CAP update, pro bono analytics, conference cluster

VA approves INFORMS’ analytics certification

CAP®, the premier global professional certification for analytics practitioners, announced that it has been approved by the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) for educational benefits.

Veterans and other eligible individuals can now seek VA reimbursement for fees associated with applying for CAP certification. Reimbursement covers the initial CAP fee and re-examination fees. For more information about applying for Veterans Administration licensing benefits, click here.

CAP also announced it intends to add an additional certification program for individuals who are just beginning their analytics careers, the Associate Certified Analytics Professional (aCAP). More information about aCAP, including specific requirements and costs are expected to be announced in the fall.

While CAP exams are available via computer-based testing format, paper-and-pencil exams are also available at select locations, including on July 28 just prior to the INFORMS Healthcare 2015 in Nashville.

For more information about CAP, click here.

INFORMS introduces Pro Bono Analytics

Pro Bono Analytics is a new initiative within INFORMS to match INFORMS members willing to volunteer their time and skills with non-profit organizations that would benefit from advanced analytics and operations research techniques. The Pro Bono Analytics Committee is building strategic partnerships with non-profit organizations to address a wide variety of problems facing society. The committee is also developing a network of analytics/operations research professionals who are willing to volunteer some of their time for a good cause.

Over the years, members of INFORMS have saved corporations billions of dollars by designing more efficient supply chains for retailers, improving processes and scheduling in health care facilities, increasing throughput in manufacturing plants, and many other applications. INFORMS members have also helped with humanitarian relief efforts and mitigated the spread of infectious diseases. Imagine what we could accomplish if more members of INFORMS turned their talents and energy toward solving problems faced by underserved communities or addressing social justice issues.

Pro Bono Analytics is currently rolling out initial projects to test the concept. If you are interested in volunteering or are curious about how analytics/operations research can be used to address problems facing society, visit www.probonoanalytics.org to sign-up and to follow our progress.

Analytics cluster at INFORMS Annual Meeting

The Analytics Section of INFORMS will present the “Analytics Cluster of Sessions/Presentations” at the upcoming INFORMS Annual Meeting in Philadelphia set for Nov. 1-4. The cluster encompasses 20 sessions featuring renowned analytics practitioners/leaders.

The sessions/presentations within the cluster cover topics including:

• successful application of analytics in multiple industries such as finance, healthcare, transportation, defense and sports;
• analytics focus areas such as big data, spreadsheets and predictive analytics;
• panel discussions on understanding the connection between O.R. and analytics, building analytics programs to support organizations’ needs and business analytics in the healthcare industry;
• winner of the Innovative Applications in Analytics Award; and
• “Extending the Reach of Certification: The New Associate Certified Analytics Professional.”

Analytics Section officers hope to see you at the sessions to learn, celebrate and contribute to discussions on the present, past and future of analytics. More specific information on the schedule of the sessions will be published in the August newsletter. For more information about the conference, click here.