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FRESNO, Calif.—August 27, 2026—The Central Valley feeds the nation, moves its goods across California in a single day, and powers a growing share of the state’s economy. But as AI reshapes what employers expect from their teams, many of the region’s professionals are asking the same question: What am I missing, and how do I keep up? Today, California State University, Fresno is answering that question with a set of short-format, career-focused, non-credit certificate programs built for working adults who want to stay relevant without pressing pause on their careers.
The programs are offered through the university’s Division of Continuing and Global Education in partnership with Ziplines Education, a national career accelerator and trusted partner to more than 30 universities. Together, they are delivering short-format, university-branded, non-credit certificate programs built for working professionals, adult learners, and career changers across the San Joaquin Valley.
“Our region has always been full of capable, hardworking people. What they need is access to the skills the next economy is asking for,” said Dr. Scott Moore, Dean of the Division of Continuing and Global Education at Fresno State. “These non-credit certificates are practical and career-focused. They meet learners where they are, fit around a full-time job, and give people here a real path to grow their careers without leaving the community they call home.”
The lineup spans two connected tracks. The first builds core professional skills that regional employers hire for every day: Project Management, Business Analytics, and Digital Marketing. The second is a full suite of applied AI. AI Essentials anchors it as the practical starting point, meeting professionals wherever they are with AI and giving them a foundation they can put to work right away. From there, AI Automation, AI for Marketing, AI for HR, AI for Sales Professionals, and AI for Data Analysis extend that fluency into the specific roles and tasks people handle on the job.
The demand is measurable. Across the region, Lightcast projects generative AI skills to grow 39% and automation skills 29%—the two fastest-rising skill areas in the local labor market. Data analysis is projected to grow by 20%, digital marketing by 20%, and project management by 19%. Those numbers show up in real roles across the Central Valley’s largest employers: the hospitals and health systems serving a growing population, the distribution centers and logistics operations that keep goods moving across the state, the food processors and manufacturers upgrading their operations, and the business-services firms that support them all.
“The Central Valley has always done the work that keeps California running. What it hasn’t always had is the same access to what comes next,” said Sara Leoni, CEO of Ziplines Education. “That’s what this is about. Fresno State knows its region, and we know how to build programs that move quickly without cutting corners. Together, we can help make sure people here don’t have to leave the Valley to build the career they want.”
Together, the two institutions are building a model of professional development that is flexible, career-relevant, and closely aligned with what regional employers need. Learners benefit from monthly cohort launches, hands-on assignments, expert-led instruction, and personalized support designed to turn ambition into real career momentum.
Each non-credit certificate runs for a set number of weeks and asks for roughly 8–10 hours per week, pairing self-paced coursework with live, expert-led sessions. Programs are practitioner-led and grounded in real-world application, so learners finish with skills, credentials, and the confidence to put both to use immediately.
Featured Programs
Project Management: Learn to lead with agility, work in tools like Jira, and earn hours toward PMI CAPM® certification.
Business Analytics: Gain hands-on experience in Tableau, SQL, and data visualization to drive smarter decisions.
Digital Marketing: Earn industry certifications in HubSpot, Google Ads, and Google Analytics.
AI Essentials: Build a practical AI foundation using ChatGPT and other tools to sharpen creativity, problem-solving, and everyday productivity.
AI Automation: Design and apply AI agents and no-code automations to take repetitive manual tasks off your plate, no coding required.
AI for Marketing: Apply AI across the marketing function, from audience research and competitive analysis to creative production and data storytelling.
AI for HR: Bring AI into core HR functions, from talent acquisition and employee engagement to workforce planning and day-to-day operations.
AI for Sales Professionals: Use AI to research accounts, personalize outreach, and move deals forward, without adding hours to your week.
AI for Data Analysis: Use AI to gather, interpret, and communicate data with confidence—turning numbers into clear decisions, no technical background required.
Enrollment is now open, with cohorts beginning in fall 2026. To learn more and register, visit [https://cge.fresnostate.edu/professional/ziplines.html] or ziplines.com.
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About California State University, Fresno
California State University, Fresno—known as Fresno State—is a comprehensive university in the heart of California’s Central Valley and one of 23 campuses in the California State University system. A federally designated Hispanic-Serving Institution with a large first-generation student population, Fresno State is a primary engine of talent and economic mobility for the San Joaquin Valley. Its Division of Continuing and Global Education serves thousands of learners each year across more than 50 domestic and international programs, including professional development, extended education, and certificate offerings aligned with the needs of the regional workforce.
About Ziplines Education
Ziplines Education partners with 30+ public and regional universities to design, launch, and grow workforce-aligned certificates that build skills, confidence, and career mobility. Practitioner-led and cohort-based, our model helps institutions adapt at the speed of work, so learners and regions thrive as the economy evolves, driven by technology and accelerated by AI. Learn more at ziplines.com.
Media Contacts
California State University, Fresno
media@mail.fresnostate.edu
559.246.1717
Ziplines Education
Alyssa Miller
alyssa@ammediaworks.com
973-615-1292
Media inquiries
Alyssa Miller
press@ziplines.com
