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Master users; iQcenter gets computer students prepared for modern workforce
By Billy Gun—Alexandria Daily Town Talk Columnist
Central Louisiana education officials have opened a center crafted to certify computer users for workforce life after high school.
Backers say the iQcenter will help students on the verge of leaving high school get better jobs.
The iQcenter was formed under a partnership between Louisiana Technical College-Alexandria Campus and the Rapides Parish School District.
About 40 people on Friday attended the iQcenter's opening at LTC on MacArthur Drive, where the classes will be taught starting soon.
The Microsoft Office User Specialist (MOUS) certification program recognizes students who have gained a mastery of Microsoft office products and grades how well students do on the programs.
Students will be taught by 15 trained business education teachers, who themselves were MOUS certified by retired business educators.
Caolyn Pacanty, supervisor of Career and Technical Education for the Rapides School District, said the certification program was designed on industry-based needs.
"We want our students to have a portable credential," she said.
The program took six months from planning to opening, where some attendees sat at tables lined with 20 computers that students will use.
Already, Pecanty said, four students from Alexandria Senior High School and three from Pineville High School have been certified.
Certification means that program graduates "have achieved a certain level of mastery" of Microsoft Office, which "provides a framework for measuring end-user" expertise that employers are looking for, according to the course curriculum.
Billy May, president of the Central Louisiana Chamber of Commerce, said business has a vested interest.
"Our mission is to further the 'business' focus of the iQcenter," he said.
Also involved is the Rapides Parish Workforce Investment Board.
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