Administrative Professionals Week

Each year the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP) salutes the year-long work of administrative professionals with activities in the workplace during Administrative Professionals Week, April 18-24. This year's theme is "Power of Commitment."

The business technology department, which houses Madison College's Administrative Assistant, Medical Administrative Specialist, Business Software Applications Specialist, Medical Transcriptionist, and Judicial Reporting programs, as well as a number of certificates including Basic and Advanced Microsoft Office, Essential Office Skills, Website Development, Project Management, and Basic Medical Reception Skills, will host recognition activities for the college's administrative professional personnel. These events are funded by the Madison College full-time faculty union.

Events include:

Monday, April 19, 3-4 p.m., *Truax Gourmet Dining Room (120)
Madison College employees who work at the Truax, T.E.C. Center, Fire Service Education Center, or one of the McAllen buildings in administrative professional positions are invited to kick off the week at a reception with members of the business technology department faculty and students. Refreshments will be served.

*Business technology faculty at other campuses (and other volunteers) will host activities at their sites to honor the vital administrative professional staff at those locations as well.

Wednesday, April 21, Administrative Professionals Day
Madison College offices, centers and departments are encouraged to recognize the administrative professionals within their units. Recommendations for individual and group activities can be found on the IAAP website. The primary focus for the events should be professional development and recognition such as educational offerings, networking, memberships in professional organizations, luncheons, and the like.

Wednesday, April 21, Administrative Professionals Day
The Business Technology Department will sponsor a table at the IAAP Administrative Professionals Week Seminar at the Holiday Inn at the American Center to support the Madison Chapter of IAAP—integral partners in our Administrative Assistant degree program.

Q. Who Qualifies as an “Administrative Professional”?
A. In 2000, IAAP changed Professional Secretaries Week and Professional Secretaries Day to Administrative Professionals Week and Administrative Professionals Day® (APD) to keep pace with admins’ changing job titles and expanding responsibilities. Research shows that many workers around the world still hold the “secretary” job title; however, many alternative titles have become more popular, such as administrative assistant, office coordinator, administrative specialist, executive assistant, and office manager.

While all secretaries are covered under the umbrella term “administrative professional,” not all admins hold the title of “secretary.” The name change to Administrative Professionals Week and Administrative Professionals Day expands the event to include other administrative job titles that also richly deserve recognition.

In its association bylaws, IAAP defines administrative professionals as “individuals who are responsible for administrative tasks and coordination of information in support of an office-related environment and who are dedicated to furthering their personal and professional growth in their chosen profession.”

Employers may use the above definition as a guide. IAAP also suggests that organizations be more inclusive than exclusive when deciding who deserves recognition during APW.