The Communication Technology Center at the Jack J. Valenti School of Communication is now an Apple Authorized Training/Testing Center. The new program offered to communication students is a three-day intensive learning course that is required for certification. | Jack J. Valenti School of Communication
The Jack. J. Valenti School of Communication Technology Center is partnering with Apple to bring the new Apple Authorized Training Center to students and the community.
The AATC is not a new building on campus but more of a new program offered to communication students. Its primary focus is exclusively on Final Cut Pro video editing software.
Apple certifies instructors teaching the three-day intensive learning course and the content they use is standard curriculum provided by Apple.
As part of the curriculum, students will work on editing raw footage from the TNT series Leverage and a promotional video for SeaWorld.
The center is a combination of the three-day seminar on the software and a testing center for certification in the software. Once students pass the test, they will be considered a “certified pro” and will receive a certificate from Apple and then placed on a list in an Apple database with other certified pros.
Shawn McCombs, director of the Communication Technology Center, said professionals with this type of certification are highly sought after and are hired more frequently with higher pay.
This new program was provided at no extra cost to the university because of what McCombs calls a “limited-partnership” between Apple and the Communications Technology Center.
McCombs said Apple is familiar and very fond of the CTC lab at UH because it uses Apple software and hardware exclusively, not only because of their partnership, but also because it is the best out there and quickly becoming an industry accepted standard.
McCombs said that the School of Communication initially agreed to be an AATC to give the students “added value”, but in the process, learned it could open it up to others as well.
This new program is not only open to students wanting to get certified, but it is also open to the general public. While the testing center is primarily for media production students, anyone can come in and take the test. The three-day seminar on the other hand is geared towards business professionals. The seminar and testing are offered separately or as a package. Testing is ongoing and can be scheduled online. Classes will begin March 15.
McCombs said he is excited about the incredible opportunity this will provide to students and the university.
“(This program is designed to make sure) students are armed with the best knowledge and theoretical construct, the fairest amount of practice and an industry standard and accepted certification,” McCombs said.
When students graduate and get hired, what they have learned while at UH is a direct reflection on the ability of the university to offer quality workforce to the community, McCombs said of the communication program.
“We already know our program is better than the rest. Now, we have the chance to get out there and show everyone,” McCombs said.
