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October 5, 2009
Staff fair has information for personal, career goals

By Mary Catherine Johnson

If you could take a class on any topic to fulfill your personal or professional aspirations, what would it be?  Whatever your answer, chances are there is a course being offered right now in Atlanta that will get you one step closer to your goal.  Perhaps an MBA or financial systems certificate is what you need to advance your career.  Or maybe you’ve always wanted to learn to weld, or take an African dance class, or understand how to use your digital camera, or write a novel?

Information about these opportunities and many more will be available at the 2nd Annual Educational and Professional Growth Fair on Tuesday, Oct. 13. Representatives from more than 20 schools from the greater Atlanta area with continuing education courses will gather in White Hall from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

The event is sponsored by the executive committee of the Emory College Staff Consortium (CSC), with plans to build on the success of last year’s fair by increasing the appeal to employees throughout the University through a wide range of education vendors, and also making it convenient for staff to attend.

“We chose a date during fall break when the campus is more relaxed, which we hope will give staff the necessary flexibility to take time during their work day to investigate the hundreds of professional growth opportunities available to them in the Atlanta area,” explains Tina McDowell, a CSC fair coordinator and senior program associate for the Emory College Office for Undergraduate Education.

Learn how evening and weekend classes, simple application procedures, and tuition payment plans can make continuing education easy for working adults.  In many cases, full or partial tuition for courses is covered by Emory’s Tuition Reimbursement Program.

Continuing education classes can also be a matter of practicality and a smart investment in job security.  “Skill growth is more critical now than ever, especially given our uncertain times,” says Michael Derry, chair of the CSC’s executive committee and manager of Emory College Computing Support. “I encourage Emory employees to take every opportunity to gain more knowledge in support of the community and their careers.”