Course Feature: NUC 323 Material Science

Posted on by Jenna Kerwin

According to the science news website Science Daily, materials science is 鈥渁n interdisciplinary field involving the properties of matter and its applications to various areas of science and engineering, including elements of applied physics and chemistry, as well as chemical, mechanical, civil and electrical engineering.鈥�

The course NUC 323 covers how materials are used in nuclear engineering applications. Topics include overview of nuclear plant operations, atomic bonding, crystalline and non-crystalline structures, crystal defects and imperfections, diffusion, phase diagrams, mechanical and thermal behavior, stresses, fracture, failure analysis and prevention, structural materials, ceramics, corrosion, radiation effects on materials, materials commonly used in reactor core and nuclear plant design, and material problems associated with reactor core operation.

Shambhu Shashtry, the faculty program director for engineering technology, says NUC 323 is an important course for students because 鈥淢aterials are the building blocks of any technology, particularly nuclear engineering technology. Mastering the materials is the only way to master the technology that uses those materials.鈥�

According to the , materials science spans so many disciplines and applications that people who work in this field have various educational backgrounds. Most people have chemistry, physics, or engineering backgrounds. Technical skills like math, computer, and science skills are required, but so are soft skills like critical thinking and good oral and written communication.

Shashtry says students in the bachelor鈥檚 in nuclear engineering technology program would be most interested in taking this course, though the course is also available as a technical elective to students in the other technology degree programs. Students should be aware, however, that the prerequisites to NUC 323 are physics and calculus. Students should check with their advisors for details.

Students have found the course beneficial and informative, and have shared comments like: 鈥淭his course was the most challenging I have taken yet. However, the pace is perfect and the layout is intuitive.鈥�

Faculty have also enjoyed teaching the course. Shashtry explains that on a score of 1鈥�7, faculty have graded the course as 5 or above for its structure, learning activities, and graded assignments. Some noted the discussion posts in this course were the best student learning activities. Based on teaching this course, Shashtry says, faculty expressed interest in teaching additional courses because they enjoyed teaching the course to such engaged students.

Refine Your Resume

Posted on by Excelsior Staff

Writing an effective resume is one of the most important tasks in the job search process

Your resume is a self-marketing tool that outlines your unique value to an employer and can ultimately secure a coveted job interview. Most employers will spend only 20 to 30 seconds when reviewing a resume. To get your resume noticed at first glance, you want to ensure it is concise, well organized, error free, and visually appealing. A successful resume should highlight your relevant knowledge, skills, and accomplishments.

Here are a few tips to remember when designing your resume:

  • Include relevant contact information.

Include an e-mail and phone number where you can be reached. If it helps to show where you live, include your full address. If you have a home phone, office phone, and cell phone, you may not want to include all those numbers. Pick the numbers that will make it the easiest for a potential employer to reach you. Include a professional website, but only if it provides additional, helpful information, such as if you have an online portfolio.

  • Document your achievements.

Highlight your past accomplishments, not just your previous job responsibilities. Accomplishments that are results-oriented will attract the prospective employer鈥檚 interest and are much more meaningful than just listing job duties.

  • Be sure your resume has a targeted focus.

Customize your resume to portray a clear match between your qualifications and the job requirements.

  • Emphasize your transferable skills.

These are the general skills that you have acquired over time that apply to a wide variety of employment settings. Examples include communication, leadership, interpersonal, and organizational skills. Most employers seek these types of skills.

  • Quantify information on your resume whenever possible.

For example, relay to the employer the number of staff you supervised, the total budget amount you managed, the percentage of sales you achieved.

  • Be clear and concise.

Keep your information brief and to the point. Depending on the extent of your experience, a one- to two-page resume is the norm.

  • Maintain a business-like tone throughout your resume.

Refrain from using personal pronouns such as 鈥淚鈥� or 鈥渕e鈥� or any type of abbreviations.

  • Ensure that all the information reflected on your resume is honest and accurate鈥攄on鈥檛 embellish. Once you secure a job interview, you must be able to substantiate the skills and credentials you originally touted on your resume.
  • List your experience in reverse chronological order.

The only exception to using the reverse chronological format is if you are changing careers or your past experience is more relevant to your career goals than your current experience.

  • Consider adding a section at the beginning of your resume titled 鈥淧rofile鈥� or 鈥淪ummary of Qualifications,鈥� which summarizes approximately three to six relevant experiences, achievements, and/or strengths in brief, bulleted phrases. This serves to showcase your best-selling attributes and can immediately capture the employer鈥檚 attention.
  • There is no need to list names of references on your resume.

This can be done on a separate sheet and provided upon an employer鈥檚 request.

  • Proofread!

