TU's Cisco Academy Support and Training Center continues to teach technology to greater Baltimore

As the only support and training center in Maryland, Towson University helps support the 73 non-profit Cisco Academies in the state.

By Kyle Hobstetter on April 4, 2017

As the largest networking company in the world, Cisco is at the forefront of high technology. And since 2012, Towson University has served as a Cisco Academy Support and Training Center, teaching that high technology to the greater Baltimore community.

Cisco licenses IT and career skills development programs for free to non-profit institutions through a program called Cisco Academies. Any non-profit institution interested in teaching Cisco technologies in their institutions can apply to become a Cisco Academy. As a Cisco Academy Support and Training Center, TU provides training to Cisco Academies throughout the region. 

TU is the only Cisco Academy Support and Training Center in the state of Maryland, serving the 73 Cisco Academies currently in the state. This includes 52 secondary schools, 14 post-secondary academies and seven non-traditional programs, all of which were trained through Towson University.

Additionally, Towson University has worked with Cisco Academies in Delaware, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, West Virginia and Washington D.C. These academies have joined over 9,000 institutions in over 170 countries that have brought authentic Cisco technologies into the classroom.

“The Cisco technology uses a hands-on approach to learning the latest trends in technology,” said Iris Kutch, TU’s Cisco Academy Training and Support manager. “By using authentic equipment, students really gain hands-on instruction to prepare for industry certification.”

In starting a Cisco Academy, non-profit organizations work directly with Towson University through specific training courses that are mostly offered online.

Cisco Academies provide plenty of benefits to both students and their non-profit institutions:

  • A high-quality curriculum that combines in-depth technical training and professional skills development
  • Courses that complement an academic or vocational program and prepare students for certification
  • A learning platform to track student success and connect with educators and IT experts
  • Career-building resources created with employers for TU alumni
  • Discounts on Cisco equipment for the classroom and certification exams for students

Along with the benefits for a non-profit, Cisco Academies provide its students with different career options for their future.

“It is import to expose and teach students about options other than the traditional methods of learning,” Kutch said. “Not everyone is college-bound. Obtaining an industry certification can open doors for those without a college degree.

“Cisco also gives students a chance to partner with local companies that provide internships and entry-level positions.”

Any non-profit institution interested in teaching Cisco in their institutions can apply at the Cisco NetAcad website. For more information about Towson University’s Cisco Academy Support and Training Center, visit the center’s website or .

This story is one of several related to President Kim Schatzel's priorities for Towson University—BTU: Partnerships at Work for Greater Baltimore and TU Matters to Maryland