ODU AND DEFENSE ACQUISITION UNIVERSITY TO OFFER GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING PROGRAM

Old Dominion University and the Department of Defense Acquisition University (DAU) signed a joint memorandum of understanding Sept. 26 that will result in a new certificate program. Under the agreement, ODU's College of Business and Public Administration will, through its Center for Global Business and Executive Education, offer a graduate-level, noncredit certificate program beginning this fall that provides government contracting personnel a well-rounded, practical understanding of current acquisition and procurement contracts.

Headquartered in Washington, D.C., DAU maintains five regional centers throughout the nation, which oversee the experience, education and training of a workforce of nearly 130,000 people who manage all business aspects of government systems acquisition.

"This new relationship with Old Dominion University directly supports our institution's key strategies of strengthening the DoD Acquisition Corps by creating partnerships with academia, industry, government and professional organizations, and international entities," said Barbara Smith, dean of DAU Mid-Atlantic region. "ODU's location and academic reputation are ideal for the nearly 22,000 acquisition professionals in the region."

The partnership with the DAU is one of nearly 40 such formal outreach initiatives established by Old Dominion, half of which are with the federal sector, primarily military organizations.

"We are delighted to become closely associated with DAU by providing high-quality education to its workforce," said Nancy Bagranoff, dean of ODU's business college. "Our talented faculty supporting the certificate program are selected from the government and private sectors and therefore have a solid knowledge of acquisition and contracting subject matter."

For more information about the program, visit www.cppd-odu.com or call 757-683-4603. The program is open to both DoD personnel and the general public.