Encouraging Professional Development in LSA Technology Services

One of LSA Technology Services' core values is to be a lifelong explorer which includes our commitment to continuing professional development for our staff, including accreditations and certifications.

One of LSA Technology Services' core values is to be a lifelong explorer; that is, to be always curious, to embrace and learn from failure, to share our discoveries, and to be enthusiastic to embark on the next great adventure. This includes our commitment to continuing professional development for our staff, including accreditations and certifications.

This past semester, John "JJ" Jahn, a project engineer lead with LSA Technology Services, proposed that the University of Michigan host the preparation course for the Audiovisual and Integrated Experience Association (AVIXA) Certified Technology Specialist™ (CTS®) professional certification exam, which is the primary professional certification for audiovisual specialists in the AV community. LSA covered the training costs and Michigan Medicine paid for meals. The three-day course was held at the Michigan League's Henderson Room.

Members of the LSA Technology Services leadership were excited to hear how this training could help staff across U-M, as AV technology is getting more complex and has exploded in demand across teaching, learning, and research in higher education.

"Not only was this a terrific opportunity for LSA Technology Services staff to gain more sophisticated practical skills with AV's ANSI standards, the math and science behind AV signal transport, commissioning AV systems, and with the fundamentals in correcting common AV issues using the science to diagnose the problems," shared Monika Dressler, director of Academic Technology Services, "...but it also was an exceptional opportunity to develop a shared language and deeper understanding of each other's work."

Four members of LSA Technology Services, along with 23 other members of the Michigan IT Audiovisual (AV) Technology Community of Practice across 13 other units, took the course.

While JJ earned the basic CTS certification many years ago, and has since progressed to the highest levels of certification with both CTS-D and CTS-I certifications, JJ felt strongly about bringing this training and official certification process to more staff at the university. The CTS course is an intense learning experience to increase broader knowledge of the field, help staff gain hands-on experience and theoretical knowledge, and is a potential stepping stone to new professional positions. The fact that staff from across U-M also participated in the training meant that shared knowledge and shared experience now extends to colleagues across several schools and colleges.

These professional standards and accreditation, often challenging to find in higher education, provide a bridge to external market reviews and industry comparisons between our campus and the corporate world. They also help our team continue to grow our expertise and provide better service and support to LSA and our campus community.

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