Networks Laboratory, watches guests at the open
house, including in the foreground Ken Derecher,
dean of Engineering.
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Orlando Madrigal, Director of the IBM Computer Networks Laboratory, watches guests at the open house, including in the foreground Ken Derecher, dean of Engineering. |
An open house was held on September 5 in the IBM Computer Networks Laboratory located in O'Connell Technology Center. The laboratory has been created through a partnership between the College of Engineering, Computer Science, and Technology and the IBM Corporation. The primary goal of the partnership is to develop and provide full laboratory support for a series of computer network system administration courses.
The hardware systems for this state-of-the-art laboratory were purchased with a major cash grant of $200,000 from the IBM Corporation. Larry Gee, a CSU,Chico alumnus and IBM network manager, envisioned, and initiated the partnership. Another alumnus, Don Vilen, a Microsoft training manager, coordinated the donation of network and productivity software worth more than $75,000.
The network administration programs, offered through the Center for Regional and Continuing Education on the weekends, are intended for those interested in learning how to install and manage Windows NT, Novell NetWare, and UNIX networks. They are designed to prepare participants for real-world network administration opportunities at IBM and other firms. Due to the rapid growth and importance of private corporate networks and the Internet and the resulting boom in client/server technology, there is currently an immediate and increasing demand for professionally educated network administration managers in both public and private sectors.
Participants who complete at least the first phase of this program will be given the opportunity to be interviewed by IBM for possible network administrator positions at an IBM facility. Participants who complete the appropriate sequence of network courses will have the background to prepare and pass the Novell CNE and Microsoft Windows NT system administration certificate examinations. Carolyn Maher, vice president of managed operations, IBM Global Services, said, "IBM is delighted to see the IBM Networks Laboratory used so effectively. The demand for these types of skills continues to be very strong."
For more information or to enroll, call x6105 or visit the Center for Regional and Continuing Education's web site.