Calbright is such an amazing resource. Where was this all along! I wish we had this 10 years ago!”

After a successful pilot phase, the College now offers its Project Management and Network Technology programs to the general public. Both programs will connect students to the skills needed in California’s in-demand industries. The demand for network technologists is rising at a rate of 19.3% in California, resulting in over 3,500 job openings, most with a median starting salary of $66,800. And the need for project management professionals in California is projected to grow in the next decade by 10.5% or almost 3,800 job opportunities with an average annual salary of $75,000.

“Bridging the gap between learners and our state’s workforce needs is the Calbright mission at its core,” said Dr. Shannon McCarty, vice president of learning and instruction at Calbright College. “Adding new programs in high-demand fields helps us to grow our impact and better meet the needs of our learners. In the past two years, Calbright has seen a more than 400% increase in completers – students who have upskilled and reskilled to pursue their dreams, support their families, and build careers. During this time, the student body has grown by 130%, demonstrating the appetite for Calbright’s innovative learning model. Our learners are powering Calbright’s upward trajectory, and I’m confident that the college’s future is very bright.” 

In addition to the Project Management and Network Technology programs, Calbright now also offers two more programs: a pilot program, offered to a small subset of learners, for Human Resources Learning and Development and an updated Medical Coding program. 

The Human Resources Learning and Development pilot program will equip adult learners with essential skills for careers in learning and development within human resources. Students will gain competencies in creating digital learning strategies, coaching, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement to enhance organizational performance.

The Medical Coding certificate, launched this week to a select set of learners in Los Angeles County, provides instruction on the process of analyzing medical patients’ records and physicians’ notes. Medical coding professionals assign a unique code to medical diagnoses, procedures, imaging and medical services provided to patients, which facilitates accurate record-keeping and assists with billing and processing health insurance claims. 

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About Calbright

Calbright College is a new kind of community college designed to support the needs and goals of adult learners. Established in 2018, Calbright is a statewide, online, and flexible California Community College that offers accessible and career-focused programs—based on in-demand skills from IT to CRM Platform Administration to Data Analysis. Calbright’s free and flexibly paced model, which utilizes competency-based education, adapts to the schedules of California’s working-age adults to provide the rigor of higher education without the logistical hurdles of a traditional institution. 

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