Before you submit your resume to an employer, be sure to catch any spelling, grammatical, and punctuation errors. These types of errors will cause a prospective employer to dismiss you regardless of any winning qualifications you may have. Ask friends or relatives to review your resume as a second pair of eyes. Try to get several opinions.

A well-designed resume can secure an interview and elicit entry to your next job or career. Use the above tips as guidelines, and check out the Career Center for more related resources鈥攍ike how to get your resume and cover letter critiqued (link: http://career.excelsior.edu/job-search-tools-and-techniques/resume-and-cover-letter-critique/)鈥攁nd take the time to create a resume that reflects the exceptional and strong candidate that you are!

Editor鈥檚 note: Text adapted from Maribeth Gunner Pulliam鈥檚 article, 鈥淨uick Tips to Refine Your Resume鈥� from Live & Learn, Fall 2006.

CPNE and Me: Rhonda Adams

Posted on by Jenna Kerwin

Rhonda Adams says she sleeps, eats, and breaths nursing. Her mother says it鈥檚 the only thing she knows. Adams lives her profession every day and it is why she was determined to pass her Clinical Performance in Nursing Exam (CPNE) after more than 16 years of being an LPN.

A divorced single parent of four from Tylertown, Mississippi, Adams wanted to show her children that no matter what roadblocks you come across in life, or how much you may stumble, you can still achieve your dreams. The LPN decided to attend Excelsior College to achieve her educational goals because the flexibility of classes allowed her, as she puts it, to 鈥渨ork full-time, take care of my kids, manage my household, and seek the higher learning I desired.鈥�

Adams鈥檚 path to passing the CPNE was not easy. She originally enrolled with Excelsior in fall 2013 and after completing the necessary courses, she took and passed the Focused Clinical Competencies Assessment, and then went on to take the CPNE. 鈥淚 went on to take my CPNE thinking, 鈥榦h I鈥檓 an LPN I鈥檝e done all sorts of things, I got this,鈥� and I didn鈥檛,鈥� she says. She adds there was no one to blame but herself and since she did not want to let down her kids, her mom, or herself again, she was determined to try her hardest to pass the next time around.

Adams鈥檚 greatest asset when studying for the CPNE was the videos posted in the study guide. 鈥淚 imitated those [Excelsior] staff members who were doing demonstrations for the med stations, and the IV lab, and the wound, and the different stations of care, to a science鈥t came naturally to know what to do and when to do it,鈥� she says. She adds Excelsior鈥檚 instructors鈥攐r 鈥渇acilitators of learning,鈥� as she likes to refer to them鈥攁lways encouraged her and she became friends with many other students. She says she found strength in her family and those friends to keep going because with distance learning, it was challenging.

鈥淚 had to apply myself, I lost friends, failed relationships because I had to give it my all, and I refuse to be a loser,鈥� says Adams referring to the demands of balancing her studying with her personal life. She also says that even though she made friends with fellow students, she took the reins when it came to her studying. She explains, 鈥淚 started taking advantage of the phone conferences, scheduling them every week, and I started practicing the care plans. I took control of my own destiny; I didn鈥檛 wait for someone else鈥nd because of that, it made me that strong independent confident nurse.鈥�

Throughout it all, Adams says her mother was the biggest source of support. She says, 鈥淚 was not the happiest person while studying and I would be stressed out and overwhelmed and I would snap, and no matter what she would be there.鈥� She also credits a fellow student in another state as being a source of emotional and educational support. Adams says they leaned on each other and encouraged each other to keep at it.

Adams passed her CPNE on May 4th, 2018 in Wisconsin. She says, 鈥渘othing is impossible for me to learn or accomplish, that鈥檚 how I feel now that I have this degree鈥 can do anything, the sky is the limit.鈥� She says a 鈥渂rain break鈥� is in order, but then she is going on to pursue her bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 degrees. 鈥淢y end result is to become a nurse practitioner鈥nd possibly be an examiner for the CPNE and an Excelsior employee!鈥�

More CPNE Study Tips from Rhonda Adams

鈥淜now your study guide; it is your bible; it鈥檚 your tool; it鈥檚 your guide. I would fall asleep with the videos playing; I鈥檇 wake up to them playing; sometimes in my car, I鈥檇 play the audio over and over again until it was repetitious, until鈥t鈥檚 automatic. I took my study guide and I made flash cards.鈥�

鈥淭ake a time out. Don鈥檛 get overloaded; allow yourself to reboot. Take a day, take an hour, take a few weeks if you need to, and then go back at it because it鈥檚 not impossible and you can do it.鈥�

Faculty Focus: Sandra Adams

Posted on by Jenna Kerwin

Sandra Adams has been studying molecular biology for more than 20 years, specifically directing laboratory operations at the University of Wisconsin where they research the symbioses between leaf-cutter ants, fungi, and bacteria. The biologist has been with Excelsior College since 2011, teaching BIO 110 Biology (Non-Lab), BIO 212 Microbiology, and BIO 360 Developmental Biology. She is dedicated to her students鈥� success and encourages them to get hands-on experience in their field of study.

