Cal Poly Extended Studies Establishes Certificate Programs At Mississippi Air Force Base

Cal Poly President Warren J. Baker and Air Force officials will cut the ribbon Monday (March 25) to launch two certificate programs at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Miss. -- the first permanent Cal Poly Extended Studies programs established in another state.

The noncredit programs in information technology and Oracle database administration will be administered by Cal Poly Extended Studies. Students will receive instruction both online and in a new computer lab at the base. High-speed Internet access will link the Cal Poly Extended Studies computer lab at Keesler with the San Luis Obispo campus.

"At this critical time for our nation, Cal Poly is pleased to partner with the Air Force, one of the nation's major high-tech employers, to help impart vitally needed skills to Air Force personnel," Baker said.

The programs were developed in response to Air Force interest that began with Cal Poly's distance-learning program operated at Vandenberg Air Force Base. That program was launched in 1999.

In the future, the Keesler program could be expanded to include several areas outside information technology.

"We hope that more programs will be offered to serve the education and training needs of Keesler Air Force Base and the larger Gulf Coast community," said Cal Poly Extended Studies Dean Dennis Parks.

Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College and the University of Southern Mississippi are also partners in developing the programs.