Cerritos College
Cerritos College Offers Retail Management FastTrack Program for the Supermarket Industry
Program is Designed with Experienced Managers in Mind
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 5, 2010
Media Contact:Aya Abelon, Public Affairs; (562) 860-2451 ext.2287
NORWALK, Calif. - February 5, 2010 - The Cerritos College Business Division is pleased to announce that it now offers a “Retail Management Certificate FastTrack program” (RMCFastTrack) for the supermarket industry. The program is being piloted at Ralphs/Food4Less this semester and enrollment is bursting at the seams.
The Business Division tailored the FastTrack program to experienced managers who have the skills and knowledge to handle the accelerated program that will be completed within three semesters.
The program gives store managers an understanding of the basic requirements for success in the future. The curriculum was developed through a collaborative effort between several food retail chains and Cerritos College faculty. Most coursework is transferable to CSUs and UCs and can lead to AA or BA degree to help students further/enhance their careers.
“An accelerated program is perfect for our managers who are willing to put in extra effort to complete these classes more quickly,” says Rhonda Brown-Palacios, training specialist at Ralphs/Food4Less.
“The industry demand is fast-growing and the program is moving with the industry,” added Dean of the Business Division Rachel Mason. “The industry approaches us with their specific needs and we answer them by providing customized programs. It’s an ideal partnership between industry and academic institutions.”
“We have a fantastic relationship with Cerritos,” says Cherie Phipps, education director for the Western Association of Food Chains (WAFC). “We are very excited about this new FastTrack approach and what it might mean to managers who are very capable but often time-starved and not very ‘available’ to attend traditional college classes.”
Fifty-nine California Community Colleges participate in the WAFC program, and the program at Cerritos College is one of the largest. These programs are endorsed by the WAFC and prepare retail food industry personnel for the fast-paced challenges prevalent in the food industry.
“Since Cerritos College began offering the ten-course WAFC Retail Management Certificate program in 1999, the Business Administration Department has almost tripled in size,” said Business Administration Department Chair Hy Finkelstein.
Bob Livingston, coordinator of the Retail Management Program explains, “Cerritos College is an ‘educational partner’ for many of the WAFC member companies. Among our ‘industry partners’ are Ralphs/Food4Less, Albertsons, Northgate Gonzalez, StaterBros, Whole Foods, and Costco. Classes are held on campus, at convenient retail locations, and online for WAFC students throughout the state.”
In addition to the Retail Management certificate, Cerritos College offers an A.A. degree in Retail Management, a certificate/A.A. degree in Human Resource Management, and curriculum is being written for a new certificate/A.A. degree in Training & Development.
Many of the Retail Management students who complete A.A. degrees at Cerritos College move on to earn bachelor’s degrees from Northwood University online and on the Cerritos College campus (www.cerritos.edu/northwood).”
These programs give retail manager students an understanding of the basic requirements for success in the future. Most coursework is transferable to CSUs and UCs, and certificates, A.A. degrees, and B.A. degrees help students to further enhance their careers.
Cerritos College serves as a comprehensive community college for southeastern Los Angeles County. Communities within the college’s district include Artesia, Bellflower, Cerritos, Downey, Hawaiian Gardens, La Mirada, Norwalk, and portions of Bell Gardens, Lakewood, Long Beach, Santa Fe Springs and South Gate. Cerritos College offers degrees and certificates in more than 180 areas of study in nine divisions. Annually, more than 1,200 students successfully complete their course of studies, and enrollment currently averages 23,000 students. Visit Cerritos College online at http://www.cerritos.edu/.
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