Computer Training For Mature Adults
Corrections or additions?
These articles were published in U.S. 1 Newspaper on July 14,
1999. All rights reserved.
Back to School, Yes
Tread carefully on the continuing education path,
because what seems like an obvious bargain may prove expensive in
aggravation, and vice versa. For instance, both Rutgers and Mercer
County College offer the nationally known leadership certificate for
managers, supervisors, and potential leaders. It includes such workshops
as coaching, influencing for win-win outcomes, proactive listening,
and expressing yourself. Rutgers refers to it as Leadership 2000 and
Mercer’s program uses the full title, Zenger-Miller Leadership 2000.
Though not subsidized by government funds, as are the 15-week courses,
Mercer’s modules cost half as much as Rutgers. It offers the course
only on Thursday nights. Taking six workshops earns a Mercer certificate
worth three credits at a cost of $425 or about $70 per module; call
Nunzio Cernero at 609-587-1461 (E-mail: ctd@mccc.edu
Rutgers does not use the Zenger-Miller name and schedules the workshops
on Fridays during the day. This program includes six modules that
Mercer has, plus four more. The 10-module series starts Friday, October
1, with one module in the morning and another in the afternoon. Cost:
$150 per half-day module or $1,000 for 10 to earn the certificate.
Call the Center for Continuing Professional Development (CCPD) at
the University Inn and Conference Center on Ryders Lane, 732-932-8274
or E-mail: univinn@rci.rutgers.edu.
Which to choose? You could let your schedule decide. But don’t settle
for the first certificate or course you encounter. The best one for
you may be where you least expect it. What follows is not an exhaustive
list, but it indicates just how many choices are available.
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DeVry’s Bachelors
08902. Bob Bocchino, president. 732-435-4880; fax, 732-435-4856. Home
page: http://www.nj.devry.edu.
DeVry Institute, a for-profit academic institution with campuses throughout
the U.S. and Canada, offers night and weekend courses in its associate-degree
programs: business administration, computer information systems, electronics
technician, and telecommunications management.
More important, perhaps, to some prospective students, the New Jersey
campus just received approval for a bachelors degree program in electronics
engineering technology. See separate story in Life in the Fast Lane,
beginning on page 44.
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MCCC: Medical
Office Certificate
Road, Box B, Trenton 08690. Thomas D. Sepe, president. 609-586-4800;
fax, 609-587-4666. Home page: http://www.mccc.edu.
In cooperation with the Medical Society of New Jersey, MCCC is offering
a certificate in medical practice management for the first time this
fall. It is intended for those who manage a medical office as well
as for those who want to become managers. "Some of these managers
started out as secretaries and nurses and have seen their offices
grow to become multimillion dollar businesses," says Rose Nini,
dean of corporate and community programs. "Now it is so complex
that they need the skills of a CEO."
The certificate requires four courses: computers and medical technology,
management issues and strategies, financial tools for office management,
and the medical environment. They have been scheduled for what used
to be known as the physician’s golf day: Wednesdays. They start September
15, 3 to 9:30 p.m. Cost: $360 for 24 classroom hours.
The instructors include John LaCarruba, Julie Lynch
the Medical Society of New Jersey, and Rosalie Fox, whom many
will remember as the former manager of Princeton Medical Group at
419 North Harrison Street.
If your goal is to be a medical office assistant, you can take courses
toward a certificate either parttime or full-time. For parttime, call
609-586-0505. For a full-time one-year program, starting in late August,
call Virginia Clevenger at Mercer County Technical Schools at
609-587-7640.
Last year MCCC partnered with Covance to launch a certificate program
in clinical research and drug development for those with four-year
degrees in nursing, chemistry, pharmacy, or related areas. "It
is going extraordinarily well, and we will start a new cycle this
fall," says Nini. The certificate requires four 10-session courses:
Foundation of Clinical Research and Drug Development, Data Management
Information Sciences, Auditing and Monitoring, and Site Management.
