October 29, 2008
For Immediate Release

RCCC's Web Technologies Program Reaches Milestones

          SALISBURY, N.C. — The Web Technologies Program at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College reached two milestones recently as a student and faculty member earned prestigious certifications.

           Barbara Collins of Concord recently became the first RCCC student to earn Certified Internet Webmaster (CIW) Associate certification. Scott Nason, Ed.D., RCCC web technologies program head, has earned the CIW Associate Design Specialist and CIW Master Designer certifications.

           Collins and Nason's certifications have come quickly since RCCC became a CIW Approved Academic Partner last January. CIW is recognized as the standard Internet certification by academic institutions, corporations, commercial learning centers, industry associations and media.

           CIW is the world's largest and fastest-growing Internet certification program, with more than 115,000 CIW certifications earned in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and China. CIW focuses on skills for particular job roles and prepares students to complete the tasks associated with these roles. Multiple technologies and open-source code like XHTML and CSS are covered in detail without promoting any specific software or program over another.

           CIW's real-world skills objectives are constantly reviewed and updated to improve personal productivity and efficiency in a global business environment. These in-demand objectives emphasize the latest Internet-related software, applications, security issues, networking and soft skills like project planning. CIW enables students to combine these skills to meet employer needs.

          RCCC is one of a small number of North Carolina community colleges that have incorporated CIW coursework, exams and certifications into their web technologies programs. RCCC offers associate-degree and diploma programs and certifications built around CIW.

           "Every organization today realizes the importance of integrating traditional business principles with one of the most useful and widely applicable business tools, the Internet," Nason explained. "By becoming CIW-certified professionals, RCCC students can provide proof to current or potential employers they have the key job skills the employer needs, such as web development, project management, e-commerce, security management and more."

           For more information about RCCC's Web Technologies Program, contact Nason at 704-216-3784, or nasons@rowancabarrus.edu.

           Rowan-Cabarrus Community College is a comprehensive, community-based institution of higher learning, serving the citizens of Rowan and Cabarrus Counties. RCCC offers approximately 40 programs of study in business, health and human services and engineering technologies at multiple campus locations. RCCC annually provides more than 2,000 course offerings, serving an enrollment of approximately 20,000 adult students. RCCC programs include an associate degree in arts and sciences, an associate degree in applied science, and diploma and certificate programs focusing on workforce training, continuing education and basic skills education.

           In addition, RCCC provides the education and job-training programs needed to meet many of the workforce demands of the North Carolina Research Campus, under construction in Kannapolis, N.C.

           For complete details, see the RCCC website at www.rowancabarrus.edu.