SPSS ANNOUNCES DATA MINING EDUCATION PROGRAM

Combining the latest in software technology and analytical expertise, SPSS Inc. announced its Continuing Education Partner Program (CEPP) at the League of Innovation meeting in Chicago last night. Inspired by an established partnership with Cuyahoga Community College in Ohio, the CEPP provides a framework for colleges and universities to begin offering classes in data mining competency. SPSS is currently accepting applications for partnerships from accredited private or public higher education institutions with diverse and large enrollments.

"We created the CEPP so that colleges and universities can offer a valuable advantage to their students and communities, " said Jack Noonan, president and CEO of SPSS. "This program will help them to prepare the labor force for the future. We are pleased to be involved in a program that will raise awareness of data mining at the collegiate level."

The CEPP curriculum is founded on the Cross Industry Standard Process for Data Mining (CRISP-DM) methodology and emphasizes the critical skills necessary to conduct successful data mining initiatives. Using an assortment of SPSS' data mining software, including Clementine, the certificate program will focus on the manufacturing, health care, higher education, and insurance/financial services industries, attracting participants from those disciplines as well as business and IT programs.

The objective of the CEPP is to establish national competencies in data mining. In addition to the strong focus on a data mining methodology, participants will receive instruction and evaluation in data analysis as well as software training. Upon completion of the CRISP-DM assessment and three application/software certificates, participants will be awarded a continuing education certificate recognizing them as a "Certified Data Mining Professional."

For more information on SPSS, visit http://www.spss.com.