Recognizing the impact of today's economic challenges, Autodesk, an AIA150 Founders Circle Partner, is launching the Autodesk Assistance Program to provide free* student-software term licenses, free online training, and a path to certification to unemployed architects. The program is intended to provide these resources to help architects and related professionals maintain and develop their 3D design technology skills and enhance their competitive position in the marketplace.

"Everyone has been touched by the economic downturn," said Steve Blum, senior vice president, Autodesk Americas sales. "Autodesk has a tradition of supporting the needs of its customers and partners. The Autodesk Assistance Program is a fast-tracked way for our customers to improve their productivity and competitiveness during this challenging and volatile time by accessing the multiple resources we offer them to best position themselves for the future."

Autodesk Assistance Program tools and resources will be made available through an online portal, where users can access:

• Free* Software License: Any 13-month term student license (not for commercial use) of AutoCAD, Autodesk Revit Architecture, Autodesk Inventor Professional, and/or AutoCAD Civil 3D software
• Free Online Training: On-demand training available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week provided online through vBooks—powered by Retrieve Technologies, Inc. (Internet access required)
• Reduced-Cost Classroom Training: Many Autodesk Authorized Training Center (ATC) partners are offering classroom training at their training facilities for free or for a significantly reduced fee
• Certification: Certification preparation and exams are available at discounted rates through Autodesk Authorized Certification Centers.

In addition to the Autodesk Assistance Program, Autodesk has partnered with various industry organizations on local initiatives. For instance, the new Autodesk office in Waltham, Mass., is teaming with the local Boston Society of Architects to offer free volunteer-led immersion seminars on building information modeling (BIM) to unemployed design professionals in the Boston area. Autodesk resellers and chief information officers from different Boston-area companies are all pitching in to help teach the seminars. Seminar attendees receive a free* Revit Architecture student term license, and can also receive AIA continuing education credit for the seminars.

Partners who participate in the Autodesk Assistance Program will be designated as official Autodesk Assistance Program members on the program's Web site. Offers for certification and classroom training will vary depending on each ATC. Locate an Autodesk ATC in your area for details.

Autodesk currently provides training and online resources to end users through Autodesk University Online (AU Online), Autodesk User Group International (AUGI), various online industry communities, and the Autodesk YouTube Channel.

For more information about the Autodesk Assistance Program, please contact your local reseller, or contact Autodesk directly or visit Autdesk.com.