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In This Issue:
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New CCNA Security Course Now Available
 “IT security certifications posted solid numbers from April to June. In fact, security certifications lead all categories of skills, experiencing a 2% gain over the past 12 months.” -Foote Partners, David Foote, CEO, http://www.footepartners.com
Cisco Networking Academy is pleased to announce general availability of the English version of the CCNA Security course. All course materials are available for immediate use on Academy Connection and instructors can now open and teach student classes.
CCNA Security is designed for Networking Academy students seeking career-oriented, entry-level security specialist skills. Prospective students include IT professionals who want to enhance their core routing and switching skills and students enrolled in technology degree programs at institutions of higher education.
[Full Story]
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2009 Academy Conference: Orlando, Denver, and now virtual…
 Academy Conference is the single largest instructor professional development event held in the United States for Networking Academy instructors. Our in-person conferences in Orlando and Denver broke records for attendance!
Now all of the technical sessions presented are available on demand as a ‘virtual conference’ – now, whether you attended in person and simply want to use the Webex recordings in your classroom, or you weren’t able to attend in person and want to attend virtually, you can.
[Full Story]
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WorldSkills Competition, Calgary, September 2009
 The 40th WorldSkills Competition will see over 900 competitors from 51 member countries/regions, vying for international recognition in any of 45 different skills categories. WorldSkills 4-day competitions promote awareness of the essential contribution that skills and high standards of competence make to the achievement of economic success and personal fulfillment. These efforts also motivate and encourage young adults to explore successful careers in skills, trades and technology.
In preparation for WorldSkills, the US and Canada held country-wide competitions. In the Internetworking competition, Networking Academy students won all of the medals, and Canadian students won 5 of the 6 medals.
Follow the success of our US and Canada competitors: Kinzie Doll, Summit Technology Academy, Lee’s Summit, MO (first female to place 1st in SkillsUSA Championships, post-secondary division); and Matthew Chadder, Southern Alberta Institute of Technology Polytechnic, Calgary, AB.
Cisco is a Global Founding Sponsor of WorldSkills Calgary 2009. Press release: www.worldskills2009.com/media/newsrelease.cfm?id=06162009114220
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Website Makeover for Networking Academy
 The global site for Cisco Networking Academy has a new look! Both the layout and content have been updated for an improved user experience. Your input is highly valued. Check it out and send us your feedback.
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New Version of Cisco Packet Tracer Available (5.2)
Cisco Networking Academy is pleased to announce the release of Cisco Packet Tracer version 5.2, a minor release that includes the following new and enhanced functionality:
1. Security protocols to support the CCNA Security course, including IPSec and GRE VPNs,
IPS and zone-based policy firewalls on ISRs, AAA, wireless security, SNMP, syslog, and NTP
2. Enhanced protocol support for CCNA Discovery and CCNA Exploration courses
3. QoS, Context Based Access List (CBAL), and deeper coverage of other protocols
4. GUI enhancements including accessibility compliance improvements, physical mode
enhancements, and a new laptop device
5. Improved Activity Wizard and activity model
[Full Story]
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Green Tech and Healthcare IT Econ Stimulus Info
Dear Academy Community,
Networking Academy has developed two new vital tools on how you can benefit from economic stimulus opportunities in green technology and healthcare IT education:
 We have also updated the community college data sheet on economic stimulus:
These are also posted on our Economic Stimulus/ARRA page, under Key Tools: www.cisco.com/go/netacad/us/econ
We value your feedback! Please send your input to netacad_econstim@cisco.com
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Student Video Contest Winners!
 “Why I’m Excited About IT”
3-minute videos were submitted to express a compelling story about IT. Participants were Networking Academy high school students, college students, and alumni.
First Place Winners by category:
High School: Why Guys and Girls Are Excited About IT
Herndon Career Center, Raytown, MO
College: Cisco Project: A Network’s Life
San Joaquin Delta College, Stockton, CA
Alumni: Kenneth and Ryan’s Cisco AD
Tomball College (Regional Academy), Houston, TX
See all 10 winning videos here: www.cisco.com/go/netacad/videocontest
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Middle School Technology Summer Camp
 The Santa Clara USD, in San Jose, California, recently held a summer camp on various types of technology careers for middle school students.
The program ran from June 15-19, with 65 students from 4 middle schools. Students were introduced to a wide range of technology topics, including IT and networking.
The Kickoff Day for this summer camp was held on June 15 at Cisco headquarters. This field trip to the Cisco campus provided interaction with Cisco employees, and tours of technology centers and work environments.
Students participated in an IT Quiz Bowl competition for prizes, and came away with real-world inspiration to sign up for technology courses and consider a future in IT and networking.
