For more than 10 years, Southwestern Illinois College has been bringing its students into the always-necessary and highly competitive world of networking technology.
Now Cisco Systems Inc. has recognized the college for its participation in the Cisco Networking Academy.
“It is great to be recognized by Cisco for over 10 years of participation in the academy,” said SWIC Professor and Program Coordinator of Network Design and Administration Matt Swinford.
The college offers online and hands-on curriculum and learning activities from the Cisco Networking Academy to certify students in networking and prepare them for entry-level employment. SWIC has offered Cisco courses through the academy since 1999.
Cisco Systems Inc. Product Manager/Marketing Nathalie Barreneche thanked SWIC for “the dedication and contributions of your academy that help make Cisco Networking Academy the premier global educational program for developing the networking architects of the future.”
The core curriculum prepares students to successfully complete the exam for the professional certification of Cisco Certified Network Associate. The college also offers an Associate in Applied Science degree in Network Design and Administration.
Students who successfully complete the academy curriculum will be ready to work with Cisco routers and other networking hardware and software. Business today often depends on the Internet, and with these courses the goal is to offer students an opportunity for a future managing these technologies, according to Swinford.
“The partnership between SWIC and the Cisco Networking Academy is very important to our students,” he said. “Because of the Cisco Networking Academy, we are able to send students into the workforce with professional certification.”
SWIC has three full-time, certified instructors that teach Cisco Networking Academy courses each semester: Swinford, Charles Hannon and Steve Bushong.
For more information on networking courses or the CCNA certification, contact the Business Division at 618-235-2700, ext. 5313.