Vision. Vision is what William G. Davis had when establishing the Ontario college system. Vision is also what Dr. Roy Giroux had when first inviting Central Michigan University to deliver the Master of Arts degree in Education to the faculty, administrators and staff at St. Clair College in Windsor, Ontario. Dr. Giroux believed all Ontario college professionals should be afforded the opportunity to pursue advanced training and enhance their professional practice. 

Dr Roy Giroux and Dr. Kaleb Patrick attend the CMU
Scholar Event at Humber College in 2017

Over 40 years later, CMU is still delivering on Dr. Girouxís vision across Ontario. The Master of Arts degree in Education/Community College focuses solely on the Ontario college system and has evolved to meet the changing needs of postsecondary education. 

CMU has delivered the MAE-CC at 18 of the 24 colleges in the province. The host institution with the longest history of delivering the program is the Humber Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning, which began its 27th cohort in January 2018. 

ìIn my experience, CMU prepares graduates well for these important roles. Strong collaborative leadership skills, strategic thinking and focus, and excellent communications skills are among the outstanding qualities I have seen consistently demonstrated by CMU graduates,î said Maureen Piercy, former President, Loyalist College. 

The MAE-CC program is proud of the over 1,500 alumni working throughout the province. Graduates from the program work within the Ontario college system in various positions including, senior administrators, faculty and support staff. 

Central Michigan University was founded in 1892

ìThis education was life- and career-changing for me. I found the cohort model to be socially and educationally beneficial, and I believe that the education I received was world-class and helped propel my career forward,î said David Coward, vice president of human resources, Georgian College. 

Five college presidents and one university president within the province have graduated from this program.  Outside of the college system, graduates from other industries such as health care, law enforcement, the military, provincial departments and others have found the program applicable in their training/education roles. 

ìI cannot tell you how many times I have used the knowledge I gained and network of colleagues I met through my CMU experience,î Darrin Caron, former Durham College principal/dean, said. ìI would recommend CMU to anyone interested in administrative positions in the college or those who would like to learn more about college operations.î 

This advanced degree program prepares professional educators with the tools they need to address and solve complex issues. There are three areas of emphasis from which to choose:

  • Administration/Student Affairs.
  • College Teaching.
  • Training and Development. 

The program also incorporates research to turn theory into practice. Courses are delivered at five host colleges across Ontario in a face-to-face format and includes some online coursework. 

The leadership skills and critical thinking abilities that graduates of CMUís MAE-CC program develop make it an excellent choice for those desiring advanced leadership training for upper-level positions in: 

  • The Ontario college system.
  • Elementary and secondary schools.
  • Health care.
  • The military.
  • Law enforcement.
  • The trades.
  • Provincial government.
  • Non-for-profit organizations. 

CMU has been a proud partner of the Ontario college system for over 40 years, and its graduates have made and are continuing to make an impact on the Ontario college system and beyond.  

For more information on the Master of Arts in Education/Community College program and CMUís tuition savings for OCASA members, contact CMU at 877-268-4636 or CMUglobal@cmich.edu.