Students and faculty in the technical communication program at Missouri Western State University will benefit from a new partnership between the University and Adobe Systems Inc. The partnership through Adobe’s University Outreach Program enhances campus access to the company’s industry-standard Adobe Technical Communication Suite.
“This will help our students get jobs when they graduate,” said Dr. Kaye Adkins, professor of English/Technical Communication. “These are the tools of the technical communication trade; our employers ask for proficiency in Adobe RoboHelp and Adobe FrameMaker.”
Missouri Western offers technical communication as a concentration for undergraduate English majors and for graduate students in the Master of Applied Arts in Written Communication program and in a recently approved graduate certificate program. It is also offered as a minor for undergraduate students in other programs, and the graduate courses draw students from many other master’s degree programs.
Adobe’s Technical Communication Suite includes RoboHelp, FrameMaker, Captivate, Acrobat Pro and Presenter. The software will be installed in computer labs on campus, on faculty computers, and on computers owned by students taking online courses.
Graduates of the technical communication program agree that the Adobe agreement will help prepare students for the workforce.
“Adobe Technical Communication Suite allowed me to create documentation using real life scenarios while learning the basic concepts of technical writing,” said Aryn Frizell, who received a Bachelor of Arts in English/Technical Communication in 2009. “After seven years in the workforce, I still recall the tools I used in college and consider them a platform for other tools that I’ve had to use.”
“We use Adobe software every day at my workplace,” said Anita Ford, who received a master’s degree in technical communication in 2013. “Familiarity with the Adobe Technical Communication Suite that I obtained at Missouri Western helped me land the job, and it still helps me figure out other software that I encounter thanks to similarities.”
“When I interviewed for my current position, the interviewers were impressed with my proficiency with Adobe programs,” said Mark Henderson, who graduated with a Bachelor of Science in English Education in 2008 and a master’s degree in technical communication in 2014. “I have Missouri Western’s Tech Comm courses to thank for gaining those skills.”
Technical communication helps people learn about technical or specialized topics, communicate by using technology, or use instructions to successfully complete tasks and projects, Dr. Adkins said.
“The goal of a technical communicator is to provide people with the information they need in a way that’s useful, whether that’s through training manuals, help files, informative websites or any other communication medium,” Dr. Adkins said. “This software is an essential tool for doing that.”
Missouri Western State University is a comprehensive regional university providing a blend of traditional liberal arts and professional degree programs. The university offers student-centered, high quality instruction that focuses on experience-based learning, community service, and state-of-the-art technology. Missouri Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit www.missouriwestern.edu.