American Sentinel University Leads Discussion on Educating the Next 25 Years of Geospatial Professionals at GIS in the Rockies 2012

Developing Education for the Future of GIS – AURORA, Colo. – September 17, 2012 – Data from The Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that the 2010 – 2020 job outlook for geographic information systems (GIS) professionals at all skill levels has never been better and is growing much faster than average. All geospatial occupations are expected to grow by at least 14 percent. This growth has created a need for advanced geospatial education programs that keep students current on the best practices for the implementation of geospatial technology in a wide range of industry sectors.

American Sentinel University will be a featured participant and sponsor at the upcoming GIS in the Rockies Conference, celebrating 25 Years of Geospatial Collaboration.

Dr. Devon A. Cancilla, dean of business and technology at American Sentinel University is this year’s education track chair and was charged with choosing and organizing panelists for the Educating the Next 25 Years of GIS Professionals session. Dr. Cancilla will also serve as the discussion monitor for the session on Thursday, Sept. 20 from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. MST in the Delaplaine Newsroom in the Cable Center on the University of Denver campus in Denver, Colorado.

Dr. Stephen McElroy, GIS chair for American Sentinel, will participate as a panelist on the education track and will discuss ‘Designing and Developing a New Online Graduate Geospatial Program.’

“Designing and developing a new, innovative online graduate geospatial program presents a unique opportunity to shape innovative curriculum for working professionals who have expertise in fields other than GIS,” says Dr. McElroy.

Dr. McElroy’s presentation will detail how American Sentinel University collaborated with industry experts through a GIS advisory board, following both the Geospatial Technology Competency Model and the Lumina Foundation model to establish program learning outcomes and course objectives for online GIS graduate programs. Dr. McElroy will also profile strategies for assessing and maintaining program quality and relevancy.

To learn more about American Sentinel’s integrative approach to designing a geospatial graduate program and it’s anticipated affect on the GIS community, attend session T-3 from 3:30 - 5 p.m. MST on Thursday, Sept. 20 at GIS in The Rockies. Or to hear all panelists on this year’s GIS education track, attend all three session blocks beginning at 10:30 a.m. and wrapping up at 5 p.m. MST.

“We’ll continue to stay abreast of industry needs and incorporate new approaches into our curriculum so that our students remain competitive and agile in the dynamic geospatial marketplace,” adds Dr. McElroy.

American Sentinel University will also be exhibiting on the first floor at booth number 104 on Thursday, Sept. 20 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. MST and Friday, Sept. 21 from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. MST in the Cable Center at the University of Denver campus in Denver, Colorado. American Sentinel is also sponsoring the Thursday evening social event from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. MST in the Cable Center.

Stop by and meet the GIS team to learn more about American Sentinel’s GIS degree programs.

Learn more about American Sentinel University’s GIS degrees at http://www.americansentinel. edu/information-technology/b- s-geographic-information- systems.

About GIS in the Rockies
GIS in the Rockies is the intermountain west's premier geospatial information and technology conference. The conference offers opportunities for industry professionals to learn more about geospatial technology issues and business-centric strategies supporting every vertical market touched by the geospatial industry.

Historically, attendees have included representatives from local, state, and federal government, the utilities industry, environmental services, land surveying professionals, the oil and gas industry, students, educational practitioners, and retail and business marketing professionals. Whether you are a seasoned GIS professional or are new to the industry, GIS in the Rockies Conference will offer industry insights and opportunities for everyone.

About American Sentinel University
American Sentinel University delivers the competitive advantages of accredited associate, bachelor's and master's online degree programs focused on the needs of high-growth sectors, including information technology, computer science, GIS, computer information systems and business intelligence degrees. The university is accredited by the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC), which is listed by the U.S. Department of Education as a nationally recognized accrediting agency and is a recognized member of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.