Topics: Indianapolis Center, College of Communication Information and Media

October 22, 2007

Ball State University has been selected as Indiana's first Apple Authorized Training Center (AATC) and Apple Authorized Training Center for Education (AATCe), providing courses in digital media technologies using Apple software.

With the new affiliation, Ball State joins a network of colleges, universities and businesses throughout the nation training individuals in digital media technologies.

AATC training for information technology professionals will be primarily at the Ball State University Indianapolis Center, 50 W. Meridian, while AATCe courses for students are being conducted on the Muncie campus.

"The mission of the Apple training program is to create training centers for digital media technologies, which will help transform and diversify the state's economy," said Jonathan Blake Huer, a telecommunications instructor and an Apple certified trainer. "By increasing the technical skills of students and IT professionals in Indiana, we are continuing our goal of becoming the media leader in the Midwest."

Ball State worked with Apple officials to become a center after noticing a number of students traveling to Chicago, home of the nearest Apple training center, to gain certification, he said.

The AATC and ATTCe centers serve as a resource for training a broad range of users, including professional editors, students, faculty, business executives, digital artists, sound designers, filmmakers, webmasters, photographers and other individuals interested in digital technology.

Upon completing the course material, individuals may become certified by taking an exam.

The first professional level class at the Ball State Indianapolis Center begins Oct. 27. Information may be found at the Center for Organizational Resources Web site at www.bsu.edu/cor and clicking on computer training. More information about Apple's programs may be found at http://training.apple.com.

Ball State is providing assistance for the Apple training centers through the Digital Exchange Initiative, a $20 million project funded by Lilly Endowment Inc. to enhance the university's innovative, immersive, educational experiences for students in digital technology.

By Marc Ransford, Senior Communications Strategist