Adams earned a Bachelor of Science in entomology from Washington State University and a Master of Science in microbiology from the University of Montana. Her primary research area is in molecular biology, focusing on how microbes facilitate insect and plant interactions. She explains, 鈥淔or example, I have found that bacteria associated with bark beetles help breakdown the tree chemical defenses that would normally be toxic for survival. The association with these bacteria allow the beetle to live inside the tree and reproduce.鈥� Interestingly, Adams also studies fermentation and yeast strains in the process of brewing beer and wine.

Adams enjoys that Excelsior鈥檚 students are a diverse population, coming from across the world. She knows first-hand how that can make learning hard, though, as she was raised in the military and moved often. 鈥淚 use that experience and I try to let my students know that even though we are not in a traditional classroom and our time together will be short, I really do want to help them reach their goals,鈥� she says. She notes that faculty like her love to share their experiences with students who have a thirst for knowledge.

Since most of her students are enrolled in the natural science program and planning to obtain jobs in a biology-related field, Adams encourages her students to gain hands-on experience, like volunteering at local nature centers. She also encourages them to read publications from professional associations in the fields they鈥檙e interested in and to participate in citizen science projects (projects where volunteers collect data to help scientists answer real-world questions). 鈥淕iven Excelsior is an online platform, it is important for students to gain such experience in order to build relationships and gain such expertise to excel in their fields of study,鈥� says Adams.

Adams wants her students to know that it鈥檚 okay to make mistakes and when the answers aren鈥檛 clear, to be patient. She has a variety of management tips for her students: 鈥淪tudy effectively, focus on tips, notes, and outlines that their instructor provides. I also encourage them to make a weekly spreadsheet to help them track what assignments are due and to 鈥榗heck鈥� them off when they are submitted.鈥�

Her students have learned many tips from her, but Adams has also learned from her students to create an environment that helps everyone achieve their goals. When she first started teaching, Adams had a student in her class that was serving in a war zone. She recalls, 鈥淚 was worried about his ability to complete his work on time, given his situation. When I expressed my concern, he replied. 鈥楳a鈥檃m, with all due respect, taking this class with you reminds me that I will not always be in this place. Please hold me to the same standard as everyone else.鈥欌��

When she isn鈥檛 teaching or in the lab, you can find Adams sitting by the Clark Fork River in Montana with a book in her hand while her husband and son fish. You might also find her in the locations of a forest fire a year later; many ecosystems are not only dependent on fires but also prime habitats for fungi. 鈥淭he year following a local fire, you will find me there [at the post-fire site], as they provide perfect habitat for morel mushrooms, and they are delicious!鈥�

Faculty Focus: Carl Bradshaw

Posted on by Excelsior Staff

听I’m a retired Army officer and I have been working in the military or with veterans continuously for 37 years. I retired from active duty as a U.S. Army military intelligence officer in 2005. I served with the 101st Airborne Division in the Sinai, the 1st Armored Division during operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm, the 3rd Infantry Division in Germany, and the 10th Mountain Division in Bosnia-Herzegovina. I am a lifetime member of Disabled American Veterans and Veterans of Foreign Wars, and I am a member of the American Legion. I continue to help my fellow veterans with their VA disability claims.

I earned master鈥檚 degrees from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College in military art and science and the National Intelligence University in strategic intelligence. Additionally, I have graduate certificates in distance learning and adult and organizational learning, along with a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies in Educational Leadership from Northeastern University.

I have been an adjunct instructor with Excelsior College since spring 2012. I鈥檝e had the pleasure of teaching five courses, including Great Military Leaders, Military Leadership, and the Military Studies capstone course. I enjoy spending time with my family, travelling, comedy, learning, and New England sports. You could run into me skiing in Vermont, at the beach in Newport, on a roller coaster at Six Flags New England, at a Providence College Friars basketball game, or at Gillette Stadium on many given Sundays. (Go Patriots!)

Teaching and learning at Excelsior College has helped me with any withdrawals I would have had from my military career. There is a great mix of students who continue to serve on active duty, do so in other governmental capacities, or who are now veterans or family members from other services. Quite often, several students in a class bring many years of experience with them, adding significantly to the dialogue. The diversity and experience of our students makes the classroom an exciting place to learn.

