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U.Va. School Offers Wide Range Of Internet Options 
May 4, 2000 -- Life on the information superhighway is hard for many to resist. For those who want to gain the skills to hop in the driver’s seat, the University of Virginia is offering everything from one-day "boot camps" to online courses completed at home to graduate courses in e-commerce. There are approximately 12,000 to 18,000 unfilled information technology jobs in Virginia, according to Dennis Parks, associate dean at U.Va.’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies, who notes that the school is responding to such demand by offering a wide range of learning options. "We’re trying to continually develop new projects to meet the diverse information technology needs." U.Va.’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies in Northern Virginia offers on-site courses in Web design and e-commerce. Residents of Charlottesville, Hampton Roads and Richmond can earn information systems certification through U.Va. centers in those areas, and people around the world can access U.Va.’s online courses for certification in a variety of career-enhancing programs. Training at Internet Boot Camp The new Internet Boot Camps at the school’s center in Northern Virginia offers enrollees a crash course in understanding and contributing to the Internet. Courses with titles such as "Create a Web Page in 7 Hours" take students through the step-by-step process of creating Web pages using basic HTML. New in December, each of the six boot camps offered this spring have reached maximum enrollment of 20 students. Because of such high demand, the Northern Virginia center plans future camps on different topics, such as Internet research or genealogy. Learning from Home: Online Courses The Continuing and Professional Studies center in Northern Virginia is now offering certificate classes online. Powered by eCollege.com, a site for online courses from many different universities, U.Va.’s classes can be applied to three certificate programs: Procurement and Contracts Management, Human Resources Management, and Technology Leadership. "Through the power of the Internet, students from all over the world will be able to take advantage of the University’s tremendous learning opportunities in the most convenient and flexible manner," said Sondra Stallard, dean of the School of Continuing and Professional Studies. Managing Information for Microsoft Students ranging in age from their 20s to 60s have enrolled in the school’s new information systems course to gain Microsoft technology training and management skills. High demand for information systems courses prompted Continuing and Professional Studies centers in Charlottesville, Hampton Roads and Richmond to create an intensive, seven-month course in Information Systems Management for Microsoft Systems. "With only 12 slots per session, there are waiting lists for the waiting lists," said Rosey Parks, director of the Charlottesville center. The second session began in March and consists of classes two nights a week and one Saturday per month. In order to receive a certificate, enrollees must complete eight courses combining communication and project management. "We designed this program with career changes in mind," she said. "There’s a high demand from people in the Shenandoah Valley who want to extend their careers into networking systems because it’s a marketable skill." After completing the course, students have the option to take a test in order to become a Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP). The certification indicates they have specialized knowledge to use and support specific Microsoft products. This program is also sponsored by the Republic Research Training Center (RRTC), a Microsoft-certified technical education center in Charlottesville. Courses for E-Commerce In January, U.Va.’s Northern Virginia center began its first series of graduate-level certificate courses on essential e-commerce concepts and applications. Students are learning to use business-related computer tools, changing business models and emerging technologies. The seven-course, 19-credit program sold out in its first semester with over 120 enrollees. "Everyone wants to dive into the world of e-commerce, but many don’t know where to begin," said Steve Gladis, director of U.Va.’s Northern Virginia Continuing Education Center. This semester’s courses include "Introduction to E-commerce" taught by Deborah Winters, strategic planner with The Motley Fool, and "Strategic Management of E-commerce Technology" taught by Bruce Biggs, director of e-commerce with Computer Sciences Corporation. Courses for the summer include "Financial Management for Web-based Business" and "Web Marking: Building Awareness on the Internet." All e-commerce courses are taught at the Northern Virginia Continuing Education Center in Falls Church. For more information, contact Dennis Parks at (804) 982-5338 or drp5e@virginia.edu or Robert Rosseter at (703) 536-1146 or rjr6f@virginia.edu. Contact: Jill Johnson, (804) 924-6855 |
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