Three years ago the Board of Trustees for the P.E.O. Program for Continuing Education (PCE) was approached by the executive office with the very unexpected and intriguing question “How would you feel about all of your applications being submitted electronically?” After the initial surprise and the almost comical response of “but, we have always used paper applications,” was duly noted, the possibility of using computers and technology to strengthen the PCE application process became absolutely liberating. During the 2007–2009 biennium, the PCE office received more than 3,000 paper applications, with more than half of them being returned to the sponsoring chapters for missing and incomplete information. This alarming statistic became the impetus to imagine a
better application system. With a resounding “Yes!” from the trustees, and the guidance of Alliance Technologies, we began to seek growth in computer knowledge.
It is no secret that many P.E.O. members learned computer skills after their formal education; often, our computer instruction has been self-taught or has come from friends and family members. With this in mind, the trustees knew that 
the new online PCE application needed to be very user friendly. Our goals for an all-electronic application were twofold: 1. We wanted an application that every chapter could easily access and fill out accurately.
2. We needed an application that would allow the applicant to tell her story in a meaningful way, explain her educational and employment goals and demonstrate her financial need all in a concise and legible manner. As the new application and submission process was created, our focus was always on making every aspect of the application experience better and easier for our wonderful chapters and our amazing PCE applicants.
The trustees are delighted that we have surpassed our goals. The new procedure for completing and submitting applications is similar to ordering merchandise from your favorite online store. (We know you do this.) Just log on using the PCE link on the P.E.O. International website, enter your password and start your applicant’s application. It is that easy! The application is actually embedded with tool tips, auto-fill, helpful reminders and will even complete the addition on the all-important PCE Income and Expense page. Every aspect of the application has been designed to help you and your applicant.
To make sure the transition from paper to electronic applications is successful, a training module has been designed by Alliance Technologies and is available to view on the International website. In addition, the new application has been programmed with a
“Contact Us” link that may be used during the executive office business hours. Of course, questions about the application may still be asked by email and telephone.
It is a privilege to announce that starting this summer the new and improved PCE
application is officially online and by September 1, 2011, all applications will be submitted electronically. Thank you for your willingness to support PCE and to seek growth in computer knowledge! 
