Name: Virginia Nardone
Position: Director of the University of Rhode Island’s Special Programs Office; Graduate Professional Office; and Psychological Testing Services, all at URI’s Providence Campus
Background: taught high school business classes in Connecticut; owned Integrated Office Systems; adjunct professor at URI’s College of Business Administration, business
Education: University of Rhode Island, undergraduate 1968; Master’s 1978
Age: 54
Family: Married, two children
Residence: South Kingstown
URI CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS ON SIET at Pfizer, Raytheon, On Semiconductor.
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PBN: We are experiencing a tight job market with record low unemployment. Do you find that companies sending employees to take certificate programs so they become more specialized? Are more professionals diving into new, perhaps more profitable careers?
NARDONE: We are actually seeing a mixture of both. We have quite a few programs available for job upgrade and professional development. We have a good mix of companies sending employees to hone their skills. We also have a large number of individuals who are taking part in programs as well. For example, we have a Multi Media program that is in its third year. It has a mix of about 50 percent individuals paying for it themselves and who are looking to enhance their skills, and perhaps, change jobs. We also have a group that is there and their companies are paying for it.
Are companies reimbursing employees for continuing education classes?
Yes, that has been our experience here. We are currently dealing with about 12 companies in southern New England, where we do on-site credit courses and non-credit training programs. We have degree programs where 15 to 20 employees are getting degrees and the company is paying for them.
Do you see companies beginning to use these kinds of programs as a lure to recruit new employees?
Absolutely. Not only in recruiting employees, but retaining them. It is a perk that an employer can give to the employee and it really doesn’t cost them any more than the tuition. The organizations that are doing this get as pretty good deal because we give them a lump sum package price and the courses are delivered right on site – the same URI courses as if they were to come to a campus. We can do it after work or some companies like to start at 3:30 or 4:30 and one hour of the company’s time is used and one hour of the employee’s personal time.
Another of your certificate programs revolves around the implementation of a quality improvement program. What kinds of companies have found an interest in that?
We have content area coordinators that actually deal with the specifics of those areas. In quality management, they are talking about the principles that help to improve product development and delivery, as well as individual performance. The program is called “Journey to Performance Excellence” and is based around a semester’s worth of work. There is a credit and a non-credit option. It meets once a week and they look at a specific issue each week. The course is taught by practitioners in the field.
I imagine that kind of a class would attract people from a wide range of industries, regardless of their product.
Exactly. There are issues such as on-time delivery, teamwork and working together to get a product to market, customer service, documentation and procedures
URI offers on-site programs, such as graduate chemistry courses at Pfizer, degree courses in engineering at On Semiconductor in East Greenwich and mechanical engineering at Raytheon in Portsmouth. How did URI get involved with these companies – and what’s in it for them?
We first got into the business of doing on-site corporate education, particularly on the degree and credit side, about 15 years ago. Our first client was then New England Telephone. We started doing on-site credit courses for our general studies program. From that, we had such a good response – from management and the employees. Management was just thrilled that so many of their employees – having worked there for years – were now able to complete and undergraduate degrees. We decided to expand these programs and we started talking to various companies. Over the years we have done classes at companies such as CVS, Hasbroand now we have degree programs at Pfizer, Raytheon and On Semiconductor. What’s in it for the company is an ability on their part to provide for their employees a benefit that is mutually beneficial. It helps them recruit and retain employees. We have received calls from new employees at Pfizer who were told during their interview that this program was available to them – and they are looking to find out what it is all about.
Do you get the sense – or is there evidence – that some of these companies are hiring students after they take these courses?
What we are doing here is providing educational programs for existing employees. That includes summer classes at both Raytheon and On Semiconductor.
Is this a trend – bringing educational opportunities to the workplace?
Yes, and as I mentioned before, it is a way for the company to provide a benefit. It’s very visible within the organization and it doesn’t really cost anything extra. In fact, it may be more cost effective.
How long have you been with URI Special Programs?
I’ve been in this position for 11 years.
Are students at all different than they were a decade ago?
From where I sit, I have seen a shift from undergraduate education. Our first corporate clients were all organizations that were providing courses toward earning a bachelor’s degree. Now, all of our clients have graduate level courses.
So, in terms of higher education, we’ve gone up a level?
Yes. We still do the other, but the mix has changed.
And the demand for these graduate level courses is out there?
Yes and there is also a demand for very specialized courses – engineering, computer science special topics.
You mention computer science. We keep hearing that the state’s colleges and universities are graduating a very low number of students specializing in computer science – and that high tech jobs are going unfilled. Are students – whether they are 19 or 35 – starting to get it – that if they get specific training, a high paying job might be waiting for them?
What I see – in addition to a shift toward graduate level courses – is a high degree of interest in certificate programs as opposed to degree programs. Certificate programs are shorter, an in some cases, can be more focused on a particular topic.
Are employers recognizing these kinds of programs?
That’s one of the areas where the university really excels. We’re well known within the state and people understand that we have a quality
In terms of special programs and certificates, how do you determine what to offer?
We look at labor market trends, and we look at training needs. We work with the state Department of Labor and Training, the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation. We share information and get information from them. We also survey various employers and groups – both in the small business community and larger organizations. And we also survey the individuals who take our courses. We ask them a series of questions. Based on all of that, we make projections as to what should be available. For example, with the conflict resolution certificatewe started to put that together because it is not available anywhere else in the state. We have certified conflict management mediation people.
Tell us about Testing Services, another special program at URI in Providence.
It has been around since the early 1960s. Its official title is Psychological Testing Services. That group performs psychological evaluations on all of the police candidates in the state, a lot of the firefighter candidates, security peopleWe also do vocational assessments and work with people with learning disabilities. We also have services available to businesses that might be interested not so much in identifying a person to promote, but if they had a pool of peoplethey would know which might have the leadership profile, the management profile. The service has been around a while. I think it’s one of the best-kept secrets in Rhode Island.
And the tests are given here?
Yes, right here. We have licensed psychologists on duty that give the tests and do the assessments.
