This project is supported in part by funds from
the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Link-to-Learn Project
for Information Technology Workforce Development (I-Grad)
The primary objectives of this proposal are to (1) develop a new course in system administration and laboratory supplements for an existing course in networking, and (2) renovate and equip an existing classroom as a lab facility for the use of system administration and networking classes. Our goal is provide IT students at UPG with the hands-on IT training that will make them eligible for valuable internship experiences and more attractive to employers as they seek their first professional jobs. The goal and objectives in this proposal are part of a larger effort at UPG to enhance the IT education of our Management students by offering a Management Information Systems (MIS) concentration.
As part of this project, the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg has developed partnerships with the information systems departments at Elliott Turbomachinery Company, Timken-Latrobe Steel Company, and Westmoreland County to consult with us in the development of the proposed courses and labs, to offer expanded internship opportunities for our students, and to participate with us in the evaluation of the new classes and labs and the performance of our students as interns. The chief advantage of these partnerships is the ability to more closely align our curriculum and the preparation of our students with the needs of potential providers of internships for our students and prospective employers of our graduates.
The objectives for this project were determined through a process that included a review of curriculum and course offerings. Business input was obtained from our partners at Elliott Company, Timken-Latrobe Steel and Westmoreland County. Other input was obtained from our past and present students regarding the skills they have found to be important in locating good internships and jobs.
The new courses and activities in the laboratory sessions will benefit approximately 100 undergraduate IT students who will take the system administration and networking classes as either required or elective courses. We will consider our activities successful when (1) the new courses have been developed and the renovations for the lab have been completed, (2) more of our students participate in internship programs and (3) our graduates and their employers report satisfaction with the performance of interns and preparation of students in our IT programs.