In my over 35 years of professional service, each day has required leadership skills in some way. In homage to my favorite leadership doctrine of 鈥淏e-Know-Do,鈥� I embrace, challenge myself, or struggle with one aspect of each category every day. I try to be a person of integrity and character; it helps me sleep better at night. My expertise in the intelligence realm, national security, leadership, and Veterans Administration claims process has helped countless students and veterans. Lastly, I work hard every day, anticipating challenges and seeking opportunities, planning for the future while enjoying the present.

I look at education in military leadership as a 鈥渃ombat multiplier.鈥� It enhances one鈥檚 experience and encourages one to reflect on successes and mistakes. Because the military requires leadership skills under the most difficult of circumstances, it is somewhat unique, but is still transferable to other circumstances. Veterans will find many leadership challenges in our society, world, and life. I have to say that what I鈥檝e learned about leadership in the classroom as a student and professor has enhanced my life鈥檚 experiences tremendously.

It鈥檚 never too early or late to start or continue your education. It may provide some immediate results such as a promotion, but also consider the long-term impact on your personal development, your family, or that opportunity that is made possible down the road by a degree you earn now. 鈥淏e all you can be鈥� and I hope to see you in an Excelsior classroom soon.

Course Feature: BUS 552 Leadership

Posted on by Jenna Kerwin

BUS 552 Leadership explores leadership from four different perspectives: the leader, the follower, the situation, and leadership skills. The main themes discussed in the course include: setting a vision, establishing culture, working through change, ethics and leadership, team building and empowering people, principles of leadership, leading a culturally diverse team of people, leading through difficulty, and performance management.

It is essential that leaders understand themselves and their teams鈥攖heir strengths, weaknesses, motivations, and goals鈥攂ecause leadership is context-specific, says Scott Dolan, associate dean in the School of Graduate Studies. Students learn about leadership through scenario-based discussions and case studies. Dolan adds that students learn to understand their emotional intelligence and that of their teams to help individuals and organizations meet their goals.

Michele Paludi, senior faculty program for graduate business courses, notes that students in human resources, organizational behavior, and human performance would especially be interested in BUS 552. Dolan adds that it is particularly interesting for people 鈥渨ho are interested in becoming more productive or in helping their organizations become more productive and want to learn about setting a vision and motivating their team around strategies that help the team and the organization [toward] reaching their goals.鈥� He adds that to be successful in this dynamic economy, leadership skills are essential to people at all levels of the organization.

Paludi says this course is important to students because they learn 鈥渉ow organizations function and how different leadership styles can empower employees or create employees who are disengaged.鈥� Dolan adds that what makes an organization work comes down to its people. He says, 鈥淓nsuring that people within the organization are motivated, working towards the same future, coordinated, and acting with a great moral compass will ensure the success of teams and organizations over the long term.鈥�

Instructors are excited to teach this course, says Paludi, who notes they enjoy talking with students about organizations and how they function while offering examples of highly functioning teams, organizations, and employees.

Students have also enjoyed BUS 552. One commented: 鈥淸The instructor] is an excellent mentor and teacher. [The] choice of the course materials really gets to the heart of what leaders should aspire to be. These attributes are backed up with leadership theories and help grow many who may be in lower stages of leadership development. The chosen textbook was excellent. I purchased it for personal business use.鈥� Another student commented, 鈥淵es, I enjoyed the subject matter of this course. It was clear that the instructor cared about his students and added thought-provoking comments to our discussion assignments鈥verall, this was an excellent class with an excellent instructor and I would recommend both to someone looking to better understand business leadership/management.鈥�

If you would also like to expand your knowledge of leadership in organizational settings, consider signing up for BUS 552 Leadership.

Find the Perfect Position with This Job Search Checklist

Posted on by Maribeth Gunner

Conducting a job search can be a challenging and overwhelming process, especially in today鈥檚 tenuous job market. To land your ideal job, you鈥檒l need to gain a competitive edge. How? Develop a game plan and take control of the process. Identify manageable steps that will move you forward and employ techniques to capture the hiring manager鈥檚 attention. Not sure where to begin? Here鈥檚 a job search checklist with 10 tried-and-true strategies to help get you started:

Clarify Your Goals

Assess your abilities, interests, and values, and then align your career goals accordingly. Begin with self-reflection: What are your strengths? What do you like to do? Solicit feedback from trusted family and friends, utilize career assessment tools, and seek career counseling if needed. Self-assessment will help you to clarify your aspirations, define your target career, and move ahead with purpose and passion.

Customize Your Resume and Cover Letter

Craft a polished resume and cover letter that are tailored to the job you are pursuing. Remember, generic is average, and will not help you to stand out. Be sure both your resume and cover letter are professional, concise, error-free, and in a reader-friendly font. Accentuate your abilities, but never misrepresent your qualifications. Honesty is highly valued by employers.