Each course is given on alternate weekends: Friday night and all day
Saturday. Cost: $900. For more information, call Nini at 609-890-9624
or E-mail: nini@mccc.edu.
New credit offerings include an additions counseling certificate program,
an associate degree in the fine arts, and an associate degree in applied
science in network engineering technology. First-year students can
apply for dual admission for easy transfer to such four-year colleges
as Rutgers, College of New Jersey, Rider, and NJIT. Fall classes start
August 30; call 609-586-4800, extension 3564 or register online at
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NJIT: Distance
Learning
Luther King Boulevard, Newark 07102. Saul Fenster, president. 973-596-3433;
Home page:http://www.njit.edu.
Yahoo! called it America’s "most wired public university."
The New Jersey Institute of Technology has a substantial distance-learning
program that helps facilitate its continuing professional education
program. Electronic classrooms make it easy for the business professional
to get training anytime, anywhere, and night and weekend classes at
"extension" campuses in several counties make it easy to get
real classroom experience as well.
An MBA in Management of Technology and Masters in Public Health are
the latest additions to the school’s graduate curriculum, and both
are available this fall on campuses at Raritan Valley Community College
or Bergen Community College.
Graduate certificates, either as stand-alone credentials or a springboard
to MS degrees, are also an option for those who have day jobs. The
one-year, 12 credit, program is offered in the following categories:
Environmental Infrastructure and Management, Health Care Information
Systems, Information Systems Design and Development, Internet Application
Development, Managing Human Resources, Practice of Technical Communications,
Project Management, Telecommunications Networking, Programming Environment
Tools, Object-Oriented Design. The school just added Computer Networking
and Electronic Media Design to that list.
You need an undergraduate degree to qualify. Courses begin each semester,
and typically involve two 3-hour classes per week. If you choose to
go on to the full Master’s program, your 12 credits will transfer,
but you have to follow the normal procedure for entering as a matriculated
student. You can apply online at http://www.njit.edu, E-Mail:
The school also offers a Webmaster Certificate, a three-part, 90-hour
program that teaches authoring, development and management of websites.
Cost: $2,495. E-Mail: cpe@njit.edu
Non-credit refresher or training courses in everything from computer
science to hazardous materials are also available, but some cost as
much as $2,000 — a large investment for no credit.
Certificate programs are offered in both the electronic classroom,
and at NJIT’s University Heights campus or at off-campus extension
locations in Atlantic, Bergen, Burlington, Mercer, Morris and Somerset
counties.
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Princeton University:
Engineering Masters
Science, Olden Street, Princeton 08544. Stuart Schwartz, director
of master’s engineering program. 609-258-2890. E-mail: meng@princeton.edu.
Until a year ago this Ivy League school never would
have made the pages of U.S. 1’s continuing education survey. Now the
Master of Engineering program is designed for engineers for advanced
training in applied technology — for manufacture, design, and
prototype. The hope is that entrepreneurial engineers will get their
degrees here and start a business in Central Jersey rather than take
it elsewhere. They will also learn how to analyze their options as
their companies grow.
A candidate can specialize in any of the five engineering departments
— electrical, computer science, chemical, mechanical and aerospace,
and civil engineering and operations research — taking six technical
courses in that discipline, with two non-technical courses. Within
departments, more topical curricula can be structured for financial
engineering, telecommunications and information networks, structural
engineering, and photonics.
Seven people graduated from the first edition of this program in June.
But for the privilege of taking just two courses per semester, their
employers must pay full tuition — $25,500 — each year. For
those not subsidized, stipends may be available.
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Rider: Liberal Arts BA
Road, Lawrenceville 08648. John Carpenter, dean. 609-896-5033; fax,
609-896-8029. Home page: http://www.rider.edu. Cost: $270
per credit, plus $10 per course tech fee and initial $35 application.
If you already have some credits, enroll in Rider’s continuing studies
program to finish your associate’s and bachelor’s degree. "We
develop ways to put courses together in a way that is appropriate
for adult students," says John Carpenter, dean of this division.
