 |
 |
December 4, 2002 |
| For more information, contact: Sandy Dubay Sponaugle (304) 876-8321 or email at ssponaugle@rpionline.net |
Regional Printing Institute Forms Print Academy Customer service training for the printing industry |
Martinsburg, WV – The Regional Printing Institute (RPI) is pleased to announce a training program for national customer service certification that will begin in the Spring of 2003. |
The Regional Printing Institute was created in 1998 to assist the printing industry in the Quad State Region surrounding I-81 in Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Maryland. One of the ongoing goals of RPI is support the printing industry in several ways, including providing customized training for regional employers. This activity can occur onsite at the company facility or at the James Rumsey Technical Institute in Hedgesville, West Virginia. RPI conducts training programs on topics such as: printing technology, press technology, pre-press and printing administration. |
Over the past two years, the RPI has successfully conducted a similar program yielding 20 Certified Printing Service Specialists. A certification bestowed by the Society for Service Professionals in Printing. The new format, Print Academy, offers a correspondence component (Part I) that is followed by four days of classroom instruction and travel to printers in the region (Part II). |
“The Print Academy was created to give individuals across the country an opportunity to participate in a blended learning experience. In the region we are fortunate to have easy access to printers utilizing every common printing process. Upon conclusion of the course, students will be prepared to sit for the certification exam. Once they pass the exam, students will hold the designation of Certified Printing Services Specialist (CPSS),” explained Anne Deardorff, program administrator for RPI. |
RPI has partnered with the Society for Service Professionals in Printing (SSPP) to conduct this class. SSPP has historically conducted a similar “Print School”, which was the basis for the structure of this program. In the future, SSPP will be moving its training to an online format, “Print University”. Students will ultimately be able to blend their training by utilizing the Print University (online) and the Print Academy (classroom instruction and plant tours). |
Scott Landis, Chairman of the Regional Print Industry Advisory Group noted the significance of the industry in this Quad State region, in particular this area has over 8,000 individuals employed at over 200 printing and allied industries. These companies include many internationally known printers with major facilities here in this region, including; Quad Graphics, Quebecor World, Perry Judd’s, Hub Labels, and Berryville Graphics. |
The cost of the Print Academy is broken into segments; those who enroll in Part I will pay $675 and if they sign up for Part II, it will cost an additional $195. For those individuals who only sign up for Part II, the fee will be $495. College credits will be awarded to those who complete Part I & II. |
| Back |
For more information about Regional Printing Institute please email printdirector@rpionline.net or call toll free 877-208-5171, or visit their web site at www.rpionline.net. |