The College of Business at Valparaiso University is meeting the expectations of today’s employers by adding skills-based certifications to the curriculum for all its students. Finance major and LaPorte native Aidan Ross ’25 not only received his Microsoft Office 365 Excel certification but has also been recognized as the Indiana State Champion in Excel.
Microsoft Office 365 Excel certification is earned after passing a proctored, standards-based exam. Each state’s highest-scoring individual is named the champion. In the event of a tie, the person with the faster time to complete the exam is declared the winner. Aidan Ross achieved a perfect score and had the fastest time in Indiana.
“I figured that I had gotten one of the better scores, seeing as it was perfect, but I didn’t know it would be the best until I got the email telling me so,” Aidan said.
Dr. Paul Rowe, Lecturer of Information and Decision Sciences with the College of Business, was tasked with starting the Excel certification program at Valpo. Dr. Rowe worked as an industry professional for brands such as Motorola and Newell-Rubbermaid before switching to teaching. Given his background, he recognizes the immense importance of certifications to today’s students as they enter the job market.
“When an employer sees that someone has the official Microsoft Excel certification, they know that person has proven, industry-ready knowledge and skills,” Professor Rowe says. “Recent studies show 81% of employers have transitioned to skills-based hiring approaches and are getting away from screening candidates based on GPA when hiring.”
Thanks to Professor Rowe’s efforts, Valparaiso University is one of the few schools that not only teaches programs like Excel but takes the next step in guiding students towards certification. Since starting the Excel program, Word and PowerPoint certifications have also been added to the College of Business program as the College looks to expand further to meet industry needs.
“The idea was that once we got this process down in the College of Business, we could start offering it to other areas at the University, as well as in the local community,” Professor Rowe said.
For Aidan, his time in the College of Business and work with Professor Rowe is a testament to the quality of Valparaiso University’s industry certification program.
“Before I came to college, I had never really used Excel,” Aidan said. “But over my time here I got to learn how to use it. Professor Rowe’s class really expanded my knowledge and that’s where I really took off.”
“I’ve had Aidan for two classes and he’s a great student,” Professor Rowe said. “He’s intellectually curious and asks thought-provoking questions. I was not at all surprised when he achieved that perfect score. I am so proud of him because he put in the work and earned it.”
In addition to helping students in the College of Business, Professor Rowe has worked with the College of Engineering and the Valparaiso University Staff Council to bring certification opportunities across campus. These efforts, as well as the program’s dedication to fostering learning and leadership, represent some of the core values of the University’s five-year plan Uplift Valpo: Our Beacon for the Journey Forward. For more information on the programs and opportunities at Valparaiso University’s College of Business, visit valpo.edu/business.