A new program that could affect dozens of students back from the armed forces at Syracuse University will allow post-9/11 veterans to prepare for technology careers through their laptops.

The Technology Education Certificate program will be offered online for free to post-9/11 veterans and prepare them to work in service and global technology companies like JPMorgan Chase & Co., according to a Tuesday SU News Services release. JPMorgan Chase collaborates with SU under the Global Enterprise Technology program, which teaches students about the global economy.

The latest certificate program, announced Tuesday, should include multiple paths toward degree programs at several SU schools for post-9/11 veterans, according to the release. Those schools include the Martin J. Whitman School of Management, School of Information Studies and L.C. Smith College of Engineering and Computer Science.

‘I think it’s a great idea,’ said Sean Galloway, president of SU’s Student Veterans Club, which has about 80 members. ‘Any program that can help veterans is a plus.’

Galloway, a student veteran who fought in Iraq for eight months in 2005, called the program an add-on bonus for post-9/11 veterans. He said it’s nice to return from overseas and receive support from the university, politicians and employers.

‘It’s a monkey off your back,’ said Galloway, also a junior management major.

It’s great that student veterans can study the material at their own pace because it’s an online course, Galloway said. Completing the program will also be a good segue into the global market for student veterans, he said.

‘They’re going to learn something new that’s very demanding,’ Galloway said.

JPMorgan Chase and SU officials were not available for comment.

The Technology Education Certificate program is part of a larger announcement by JPMorgan Chase to assist, train and hire military service personnel and veterans. The company plans to create an alliance with corporate employers to hire 100,000 veterans and military members during the next decade, according to a company release published in Business Wire on Tuesday.

Locally, employers have contacted Galloway about jobs and internships for student veterans, he said. Galloway e-mailed a job opportunity from Tony Baird Electronics to the SU student veteran listserv. The Syracuse-based government contracting firm is looking for a student veteran engineer, Galloway said.

Said Galloway: ‘There’s a bunch of opportunities out there for these guys.’

mcboren@syr.edu

 

Published on February 14, 2011 at 12:00 pm