"We emphasize face to face classroom instruction."
About 1,000 students enroll each semester in the School for Continuing
Studies, and 200 of them are enrolled in the bachelor of arts in liberal
studies program, available only through this school. Instead of a
traditional major, a student can focus on related disciplines, such
as management plus sociology and psychology. "It provides a way
for us to relate what adults have learned in their lives and the interests
they have developed," says Carpenter.
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Rutgers
Twenty-nine different academic units at Rutgers offer
undergraduate and postgraduate professional development courses. Some
are in Newark and Camden, but most are on one of the New Brunswick
campuses. Just to peruse the list will give you some ideas about courses
you might like to take (http://ce1766.rutgers.edu).
(732-445-1169), School of Business (732-445-3600), School of Management
and Labor Relations (732-445-5995), English as a Second Language/American
Language Studies (732-445-7422), and School of Social Work (732-445-3173,
extension 11).
campus.
(732-445-4850), Center for Applied Psychology (732-445-7795, extension
11), Center of Alcohol Studies (732-445-4317), and College of Pharmacy
(732-445-2664).
and Employment Relations (732-932-1749), Cooperative Extension (732-932-9306),
and Cook College (732-932-9271).
Center for Government Services (732-932-3640), Graduate School of
Education (732-932-7496, extension 205), and School of Communications,
Information, and Library Studies (732-445-7169).
"The CCPD creates courses that fill needs in niche areas, such
as small business, technology, insurance and banking, that are not
being addressed by other continuing education programs within the
university," says Richard J. Novak , CCPD director. In addition
to Leadership 2000 (see above), CCPD has two-day courses in process
mapping or process value analysis (each $995), facilitating meetings
($575), and team leadership (two days for $500). Call CCPD at 732-932-8274,
E-mail: ccpd@rci.rutgers.edu or visit the CCPD website
at http://www.univinn.rutgers.edu.
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Rutgers:
E-Commerce MBA
11 Washington Street, Newark 07102-1895. Howard Tuckman, dean. 973-353-5177;
fax, 973-353-1345. Home page: http://business.rutgers.edu. Cost:
$388.80 per credit plus some fees.
The latest options at the Rutgers Graduate School of Management are
MBAs with concentrations in E-commerce and Arts Management. The concentration
in E-commerce requires course work in Internet technology, and electronic
commerce and marketing. A new course will be offered next fall in
the development of a virtual business. The 12-credit arts management
concentration, the first of its kind in the state, is for persons
interested in a management career in the not-for-profit sector of
the performing and fine arts.
Other MBA concentrations include computers and information systems,
entrepreneurial management, finance, human resources management, international
business, marketing, professional accounting, and strategic management.
Call 973-353-5656.
Students can take courses here for two semesters without matriculating.
Classes start September 1; register in early August. Most courses
are given in both New Brunswick and Newark.
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Stevens Institute:
E-Business BS
Hudson, Hoboken 07030. Linda Habermann, off-campus programs administrator.
201-216-5622; fax, 201-216-8044. Home page: http://attila.stevens-tech.edu/gradschool/ext.99f.html.
Cost: $695 per credit or $1,738 per 2.5 credit course, plus fees of
$125.
A bachelor of science degree in E-Business focuses on the integration
of technology and business and exposes students to a broad array of
real-life and work experiences. The institute also offers other off-campus
graduate programs at such locations as Rider University and Brookdale
Community College. Lucent Technologies, AT&T, and other firms offer
Stevens courses only to their employees. Call 201-216-5234.
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Thomas Edison:
Online MSM
Trenton 08608-1176. George A. Pruitt, president. 609-984-1100; fax,
609-984-1193. Home page: http://www.tesc.edu.
Designed for working adults with professional experience in management,
a three-year-old Master of Science in Management program is conducted
almost entirely in distance learning mode. The 36-credit program aims
to build skills — analytical, problem solving, and decision making
— and apply them to actual situations.
