PNC Staff Member Earns Professional Scholarship in 2015

PNCA Purdue University North Central staff member recently earned a scholarship presented by the Midwest Association of Higher Education Facilities Officers.

Scott Parsons, maintenance crew leader, will use his scholarship to attend the Institute for Facilities Management, a key professional development institute designed to give its attendees the skills needed to manage the operations and personnel of a facilities department.

The Midwest Association of Higher Education Facilities Officers, is known as the MAPPA thanks to its original name, Midwest Association of Physical Plant Administrators. The organization is dedicated to serving the needs of the facilities professionals who are responsible for maintaining, protecting and promoting the quality of educational facilities and libraries in the seven-state Midwest area. It is part of the international association, the Association of Physical Plant Administrators (APPA).

The organization offers its members the professional development program, APPA U, which includes two programs - the Institute for Facilities Management and the Leadership Academy. Parsons will take part in the Institute for Facilities Management. The Institute for Facilities Management offers four different week-long professional education segments: General Administration & Management; Maintenance & Operations; Energy & Utilities; and Planning, Design & Construction. Institute students select one core area that will be the focus of their classes for that week. Presenters included professionals from universities located throughout the country. Parsons has completed two sessions and this scholarship will help fund his attendance at his third session.

Upon completing each week-long session, students will receive a certificate of completion designating their core area of study and 3.0 continuing education units (CEUs). To receive maximum benefit, APPA recommends that students work towards graduation from the full Institute program by completing all four core areas.