Published: May 8, 2017 by Anna Maloney

The four-question survey was designed to learn about when students planned to complete or completed certifications, as well as which certifications they were most interested in.

In addition to preparing students for meaningful careers in archives, recordkeeping institutions, and information management programs, one of the primary goals of the MARA program is to prepare students for professional certification, specifically the Certified Archivist, Certified Records Manager, and Information Governance Professional examinations.

In the spring of 2017, one of my last projects as the MARA Student Research Assistant was a survey of student and alumni interest in professional certifications. The four-question survey was designed to learn about when students planned to complete or completed certifications, as well as which certifications they were most interested in. 

The survey, completed by 23 current students and 7 graduates, revealed some interesting findings. A majority of students plan to pursue certification post graduation, while a handful actually attain professional RIM and archival designations while working toward their MARA degree, and a smaller number pursued designations prior to starting the program. While current students identified even interest in attaining both the CRM and the CA, alumni were more likely to report having earning the CRM and the IGP. 

As the MARA program continues to evolve its course offerings, having an understanding of students’ interests and goals post-graduation can inform instructional design and focus. As the chart below demonstrates, all current MARA students who participated in the survey plan to pursue a certification either during their time in the program or after graduation.