Contact: Harriet Laird
STARKVILLE, Miss.--During steep economic downturns such as the one currently impacting the state, partnerships can prove invaluable in managing public resources.
One such collaboration is a new workforce training opportunity provided by Mississippi State University's Research and Curriculum Unit and the state's community and junior colleges.
Through the Mississippi Workforce University web portal administered by MSU, online CompTIA A+ certification training for computer support technicians is being offered in the place of a traditional classroom setting.
"We now can give students the opportunity to attend a live, interactive class from home that fits their schedule," said Dean Roger Whitlock, head of East Central Community College's workforce division. "Only occasionally will it be necessary for the participants to come to class for hands-on training."
Whitlock said the certification program covers such areas as installation, preventive maintenance, networking, security, and troubleshooting. While vendor-neutral in delivery, it is part of certification tracks used by Microsoft, Hewlett-Packard, Cisco, Novell, and other related businesses.
"Using the online, interactive format, ECCC is able to bring training to the learner without the participant incurring additional expense in traveling to class and without the overhead costs of expensive equipment or software," he observed.
"Anyone with a good Internet connection, microphone, inexpensive webcam, and reasonably current computer can get this training," he added.
A+ certification is considered the standard for any technician or specialist in the information technology field. Additionally, it is open to individuals with or without a bachelor's degree, as well as those already employed in the IT field.
Lemond Irvin, MSU's Mississippi Workforce University project manager, said the partnership illustrates how both levels of higher education can provide in-demand classes across a broad geographic area, as well as the leveraging of resources from different educational entities.
"It's a system that creatively is supporting a customer base that needs training during these challenging economic times," Irvin said, adding that he foresees other community colleges developing distance courses soon.
"The hope is that the Mississippi Workforce University will become a community of people sharing resources to help our workforce move forward," Irvin said. "Being able to locate information and training materials in a timely manner is vital to producing highly-trained workers."
For more information, please visit www.msworkforceuniversity.com.
NEWS EDITORS/DIRECTORS: For additional comments, contact Dr. Irvin at lemond.irvin@rcu.msstate.edu or 662-325-2510; or Dean Whitlock at rwhitlock@eccc.edu or 601-635-2111, ext. 299.
For more information about Mississippi State University, see http://www.msstate.edu/.