National Bdpa Launches the IT Institute at Auburn University
Greenbelt, MD, August 12, 2006 --(PR.com)-- The National BDPA, Black Data Processing Associates (http://www.bdpa.org) will launch the Information Technology Institute Certification Program in September 2006. The BDPA IT Institute supports the computer professional by increasing technical competence, maximizing leadership potential and utilizing an academic partnership with Auburn University’s Distance Learning Program. The Institute offers online certification programs supporting the entry-level IT Associate, the mid-level IT Professional and the advanced-level IT Master.
Minority high achievers within the field of Information Technology often struggle to move from purely technical roles to the more influential roles of manager, director or vice-president. BDPA strives to position its members and the community at the fore-front of knowledge and techniques which support the development of the skills required to make this transition.
The BDPA IT Institute provides the opportunity for professionals to secure an IT career certification, to gain recognition for past accomplishments and prepare for career-enhancing promotion or leadership opportunities. The initial 14-week course offering in September 2006 will be the mid-level IT Professional Certification requiring a Bachelors Degree, 5 years of IT experience and practical substantiation of skills and experience.
“The BDPA IT Institute is an innovative service for IT Professionals. This service will give IT Professionals the ability to make career changes, brush up on their skills and provide them with the necessary skills for upward mobility in IT. Together with Auburn University, BDPA is providing this service as the next frontier of IT benefits for advancement.” says Juan Gilbert, Ph.D., the Academic Chair of the IT Institute and in the Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering at Auburn University.
The BDPA National President, Gina Billings adds “We are excited to offer the new services of the BDPA IT Institute to the membership. The roll out of the program grants BDPA an opportunity to allow IT professionals a means to validate their skills in a structured certification program geared to the IT industry. Although the program is not only offered to the membership, it provides valuable benefits to support member development."
The BDPA IT Institute is being supported by some of the best corporations in the IT Industry. The sponsors include Merck and Company, whose CIO, Chris Scalet serves on the Institute Advisory Board, JP Morgan Chase, Eli Lilly and Company, SunTrust Bank, Gartner Research, Hewitt Associates, Limited Brands, Avue Technologies, Strategic Staffing Solutions, Ajilon Consulting, Digital Rhythm Interactive, EMC Corporation, and UBS Investment Bank.
Contact: Betty Hutchins
Vice President, Member Services
(800) 727-BDPA
vpms@bdpa.org
http://www.bdpa.org
Betty Hutchins, Vice President of Member Services for BDPA said “The Launch of the IT Institute this fall is a tremendous milestone for BDPA and all of its stakeholders. We are excited by the academic support that we have received from Auburn University with Dr. Gilbert as Academic Chair and the Distance Learning facility supporting the online coursework and we are extremely honored to have Will Bundy, Ph.D., serve as the professor of the IT Professional course this fall. This is truly a great program and in the very capable hands of LaTonya Thomas, MAEd, as IT Director.”
About National BDPA
Founded in 1975 by Earl Pace and the late David Wimberly, BDPA is a global member focused organization that serves the professional well-being of its stakeholders. BDPA remains committed to excellence in delivering expertise by providing a wide spectrum of resources to its members, corporate sponsors, businesses, educational institutions and the community. The organization is a catalyst for professional growth and technical development for those in the IT industry. With 54 chapters across the United States, BDPA is the premier organization for African Americans in technology. The BDPA national headquarters is located in Greenbelt, Maryland. For more information about BDPA, call 1-800-727-BDPA or visit www.bdpa.org.
About Auburn University
Auburn University is a preeminent land-grant and comprehensive research institution with more than 23,000 students and 6,500 faculty and staff. Ranked among the top 50 public universities nationally, Auburn is Alabama’s largest educational institution, offering more than 230 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degree programs. For more information about Auburn University, please visit www.auburn.edu.
