Local 827
Takes Online
Learning Seriously

July/August IBEW Journal

From left, Michael Davison, IBEW Telecommunications Department International Representative John Walsh and David Furey.

Michael Davison, a network technician for Verizon and member of IBEW Local 827, East Windsor, New Jersey, graduated this spring with
his associate in science degree from Pace University’s online program in telecommunications.

Many IBEW members earn degrees each year. Davsion, however, is a member of a local that has taken full advantage of online learning to gain the knowledge that will help them advance their careers in the modern telecommunications industry.

David Furey, another NACTEL graduate, is a learning advocate for IBEW Local 827. In this volunteer position, David takes education programs that are made available to 827 members and, if he feels they will help his fellow members, helps promote them. NACTEL is one such program.

Pace University’s NACTEL program is sponsored by the National Coalition of Telecommunications Education and Learning (NACTEL) which is comprised of IBEW, CWA, Verizon, SBC, Qwest and Frontier. The program is administered by the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning.

Pace has been offering the NACTEL program, which offers degrees and certificates in telecommunications technologies, entirely online since fall 1999. Since then, over 1,000 IBEW members have taken at least one course in the program. Twenty-nine of these adult learners are from Local 827—the largest union group represented.

Why is that so?

"It’s simple," says Debbie Naugle, Local 827 Verizon/ IBEW Liaison, "because we promote it." Through Local 827’s Advisory Council on Career and Life Strategies, a joint action committee of Local 827, Verizon and IBEW Local 1944, Naugle has incorporated NACTEL into the smorgasbord of educational offerings available to the members. "It’s a great fit for our members. They work different shifts, at different locations, and because Pace’s NACTEL program is entirely online, it enables our members to go to college, which they couldn’t manage otherwise."

The Pace NACTEL program offers an online associate degree in either Telecommunications (covers circuit switched networking, built on copper, DSL) or Networking Technologies (covers packet switched networks, including enhanced IP networking, fiber, and broadband). The program offers certificates, as well as an accelerated Bachelor of Science degree for those who have completed their associate degree.

So far, Local 827 members has had five members graduate with their associate degree, including Robert Crosio, Jesse Diaz, Scott Dentsen (Pace 2004 Student of the Year), Michael Davison, David Furey and Alexandre Gabler. Gabler was also one of the first to graduate with his bachelor degree this year, earning an award for scholastic excellence. Gabler, who is in system technician operations, says that "learning the fundamentals has definitely helped me on the job; in addition, Verizon is just starting to implement what I’ve already learned in my classes."

Last year Service Center Clerk Veronica Rivers responded to David Furey’s prompting to enter the program because NACTEL is helping her achieve a "lifelong dream of a higher education." Rivers has this advice for anyone considering it: "Make sure this is for you. You have to be disciplined to get through it." She’s had no problem with the technology or the instruction and knows she has help if she needs it. "The support of the Pace instructors and staff, and the encouragement of David Furey have been exceptional," says Rivers.

Efforts like that are what keep Local 827 in the forefront of NACTEL and other learning programs.

For information on NACTEL, visit: www.nactel.org.