The Excellence Training Certification for Support Staff (ETC) Program (formerly known as Excellence Training for Clericals) was developed in March 1987 as a comprehensive training program for the Support Staff on the Indiana University Bloomington campus. An ETC Advisory Board comprised of five volunteers helped shape the ETC Program by further identifying Support Staff training and development needs on the Bloomington campus. The ETC Program was then tailored to meet the needs identified by the Advisory Board, as well as by a campus-wide needs assessment.   The program continues to grow and change each year, based on suggestions and evaluations of ETC graduates, their supervisors, and other Support Staff. 

The content of the program provides both professional and personal development in four major areas of learning: communication skills, business English and written skills, computer and technology courses, and personal and career growth.

The ETC program requires a serious commitment from the participants, who meet approximately 6 hours per month for 8 months (excluding elective requirements). Participants have the opportunity to not only learn in the classroom, but also to meet and network with Support Staff members from other campus departments.

University Human Resource Services and Organizational Development has been extremely pleased with the campuswide commitment to ETC. As of May 2011, approximately 1000 support staff have graduated from the ETC program.