BICSI recently announced that it is retiring two of the credentials it has offered to system-design professionals. The Network Technology Systems (NTS) and Wireless Design (WD) programs will no longer be supported by the development of curriculum in the form of classroom instruction, publications or testing.
In a letter to members, BICSI president Jerry Bowman stated that BICSI will “enhance the relevance of the DCDC [Data Center Design Consultant] program by incorporating much of the content from the NTS program into the DCDC program.” Bowman’s letter also assured that BICSI is “in the progress of developing a transition plan for existing NTS credential holders. The transition plan will include details on how NTS credential holders can either continue to display their NTS or increase their attractiveness to potential clients and employers by assisting them in the migration of their NTS to a DCDC.” He also stated, “As the market-facing technology in our industry has evolved, the DCDC program is very relevant to industry need, and is increasingly well-positioned to add value to our value proposition to all BICSI stakeholders.”
Concerning the WD program, Bowman said, “The Wireless Design Reference Manual has valuable content, but members have not participated in the program at high enough levels to justify continuing the program. A new wireless strategy will be developed and the relevant wireless information in this program will be incorporated into new or existing programs. This will allow us to continue to remain focused on the information that helps our members be in demand in the marketplace. Current WD credential holders can continue to display their retired WD credential.”
The letter to members also announced that BICSI will not proceed with its previously planned 2013 European Conference and Exhibition, which had been scheduled to take place in South Wales, U.K. June 24-26.
Bowman followed up his letter by addressing the considerations that BICSI made before making these decisions, in his “President’s Message” within the November/December issue of BICSI News magazine. In that column, Bowman recalled the global financial collapse and pointed out that it was back in August 2007 when “the air started to escape from the global financial bubble. …It took more than a year for the second stage of the crisis to unfold,” he said, adding that “When Lehman Brothers went bankrupt in September 2008, the global economy was ready to blow.”
He further explained: “Before the effects of the global economic issues began to have any long-term impact, we were beginning to realign our business plan and strategies with a rapidly changing industry and stakeholder needs … Budgets were cut and decisive actions were taken to protect BICSI’s financial health and long-term outlook. And it worked.”
Specifically regarding the NTS and WD retirements, Bowman said they “were no knee-jerk decisions, or reactive in nature. They are simply part of a series of bold management moves that began in 2007 and are meant to provide BICSI with the best possible chance to enjoy another 40 years of success.”
You can read Jerry Bowman’s November/December President’s Message here.