SAS and Institute for Veterans and Military Families to help veterans transition to rewarding analytics careers

Analytics talent shortage means big data skills are in high demand across industries

Employers from every industry are clamoring for people with analytics skills to help them turn data into meaningful information to make better decisions. Military veterans and family members can pursue the hottest careers today, thanks to a collaboration between the Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) and analytics provider SAS.

Launched in 2011 at Syracuse University, the IVMF is a recent addition to the university’s long history of supporting veterans, dating back to World War II. IVMF’s Onward to Opportunity-Veterans Career Transition Program (O2O-VCTP) is a career skills program that provides civilian career training, professional certifications and job placement support to the nearly 200,000 annually transitioning service members, members of the Reserves or National Guard, veterans and military spouses.

The IVMF focuses on enhancing the post-service lives of America’s service members, veterans and families. IVMF prepares those individuals to succeed, in part, by partnering with private sector companies committed to training and hiring military talent and their spouses earlier in the transition process.

Beginning in January 2018, the IVMF will offer two free SAS programming courses at 14 military installations around the US and also online. Participants can receive vouchers to sit for SAS Certification exams for free, redeemable at any Pearson Vue testing center.

“The importance of the SAS relationship cannot be overstated,” said Dr. Mike Haynie, Vice Chancellor for Strategic Initiatives and Innovation and Executive Director of the IVMF. “Providing veterans and their families with in-demand training is key to creating meaningful careers as service members transition. We are proud to partner with SAS, and I applaud their leadership for engaging in this meaningful work. We look forward to a rewarding and impactful partnership.”

Opportunities abound

SAS customers span more than 83,000 business, government and university sites, including 94 of the top 100 companies on the 2016 Fortune Global 500^®. With a market that deep, a SAS big data, advanced analytics or data science credential fosters lucrative opportunities across industries.

“Leadership, teamwork, strategic thinking and a commitment to the mission are all qualities inherent to veterans, and add tremendous value to an organization,” said Emily Baranello, Vice President of the SAS Education Practice. “Adding analytics skills to that mix will prepare O2O graduates to seize exciting career opportunities.”

In fact, a 2016 study of 54 million employee profiles on PayScale.com identified knowledge of SAS as the No. 1 career skill that translates into salary bumps. The SAS Global Certification program has long been the standard for industries like banking and pharma. Launched in 1999 to validate SAS skills and knowledge, the program has awarded more than 118,000 SAS credentials to individuals in 77 countries.

As a company committed to supporting veterans, SAS participates in many programs to attract these dedicated, driven people to the company, and to help them make the transition to civilian life. These efforts helped earn SAS the Pro Patria Award, the highest state-level award given to a civilian employer by the US Department of Defense. It recognizes companies for hiring and supporting veterans, reservists and members of the National Guard.

About the Institute for Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University

The Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) is the first interdisciplinary national institute in higher education focused on the social, economic, education, and policy issues impacting veterans and their families. Through its professional staff and experts, the IVMF delivers leading programs in career, vocational, and entrepreneurship education and training, while also conducting actionable research, policy analysis, and program evaluations. The IVMF also supports communities through collective impact efforts that enhance delivery and access to services and care. The Institute, supported by a distinguished advisory board, along with public and private partners, is committed to advancing the lives of those who have served in America’s armed forces and their families. For more information, visit ivmf.syracuse.edu and follow the IVMF on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.