SAN DIEGO — A Web-based training service acquired in the 2005Liberty merger has been reworked by Harland Financial Solutions,and is now officially re-launched.

Credit Union University now offers more than 230industry-specific courses. Naturally, UltraData Enterpriseapplications and compliance topics are the most extensivelyoffered, but the service also provides courses on credit unionphilosophy, products and services, harassment and diversity, andnon-operational disciplines like marketing and businessdevelopment.

“Many of these courses are designed for front-line people, wherethere happens to be

quite a bit of turnover,” said

Jan Wilgus, director of product marketing.

That turnover, combined with tight HR budgets and full employeeschedules, makes self-directed, online training a

good option for credit unions, Wilgus said.

“We provide training for our clients on-site, of course, buteven when we come to them, it's still difficult to get everyonetogether in one room at the same time,” Wilgus said. “We're gettingreally good feedback from out clients because it's self-service,interactive and online.”

Kathy Hardy, senior manager of learning services, said theonline delivery method is a good match for core system training,because it allows HFS to modify training modules as it adds

new releases.

“We currently have 15 core courses for UltraData users, andwe'll continue to develop UltraData courses, as well as otherproduct specific courses,” Hardy said.

Training managers control which employees have access to whichcourses, and can log on to access reports regarding test scores andprogress.

Marc Reddekopp, product specialist, said credit unions

should remember their business model is unique in the financialservices industry.

“Basic credit union knowledge, that's where I think the realvalue is,” Reddekopp said. “Until you experience credit unionsfirsthand, the concept is hard to understand.”

Reddekopp said courses were designed knowing many credit unionemployees come from the banking industry, and some front-lineemployees have no financial institution experience at all.

“The neat thing is that you can use this tool to train someonewho has never been a teller before, and doesn't know what a creditunion is, and still get some of your own work done during the day,”Reddekopp said.

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