Research the Employer

Identify potential employers that interest you. Leverage the Internet. Gather as much information as possible about the organizations and the industry. Research size, mission, history, location, products/services, etc. This will increase your overall knowledge of the field and help you prepare for a job interview.

Develop Your 鈥淢arketing Pitch鈥�

This is a succinct 30-second oral summary which illustrates who you are: your background, experience, and what you can offer to a potential employer. It should be brief, professional, and positive. This pitch is also known as an 鈥渆levator speech鈥� as it should be short enough to be delivered in the time it would take to ride an elevator to the top floor with a prospective employer. If you had 30 seconds to compel this individual to hire you, what would you say? Perfect your pitch and practice until it is fluid. Be ready to use it when the opportunity presents itself.

Join a Professional Organization

Almost all occupations have corresponding professional associations that offer many benefits. They feature the latest news in the industry, publications, network contacts, job leads, conferences, and more. Membership in a career-related professional organization will afford you information to enhance your knowledge and maintain currency in your field. Most also offer reasonable student memberships. Find a professional association and join!

Network

Networking is one of the most powerful job-hunting tools available. Develop and maintain an ongoing list of contacts. Brainstorm! Family, friends, co-workers, neighbors, former classmates, and professors are all potential leads to your next job. Tell them what type of job/career you are seeking and brief them on your qualifications. Remember that networking is a reciprocal relationship. Stay in touch with your contacts. Let them know your progress and be ready to help members of your network if they need your assistance as well.

Use Social Media

If you have not yet done so, it鈥檚 time to establish a professional online presence. Social networking has fast become another vital strategy for the job search. A few of the most popular options include LinkedIn, Twitter, and blogging. Facebook is another popular option, albeit primarily social. Still, it鈥檚 a good idea to update your education and work sections on Facebook periodically. All these venues are great places to highlight qualifications, market your brand, and network with contacts.

However, make sure that the information listed in each of your profiles is consistent, and that all content reinforces your resume and cover letter. Employers are increasingly researching the online presence of potential candidates, so be mindful of what you post. You also can use social networking to investigate employers鈥� profiles, increase your awareness of their products and services, or catch the latest posts or Tweets on current job opportunities. As powerful as social media can be, remember it is a supplement, not a substitute, for other traditional job hunting methods. Keep a well-rounded approach.

Sharpen Your Interview Skills

Prepare for all types of interviews. In addition to the traditional in-person interview, you may also encounter those that include a panel, phone, Skype, or web cam. Practice your responses to typical ques颅tions, including possible behavioral interview questions. Conduct mock interviews or role-play with a friend. During the interview, be enthusiastic and knowledgeable. Use the information you gleaned from your research to ask intelligent questions and offer thoughtful comments. Employ all the interview basics: be on time, well groomed, use eye contact, and a strong handshake.

Know Your Market Value

Your skills and talents are valuable. Once you land the job, you鈥檒l want a paycheck that represents a fair market value. Do your homework. Check online salary guides, research the job鈥檚 salary range, and determine typical salaries for people with similar experience and skills in your industry. Compare this by location. You鈥檒l need this data when you enter the marketplace to determine what is reasonable and to substantiate your case for a desired salary.

Be Organized

Keep the job hunting process running smoothly. Create either an electronic or paper-based record keeping system for all your job search correspondence. This includes a listing of your network contacts, organizations contacted, research conducted, resumes submitted, responses received, emailed messages, and thank-you notes sent. Accurate and reliable records help maintain parameters for any follow-up that is needed, and allow easy retrieval of materials when you receive a call from a prospective employer.

Keep Your Chin Up!

With any job search it is important to remember the three Ps鈥擯ersistence, Patience, and Positivity.
Finding the right match may take time and energy. Don鈥檛 get discouraged. Be confident, and keep a healthy and positive outlook. Use this job search checklist to focus your energy and formalize a plan to mobilize your job hunt. With perseverance, dedication, and the right tools, you will be on your way to your next rewarding position.

For More Information

Be sure to visit the Excelsior College Career Center鈥檚 newest offering, , for even more job search information and help. Build and upload your resume, listen to career advice via College Central podcasts, download career advice documents, and search more than 500,000 jobs鈥攊ncluding jobs posted exclusively to Excelsior.

 

Police Officer Zinab Kitonyi, an Excelsior Student, Stresses the Importance of Doing Something Helpful During Active Shooter Events

Posted on by Alicia Jacobs

鈥淲e don鈥檛 get to pick and choose when bad things happen. Doing something in a situation matters,鈥� said police officer Zinab Kitonyi, after a workplace training class on how to respond to an active shooter event.

