Program Choices
The Cisco Networking Academy Program has certain rules and requirements
to ensure quality and consistency across all Networking Academies. The Regional
Networking Academy and Cisco Networking Academy Training Centers Area Managers can review
these rules with you.. Other decisions will depend on your program
goals and partnerships.
Borough of Manhattan Community College--Washington Heights and Harlem
EZ
The population your program targets will drive many of your
decisions. The Student
section of this web site covers selection criteria in detail.
Consider the following:
 Age and range of ages
Education
Ability to pay for classes
Work experience
Special needs
High schools typically offer classes in 45- or 50-minute periods
or combine periods. Students take courses 1 and 2 during the junior
year (11th grade) and courses 3 and 4 in the senior year (12th
grade). When calculated, learning hours usually exceed the 280-hour
minimum.
Adult students have different scheduling options and can attend
three or four-hour sessions. Identify which population you are targeting
and plan a schedule to accommodate their needs. Unemployed people
often prefer classes during the day when childcare is available
or to become accustomed to a typical work schedule. Underemployed
people prefer evening classes to continue working during the day.
There is a sense of urgency in the community to complete the training
as soon as possible and begin careers. Many Networking Academies
schedule longer training sessions to complete all four courses
of training in six to nine months.
"Life cycle of product in IT is so short. It's 18 months at
max. You need to get people to a certain level and get them out
their working. It's a combination of a certification and experience
that will get them to the next level."
Linda Hanks
Focus: HOPE
Detroit, MI
Borough of Manhattan Community College - New York, NY
The Networking Academy bundle of routers and switches can accommodate
a class of 30 students. Community Networking Academies or targeted
population programs usually opt for class sizes between 10 and 20
students. Instructors can provide more individualized attention
to the non-traditional students and keep up with the condensed schedule.
In planning the budget, weigh both the cost per student and the
chances for success when considering class size. The per student
cost increases as the class size decreases.
Most Networking Academies plan for some attrition. The recruitment
and selection process identifies students most likely to succeed
and commit to the program. However, even controlling as many variables
as possible, life happens and you lose students.
"We started with ten, eight completed and seven are employed.
One of our Locals started with 25, they now have 14 and this program
has a completion incentive of $1,000."
Bennie Sanders
Reach Across Houston Houston, TX
"The first cycle we enrolled 23, 17 completed, 16 passed the
CCNA and 12 are employed. The second cycle we enrolled 25 and
we are starting Cisco CCNA 3 with 19. A few had academic difficulties,
but most reasons were outside pressures like family, childcare,
and employers."
Acte Maldonado, Dean
Borough of Manhattan Community College
New York, NY
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