Almost all of the course is conducted online, through E-mail and discussions
which students can join any time of the day or night, but it does
require students to come to the campus twice, to meet their cohorts
and attend workshops on the first weekend, and to present their research
projects on the second weekend. Applicants do not need to take admissions
tests, and they may transfer up to six semester hours toward the degree.
A group of managers from AT&T started the "beta test" for
this degree in 1996; a new class starts every four months. For information
call 888-442-8372.
Thomas Edison State College also has 12 two-year and four-year degrees
for adult students in 120 areas of study.
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Out of State
For convenience or sub-specialties, broaden your search
to New York and Pennsylvania. New this year: LaSalle University is
launching a degree in organizational dynamics with classes offered
only in the evenings and on weekends at its Silver Lake Executive
Campus in Newtown. Call 215-951-1500.
Among the multitudinous programs for those who trek to New York is
New York University’s master of science in direct marketing communications
(212-790-3221), or its a certificate in sports, entertainment, and
events marketing (212-790-3212).
Meanwhile NYU’s Sloan School of Business (212-998-0270 or E-mail:
exec-dev@stern.nyu.edu) lures executives away from their desks
with three-day and two-week intensive programs, taught by celebrity
professors, on such topics as competition and innovation. Some few
among us can teach ourselves how to be competitive and how to innovate,
but the rest of us can use a little help.
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Internet Skills
Accreditation
The Association of Internet Professionals (http://www.aip.org),
an international networking and advocacy group, is trying to build
industry standards and add-value to Internet-related professions by
establishing its own accrediting standards. Take any of the skill-level
tests issued by Novell, Microsoft, Penn State University, ProsoftTraining.com,
HyCurve, or Sysoft, and AIP will certify and rank you within its three-tier
system. It may not be an academic institution per se, but with 8,500
individual and 126 corporate members throughout the world, it is quickly
becoming a powerful networking group. It is also the only organization
offering accreditation.
Annual dues of $90 per person or $1,000 to $10,000 for a company qualify
members for these perks: a personal health plan designed for freelancers,
small-business owners, and independent contractors; discounts on computer
software and other services; and access to the organization’s "Compensation
and Benefits Report," a detailed breakdown of salaries, benefits,
and other compensation within the Internet industry. The survey costs
$400 for members, and $500 for non-members. It is for sale at http://store.association.org.
The Princeton area chapter of AIP meets at Sarnoff Corporation twice
a month for a networking meeting. Their website is http://www.princeton.us.association.org.
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Training for Those
With Disabilities
Ten people with disabilities have successfully completed
a free computer training program, and their future employers may be
able to get funding for purchasing adaptive software.
Pass It On is designed to "challenge conventional thinking by
developing new job opportunities for people with disabilities,"
says Robert Stack, president and CEO of Community Options, who
will speak at graduation ceremonies on Thursday, July 15, at 4:30
p.m. at NJIT’s Mount Laurel campus. The program was co-sponsored by
Farber Road-based Community Options Inc., Microsoft, the New Jersey
Institute of Technology, and the New Jersey Technology Council.
The graduates — with disabilities that range from problems with
vision and dyslexia to cerebral palsy — completed 18 weeks of
free full-time study of computer fundamentals, local area networks
and Internet environments, relational databases, and C++ programming.
They are eligible to take information technology jobs worth average
salaries of $30,000. An identical program is operating in Newark,
and similar courses are being taught in Colorado, Texas, and Virginia.
Microsoft has contributed a total of $312,000.
Most students in the program are referred by agencies, but to find
out how to qualify, call Belinda Mangle at Community Options
at 609-298-1981. For information, go to http://www.cybernics/com/njitcp
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Quality NJ Seminars
Quality New Jersey will host a self-assessment seminar
on Tuesday, July 20, at 9 a.m. at the IEEE Operations Center, Piscataway.
