Completing course work and obtaining a degree while you are working and raising a family is a hard task for anyone. But doing it when your work schedule includes unexpected overnights on the job is almost impossible!

Telecommunications workers face this problem. Mandatory overtime is common in this industry; when the system goes down, nobody goes home, or anywhere else. Coming to terms with this situation, in an industry where upgrading skills is a necessity, requires a unique partnership.

The Sloan Foundation,1 which had for years provided grants to universities to assist them in developing online courses, recognized that the telecommunications industry was an obvious target for web-based learning. In 1998 Sloan gave a grant to the non-profit Center for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL).2 CAEL convened meetings with representatives of the existing major telecommunications companies (NYNEX, Bell Atlantic, U.S. West, Ameritech, and SBC) and unions (Communication Workers of America and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers). The meetings led to building a curriculum, agreement on a governance structure, and identification of an educational institution-New York's Pace University-to provide an online Associate of Science (A.S.) degree for industry workers and those entering the industry.

The result is the National Coalition for Telecommunications Education and Learning(NACTEL).3 The first NACTEL classes were given in 1999, and approximately 2,000 learners have taken classes so far, with a goal of 5,000 students by the end of 2001. Course completion rates are over 80 percent, equivalent to on-campus results for the same courses, and learner satisfaction is high.

Frank Mayadas, the Sloan Program Director, points out that the online learning model has as much potential for workforce learning as for traditional degree programs. "The workforce of tomorrow will have to be better trained and better able to access education, training, and other knowledge resources," he says. "The Internet provides the ideal mechanism for this access. Some of the necessary courses, certifications, degrees, and other kinds of knowledge modules are available today, but not many and not enough. Many more are needed."

Pam Tate, President of CAEL, says that if "you can organize industries and unions to coalesce around common goals, then partner with universities and community colleges, this creates a wonderful feeder mechanism to bring adults in and support lifelong learning."

Tate adds that the biggest barriers to adult learning are money, time, and fear. With corporate financial assistance and online, anytime availability, two of the barriers are minimized. CAEL has organized a mentoring program to help people who have never worked with computers test the waters. Potential students gain computer skills and become part of the peer network, supporting one another.

"I've been in education for 17 years," says Dr. David Sachs, Assistant Dean of the School of Computer Science and Information Systems at Pace University. "What intrigues me about NACTEL is the incredible ability to reach people who normally do not have access to education." Sachs points out that what NACTEL supplies is not so different "from what the students would get if they showed up on campus-but they can't show up on campus."

Students work toward an A.S. in Applied Information Technology Telecommunications. It is equivalent to a two-year program, and the A.S. degree can transfer for credit in a four-year program at other institutions. Only union members of participating companies are in classes now, but NACTEL expects to expand to a larger audience. Additional financial support has come from the U.S. Department of Education's Learning Anywhere, Anytime Program, administered by the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education.

Here's what some students say about NACTEL:

"I am thankful for the opportunity to 'return to school' as I don't have the time to drive somewhere to take classes. I drive 50 miles each way to and from my job and any extra time is very limited. In fact, all of my work has been done on weekends, as that's the only time I have when I am alert enough to study."
-Lois Westfall, Verizon

"Pace is more than just school for me. It's also more than just school work. We have chat sessions and a kind of cyber hangout with each other. It's having friends and relationships. I think I can best describe it as a 'fraternal' following or club. I now have had the pleasure of working with two professors, Dr. Barbara Farrell, who I have dubbed 'warrior princess,' and Dr. John Hutton. Both are excellent professors and truly go above and beyond to teach a course. My only sorrow is I did not find Pace sooner. By the way, warrior princess is because Barbara is raising a family, earned her Ph.D. and teaches university level classes. Only a warrior princess can have that much energy."
-Anthony Chiaia, Sr., Verizon

"This affords me the opportunity I turned down years ago." -John Underwood, SBC

Given the success of NACTEL, Sloan and CAEL are now talking with the electric utility industry about developing a similar program. They are also considering online training opportunities with the airlines, auto, construction, and financial services industries.

Verizon's Chiaia continues:

"I love this program. I work with this lady who is attending [another school] and she has this long sad face on all the time. She complains about the course work and on and on ... I am not sure what [her school] is doing or NOT doing, but when I talk about Pace at my work to others I have this big smile and a bright glow. Sorry, I cannot help it."

If Anthony Chiaia's response is typical, NACTEL is a model that is likely to bring a lot of smiles to workers.

1. http://www.sloan.org
2. http://www.cael.org/index2.html
3. http://www.nactel.org