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For Immediate Release
IT TAKES TECHNOLOGY PROFICIENCY TO MAKE THE GRADE
Growing number of universities require Microsoft certification to graduate
SALT LAKE CITY (April 29, 2002) - In recognition of the universal use of technology in the workplace, Certiport, Inc., the exclusive administrator of the Microsoft® Office User Specialist (MOUS) program, today announced the adoption of MOUS certification throughout institutions of higher learning in the U.S. Pepperdine University, Texas Christian University, The University of Memphis and East-West University are among dozens of institutions of higher learning leveraging MOUS certification to prepare students for the technology-centered world of work. They recognize Microsoft Office as the leading tool for today's workforce and that businesses want assurance new hires are skilled in using these tools. All four of these universities now require MOUS certification as part of their graduation requirements.
These universities collectively state that a unified standard of computer software proficiency:
- simplifies the teaching process
- enables professors to demand more of their students in classroom assignments
- boosts student confidence and lowers student anxieties about using basic software applications
- signals to employers that school graduates will come equipped with the computer skills needed to be immediately effective at work versus requiring expensive on-the-job training
"Part of a university's role is to help prepare students for the challenges they'll meet in the digital workplace," said Randy Pierson, chief executive officer of Certiport. "And, since computer software skills play such an integral role in today's business setting, universities recognize that requiring MOUS certification is one of the best things they can do for their students."
The impetus for requiring MOUS certification first came from business professors who noticed that many students lacked the computer software skills needed to complete general business assignments, such as preparing PowerPoint slides to serve as visual aids to presentations, tracking a company's cash flow using an Excel spreadsheet or producing professional-looking documents using Microsoft Word.
Pepperdine University
The Pepperdine Graziadio School of Business incorporated MOUS certification into its curriculum two years ago, requiring full-time MBA students to pass Word and Excel exams to prove technical aptitude and distinguish the Graziadio Business School from other business programs.
Dr. James Goodrich, associate dean of full-time graduate programs at Pepperdine who was instrumental in the decision to require MOUS certification, says that thanks to training courses, the university boasts a 95 percent exam pass rate and has certified more than 500 full-time MBA students. As its full-time MBA student population expands, the university expects to double the number of MOUS exams it gives.
"The MOUS program ensures that our students are prepared for graduate work and beyond," said Goodrich. "Companies that hire our graduates can be assured our students come prepared with a superior university education and the Microsoft Office skills so valued in today's corporate world."
Texas Christian University (TCU)
TCU, a cutting-edge private university that boasts a student body of 7,600 students from 48 states and more than 70 countries, is now requiring MOUS certification as a pre-requisite for all incoming business majors and as a graduation requirement for all business minors.
"The MOUS pre-requisite allows us to safely assume that students entering upper-level business courses have the skills to use technology to better understand business concepts," said Chuck Williams, associate dean of undergraduate studies at TCU's Neeley School of Business. "By earning MOUS certification, students strengthen their learning experience, their credentials and the University. Admitting students with stronger technical skills means professors can demand more of students in the work they produce and in the skills they use in the classroom."
The University of Memphis
A similar theme is emerging at The University of Memphis, where undergraduate business students must enroll in a Microsoft Office course as part of the core curriculum. The students are required to take a MOUS exam in either Word or Excel. The exam test score is then averaged as a part of their grade for the class.
"By requiring MOUS certification, The University of Memphis aims to increase student knowledge and their level of professionalism, as well as ensure that students have the computer skills they'll need to be successful in both an academic environment and business setting," said Judy Brown, an assistant professor at The University of Memphis, which began its implementation of the MOUS certification requirement in the winter semester of 2002.
East-West University
At East-West University—downtown Chicago's newest liberal arts, business and technical university—Dr. Ekkehard Wilke, dean of program development, said he chose to require MOUS certification because of the immediate benefit to students. "MOUS certification allows the university to combine practical skills and academia to give our students a competitive edge in the job market," said Wilke.
Business World View
Kyle Root, training & certification coordinator for EDS Global Support Services, said he is glad to see these universities require MOUS certification.
"MOUS certification not only benefits students, but is also great for businesses like ours because it ensures graduates will be proficient in some of the most commonly used business computer applications," said Root. "By hiring students who are MOUS certified in computer software applications such as Microsoft Word, Excel or PowerPoint, our company reduces the total costs involved in training new employees by $300 per employee per exam."
Dozens of other U.S. colleges and universities now offer the MOUS certification program as an elective, including Mississippi State University; North Carolina State University; Southern Oregon State University; Washington State University; the University of California Santa Barbara; the University of Colorado; University of Maryland Eastern Shore; and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Certiport is currently working with these and other schools to get MOUS certification included as an admission or graduation requirement.
Universities, colleges or other organizations that are interested in obtaining more information about the MOUS certification program should contact Certiport at 1-888-999-9830 or visit the Certiport home page at www.certiport.com.
About MOUS
The Microsoft® Office User Specialist (MOUS) program is globally recognized as the skill standard for Microsoft's Office suite of business productivity applications, including Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint®, Microsoft Access and Microsoft Outlook® and Microsoft Project. MOUS certification is available at three levels: Core, Expert, and Master. More information on MOUS can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/mous/.
About Certiport
Certiport, Inc. is the leading provider of global, performance-based certification programs and services designed to enable individual success and lifetime advancement through certification. As the exclusive worldwide provider of the Microsoft Office User Specialist (MOUS) program, Certiport is responsible for the development, marketing and administration of certification programs for the Microsoft Office suite of products. For more information about Certiport’s offerings, visit http://www.certiport.com.
Note: Certiport is a registered trademark of Certiport, Inc. in the United States and other countries. The Microsoft Office User Specialist (MOUS) program is a trademark of Microsoft.
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