JOHNSON CITY (April 13, 2020) – The East Tennessee State University Department of Media and Communication is offering its students the opportunity to train and test in five Adobe Creative Cloud programs while social distancing and working from home.
Students choose one or two programs to study – Photoshop, InDesign, Premiere Pro, Illustrator and/or After Effects – and then take the Adobe Certified Associate (ACA) exam. All training and testing is delivered 100% online, and participation is free to ETSU Media and Communication majors. Currently there are 89 students participating in the program.
In normal circumstances, students would have three weeks to prepare for the ACA certification exam, which is typically administered on campus. However, because the university has transitioned to remote work in response to COVID-19, students may use the materials to study and test from home at this time.
“While our whole world around us in changing daily, we are not stopping when it comes to our students’ success,” said Assistant Engineer Patrick Ball. “Delivering the ACA workshops to our students online gives them the opportunity to become more proficient in Creative Cloud software and earn an industry-leading certification.”
Students have access to G-Metrix software to complete training modules in Creative Cloud programs, and then test online using the Certiport Exams at Home program.
“We jumped at the opportunity to move the certification testing online because we were already providing access to remote training,” said Dr. Chase Mitchell, assistant professor. “Our students are stuck at home like most others during this pandemic, and this program gives them a touchpoint with the department, helps us to sustain valuable connections, and gives them a valuable learning experience that will benefit them down the road.”
“As part of the University, we will be following the guidance of the Centers for Disease Control and state and national health directives,” said Director of Engineering Stacy Whitaker. “Many of our students are graduating and will not be in Johnson City over the summer, and they will certainly want to take advantage of the online testing program.”
Students can use this opportunity to gain new skills with Adobe Creative Cloud, which will benefit them in future media careers.
“In the future, I am going into sports reporting and journalism,” said Lindsey Lung, a junior in the department. “The fact that I am able to film and edit my own work confidently, thanks to the ACA training, allows me to bring a wider skill set to the table and advance in my career. It helps tons of students in being able to get these certifications online and not having to wait until the fall to be back on campus.”
Additionally, every student majoring in the Department of Media and Communication has access to the Adobe Creative Cloud on their personal computer, thanks to a department partnership with Adobe.
ACA certifications demonstrate one’s understanding and usability of specific Adobe Creative Cloud products. Certifications can be used to demonstrate one’s skills to future employers.
To learn more about ACA training through the Department of Media and Communication, visit www.etsu.edu/cas/mcom/academics/adobe-certified-associate/default.php. When work is transitioned back on campus, ACA training opportunities will once again be available for faculty, staff and the public.