Kitonyi, known as 鈥淶ee,鈥� a student in the Associate in Science in Administrative and Management Studies, came to Excelsior College in September during National Preparedness Month to train employees on Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events (CRASE). For the past five years, he has been a trainer for the Training and Policy Unit in the Kitonyi鈥檚 typical day is teaching other officers, from academy-level recruits to seasoned officers, about counterterrorism.

Active Shooter Event Training

For Kitonyi, active shooter response planning and training is important, and the Sandy Hook shooting in 2012 drove the police industry to start training officers. After first responders where trained, there was a need to train civilians and the community wherever there were mass gatherings of people. Now the police teach everybody. The CRASE class provides strategies, guidance, and a proven plan for surviving an active shooter event. The goal is to provide those attending the course with the knowledge and empowerment to act immediately and in a deliberate manner during a stressful event.

Kitonyi is passionate about teaching this training and feels he makes an impact. As a case in point, Kitonyi said people who had taken the CRASE training applied what they learned when panic broke out after gunshots were fired near the Apple store in Crossgates Mall in Albany. Just prior to this, he had held about a dozen sessions at SEFCU Credit Union in Albany, NY to teach their employees about active shooters. Some employees from the CRASE training happened to be in the mall when chaos broke out. They knew what to do and applied the training to the situation.

The takeaway he hopes anyone attending the CRASE training walks away with is the importance of taking action. 鈥淲e are not helpless. What we do matters,鈥� said Kitonyi. 鈥淒oing something in a situation matters. Doing nothing can work against us.鈥�

Experience Equals Credit Toward Your Degree

Kitonyi spent 13 years in the U.S. Army after graduating high school and was deployed in counterterrorism operations in Iraq in 2004 and 2005. Since then, he has spent 15 years in the Albany Police Department. He explained he was motivated to go to Excelsior College since he could apply training from the military and police department as credit toward his degree.

Based on his prior experience, when he started the degree program he had about 50 percent of his credits completed from on-the-job experience. It was a huge factor for him in going to college. He also has support from his wife and family, as well as from his father who is a retired UAlbany teacher. Kitonyi is also motivated by planning for his career after this own retirement. He wants to teach in the private sector after leaving the police force. Building on his current work, he has a desire to run his own teaching and training business and continue to educate others.

Having It All: Nurturing the School/Life Balance

Posted on by Nicole Greco

We hear the phrase 鈥渨ork/life balance鈥� fairly often. As an Excelsior student, you know there鈥檚 another part to the equation: school. What鈥檚 one more thing to add to your plates, right?

It鈥檚 not news that we live in a world where we鈥檙e expected to do it all, and do it all well. Multitasking has never been easier in our digital era. There鈥檚 a stigma that if we aren鈥檛 busy, if we aren鈥檛 taking on the world and then some, then we鈥檙e not doing enough. Modern technology allows us to multitask at levels that aren鈥檛 healthy, and inevitably one corner of our arena is sacrificed. Psychology Today published an enlightening on the physical and mental dangers of excessive multitasking.

Tips On How to Balance School and Your Busy Life

Here are some tips that I often share with my advisees on the best ways to have it all without their mental, physical, and emotional well-being taking a hit. I acknowledge these might not work for all, but with some tweaking and consideration, each one can be applied to your lifestyle and schedule.

  • Embrace a schedule: This can be tough for some people, but hear me out! There are 24 hours in a day. Ideally, we can mark off eight hours for sleep and eight hours for work. That leaves us with eight hours. Many people are required to work more than eight hours (nurses often up to 12 or more), but the important piece here is to ensure you鈥檙e getting enough sleep (seven hours on average) for your overall health as well as for your productivity. Sleep-deprived employees aren鈥檛 effective and sleep-deprived students deny themselves their full potential.
  • Schedule your school work time like a non-negotiable appointment: At the beginning of the term, you receive your course syllabus. Have a designated calendar or planner where you write out all your due dates for discussions and assignments and, additionally, schedule time in the days leading up to those due dates to work on them. Generally speaking, you should expect to dedicate fifteen to eighteen hours per week to performing the work in one 3-credit course.
  • Make family/social time as non-negotiable as school time: The timetable above shouldn鈥檛 feel as rigid, immovable, and stressful on your days off. Make sure you have days with no school work so you can take time for yourself and your loved ones. Don鈥檛 miss out on a family party because you have a paper to write or reading to do.
  • Embrace convenience: Amazon Prime. Grocery delivery. Meal prep/delivery services like Blue Apron or Hello Fresh. A cleaning service once a month, if you can swing it. Ready-to-heat meals from Costco or Wegmans. Find ways to simplify your routine and take some things off your plate.
  • Ask for help: Be sure you鈥檙e leaning on your village (spouse or significant other, parents, neighbors, friends, etc.) for help while you are in the midst of a difficult term, or even just in the middle of a tough week where everything seems to be piling on. If you can afford the luxury, consider taking on a 鈥淧arents Helper鈥� to run errands you may not be able to fit in or just help with those chores you can鈥檛 seem to get to.
  • Take time for you: I鈥檓 not saying you have to take a vacation twice a year, or retreat to a spa in the Berkshires for a weekend (although once in a while, #treatyourself) but the basics of self-care are to sleep, drink water, eat well, and to exercise. None of these are luxuries; they are life necessities essential to your health and your performance at work, at school, and at home. You don鈥檛 have to be a fitness fiend or spend 1鈥�2 hours in the gym every day; a 30-minute brisk walk on your lunch break (alone or with a co-worker) or after work will clear your mind, boost your endorphins, and help keep your mind and body healthy.

