Cisco gives students jumpstart for job market

Divided into the Cisco Certified Network Associate and the Cisco Certified Network Professional, it is an e-learning program designed to teach high school and college students the skills essential to compete in technological fields in today’s global economy.

The program was started in 1997 with 64 high schools and colleges in seven states because of a need for computer networkers in high schools. It has since become an international phenomenon and has grown to include more than 1.6 million students in more than 10,000 educational institutions, one of which is Chadron State.

“With the exception of Fort Hays State in Kansas, CSC is the only four year college in our five-state region that offers Cisco,” said Phil Cary, assistant professor of mathematical sciences.

Cary taught CCNA classes at Chadron High School three years and spent two summers in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn. taking four courses and four industry certification exams before teaching at Chadron State.

Because Cisco courses are constantly evolving, he is required to take bridge classes every three years to remain updated on the latest information.

In 2002 Cary worked with Dr. Monty Fickel, chairman of mathematical sciences at CSC, to raise more than $40,000 for new computer equipment and to integrate Cisco courses into the CSC curriculum.

“It took six months to have all the courses approved, because in addition to being approved by the college, they also had to be approved by the Cisco company,” Cary said.

Eight courses in Cisco training are now available at the college as electives for the information science and technology major— four in CCNA and four in CCNP.

Cary said the first year he started with 13 students in CCNA, which is the introductory program. He hoped that they would go on to pursue the higher levels found in CCNP, but lost many students because of graduation and the fact that only one course is offered each semester.

This year he had five students who had already taken the CCNA courses at their high schools.

As a college freshman, one of them landed a spot as an intern for Golden West Technologies in Rapid City, S.D., this summer.

Even after training at the college, students must take tests to receive the industry standard certificates needed to earn Cisco jobs.

CCNP certification requires successful completion of four tests and CCNA requires one test that can be split in half if students wish to do so.

The closest testing centers to Chadron are in Rapid City, S.D., and Sidney. Each test costs $125.

“The tests are hard. Sometimes students have to take each one two or three times before passing,” said Cary.

Cary said the average student certified in CCNA will start out earning $40,000 a year, while those with CCNP certificates will start out at $60,000.

“I think it’s an outstanding program,” said Cary, “Too often our students will get a four-year degree, but don’t have the real-world experience. Cisco offers both, theory and practice.”