PM College and Carnegie Mellon's CIO Institute Offer Complete IT Project Management Master's Certificate Program Twice in 2004.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

ARLINGTON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 16, 2003

Program Gives Government IT Professionals More Opportunities to Comply with OMB Funding Requirements

PM College(R), the corporate training and professional development arm of project management consulting firm PM Solutions, is once again teaming with Carnegie Mellon's Chief Information Officer (CIO) Institute to deliver its full IT Project Management Master's Certificate Program twice in 2004.

This expanded course schedule, its convenient location, and an early registration discount enable time-starved Government IT professionals - particularly those responsible for project planning, budgeting, risk, and quality management - to more easily comply with the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) mandate of government project managers. Under the OMB mandate, project managers must qualify for their positions if they manage projects with budgets over $500,000. Compliance with the 2002 mandate will be required for 2004 and 2005 project funding.

The master's certificate was developed in conjunction with The Heinz School at Carnegie Mellon University and the CIO Institute. The six courses required for the certificate will be offered in succession from January to June and then again from July to December. Each course is completed in three or four working days and is conveniently held at the Carnegie Mellon Software Engineering Institute in Arlington, Va.

According to Bill Ferguson, executive director of the CIO Institute, having skilled project leaders in place helps companies and federal agencies operate more efficiently, with less waste in terms of cost and effort.

"Government projects are complex because they often cross organizational and agency boundaries and require steadfast project management skills," he said. "The courses in the PM College/CIO Institute program help create effective project managers who can meet the OMB's requirements."

"Over the past few years, IT project management credentials have become a priority to government agencies, particularly because of the Office of Management and Budget's certification mandate," said Deborah Bigelow, president of PM College. "Time and scheduling conflicts, however, make it difficult for IT professionals to complete the entire course. By offering the full course twice in one year, IT professionals can choose the course they need to take at the time that best suits their schedules, and meet the OBM's mandate in time for funding."

Applicants who register for the complete program by December 31, 2003 will save $500 off the total tuition. Agencies that register three or more students for the same courses at the same time will receive 10% off the list price of the courses. To register, visit http://cioi.web.cmu.edu or contact Karen Widmaier at [e-mail] or 412-268-4656.

About PM College's and Carnegie Mellon's IT Project Management Master's Certificate Program

PM College and Carnegie Mellon's IT Project Management Master's Certificate Program features six courses designed to provide government IT project managers with the fundamental skills needed to effectively manage all aspects of IT projects, including project execution, planning, and close-out; project performance; risk and resource management; efficiency; quality; and customer satisfaction. The courses include:

-- Managing Technology Projects (January 21-23 or July 26-28) -

Provides an introduction and overview of the concepts and

practices used in effective IT project management.

-- Identifying and Managing IT Requirements (February 18-20 or

August 16-18) - Improves IT professionals' skills in

requirements identification, definition, and management.

-- IT Project Cost and Schedule Management (March 15-17 or

September 8-10) - Teaches project managers how to effectively

assess, plan, and control the project costs, schedules, and

resources.

-- IT Risk Management (April 19-21 or October 20-22) - Shows

project managers how to develop a project-wide perspective of

managing risk on technology projects, from hardware and

software to product development.

-- Leadership in a Project Environment (May 24-26 or November

8-10) - Improves communication, leadership, conflict,

management, and decision-making skills.

-- IT Project Practicum (June 28-July 1 or December 7-10) - Takes

students through the entire life cycle of a project, including

initiating, planning, executing, controlling, and closing

processes.

About Carnegie Mellon's CIO Institute

Carnegie Mellon's Chief Information Officer Institute (CIOI) is a leading source of continuing education for CIO's and senior information technology professionals. The Institute provides concentrated professional education programs created by Carnegie Mellon's world class faculty and other top business leaders. The Institute offers certificate programs and executive education courses on a variety of topics and allows Federal CIO Certificate participants to earn credits toward select Carnegie Mellon University master degrees. Enrollment information can be obtained at http://cioi.web.cmu.edu/ or by calling 412-268-4656.

About PM College(R)

PM Solutions' Project Management College (PM College) is dedicated to providing excellence in corporate project management training and professional development. In partnership with the prestigious Heinz School at Carnegie Mellon University, PM College offers superior course content and realistic educational approaches to create behavior change essential for project management success. Students can earn a Master's Certificate in Project Management or a specialized IT Project Management Master's Certificate awarded by the PM College and endorsed by The Heinz School of Carnegie Mellon University. PM College is recognized as a global charter Registered Education Provider (REP) by the Project Management Institute (PMI(R)). In partnership with Caliper International, PM College also offers a Project Manager Competency Assessment Program, helping companies determine which individual project managers have the highest potential to grow and excel. By providing organizations with the competencies needed to effectively manage programs, projects, and teams, PM College helps improve bottom line performance. For more information, visit www.pmcollege.com.