The Guam Community College achieved another milestone, as the learning institution received jurisdiction certification approval by the Guam Commission for Educator Certification for its first-ever Bachelor of Science in Career Technical Education program on Monday at their campus in Mangilao.

Receiving certification for the program is historic for GCC as it recognizes that the college has met GCEC standards in preparing graduates to acquire GCEC CTE certification. GCC's bachelor's program was approved in February 2020, then was offered later, in Fall 2020, according to GCC Assistant Director of Communications and Promotions John Dela Rosa.

This program will provide students an opportunity to apply their CTE associate or technical diploma to this baccalaureate degree to become educators who meet the CTE certification requirements of the GCEC and the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards for CTE.

In an interview with KUAM News, GCC President Dr. Mary Okada shared the program's intentions.

"So basically because GCC is supportive of Career and Technical Education or CTE programs in the high schools and of course at the post-secondary level what we wanted to do was to provide a pathway for individuals who wish to become teachers in career and technical education, thus the bachelors and science of career and technical education," she said.

Okada added that "this will help assist with the island's shortage of teachers."

This jurisdictional approval will play a vital role in the process of receiving national education program accreditation, which they plan to pursue soon, according to GCC.