Alliance Seeks to Develop IT Faculty Development

  • 09/01/02

Corporate and educational leaders have formed an alliance to develop a nationwide plan for community and technical college faculty development in the field of information technology. The alliance includes Microsoft Corp., the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) and Bellevue Community College's National Workforce Center for Emerging Technologies (NWCET).

Microsoft, AACC and NWCET recently established the Working Connections IT Faculty Development Institute to implement the national training plan. According to a press release, Microsoft infused the partnership with a $1.3 million software commitment. The new institute is based on a successful training model used in Washington state. As part of the institute's first phase, alliance members expect to expand the model to Texas this year and eight more states next year. When fully implemented, the alliance expects about 15,000 IT instructors at 1,100 community colleges will benefit from the institute. American Association of Community Colleges, Washington, D.C., (202) 728-0200, www.aacc.nche.edu.

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