Mo Cato Director of Academic Training and Compliance Certifications Offered Microsoft Office Specialist Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, and Outlook   Employer Indiana Business College Location Indiana

In his own words: "It means a lot to them that they work for a corporation that is concerned about their professional development and is willing to assist in that development."

Indiana Business College Requires Microsoft Office Specialist Certification of Microsoft Office Instructors
Faculty are given generous financial incentives to earn valuable, proficiency-proving credentials

Indiana Business College (IBC) has proof its instructors have the expertise their students deserve: IBC faculty who teach classes focused on Microsoft� Office products are required to earn Certiport's Microsoft Office Specialist certification. To provide incentives for teachers who meet this goal, the college has implemented a generous compensation program that includes significant bonuses for instructors who pass Office Specialist exams and salary increases for Microsoft Office Specialist Master certification.

BACKGROUND
For over 100 years, IBC has provided its students with the skills they need to attain careers in business, industry and government. On 12 campuses in the state of Indiana, over 200 IBC faculty teach courses required for associate degrees, as well as diploma and certificate programs. Mo Cato, director of academic training and compliance, works with faculty via each campus' director of education to provide the training necessary to ensure faculty are updated, current and qualified.

"Five years ago, we had faculty teaching Microsoft Office Specialist classes based on experience-no certification was necessary," Cato said. "We realized we needed to make sure our instructors are qualified to teach their classes."

To solve this problem, IBC introduced Office Specialist certification, which faculty were encouraged to earn. Over time, structure and deadlines were added to IBC's Office Specialist program, and certification became a job requirement for all faculty teaching Microsoft Office programs.

One faculty member, Anita Miller, was very eager to earn the certifications. "Anyone can say they know how to use Microsoft Office programs," she explained. "I wanted to prove I could. It was a personal achievement for me, an affirmation that I know how to use Microsoft products."

PROCESS
IBC put a program called Faculty Microsoft Office Specialist Certification Procedures in place, which detailed its plan to support faculty certification goals. To participate, faculty need only obtain approval from their director of education and schedule an exam at one of IBC's seven Certiport Centers, authorized testing centers. In addition to paying for the cost of the exam, IBC awards individuals $100 for each exam passed. Instructors who successfully complete Microsoft Word Expert, Excel Expert, PowerPoint®, Access and Outlook® exams qualify for Office Specialist Master certification and a three-percent salary increase.

"The program is fantastic," Miller said. "At most companies, it's hard enough to get your employer to pay for the tests, much less reward you for passing."

Some employees were a bit tentative about the new requirements, but the college provides periodic training at different campuses to support their efforts.

"The tests are difficult and they really measure a broad knowledge of the programs," Miller said. "Even though I had taught these products for years, I still prepared with books and practice tests. You must prepare. It takes some personal time to gain this level of expertise, but the college is compensating you for the stress and time involved. I received a lot of encouragement from my boss at the time."

CERTIFICATION
Miller was the first IBC faculty member to earn certifications. In fact, she earned Microsoft Office Specialist Master Instructor certification within six months of taking her first exam. Master Instructor certification is for individuals who are or aspire to be Microsoft Office teachers or trainers. Recognized for their skills and hands-on abilities to use Microsoft Office programs, Master Instructors are required to earn Expert-level certifications in Microsoft Word and Excel, Specialist-level certification in PowerPoint and either Access or Outlook. In addition, Master Instructors satisfy an instructional experience requirement, which includes having a teaching degree, training degree or certified experience in providing Microsoft Office or other software training.

"I ended up passing all of the Specialist and Expert-level exams," Miller said. "I even earned a perfect score on the Microsoft Excel Expert exam. I am a Master Instructor because I have nine years of training experience."

In total, about 30 IBC faculty members have earned certifications. Six have achieved the Office Specialist Master credential, and two have earned Office Specialist Master Instructor certification. To celebrate faculty achievements, IBC posts Office Specialist certificates in its campus hallways so students know their teachers are certified.

RESULT
"Can other schools prove their instructors know what they're doing? We can! Our students deserve the best," said Miller, who was recently promoted to be the director of education at IBC's Columbus Campus. "Being able to prove teacher competency was the driving force behind implementing the Office Specialist program and has been a great benefit to the college, its faculty and its students," she said.

