ACEware Software
Student DataCenter, SDCweb
Database
Approximately 11,000 registrations are recorded annually in almost 1,200 programs
Unique Programs
Striptease for Fitness, but not to worry, the only thing you will be taking off in this class is… pounds!
The Missoula County Public Schools Adult and Continuing Education program enjoys a long and rich history that stretches back 50 years when the community recognized a need to retrain journeymen carpenters in the field of welding.
The program has grown from a handful of participants to an annual enrollment of almost 11,000 participants in 1,200 programs. Although the course offerings have changed the partnership with the school continues in a win-win for the department and the community.
“We still operate in the high school and share some terrific lab space. The welding and cooking labs allow us to hold some very diverse and hands-on classes.” Jodie Rasmussen isn’t shy when it comes to bragging about their partnerships, facilities, and courses, and she shouldn’t hesitate. As adult education coordinator she knows the positive impact MCPS has on the community.
“People form a bond in our fitness courses and the classes become a social contact as well as a way to improve physical health. They are an alternative to the clubs and gyms where you may or may not see the same people every day. By far our health and fitness courses are the most popular. We offer over 100 health and fitness classes a quarter and they fill up early” says Rasmussen.
There’s a workforce leadership side to their offerings as well. Rasmussen says, “We are the only certified provider in Montana offering medical billing and coding. It’s an area that’s receiving a lot of scrutiny from the federal government and we’re ready.”
But, according to Rasmussen, the thing that MCPS does better than anyone else in the local area is course management. “Student Data Center gives us the ability to schedule, register and track all the details that go into every single course. It’s very easy for us to do, so much so, that we partner with the local chamber of commerce and other organizations to do nothing but the course management side of a program. We do the registrations, invoicing, and reporting, and our partners handle the development and marketing.”
“We’re efficient marketers” she continues, and that’s good since MCPS faces competition from a local college, private training companies and studios. “Usually we work closely with our competition so that we don’t duplicate our offerings. We try to work with each other’s strengths for the benefit of the community.”
MCPS converted to Student Data Center from Student Manager almost five years ago. They found SDC to be more flexible stronger room scheduling features and more user defined fields to customize. In fact, the scheduling feature is their favorite feature in SDC followed closely by SDC’s reporting power.
“SDC has been able to do anything we can dream up,” says Rasmussen. “Even Brian, our tech, has been excited about some of our reports. Our future holds more certificate programs, and more partnerships and collaborations. We’re confident that SDC will be able to handle everything.”
As we’re wrapping up we talk about what she might like a potential customer to think about.
“What would I tell a prospective customer? I would tell them about the great, great support. Brian and Dennis are wonderful! In fact, ACEware may be our favorite partnership.”
