communication department

Volume XIX Number 10

Administration

Certification Evaluation Task Force Seeks Input

Editor's note: Material for this article comes from an article written by Bill Thomas, senior member of the Rocky Mountain Chapter STC, and e-mailed to the newsletter editors' mailing list for inclusion in chapter newsletters.

STC's revitalization and transformation initiative has renewed interest in certification for the technical communication profession. Jonathan Baker and Dan Wise are currently leading a task force to examine the issue of certification from all sides. At the July 2006 Board of Directors meeting, STC President Paula Berger discussed several of these angles, including certification's value to employers and members, financial impact, and feasibility of implementation—and, more importantly, the interest level of members.

Jon, Dan, and eighteen other STC members across the U.S. and Canada have been meeting via conference call to determine the starting point and progress of this study. The task force members are currently working to prepare the questions they will consider as part of their work. They will report to the Society in May 2007 with their findings.

Some of the questions that have been considered so far include the following.

• Is there a body of knowledge defining this profession?
• What would be the core competencies required?
• Would certification help or hurt the cause of the technical communicator in the field?
• How would employers react to certification?
• Would academia respond positively to a professional body of knowledge and teach standardized courses to develop certified students?
• Would STC provide postgraduate, continuing education courses?
• Should certification be based on knowledge, experience, or both?
• Would there be levels of certification (basic, advanced, master)?
• Are there financial concerns on the part of STC, academia, employers, or practitioners that need to be addressed?
• Are there international or cultural considerations that need to be addressed?
• How would certification be marketed to sell the value of such a program—and the profession in general—to practitioners, employers, and academics?
• Would professional certification enhance the group, or cause anyone to leave?

If you have comments or recommendations that the task force might consider, please send your information to STC_CTF@yahoogroups.com. If you would like to participate in the research the task force will be conducting, contact Jon Baker or Dan Wise.

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Help STC Champion Growth in Target Areas

Are you looking for an opportunity to use your leadership skills and help STC grow? STC's growth strategy targets segments of the profession that have a high potential for attracting new members to the Society. Volunteers are needed to champion growth in specific segments.

These volunteers, called champions, will lead the segment marketing effort by:

• Advising Mary Kabza, STC's Director of Marketing and Membership, regarding realistic growth target numbers or percentage increases
• Recommending strategies for reaching potential members in the segment
• Providing support as requested to the Director of Marketing and Membership in implementing those strategies
• Monitoring annual progress toward the target growth numbers

Recommended target segments for 2007-2009:

• Locations with small communities in North America
• Europe
• India
• China
• Corporate
• Students
• Translation and localization
• Advanced career professionals
• Usability
• Renewal

How you can help:

• Volunteer to be the champion for one of the segments.
• Suggest a colleague as the champion for one of the segments.
• Suggest additional high-potential segments that you think the Society should target.

Please contact Mary Kabza to volunteer for this important new Society role. You may also e-mail Mary with any feedback and comments.

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October 2006 Board Report Posted to STC Site

The report from the Board of Directors meeting held in London on October 13, 2006, has been posted to the STC Web site.

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Use Mailing Lists to Connect with Other Community Leaders

STC mailing lists can be a vital resource for brainstorming ideas with other leaders and learning helpful tips from other communities to incorporate into your own chapter or SIG activities.

Mailing list options include:

• "stc_sigleaders" for SIG leaders
• "stcwebmaster-L" for community webmasters
• "stc_pres" for chapter presidents
• "news-eds" for newsletter editors