WT Piloting Professional Certification Courses in Engler College of Business

Copy by Chip Chandler, 806-651-2124, [email protected]

CANYON, Texas - West Texas A&M University is one of five universities in The Texas A&M University System piloting a program that offers students the chance to earn professional certifications alongside their degree - for no extra cost.

WT's Paul and Virginia Engler College of Business and four other business colleges across the System offers its students, as well as faculty and staff, access to the Coursera Career Academy, which offers about 500 courses, 50-plus professional certificates and hundreds of guided projects.

Students enrolled this fall and for the upcoming spring semester can take the opportunity to pursue certifications, both through extra credit and as supplemental course material alongside regular classwork. The program, through funds provided by TAMUS, is free for students; WT has access to up to 1,000 seat licenses to use and reuse among students for the year.

"Engler College of Business students can leave our College not only with their undergraduate or graduate degree, but also with one, maybe two professional certificates in hand," said Dr. Mary Liz Brooks, coordinator of the pilot program and WT's Barbara Petty Professor of Business Communication. "This gives them the opportunity to prepare for the workforce beyond what they learn in the classroom, giving them a leg up over other job applicants."

Coursera partners with more than 300 universities and companies to offer hands-on projects, courses, job-ready certificates and degree programs.

Business colleges across the System applied for the chance to join the pilot program. WT was selected alongside colleges at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Texas A&M-Commerce, Texas A&M International University and Texas A&M-Texarkana.

Heidi Giesbrecht, a junior marketing major from Seminole, said Coursera has broadened her exposure to different elements of marketing.

"It has helped me learn industry terminology and introduced me to what I will be doing in my future career," Giesbrecht said. "Part of the course required me to complete different activities and assignments, which gave me more practical marketing skills."

Amy Rambo, a Friona native pursuing a master's in strategic human resources management, said the Coursera courses are "invaluable in enhancing my education."

"This incredible opportunity, offered by WT, has allowed me to deepen my expertise in specialized areas of HR," Rambo said. "It highlights WT's dedication to its students by fostering lifelong learning and equipping us for success in an ever-evolving professional landscape."

The TAMUS Board of Regents will determine the future of the pilot program after its initial year, in part using metrics provided by Coursera.

The pilot program aligns with the Engler College of Business' long-range strategic plan, Engler Edge, by enhancing students' digital readiness through focusing on developing students' use of industry-ready, emerging technologies.

Building undergraduate academic excellence and focusing graduate academics on regional opportunities are key maxims of the University's long-range plan, WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World.

That plan is fueled by the historic One West comprehensive fundraising campaign, which reached its initial $125 million goal 18 months after publicly launching in September 2021. The campaign's new goal is to reach $175 million by 2025; currently, it has raised more than $160 million.

About West Texas A&M University

WT, a Regional Research University, is redefining excellence in Canyon, Texas, on a 342-acre residential campus, as well as the Harrington Academic Hall WTAMU Amarillo Center in downtown Amarillo. Established in 1910, the University has been part of The Texas A&M University System since 1990. WT, a Hispanic Serving Institution since 2016, boasts an enrollment of more than 9,000 and offers 58 undergraduate degree programs, one associate degree, and 44 graduate degrees, including an integrated bachelor's and master's degree, a specialist degree and two doctoral degrees. The University is also home to the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, the largest history museum in the state and the home of one of the Southwest's finest art collections. The Buffaloes are a member of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference and offers 14 men's and women's athletics programs.

Photo: Heidi Giesbrecht, a junior marketing major from Seminole, is one of dozens of West Texas A&M University students in the Paul and Virginia Engler College of Business who are participating in a pilot program through the Coursera Career Academy.

-WT-

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