While our work and our education are important, nothing is more important than the person we are, the people we love, and the people we are raising. Our work and academics aren鈥檛 all that define us as a person (if anything they play a very small role in that definition). Strive to achieve your goals, but remember the real 鈥渨hy鈥� behind them, and be sure you鈥檙e devoting the same amount of time, if not more, to those whys.

If you want a deeper dive into the methods of time management and to chat about work/life balance, reach out to your academic advisor in the Student Success Center.

The Phenomenon of True Crime

Posted on by James Norton

Evolution of True Crime Entertainment

Over the last few years, true crime has evolved from a low-brow, late-night indulgence to a global phenomenon and conversation about our criminal justice system and criminality in general. True crime can be about the mystery, psychology, history, and sociology of crimes. Audiences are eager to explore the extremes of human behavior, especially the psychological and social factors that trigger certain individuals to commit heinous acts of violence. People don鈥檛 just want to be entertained by watching or reading true crime; they want to understand criminality and play an active part in how justice systems respond to crime.

True Crime TV Shows and Novels

I will admit, my Netflix queue reads 鈥淢INDHUNTER,鈥� 鈥淐riminal Minds,鈥� 鈥淥zark,鈥� 鈥淚nside the Mind of a Serial Killer,鈥� 鈥�Evil Genius: The True Story of America鈥檚 Most Diabolical Bank Heist,鈥� and 鈥淢an Hunt: Unabomber.鈥� My Kindle has 鈥淚’ll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman’s Obsessive Search for the听Golden State Killer鈥� by Michelle McNamara and Jack Ryan novels by Tom Clancy. In the New York Times op-ed piece, 鈥淗ow Dostoevsky Predicted the 鈥楾rue Crime鈥� Craze鈥� author Jennifer Wilson highlights the growing interest in shows like 鈥淪erial,鈥� 鈥淢aking a Murderer,鈥� and the Peabody-awarded podcast 鈥淚n the Dark,鈥� and makes connections to the Russian author Dostoevsky (1821鈥�1881), writer of 鈥淐rime and Punishment.鈥�

So entrenched were the people of czarist Russia at the time of 鈥淐rime and Punishment,鈥� that defense lawyers would invoke the novel鈥檚 main character, Rodion Raskolnikov, when seeking jury nullification. Dostoevsky was actually under much scrutiny himself, being a member of the Petrashevsky Circle, a literary group made up of progressive individuals with French utopian ideals, and wrote his novels with strong opinions on mercy, punishment, and death. Books like 鈥淭he Brothers Karamazov鈥� posed the question of collective guilt; thinking beyond the idea of guilt or innocence meant political incarceration, jury nullification, or how societal failures affected the individual.

We know the fictionalized versions of true crime stories are hyper dramatized or manipulated: 鈥淢aking a Murderer鈥� left out DNA evidence; the homicidal triad (鈥渢riad鈥� of ominous childhood behaviors) has been debunked; and 鈥淒og Day Afternoon鈥� wasn鈥檛 just about Attica. However, they ask questions like those about socio-economic bias in 鈥淢aking a Murderer,鈥� the flaws of family or society with nonconformity in 鈥淢INDHUNTER,鈥� and about disenfranchisement 鈥� whether transsexualism or prison riots 鈥� in 鈥淒og Day Afternoon.鈥�

Theory of Anomie

At the end of the 20th century, David Emil茅 Durkeim鈥檚 theory of anomie (when rapid population growth leads to a breakdown of communication, thus leading to a breakdown of norms and values) was attributed to three main arguments about crime in times of great modernization; they boil down to a greater variety of behaviors being tolerated and punishments changing to become functional law. While Durkeim鈥檚 work has been criticized for not focusing enough on socioeconomic inequality and its implication on crime, Durkeim鈥檚 main point was the effect of society on the individual.

