National Award Recognizes Continuing Education Programs

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University Park, Pa. -- Penn State's Customer Relations Certificate Programs have received a national "Innovation in Programs" award for outstanding innovation in educational programs provided for the employees of AT&T and Lucent Technologies.

The award was presented this month by the Alliance for Employee Growth and Development, a cooperative venture of AT&T, Lucent Technologies, the Communication Workers of America and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers to Susan C. Lewis, continuing education representative, Penn State Greater Pittsburgh, and James D. Porterfield in marketing who directs the academic content of the program.

"We are very gratified to receive national recognition for this program," Lewis said. "It's one that many companies in the Commonwealth could undoubtedly benefit from." Lewis introduced the Customer Service Certificate Programs to AT&T sites in Pittsburgh. .

Porterfield said, "Like AT&T, many businesses are facing a time of escalating competition, and outstanding customer relations is a key part of succeeding in this environment." .

The certificate programs are a continuing and distance education service of The Mary Jean and Frank P. Smeal College of Business Administration at Penn State. The 11-credit Customer Relations Certificate: Communications emphasizes the role of effective business communication in customer service. It is a prerequisite for the 12-credit Advanced Customer Relations Certificate: Competitive Environments, which focuses on the role of customer service in a business' success. Completion of these certificate programs takes about 30 months, and all the courses can be applied toward an associate degree in business administration at Penn State. .

For more information on the Customer Relations Certificate Programs or other Continuing and Distance Education programs, call 1-800-PSU-TODAY (778-8632). .

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Contact : Tracey Huston at tdh7@omnibus.ce.psu.edu .