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A low job placement rate for graduates may force the college to suspend its sign language interpreting program, according to Dean of Instruction Mindy McCallum.

The news has left some current students concerned about their futures, including Stacie Tittrington.

“Having a local program to produce interpreters who are qualified, that’s a huge boost to the area,” Tittrington said.

College spokesperson Erin Kennell emphasized that a final decision has not been make about the program. Rumors have floated that the program cut is a done deal, Kennell said.

“That’s really not the case,” she said. “It’s just under review, so any final decision probably is still a good three or four months away at least.”

All the students currently enrolled in the sign language interpreting program will be allowed to complete their degrees, McCallum said. The program’s current full-time faculty member has been offered a contract for next school year.

MCC-Maple Woods officials decided earlier this year to review the program after recent studies indicated that very few students are actually getting work in that field after completing their studies and getting state certification, McCallum said.

Of the 13 people who graduated from the program in 2007 and 2008, only three had found work in sign language interpreting, according to an MCC survey.

The sign language interpreting program is one of several in the MCC system categorized as vocation or technical education. Career placement is the most important factor when measuring the success of these programs, McCallum said. In fact, the college is required to report post-graduation job placement to Missouri’s Department of Higher Education.

“The most salient thing is student placement in jobs,” McCallum said. “Our expectation is that they would be employable when they leave our college.”

In addition to the low job placement rate, college officials were troubled by projections which suggested a very low increase in the number of positions for the state and Kansas City region, McCallum said.

In 2004, there were approximately 400 full-time interpreters and translators of all types in Missouri, according to state figures. That number is projected to be 480 by 2014.

Low student interest also factored into the sign language interpreting program review, McCallum said, and recruitment efforts have been frustrating. She pointed out that the college’s veterinary technician program has a 100 percent job place rate and a long waiting list of applicants.

Tittrington, though, took issue with McCallum’s assessment of the sign language interpreting program, which was only restarted two years ago after being suspended in the last 1990s.

“They just started the program, so it may take a while to get up to speed,” Tittrington said.

Staff writer Ray Weikal can be reached at 389-6637 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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