DU IS SOLE UNIVERSITY CHOSEN TO PILOT CISCO SYSTEM'S WORKFORCE RETRAINING INITIATIVE

Davenport University has been chosen by Cisco Systems as the only university in Michigan to pilot its Workforce Retraining Initiative (WRI). President Barack Obama highlighted this important initiative in a speech at a Town Hall meeting at Macomb Community College in Warren, Michigan on Tuesday. Three Michigan community colleges -- Henry Ford Community College, Oakland Community College and Macomb Community College -- also will serve as launch sites.

Five Davenport representatives were in the audience for the President’s announcement, including newly appointed President Richard J. Pappas, Ed.D., Executive Vice President of Academics and Provost David Fleming, and newly appointed Dean of the School of Technology, Michael Clancy.

Built on the Cisco® Networking Academy®, the WRI is designed to create new job opportunities for U.S. workers and support the country's ability to innovate, compete and prosper.

The WRI in Michigan will focus on broadband, network security and health care information technology training – key components of this state’s strategy for re-invigorating its economy and igniting the job market. It will include a new health care IT course that will focus on practice management, electronic health records, telemedicine, mobility, telephony and the use and integration of information. The new IT course initially will be piloted at Davenport and three Michigan community colleges beginning as early as January 2010.

“Davenport University is perfectly positioned to play a significant role in meeting the IT needs of health care systems for the 21st century,” said Provost Fleming. “This initiative leverages core DU competencies in network technology and health care information and technology. Such an interdisciplinary approach is the future of educating the workforce of tomorrow.”

"Cisco is committed to helping our country address the current economic challenges by focusing on innovation, new opportunities and jobs," said John Chambers, Cisco chairman and CEO. "Collaborative technologies will not only drive the next phase of economic growth for our future, but the need for a uniquely skilled workforce. We have a strong track record of successful public-private partnerships that have used technology to transform communities, cities, countries and individual lives. The Workforce Retraining Initiative will serve an important role by expanding training for well-paid, high-demand technology-based jobs."

The Cisco Networking Academy has an extensive track record of providing high-quality education in support of technology-based jobs. The program currently enrolls 128,000 students at colleges and universities across the U.S., and Davenport is the largest Cisco Networking Academy in Michigan.

Cisco’s WRI in Michigan eventually will be available at all 21 community college and university locations where the Networking Academy curriculum is offered today. Courses leading to jobs in broadband, network security and health care are scheduled to be available in September.

For more information on this new strategic initiative and partnership, visit Cisco’s website at http://newsroom.cisco.com or http://www.workforceretrainingus.com 

About Davenport University
Davenport University – the only West Michigan-based private university specializing in business, technology and health professions – serves an enrollment of approximately 11,000 students at its W. A. Lettinga campus in Grand Rapids, locations throughout Michigan, and online. Davenport focuses on innovative, practical and affordable education and offers graduate and undergraduate programs.