SPRING 1999

In this issue   Fire Service Institute helps rural areas find water supplies for firefighting   Child Care That Works lives up to its name   Commercials win award   Extension, community colleges take on Y2K   Study builds bridges between business, environment   Certificate program designed to fit John Deere   Volunteers key to Citizens Advisory Council   1999 Iowa 4-H Youth Conference   Did you know Extension did that?   Farm economy: Take positive approach to find solutions __________ The Extension Connection Spring 1999 homepage

Certificate program designed to fit John Deere The Information Systems Certificate program, a first-time offering by Iowa State University's Extended and Continuing Education (ECE) program, took off in January and will continue for the next year. Classes are on-site at John Deere Des Moines Works in Ankeny. Creators say the learning is taking place both in the John Deere Des Moines Works classroom and among planning groups at ISU. This pilot project is the first time ECE has co-designed an offering with a specific firm - then massaged and redesigned it - to meet educational needs within that company. The company provides the class space and necessary computers; ISU brings in the College of Business faculty members and course materials. "Originally, the project was designed for Deere's existing systems staff members who were trained in mainframe computers," said Jim Lewis, infrastructure analyst with the company. "We worked with ISU people to adjust offerings to fit needs of other employees, those who are trying to upgrade their skills so when they build programs for their own departments, they do it the correct way. A lot of these people haven't had a lot of systems training." ISU's Information Systems Certificate program is offered on-site at John Deere Des Moines Works in Ankeny Fourteen John Deere Des Moines Works employees are enrolled in the class; three, including Lewis, are systems people. While planning all along included that students would receive certificates for completing the course, Lewis said the program was reworked to allow options of receiving undergraduate academic credit as well as applying for elective credits towards a master's degree. He is one seeking academic credit. The entire pilot project has been "really revealing," according to Lois Hunt, ECE interim director. She said it has allowed her unit to work closely with one industry and ISU faculty to tailor curricula for a specific group of employees. "Any time the university enters a new arena, it learns about itself. We had to show responsiveness and look at packaging knowledge in ways it could best be used and learned by others," said Hunt. Does the Information Systems Certificate program signal increased effort in the future to provide tailor-made coursework to other industries in the state? "We want to be sure this works to everyone's satisfaction, then we'll see," said Hunt. But it is a concept she thinks has merit both for ISU and for Iowa companies.