University of Pittsburgh Launches Pitt Learning Solutions, Offering Certificate Programs to Educate Today's Workforce

According to a national survey of small and medium-size firms by the Arthur Anderson consulting firm, finding and retaining qualified workers is the biggest challenge to those companies' growth and survival. Pitt Learning Solutions, a new initiative announced today by the University of Pittsburgh's College of General Studies (CGS), is a targeted response to that challenge.

Pitt Learning Solutions is a coordinated response by the University of Pittsburgh to the continuing professional education needs of industries, organizations, and individuals in southwestern Pennsylvania. This continuing professional education, representing both credit and noncredit programs, focuses on the learning needs of employees within the five growth industry sectors in the region: health care, manufacturing, information technology, financial services, and hospitality and tourism. The programs are being developed in response to demonstrated market needs, and will be offered at Pitt, on site at area companies, and, when appropriate, on-line. Pitt Learning Solutions offers a single point of entry for those seeking nondegree certificate programs, an important and increasingly popular alternative to degree programs.

"Until now, we have largely focused our attention on serving the needs of degree students," said CGS Dean Susan R. Kinsey. "With the launch of Pitt Learning Solutions, we are expanding our reach to include the nondegree continuing education needs of working people. Today's skilled workers and professionals must continue to update and retool their skills and knowledge, not every few years as before, but almost constantly. CGS is in the forefront with programs to meet this need," she added.

During the Spring 2001 semester, certificate programs will be available in Information Systems Design (undergraduate credit) and Accounting (postbaccalaureate credit); noncredit programs will be offered in Webmaster/Web Author, Webmaster/Web Developer, E-Commerce Management, Business Software, and Database Development.

Certificate programs in development for Fall 2002 are Health Services Program and Project Management, Geographic Information Systems, Engineering Management, and Corporate Communications. For more information on Pitt Learning Solutions, call

1-866/PITT-LRN or 412/552-7488 or visit www.learningsolutions.pitt.edu.