About the BDPA IT Institute
In 2006, BDPA entered into a partnership with Auburn University to provide an Academic Chair to the BDPA IT Institute through Juan Gilbert, Ph.D., and to utilize its Office of Distance Learning to deliver the IT Institute certification content. For more information about the BDPA IT Institute, please contact Institute@bdpa.org or visit www.auburn.edu/bdpa.
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Minority high achievers within the field of Information Technology often struggle to move from purely technical roles to the more influential roles of manager, director or vice-president. BDPA strives to position its members and the community at the fore-front of knowledge and techniques which support the development of the skills required to make this transition.
The BDPA IT Institute provides the opportunity for professionals to secure an IT career certification, to gain recognition for past accomplishments and prepare for career-enhancing promotion or leadership opportunities. The initial 14-week course offering in September 2006 will be the mid-level IT Professional Certification requiring a Bachelors Degree, 5 years of IT experience and practical substantiation of skills and experience.
“The BDPA IT Institute is an innovative service for IT Professionals. This service will give IT Professionals the ability to make career changes, brush up on their skills and provide them with the necessary skills for upward mobility in IT. Together with Auburn University, BDPA is providing this service as the next frontier of IT benefits for advancement.” says Juan Gilbert, Ph.D., the Academic Chair of the IT Institute and in the Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering at Auburn University.
The BDPA National President, Gina Billings adds “We are excited to offer the new services of the BDPA IT Institute to the membership. The roll out of the program grants BDPA an opportunity to allow IT professionals a means to validate their skills in a structured certification program geared to the IT industry. Although the program is not only offered to the membership, it provides valuable benefits to support member development."
The BDPA IT Institute is being supported by some of the best corporations in the IT Industry. The sponsors include Merck and Company, whose CIO, Chris Scalet serves on the Institute Advisory Board, JP Morgan Chase, Eli Lilly and Company, SunTrust Bank, Gartner Research, Hewitt Associates, Limited Brands, Avue Technologies, Strategic Staffing Solutions, Ajilon Consulting, Digital Rhythm Interactive, EMC Corporation, and UBS Investment Bank.
Contact: Betty Hutchins
Vice President, Member Services
(800) 727-BDPA
vpms@bdpa.org
http://www.bdpa.org
Betty Hutchins, Vice President of Member Services for BDPA said “The Launch of the IT Institute this fall is a tremendous milestone for BDPA and all of its stakeholders. We are excited by the academic support that we have received from Auburn University with Dr. Gilbert as Academic Chair and the Distance Learning facility supporting the online coursework and we are extremely honored to have Will Bundy, Ph.D., serve as the professor of the IT Professional course this fall. This is truly a great program and in the very capable hands of LaTonya Thomas, MAEd, as IT Director.”
About National BDPA
Founded in 1975 by Earl Pace and the late David Wimberly, BDPA is a global member focused organization that serves the professional well-being of its stakeholders. BDPA remains committed to excellence in delivering expertise by providing a wide spectrum of resources to its members, corporate sponsors, businesses, educational institutions and the community. The organization is a catalyst for professional growth and technical development for those in the IT industry. With 54 chapters across the United States, BDPA is the premier organization for African Americans in technology. The BDPA national headquarters is located in Greenbelt, Maryland. For more information about BDPA, call 1-800-727-BDPA or visit www.bdpa.org.
About Auburn University
Auburn University is a preeminent land-grant and comprehensive research institution with more than 23,000 students and 6,500 faculty and staff. Ranked among the top 50 public universities nationally, Auburn is Alabama’s largest educational institution, offering more than 230 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degree programs. For more information about Auburn University, please visit www.auburn.edu.
About the BDPA IT Institute
In 2006, BDPA entered into a partnership with Auburn University to provide an Academic Chair to the BDPA IT Institute through Juan Gilbert, Ph.D., and to utilize its Office of Distance Learning to deliver the IT Institute certification content. For more information about the BDPA IT Institute, please contact Institute@bdpa.org or visit www.auburn.edu/bdpa.
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Contact
National BDPA
Betty Hutchins
301-220-2180
bdpa.org
Betty Hutchins
301-220-2180
bdpa.org
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