The new STC Professional Certification: What’s in it for you?

At the May 2011 Summit in Sacramento, CA, STC announced the inauguration of a professional certification program. Technical Communicators (not only STC members) can apply for evaluation of their work products and processes in 6 areas of professional practice. This certification is portfolio-based rather than exam-based. The program is still in beta testing, so there is a special rate until the end of the year.

So how do you decide whether or not to pursue this certification? This talk will address that question by answering these questions:

• What are the benefits STC believes can accrue to professional certification? What are other “models”?
• Who is eligible for evaluation/certification?
• What are we learning as the program begins?
• What is STC’s role in administering the program?
• Who are the evaluators and how are they trained?

Speaker Bio

Hillary Hart is a fellow of the Society for Technical Communication and currently serves as the Society’s president. Having long served at the community and international levels, her STC awards include a Distinguished Technical Communication Award from Technical Communication in 2007 and the President’s Award in 2008.

As Distinguished Sr. Lecturer in the Department of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering at the University of Texas, Hillary has developed in the last 24 years a multi-level program in technical communication, teaching over 165 undergraduate and graduate engineering students yearly and bringing in speakers and scholarships. She also consults with and conducts short courses and workshops for a diverse selection of clients, including public agencies (the TX Water Development Board, TX Commission on Environmental Quality) and corporations such as BP-Amoco, Gestalt, and Alcoa.

Hillary has published one book (sole author) and over 20 technical articles on environmental risk communication, engineering ethics, teaching communication to engineering undergraduates, and defining technical communication. She has also presented over 35 talks at national technical conferences (including 20 at STC conferences). As a researcher at UT Austin, she has helped secure $3,000,000 in grant funding.

Hillary will be happy to answer your questions and to summarize some of the other initiatives and services STC is rolling out this fall.

Schedule

6:30 - 7:00 PM: Networking, light food, and refreshment
7:00 - 8:30 PM: Program and Q&A

Meeting includes light food and refreshments.

Tickets

You can purchase advance tickets at the following link:
http://stcaustinchaptermeeting0914.eventbrite.com/

A note about the new location - Tech Ranch has moved

Tech Ranch, the host site for our chapter meetings last year, has moved. Please make note of the new location in the Oakpointe office complex. [Map] If lost, please call 512-775-0795.

Tech Ranch-Austin
9111 Jollyville Road
Suite 100
Austin, TX 78759 [Map]
Phone: 512-339-3242
http://techranchaustin.com/

$5 Members
$10 Non-Members