Corporations or individuals looking to access cutting-edge educational and training opportunities need look no further than the Regional Learning Alliance.

Located at Cranberry Woods in a 76,000-square-foot technology-based green building, the RLA takes an innovative three-part approach to meeting the educational, professional and conferencing needs of the region.

The lifelong learning concept, developed by Slippery Rock University, joins 14 educational partners, providing an "educational mall." Together alliance partners offer a host of undergraduate, graduate, technical and training programs specifically designed to meet the needs of working professionals.

By offering a comprehensive set of services under one roof, both providers and clients have access to a range of services and options otherwise impossible from any single provider.

"The RLA is the most comprehensive learning facility in southwestern Pennsylvania, meeting the development and educational needs of all residents," said Justin Griffith, general manager.

Recently, the RLA created two new programs allowing students research opportunities that otherwise would only be available at larger institutions. The Virtual Library program, developed with a grant from The Buhl Foundation of Pittsburgh, links students to the library resources of their partner institutions.

It provides 12 computer workstations dedicated to student use during RLA operating hours. Students find this a warm, inviting and useful place to work alone or to collaborate with classmates in a relaxed, open atmosphere.

The Virtual Library has collaborated with the Cranberry Public Library to help students get traditional public library cards to use when they seek information in books or electronically via Power Library, the online database suite provided by the state.

Later, the Virtual Library hopes to sponsor Western Pennsylvania's "Digital Thesis Project," a new concept of digitizing theses and other research papers for future reference. RLA students would be among the first in Pennsylvania to house their research work in digital format rather than in traditional libraries.

A second program launched this new year is the Writing and Research Center. It provides personal assistance in researching, drafting and submitting academic papers for conferences or business review.

In conjunction with the Virtual Library, the Writing and Research Center provides students and clients research technologies combined with cutting edge editorial software and the services of a professional writer and rhetorician. Thanks to support from the Buhl Foundation of Pittsburgh, the RLA is able to provide these services at no charge to students.

Corporate clients can contract the center's services in conjunction with their activities at the RLA.

The IDEAS, Innovative Deliveries for Educational Alliance Students, initiative is an exciting delivery concept that is the first of its kind in the state. Under this program, RLA students will be able to cross-register at any IDEAS educational institution. This means a sharing of resources, insights and information among member institutions, engaging in cross-registration and joint cooperative course scheduling.

In March, the Regional Learning Alliance will launch KnowledgePoint Academy. The vision is to become the premier center for professional and personal growth.

Through collaborative partnerships, professional programs, technology and networking, KnowledgePoint Academy will provide a forum for lifelong learners to grow. Continued growth is the benchmark of business success, and the RLA can offer tailored programs through KnowledgePoint.

Look for its calendar in March at www.therla.com.

"The new facility in Cranberry Woods improves access to new job opportunities for area residents and access to highly trained employees for the region's businesses," said Robert Smith, SRU president.

Other services offered to students and clients include a Cyber Café for quick meals and snacks, public access computers, computer labs, free high-speed wireless access and an award-winning Child Development Center.

The facility is adaptable to a variety of uses, technologies and needs. For corporate meetings from as few as four to nearly 400, the RLA staff is prepared to attend to every detail.

Guests can explore the RLA during its open house from 4 to 7 p.m. May 1 or any time during normal business hours. To find out how we are "Putting Knowledge to Work", please log on to the Web site at www.therla.com.