Innovative Partnership Brings Recognition To WKU

May 04, 2009

Bowling Green, Ky. - An innovative partnership between Western Kentucky University, the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce, the Cabinet for Economic Development, and several partner companies has brought recognition for excellence to WKU across the southeastern United States.
           
The partnership is titled Uniting Industries, Sharing Costs, Building Successes — A Training Consortium Project.  The Association for Continuing Higher Education (ACHE) South Region honored the partnership with the 2009 ACHE South Distinguished Non-Credit Program Award.
           
The prestigious award, given to one college or university annually, was presented to representatives of WKU on April 28 at the ACHE South Awards luncheon in Baton Rouge.
           
Manon Pardue, director of the Center for Training & Development, and Sharon Woodward, director of Continuing Education, accepted the award on behalf of WKU and the numerous partners involved. According to the ACHE criteria for the award, winning programs are judged on innovation, creativity, success, impact and adaptability.
           
“The committee was very impressed with the quality and scope of the project and we are pleased to recognize its excellence,” Dan Connell, awards committee chair, said.
           
The project began in 2004 with three companies joining together to provide training for their employees. Training was made affordable by gaining access to grant funds provided by the Kentucky Economic Development Cabinet through Bluegrass State Skills Corporation (BSSC). The grant monies offset approximately 50 percent of training cost.  Through the persistent efforts of the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce economic development staff, the consortium has been able to secure grant funds on an annual basis.
           
“I’ve been a part of a lot of good programs that provided great service for a period of time,” Pardue said. “This program is sustainable because of the strong partnerships. Of those partners, Bando, NASCO, and Sumitomo and their representatives are instrumental in the success and longevity of the program.”
           
The Consortium coordinates training opportunities for local industries of Warren County. A minimal investment is required to gain access to valuable training for employees. The Consortium provides effective training at a nominal cost and holds training locally with minimal interruption to the work schedule.
           
In 2008, the consortium began offering non-credit online training courses to its members through Continuing Education at WKU. The online format provides added appeal, allowing the flexibility needed in today's changing workforce. Courses are offered on a quarterly basis and range in scope from accounting principles to customer service to management and supervision.
           
“This program is a wonderful example of what can be accomplished using a team approach,” Woodward said.  “In fact, colleagues are asking for advice about how to replicate the program in their areas.”
           
Dr. Don Swoboda, dean of the Division of Extended Learning and Outreach, said: “The award for this innovative partnership is one example of the value DELO brings to WKU. Partnerships are the key to our success.”
           
The ACHE South Region has member institutions in 10 states as well as Jamaica and Puerto Rico.  For information on ACHE, go to www.acheinc.org.
           
For information about the Industrial Training Consortium, contact Manon Pardue at (270) 745-1919. For more on Continuing Education, contact Sharon Woodward at (270) 745-1910.      

More WKU news is available at www.wku.edu and at http://wkunews.wordpress.com/. If you’d like to receive WKU news via e-mail, send a message to WKUNews@wku.edu.

For more information, contact Stacey Biggs, (270) 745-1926.