CIW Program News
Florida and VCampus Form Strategic CIW Alliance - September 24, 2007
Agreement Validates Florida's Web Education Standards, Sets Stage for CIW College Credit Program
The Florida Department of Education and VCampus Corporation (OTCBB: VCMP.OB), owner of the CIW industry-standard Internet-technologies certification program, today announced a strategic alliance.
The agreement recognizes that Florida's Web education objectives meet CIW standards for innovative Web technology education. It also recognizes that the CIW curricula, including CIW Foundations and CIW Site Designer courseware, are fully aligned with Florida's Web technology curriculum objectives, and that passing CIW exams provides industry-recognized proof of the professional-level knowledge of Web technologies required by Florida employers. Educators at Florida's 600 high schools, 28 community colleges and 48 technical centers will now have access to faculty training and development, high-quality curricula, and online instructional resources and support. Instructors will also be able to use the cutting-edge Web-based CIW testing portal to deliver proctored exams in the classroom. Nearly 40,000 students statewide are now eligible to prove they have the Web design and development skills that the industry requires.
James Stanger, Ph.D., Chief Certification Architect for VCampus, is encouraged by Florida's progressive approach to vocational education in its schools. "We are honored and privileged to enter into this relationship with the state of Florida. Our goal in Florida is to provide a Web technology education program that truly impacts students' lives by preparing them for high-wage, high-demand Web design and development jobs. Florida fully understands that this goal requires buy-in at the highest level, quality curricula and instruction, and innovative assessment and testing, all backed with a diploma and an industry-standard certification. The true beneficiaries of this alliance are Florida's students."
Bonnie Marmor, Vice Chancellor for Workforce Education, said that Florida adopted CIW owing to increased demand for high-quality Web education. "The industry is clamoring for creative Web designers and developers. I want Florida's vocational programs to position our students for that demand. Our goal is to ensure that our students are certified and qualified to walk right into quality Web careers. With CIW, I see a rare opportunity to connect students directly to the Web technologies that the industry requires." Marmor added, "We've also had schools call and ask us to work with CIW. There's demand on all sides. I'm looking forward to seeing CIW continue to work in Florida."
April Branscome, a teacher at Niceville High School’s CHOICE IT Institute in Niceville, Florida, has found CIW to be a central element in her school's technology curriculum. "It's thrilling to see how our school has been able to change lives through various programs, especially CIW. I'm gratified that the Florida Department of Education formally recognizes the value of CIW. I'm sure other educators will immediately recognize CIW's value for teaching Web technologies and CIW’s benefits for their students."
Duane Hume, State Supervisor of IT/Technology Education, finds the alliance both fascinating and exciting. "VCampus has brought CIW to the table with two essential elements: truly unique offerings and proven success working with other states. I especially value VCampus’s flexibility and ability to recognize the opportunities available in Florida as the face of career and technical education continues to evolve. Stay tuned," he said. "This relationship has real promise."
With this alliance, the CIW program has earned a total of 14 statewide adoptions of its job-role standards and testing technologies. This agreement also opens the door for additional future relationships between VCampus and the state of Florida, including articulation agreements that allow students to earn college credit by passing CIW exams and earning CIW certifications.