This program is for organizations beginning a management program based
on the Governor’s Award for Performance Excellence/Baldrige criteria.
Cost: $300. Call 609-777-0940.
A seven-step process for conducting an organizational quality self-assessment
will be presented. A quality assessment is an evaluation of an organization’s
performance, policies, processes, and practices using criteria that
represent performance excellence. The seminar will be held again on
Wednesday, September 22.
Quality New Jersey will also host a free awareness seminar to introduce
the Governor’s Award for Performance Excellence improvement process
on Wednesday, September 15, at the IEEE offices in Piscataway. For
more information, visit http://www.qnj.org.
Given annually, the Governor’s Award for Performance Excellence is
the highest recognition for quality and performance in New Jersey.
The award process assesses the effectiveness of an organization’s
management system at varying levels of maturity.
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Fort Dix Masters
Earn a masters of science degree in quality systems
management at Fort Dix. The National Graduate School of Quality Management,
based on Cape Cod, offers a 12-month program that can be completed
in two weekends per month, starting in September. Call 800-838-2580
or go to http://www.falmouth.org.
The program is designed for a "cohort group," meaning that
all students start and finish together in the accelerated format.
They take 12 courses and earn 36 credits — all in quality administration.
Cost: $23,000 or $1,880 per course, but virtually all students get
two-thirds to all of their tuition paid by employers.
The school was founded in 1993, and is accredited by the New England
Association of Schools and Colleges.
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Computer Training For Mature Adults
Most temporary agencies test applicants on various software
packages, and some have computer training rooms for brushing up on
your software smarts. But Experience Works! is dedicating a training
room with three terminals just for helping mature adults hone their
computer skills, and they don’t care if you are starting from scratch.
Experience Works!, located at 2137 Route 33 in Lexington Square Commons,
is the staffing agency division for Green Thumb Inc., a national nonprofit
that helps disadvantaged and older adults find jobs.
"We are especially focused on folks who are computer illiterate.
We will help you to learn how to turn it on," says Mike
Toth, project manager. On some afternoons, particularly when rank
beginners are working, he staffs the three-terminal center with an
instructor. At other times, learners can use the CD-ROM "Video
Professor," which has an audio component that talks you through
such packages as Word, Word Perfect, Excel, and an introduction to
the Internet. "Not all people learn best by reading and clicking,"
says Toth. The center will also be a satellite of the state’s One
Stop job finding program.
Another free training program, this one sponsored by International
Software Consulting at 100 Thanet Circle, has had mixed results. Last
year Ananth Raman and his partner, Naru Narayanan
up a computer training center to provide free training for those in
low-wage jobs (U.S. 1, March 3). Revenues of this firm were $18 million
last year and projected for $30 million in the current year, and the
partners wanted to "give back" to the community (http://www.softwareisc.com.)
"Green Thumb and Experience Works read the article in U.S. 1 and
partnered with us," says Anita Giacone, project assistant,
"and we had good cooperation from the Department of Labor."
All the participants had to do was promise to attend and then follow
through. Two full-time professional trainers, plus 12 computers set
up in a 400-square foot room, plus textbooks and all the software
programs were scheduled to cost $200,000 in the first year. Classes
were to be offered during regular work day, evenings, and on Saturdays.
The project started out well. Six courses were given to rave reviews,
and participants in the first four courses lived up to their end of
the commitment bargain. But those in the next two courses did not,
and the firm has, at least temporarily, pulled the plug on its free
offer. "If people are not committed to it, we were not going to
fight to continue it," says Giacone. "And we can use our training
room for other things."
Just as ISC’s free offer came with a commitment obligation, so does
the free training at Experience Works imply a minimal promise. To
sign up to practice on these computers, you must be looking for a
job and planning to let this nonprofit agency help you. Call Toth
at 609-689-0298; fax, 609-689-1738.
— Barbara Fox
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— the web site for U.S. 1 Newspaper in Princeton, New Jersey.
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