Submitted by Charter College Vancouver
Dr. Dawn Hagopian has seen the value of education first-hand in her more than 20 years helping people achieve their goals. Now, as an Online Program Manager for Charter College Vancouver, she’s focused on helping her students learn the basics of business, with a firm foundation in general education. “Every day I get to work with students and help them change the trajectory of their lives,” she says.
Photo courtesy of Charter College
The Vancouver campus opened its doors in 2010 to serve the needs of southern Washington students with career-focused education in growing industries where trained professionals are in demand. The Vancouver campus offers bachelor’s and associate degrees in business administration, as well as a certificate in business office administration, health care, trades and information technology.
Charter College business programs are designed to provide graduates with skills and knowledge that can be applied to many different careers in the private, government, and not-for-profit sectors.
In addition to teaching students the fundamental office, administrative and management skills they need to get the jobs they want, Dr. Hagopian says her team puts an emphasis on the other things they’ll need to be successful.
“We talk about critical thinking and the difference between types of leaders,” she says, adding that communication is another often over-looked skill. “Good employees know how to communicate, whether that’s verbal or written. Something as simple as using the wrong ‘their’ can be the difference between getting that job or a promotion.”
Charter College employs a full-time tutor to review student papers and help them understand the areas they need to work on, right down to the proper use of commas.
Charter College faculty and staff members understand the importance of ensuring that what they’re teaching is relevant. “Everything we teach is for what employers need today, not 10 years ago,” Dr. Hagopian says. “Most Charter College business instructors work full-time in their fields and they’re able to share projects and real-world information with their students.”
Instructors will also bring in real-life challenges, allowing their students to talk about ethics in the real world, rather than being slapped in the face with them on the job. “Ethics and integrity are hugely important in the business world,” Dr. Hagopian says. “Teaching this in the classroom can also let a student know whether or not a company is a good fit for them.”
Dr. Hagopian says after 20 years in education, she’s glad she found Charter College, where she has worked full-time for the past 18 months, after serving as an adjunct instructor for three years prior.
“I love Charter College. It’s a place where we actually work our motto, which is that ‘we work to get you to work,’” she says. “And it’s not just about helping them obtain a career. When they hit a roadblock, I’m here to help them, whether that’s advising them to get more skills or additional education.”
For more information on Charter College, call 888-200-9942 or visit www.chartercollege.edu/locations/vancouver-wa.
