Appalachian Regional Commission awards School of Computing and Information $500,000

The Appalachian Regional Commission’s (ARC) Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce Economic Revitalization (POWER) Initiative has awarded Pitt’s School of Computing and Information $500,000 for its applied data-driven methods graduate certificate program.

ARC is an economic development agency that works with federal and state governments to boost investments in the region. The POWER program puts federal resources toward areas affected by job losses in the coal industry.

Pitt’s ADDM certificate, launched in 2021, is a 12-credit offering designed to support students in gaining the computational tools necessary to take on careers that demand an understanding of data-driven methods.

“The ADDM certificate enables us to cast a wide net in terms of the background and life experiences of individuals who can be trained through this course of study,” said Bruce Childers, interim dean of the School of Computing and Information. “It is an important component of our commitment to supporting the development of a well-trained and diverse workforce for our region. We are grateful to ARC and our many partners for the confidence that has been placed in us through this investment.”

Over the next three years, Pitt’s grant will provide tuition support for 54 residents of both Fayette and Westmoreland counties to pursue the ADDM certificate.

Applicants for this scholarship must:

• Be residents of Westmoreland or Fayette counties
• Hold a bachelor’s degree in any field
• Be available for a year of part-time study starting in the fall 2022 semester

No enrollment or prior affiliation to Pitt is required.

Each enrollee will receive funding covering a majority of program tuition, which will be complemented with other sources of support. Students will take four courses for 12 credits in total and will receive a certificate in Applied Data-Driven Methods.

To learn more about this opportunity or to ask questions about the scholarship, dcs23 [at] pitt.edu (email Donald Shields), associate dean of external relations for the School of Computing and Information.