Who

Any student is eligible to apply. Interested workers seeking retraining and high school students with interest in information technology can gain valuable, world-class training in the technology field.

Why

The IBM Academy will train students to fill jobs that, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, are getting harder to fill. By 2006, it predicts the U.S. will need 1.5 million more information technology (IT) professionals. This means, educational institutions will have to quadruple their number of graduates by 2008 to meet the demand.

What/Curriculum/Certification

The Kansas Institute for Technical Excellence is seeking 50-75 students to begin the IBM ACE program. The program will begin when a strong group of students has been identified – most likely late fall or early 2006. The program will not follow a traditional 16-week academic schedule.

The curriculum covers technology and business, specifically e-business areas. The materials are covered in four different modules (several courses create 1 module) and include such areas as:

• Operating Systems
• Programming
• Internet Applications, programming and languages
• Networking
• Server Management
• Security

As KITE's IT Center of Excellence, Butler will rollout modules 1 and 2 the first year. Students completing modules 1 and 2 are then eligible to test through IBM. Those students successfully completing this assessment are then eligible to continue the second year with modules 3 and 4. Following successful completion of modules 3 and 4, students are then eligible for a final IBM assessment/test. Successful completion of this test then qualifies the student to receive the IBM Advanced Career Education e-Business Application Developer Certificate from IBM. This certificate provides the successful student with international recognition and understanding of their IT skills and competencies, including Europe and China . In addition, this training positions students for additional industry certifications such as CIW (Certified Internet Webmaster), Associate, Sun Java Programmer, and some IBM product certifications.

The 4 modules include approximately 44 credit hours and 700-800 hours of instruction. The total program will take about two years to complete the IT training. Those students wishing to earn an associate's degree can do so by adding general education courses to their IBM ACE program track.

Where/Location

Modules 1 and 2 will be taught at Butler 's location on 715 E. 13 th in Andover . In the second year, modules 1 and 2 will be expanded to the other KITE partners of Cowley College , Hutchinson Community College and Wichita Area Technical College . At the same time, modules 3 and 4 will also be rolled out and will eventually include all students from modules 1 and 2 as one group.

When

The first group of 50-75 students, once identified, will begin classes in late Fall or early in 2006.

Estimated Cost

The estimated cost of the IBM ACE program is about $6500 per student. This includes the IT portion. General education credits to earn an associate degree are not included in this cost Scholarships are available.

Scholarship Opportunities

Engenio Information Technologies announced June 28 , 2005 the first corporate scholarship for the IT program in the amount of $6500 to be awarded beginning January 2006.

Contact

For more information about the program contact Tom Erwin, Butler 's Chief Information Officer and IBM ACE Project Manager, at 316.322.3133 or 733.3133 toll-free from the Wichita/metro area, terwin@butlercc.edu

Back to Top