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Cisco Launches Michigan Workforce Retraining Initiative
 Cisco today launched a new Workforce Retraining Initiative (pilot training program) in Michigan. Built on the Cisco Networking Academy education model, WRI is designed to create new job opportunities for workers, and will focus on training for broadband, network security and healthcare IT - key components of the state's strategy for re-invigorating its economy. To learn more about the Workforce Retraining Initiative, read the press release and visit our site at www.workforcetrainingus.com.
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Age 13+ Now Eligible for Alumni Registration
 For the last number of years, we have been asked to lower the minimum age for Alumni registration eligibility from age 18 to 13. We have worked with our legal team, and are pleased to announce the implementation of the new minimum age of 13. Click below to see what benefits your students will receive!
[Full Story]
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CCNA Security Certification Exam Incentive Program for Instructors
Networking Academy has instituted an incentive program to encourage instructors to pursue the CCNA Security certification. For a limited time, qualified instructors can obtain vouchers for significant discounts on the CCNA Security IINS (640-553) certification exam fee.
The incentive program will start August 8, 2009, and end September 30, 2010. For information about accessing these certification exam vouchers, please review the FAQ.
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Be Sure Your Students Are Using the Latest Revisions of Networking Academy Courses
View the course update list and support documentation.
[Full Story]
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New Interactive Guide to CCNA Curricula
- Do you know why Cisco Networking Academy created CCNA Discovery and CCNA Exploration?
- Are you trying to decide which curriculum is the best fit for your students?
- Are you confused about the two curricula and how they differ?
- Do you know what the options are for offering both curricula?
We've developed an interactive CCNA Curricula Guide to help you answer these questions and more. You can launch the guide directly from the CCNA Curricula Overview page on the Networking Academy website.
[Full Story]
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Free Cisco Certification Exam Vouchers for Instructors - Expires January 1, 2010!
Vouchers within this program will cover 100% of the cost of each Cisco certification exam for active Networking Academy instructors. Active instructors have taught at least one class in the last 12 months with at least 5 students.
[Full Story]
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Networking Academy and Social Networking
Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Flickr – discover
where Networking Academy can be found….
[Full Story]
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Visit the Economic Stimulus Tools Page
 Don’t forget to check out the newest updates to our Economic Stimulus resource page at: www.cisco.com/go/netacad/us/econ
NEW! Data sheets on Grants for Green Jobs and Healthcare IT
Resources available here:
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Networking Academy profiles for each state, Washington D.C., and the United States
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Federal and state grant information links
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Brochures and presentations on Networking Academy and economic stimulus
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Data sheets for each of the 5 targeted grant opportunities
For more information, contact: netacad_econstim@cisco.com
Cisco Grants Office Webinars: view recordings of 11 webinars on ARRA topics
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Technical Webinars for Academy Instructors
Did you miss a previous webinar?
You can view/download session recordings (click below to see entire list).
[Full Story]
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75% Percent of Recruiters Believe Candidates with IT Certifications are More Employable, Finds The IT Job Board
IT Job Board, May 15, 2009
75% of recruiters believe that IT candidates with additional qualifications stand a better chance of securing a job, according to a recent survey undertaken by the IT Job Board. This finding was also supported by the candidate response, where 84% of IT professionals consider that holding industry certifications will improve their employment opportunities. And, a massive 87% of techies believe that recruiters and hiring managers would look for additional qualifications when recruiting for jobs in IT. When it came to the certifications most valued by IT professionals in the current market, 29% cited Cisco CCNA and CCNP. Read the full article: http://news.prnewswire.com/DisplayReleaseContent.aspx?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/05-15-2009/0005026944&EDATE=
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iSchool in New York
A new high school model in New York City that combines innovative technology with project-based learning is so successful in its inaugural year that local education officials are preparing to open another 40 schools like it in the next several years. The iSchool, which opened last fall with 100 ninth graders, is part of a citywide high school choice experiment. More than two-thirds of the iSchool’s students are eligible for free or reduced-priced meals and students attend from all five boroughs in the city. The interdisciplinary curriculum employs nine-week learning modules in which student teams tackle real-world issues. The students connect with “client” organizations in the community with the help of iSchool partners such as Cisco Systems. Attendance is at 94 percent and nearly two-thirds of the school’s freshmen have passed the Regents Exam this year.
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Smart Connected Buildings
Cisco Emerging Technologies
Introducing Smart Connected Buildings, Cisco's latest Emerging Technology that transforms the way buildings are built, operated, and experienced in Cisco Smart+Connected Communities. The Cisco Network Building Mediator (Mediator) is Smart Connected Building's first product. It is a key component of Smart+Connected Communities, Energywise, and SmartGrid, and significantly extends Cisco's energy management solutions and capability.The Mediator was externally announced on July 1, 2009. It sets the stage for Cisco to lead a new global market for sustainability and energy management where volatile energy costs, new mandates, incentives, and the need for environmental stewardship drive global demand.
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