Rejuvenating Work Skills
By: Aaron W. Hughey

When people think of Western Kentucky University, they obviously think of education. And while Western is certainly known for the high quality of the degree programs it provides, it also offers many other kinds of educational experiences.

Western has three departments that are responsible for meeting the training and professional development needs of organizations and individuals in this region, all of which are housed at the South Campus and affiliated with the Carroll Knicely Institute for Economic Development. These are Continuing Education, the Conference Center, and the Center for Training and Development.

In today's global economy, a knowledgeable work force is critical to economic survival and success. It has been estimated that worldwide competition and the rapid pace of technological change reduce the effective life of work skills to three to five years. Realizing this, many companies are increasing their emphasis on employee development and training.

During the past year, we have made significant progress in the area of Continuing Education programming," said Sharon Woodward, program coordinator. Woodward's enthusiasm is apparent as she discusses current projects.

We see one of our primary roles as providing courses and programs for organizations as well as individuals in our service area," she said. "During the past year, for example, Continuing Education offered 77 professional development or personal enrichment courses on a wide array of topics."

"One of the programs that I am particularly proud of that we provide on a consistent basis is Elderhostel," Woodward said. "This past year we had very successful Elderhostel programs at Mammoth Cave and the Glasgow Highland Games."

Woodward said that 68 people representing 20 states participated in the Elderhostel program last year and that the maximum enrollment had to be increased due to a lengthy waiting list.

"Another initiative that I am excited about is the partnership we recently entered with the Ed2Go on-line learning program," Woodward said. "This program offers over 100 Internet courses to individuals throughout the region and state. These courses are marketed locally through Continuing Education and statewide through the Kentucky Virtual University."

"The Ed2Go program puts Western on the cutting edge of distance education as it relates to the provision of continuing education, " she said.

Continuing Education also works extensively with a variety of different organizations to provide professional development opportunities.

"The Kentucky Tourism Council has identified Western Kentucky University as their primary educational partner," Woodward explained. "As a result of that renewed commitment, two new certificate programs for KTC members have been developed."

"As a part of the KTC partnership with Western, Continuing Education is playing a key role in implementing an internship program with Kentucky's colleges and universities," she said. "Guidelines are currently being developed which will create a working collaboration between these institutions and KTC member organizations in the placement of interns."

Woodward said that for over 20 years, Continuing Education has partnered with the Kentucky Consumer Finance Association to provide educational seminars to members in various locations throughout the state.

"We also provide OSHA certification training for individuals working with hazardous materials," Woodward added. "We work closely with the Center for Training and Development in providing these kinds of technically-oriented training programs."

But Woodward is not satisfied with what Continuing Education is currently doing; she is also thinking of the future.

"Several meetings have been held with the State Department of Travel office regarding the development of a hospitality training program," she said. "This would be a program marketed in conjunction with the State Tourism Development office and available to individuals throughout the state."

"We have developed three workplace certificate programs that will be unveiled in the coming months," Woodward said. "The skill areas covered by these certificate programs will include Leadership, Supervisory/Management, and Computer Applications."

In addition to providing programs and services to organizations outside the University, Woodward was quick to point out that they are also trying to better serve the needs of those who work at Western.

"We are currently in the process of developing a Leadership Skills program for staff at Western," she said. "This program has already received the endorsement of the WKU Staff Council and we are optimistic that it will be approved and in place later this year."

Woodward works in concert with the Knicely Conference Center and the Center for Training and Development in providing continuing education and outreach activities.

Sue Parrigin, program coordinator for the Knicely Conference Center, sees her role as complementary to Continuing Education.

"The Knicely Conference Center was designed to serve the University as well as the local and regional community," she explained. "The facility is an ideal location for training seminars, workshops, receptions, dinners and a whole host of other educational and social functions."

Since it opened in May 1994, the Knicely Conference Center has hosted thousands of single and multi-day conferences with hundreds of thousands of participants. The Center has several different types of rooms available, from traditional classrooms to a state-of-the-art auditorium/theater with multi-media capabilities.

"Also unique to the Knicely Conference Center is the 20-seat boardroom and the 16-station computer lab equipped with overhead monitors," Parrigin added. "Our teleconferencing capabilities make the Center an ideal location for professional meetings and various kinds of training activities."

"The Knicely Conference Center offers clients a one-stop shop for all types of events," she said. "We provide the logistical support for all of Continuing Education's on-campus activities and programs. Whatever they need, we can provide."

Finally, Continuing Education also works closely with the WKU Center for Training and Development in meeting the training needs of the area business and industry community. But whereas most of Continuing Education's programs are provided at the Knicely Conference Center, the bulk of the Training and Development Center's activities take place at the companies and organizations it services.

"Occasionally we have companies that utilize the Knicely Conference Center, particularly when they want to 'get away' from the plant for a while," said Sharon Pfeiffer, the Center's coordinator of corporate training.

The Center for Training and Development supports the training needs of business and industry in South Central Kentucky by providing on-site employee development programs. The Center is a public service function of the University designed to promote economic development through training.

"While equipment can be replaced as it becomes obsolete, human obsolescence can only be prevented through training," Pfeiffer stated. "And since service is our primary goal, all costs for the training we provide are held to a minimum. The cost of training provided by the Center is only a fraction of the cost of most for-profit training organizations or private consultants."

Last year, the Center conducted 292 training sessions for 22 different companies. The Center offers training classes and programs in a variety of different areas, including quality assurance, management and supervision, teams and employee development, computer applications, technical and maintenance areas, and health and safety.

"The Center has an extensive catalog of existing classes," Pfeiffer said. "We can also customize or reconfigure those classes, or develop entirely new classes if that's what a company needs. We routinely get requests for new training classes."

"Our instructors, who are primarily faculty members at Western, are well versed in traditional as well as leading-edge training topics and are experienced in working with adult learners," she said. "Over the last decade, the Center has conducted over 10,000 training sessions for over 100,000 employees."

Most recently, the Center implemented a Maintenance Certificate program for a company in Franklin, Ky. Employees were provided with 75 hours of training on job-related topics. Employees were not required to attend the classes, which met three nights a week for three hours each session. Those who successfully completed the program, however, would be considered first for promotion.

"At the conclusion of the program, a final examination was administered," Pfeiffer added. "We were very happy that all of the employees passed the final exam."

"We work closely with Continuing Education and the Conference Center staff on a daily basis," she emphasized. "This is a team effort and we see our work as being important and successful."

Through Continuing Education, the Knicely Conference Center and the Center for Training and Development, Western is working to meet the ongoing professional development needs of the local and regional community.

Aaron W. Hughey is a professor in the Department of Counseling Programs.