Cato confirmed that all of the college's instructors teaching Microsoft Office programs are qualified. Because of instructors' certifications, the college benefits from more flexibility when scheduling instructors and courses. In addition, the college's focus on employee certification is often brought up in meetings and is publicized by recognizing employee certifications on their name badges.

"It's also a great recruiting feature," Miller said. "The financial incentives are great. A new faculty member can qualify for a raise even before they're here a year. Teachers bring a lot of experience into the classroom when they are certified."

Bob Madison, assistant director of education and an instructor at IBC's Anderson Campus, said the college's financial recognition of employees who earn certifications is great. As he worked toward earning Office Specialist Master Instructor certification, Madison developed a deep appreciation for Microsoft Office programs. "I can't believe I've used these programs for 10 years and didn't know about some of the awesome functions they had," he said. "Getting certified gave me a phenomenal appreciation for the Microsoft Office suite."

Cato said faculty members often emerge from the certification process having learned something new. "In addition, their attitude improves. They are more knowledgeable and competent," he said. "It means a lot to them that they work for a corporation that is concerned about their professional development and is willing to assist in that development."

When she mentors the faculty she manages, Miller sees employees benefit tremendously from the certification process. "It makes our teachers feel valued," she said. "It means a lot to them. They understand they are offered a monetary reward because they are valued as employees. It is very powerful to know you can give yourself a raise."

Miller said she often uses certification as a development activity during faculty reviews as instructors set specific professional goals.

Overall, IBC students reap the most benefits from having Office Specialist certified instructors. "Our students are getting more in the classroom," Cato explained. "Our faculty is prepared to teach. They have valuable experience, which is a value to our students because their instructors are certified in the things they are learning."

Madison is the only Office Specialist Master Instructor on IBC's Anderson Campus. As such, he is qualified to teach Microsoft Office courses where many instructors are not. "Students come in my office and see my certifications displayed on the wall," Madison said. "They see I'm qualified. They come to me for help. My certifications prove I am a credible instructor."

Shannon DeShong has taken Microsoft Word, Excel and Access courses while working toward a degree in business administration at IBC. DeShong said she has been impressed by her instructors' comprehensive understanding of Microsoft Office products and by their Office Specialist certifications. "Obviously they have to know what they are doing," she said. "They are qualified and authorized by Microsoft to teach these programs."

In the future, Cato plans to expand Office Specialist certification incentives to other employees within IBC. "Other employees are welcome to go through the program, and we should compensate anyone with interest," he said.

For Miller, Office Specialist certification has resulted in many opportunities and benefits she would not have had without it. "It has opened a lot of doors," she said. "The state Certified Public Accountant organization asked me to present at their annual convention. They knew I was certified and used my credentials in their publicity."

In her role as director of education, Miller has used her skills to troubleshoot computer problems and to train other administrators, saving the college money.

"It's amazing to help people in the building," she said. "The previous director did everything manually. I do it all using Microsoft products. An Access database helps me track student issues and problems and saves me time every day. I can use Access and Excel to query and filter data for quick analysis. I've helped the admissions director set up spreadsheets, I've created flyers and I've taught student employees how to work more efficiently and effectively. Everyone knows who to call-they know who is certified."

Miller often assists co-workers with software problems, teaching them simple tasks that ease the workload of the college's centralized Information Technology (IT) department. "I can help my co-workers solve computer issues without calling IT. When we do need to call, the IT staff knows I know what I'm talking about. We get problems taken care of faster because they know I know what I'm doing. It all saves time and money."

Madison also experiences increased productivity as a result of earning Office Specialist certification. "Things I used to do, I do faster now," he said. "Plus, I learned new things I couldn't even do before. I'm definitely more proficient."

Miller said she has increased confidence now that she has proof of her Microsoft Office experience and training. "I feel good because I know the products," she said. "IBC is wonderful to recognize the value of this certification and to reward the time and effort employees put in to earn it. Not only do I value my certifications, but the company I work for does, too. Even though I no longer teach, I'm keeping up with my certifications. I'm not giving these up."