LIBERTY New center to open for class in Microsoft certification

About 85 students from Kent Trumbull's program have enrolled in the new course, an official said.
By AMANDA C. DAVIS
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
LIBERTY -- Classes will begin Monday at a new Microsoft certification training center, staffed by instructors who broke ties with Kent State University Trumbull Campus over a dispute surrounding a similar program there.
A temporary sign for the facility, which is located in Liberty Plaza on Belmont Avenue, hangs in the front window. The facility is being called AMT, for Associates of MCSE Trainers.
Dr. Sal Weingarten, AMT's program director, said the 7,500-square-foot facility will train students to become MCSEs, or Microsoft Certified Systems Engineers, and MCDAs, or Microsoft Certified Database Administrators. Four large classrooms will be able to accommodate 300 students, he added.
Instruction will also be offered in the near future for those wanting to learn applications such as Microsoft Word, Microsoft Office and Microsoft Excel, he said.
What happened: Weingarten and at least four instructors at AMT were subcontracted to instruct similar courses at KSUTC, but said they left recently when administrators offered them a "ridiculous" contract that would have run out when KSU faculty was hired to replace them.
The KSU faculty union complained that members should be teaching the course. The university then revoked the course's for-credit status, prompting an uproar from students who said they were then unable to receive financial aid.
Allegations: The controversy continued when students in recent weeks alleged the university encouraged students to say on financial aid applications they were seeking an exploratory degree, when in fact they were only enrolled for the Microsoft course.
Students have said the university did this to increase enrollment, which would have netted KSUTC more in federal subsidies.
U.S. Rep. James A. Traficant Jr. of Poland, D-17th, said he remains neutral on the issue but has asked the U.S. Department of Education to look into the allegations.
KSUTC Dean Dr. David Allen has said he thinks the allegations are without merit, but noted the university will also look into them.
He has also said credit for the campus' Microsoft course has been restored and the program will continue to be offered.
About 85 students who had been enrolled in the KSUTC course have decided instead to enroll in the AMT course, Weingarten said, noting he expects more to enroll in coming weeks.
The certification course will not be offered for credit and students will not be able to receive federal financial aid, but Weingarten said money is available through the Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation and the Worker's Investment Act.
"There's quite a bit of money available," he said. "We'll also be working with local banks to have loans made available."
Each class will cost $750.
William Hall of Salem had been enrolled in the KSUTC course and said he plans to register at AMT.
Cost factor: The $750 fee is less than the $832-per-class cost at KSUTC and the $1,100-$1,300 fee charged for a similar course in Akron and one available at Youngstown State University, Hall said.
Todd Danvir of Cortland starts classes at AMT next week and said he left KSUTC's program because of the upheaval.
"I actually think I will get a better education at the training center in Liberty," he added.
AMT will offer six-week courses that will meet at different times, including 6 to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 2 to 10 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday.
Various schedules will be offered and classes will be staggered, Weingarten said, adding that classes will begin Monday, and another sequence will start in a few weeks.
For more information or to enroll, call (330) 759-2780.
Classes were supposed to start this week, but Weingarten said computers are being programmed and last-minute glitches are being worked out.
Advantages: The director said advantages of not being associated with KSU are that ATM will serve high school students and offer programs for corporate training.
Also, the facility will serve students from Pennsylvania. KSUTC was unable to enroll many out-of-state students because of costs, Weingarten noted.
Breaking ties with KSU was a necessity, Weingarten said, adding "It's not a move I wanted to make. Basically, they broke ties with us. I put a lot of blood, sweat and tears into building that program at Kent Trumbull."