IT Institute holds first certificate ceremony

Butler Community College’s IT Institute held a Certificate of Completion ceremony last week for students earning a certificate in the Internetworking Management/Cyber Security Program. The ceremony, attended by college officials, students and family members is expected to be the first of many for Butler’s recently formed IT Institute.

The IT Institute was formed in 2014 from a $2.7 million grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration and is funded 100 percent through the U.S. Department of Labor’s Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training program (TAACCCT). The Institute’s mission is to provide opportunities for Technical Trade Assistance (TAA)-eligible displaced workers and veterans to earn industry-recognized skills and to re-enter the workforce with certificates of completion and industry credentials.

TAA-eligible programs currently available through Butler’s IT Institute in Andover include: Database Administration, Digital Media, Interactive & 3D Technology, Software Development, Windows Administration, and Internetworking Management/Cyber Security.
“When we initially started the Institute we offered six degrees and four certifications,” said Dr. Anna Catterson, Butler’s IT Institute director. “We now have 24 options for students within these areas and we’re working closely with the area businesses to make sure we’re providing the industry-needed credentials they require.”

Catterson added, the Institute offers courses through flexible delivery methods, i.e. online, face-to-face, and hybrid. Through the grant, the IT Institute hopes to have more than 400 participants by 2016.

“We have half that number currently taking classes right now, so we are well on our way,” Catterson said. “We had a total of 28 completers for the Fall semester, which exceeds our goal. We have more than 100 on track for completion in the spring.”

The certificate ceremony was held Dec. 4 at Butler of Andover’s 5000 Building and featured certificate completers from Butler, Sedgwick and Sumner counties. Students completing their certificate in Internetworking Management / Cyber Security program included: Darcy Fowler and Tyler Kline of El Dorado; Daniel Miller of Haysville; Douglas Robertson and Alex Temple of Mulvane; Alex Scannapieco of Bel Aire; and William Ballinger, Bryan Barr, Nick Beeman, Connor Brewer, Taylor Campbell, Tyler Cannon, Fred Cannon, Marcus Clough, Nathan Davis, Eric Dilling, Donald Dunnavant, Sean Galbraith, Jeremy Helton, Julie Leonard, Jared Patterson, Paul Schofield, Dylan Schuckman, Scott Sinclair, Jason Smith, Daren Stephens, Deric Tibbs, and Brandi Washington, all of Wichita.

Another goal of the grant is to increase articulation agreements with area four-year institutions. Butler recently finalized agreements with Newman University’s Information Technology and Management of Information Services degree programs, as well as with Bethany College’s Mindfire Academy.

Several career pathways have been developed for students to enter a certificate program, successfully earn an industry credential, and then enter the workforce. For more information on Butler’s IT Institute, visit www.butlercc.edu/IT-Institute or contact Catterson at 316.218.6213 or email acatterson@butlercc.edu.