Potomac College.. Our Mission and Goals

College History

The Potomac Education Foundation was established in 1989 with the primary goal of creating an Upper Division college with programs directed toward the needs of adult learners.  The Foundation founded Potomac College in 1991 in the State of Maryland.  The Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) approved the College’s application in 1991, and initial classes were conducted in February 1992.

The Accrediting Council of Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS) first accredited Potomac College in December 1994. In 1995, The State of Maryland approved Potomac College as a limited liability company.  At that time there were twenty-two investors in Potomac College.   Potomac College relocated from Rockville, Maryland to Washington, D.C. in 1995 and was granted approval to award the Bachelor of Science degree by the District of Columbia Education Licensure Commission.

Potomac College applied for degree approval in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 1998.  The College was granted permission to open branch Campuses in York and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  However, to date, the College has not opened branch campuses in Pennsylvania.

In 1998, The State Council on Higher Education of Virginia granted Potomac College approval to grant the Bachelor of Science degree at a branch campus.  Classes were initiated in the Commonwealth of Virginia in 2001. The campus is located in Herndon, Virginia.  As of September 2005, Potomac College offers five Bachelor of Science degree programs, and five Associate degree programs.  The ten degree programs are primarily limited to the areas of Information Technology, and Management.

The Potomac College Advantage

 While mindful of the needs of working adults to have an academic schedule that does not conflict with work and family obligations, the core educational programs are designed to integrate the student’s academic learning and work experience. In addition, this student population requires increased advisory and other services to help them through the education process.  Students choosing and remaining at Potomac cite the following key reasons for their decision:

• Accelerated Degree programs: Potomac College’s Upper Division students take two courses per six-week module because of the Theoretical Application Project (TAP).
• Class schedules: Potomac College offers a full complement of classes after work and on Saturdays.
• Intimate classroom settings: An 11:1 student to faculty ratio ensures personal attention for each student.
• Cohort model: Students go through program with the same group of students providing social and academic support networks.
• Academic advising: Every student has a personal academic advisor to assist in selecting courses and mapping a path to graduation.
• Faculty as practitioners: Faculty members are current professionals in the field they teach.

 From an academic perspective, Potomac College pioneered a novel educational delivery approach that enables students to apply their theoretical knowledge to their workplace.  Theoretical Application Projects allow each student to design and implement projects that relate to their coursework and have significance to their company or institution.  The project is undertaken under the direction of a faculty member and workplace mentor.  The faculty instructor in collaboration with the faculty advisor awards the final grade and ensures that a “substantial amount of academic-based research” is included.  Each Upper Division student must complete a minimum of five Theoretical Application Project’s, unless a student transfers in the appropriate credits. In addition, a final “Capstone” project is required and must be presented orally to a committee of faculty and peers.  Therefore, by graduation, each student has not only made a significant contribution to their employer, but has also created a portfolio of work demonstrating mastery of subject matter.

Strategic Goals and Initiatives

While student needs have caused the board to modify its mission statement to embrace the Lower Division, Potomac College has remained true to its core values: customer facing organization, quality, diversity, excellence, and strong business practices.  Potomac College will build on its success with students (students were on average “very positive” towards Potomac); faculty (67 % of full-time faculty have terminal degrees); and employers(88 % of employers were satisfied with Potomac’s educational offerings for employees). However, there is a tremendous unmet need for Potomac College’s programs in the National Capital Area. Accordingly, Potomac College has seven main goals to focus on: 

• Better retention and graduation rates by improving the academic and social experience of students.
• Effectively matching students to Potomac College’s rigorous educational experiences (especially Theoretical Application Projects), and providing the requisite training to improve success.
• Strengthening and retaining quality faculty and staff.
• Achieving a reasonable profit margin and ensuring sufficient capital for growth.
• Continuing to build a regional brand of excellence by improving marketing and admissions efforts to reach out to a broader group of students.
• Doubling the number of students and expanding the program offering to include growth areas such as healthcare and criminal justice over the next five years.
• Developing a hybrid online/bricks and mortar delivery model option to allow students more flexibility in class schedules.

The Vision of the College

The Board approved at its December 2004 meeting the following Vision Statement and the new expanded Mission Statement:

The Vision

Potomac College Delivers Dreams

The Mission Statement

“Our mission is to provide quality educational experiences and opportunities to a diverse community of learners, which will challenge them to think critically, communicate effectively, achieve professional goals and develop qualities of leadership.”

Core Values

As indicated in its application for candidacy, Potomac College’s core values remain unchanged.

1. Customer Facing Organization – Service to the student is a primary priority and we believe is a worthy endeavor. Potomac College is distinguished by an organizational culture that places high value on the quality of services to students.
2. Quality – Quality is embraced as a process of continuous improvement. The College requires quality in the inputs it uses, quality in the processes it applies, and quality in the outcomes it achieves.
3. Diversity – We value all ethnic and cultural backgrounds and respect differences of opinion.
4. Excellence - We are committed to continuous improvement and seek excellent outcomes in all our endeavors.
5. Business Practices - Business practices are aimed at achieving educational, operational, and financial excellence consistent with the highest standards of integrity, ethics, equal opportunity, diversity, teamwork, and open communication.

Critical Success Factors

The critical success factors of Potomac College Strategic Plan are as follows:

1. Satisfied customers
2. Accreditation by Middle States Association
3. Improved rates of graduation and retention
4. Retention of qualified faculty and staff
5. Reasonable profit margin
6. Achievement of vision
7. Academic tracks with two-year institutions
8. Efficiencies in conducting business

 Potomac College received regional accreditation by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education in June 2006.