Critical Criminology

Authors using crime drama to explore socioeconomic inequality and its effect on criminality is not new. According to Wilson鈥檚 article, what is new is that 鈥淪erial,鈥� 鈥淢aking a Murderer,鈥� and 鈥淚n the Dark鈥� take a decidedly different narrative closer to the Attica prison riot in September 1971 or Dostoevsky鈥檚 writing in that 鈥淭he genre is increasingly framed as reformist, with critiques of police abuses, overzealous prosecutions, and mass incarceration playing central roles.鈥� In 鈥淭heorizing Criminal Justice: Eight Essential Orientation,鈥� authors John Brent and Peter Kraska discuss how critical criminology, a branch of听criminology听that explains crime by challenging traditional perspectives and beliefs regarding crime and criminal justice, has targeted the government鈥檚 construction of and reaction to crime versus the acceptance, where the oppression orientation views of criminal justice is seen as an apparatus of oppression: 鈥淓arly critical criminologists wrote during a time when the government was being critiqued passionately on many fronts. The criminal justice system was no exception…Quinney forthright claimed that 鈥榣aw has become the ultimate means by which the state secures the interests of the ruling class.鈥�

Anomie and Critical Criminology – Theories in Opposition

Durkheim鈥檚 anomie theory and critical criminology are almost the opposite sides of the same coin. Durkheim saw failure of society to meet the changing social constructs of modernization as a core cause of deviancy, whereas critical criminology views police deviancy as enforcement of socioeconomic status quo, thus the search for justice must subvert to the public. In either case, the reason serial killers and true crime stories are topping the Pulitzer and Netflix lists, Wilson says, is the same reason Dostoevsky鈥檚 work did: 鈥淚t is not only our task to support the innocent or wrongly convicted but also to recognize the humanity of the guilty and the shared sense of responsibility that we have for one another.鈥� How do we do that now?

Degrees at Work: Robert Leonard

Posted on by Jenna Kerwin

Robert 鈥淭erry鈥� Leonard鈥檚 career in law enforcement has spanned more than two decades in various capacities, from a 911 dispatcher to a criminal investigator. The knowledge he gained from earning a Bachelor of Professional Studies in Business and Management in 2015 has contributed to advancements in his work, and his passion for his career is evident each day he is on the job.

Leonard is one of six state criminal investigators with the headquartered in Helena, Montana. He began his career as a 911 dispatcher with a county sheriff/police department communications center, eventually becoming a deputy. He then became a detective and worked for a High Intensity Drug Traffic unit where he became a DEA task force officer. He recalls, 鈥淣arcotics work is very hard on the family with long and irregular hours. I loved it, but when the state investigator position was offered, we decided as a family it was really the best move all around.鈥�

Now, Leonard spends 60 percent of his work days in the office and 40 percent of them in the field where he could be doing anything from conducting interviews and coordinating operations to obtaining warrants and subpoenas. He notes that conducting a criminal investigation is time consuming and that, 鈥渞ushing an investigation can lead to any number of mistakes,鈥� so it鈥檚 important to pay attention to the details.

Leonard says to succeed in his line of work, it鈥檚 important to be a self-starter and to have empathy. He notes that 鈥渃ases don鈥檛 just solve themselves;鈥� you have to track down even the most minuscule lead even when the case doesn鈥檛 seem to be going anywhere. He also says that empathy goes a long way during an interview: 鈥淏eing able to get inside the person鈥檚 mind and really try to understand 鈥榳hy鈥� from their point of view is really helpful.鈥� He adds that just being nice is some of the best advice he鈥檚 ever received; sometimes if you are nice to a person in an interview, you can end up uncovering small details that can lead to solving the case.

When Leonard came to , he was able to transfer prior military and coursework credit from the University of Florida toward his bachelor鈥檚 degree. He says it might seem like his degree doesn鈥檛 fit into his line of work, but that couldn鈥檛 be farther from the truth. 鈥淭he project management courses I took at Excelsior are my baseline for setting up how I am going to run a major case,鈥� he says. He adds that knowledge of finances is also helpful since the No. 1 rule when running a major criminal enterprise investigation is to follow the money. He says, 鈥淭hose accounting courses I took really help me when analyzing financials and trying to determine the flow of cash and assets in a criminal network.鈥�

While he credits some Excelsior courses with help in his career, he thanks his wife for helping him get through his courses. He says it is already stressful enough to be a parent and to hold down a full-time job, but going back to school adds another layer. 鈥淢y wife was really supportive on my limited off-time while I completed my Excelsior coursework鈥 could not have done it without her support.鈥�

Leonard has come far in his more than 20 years as a law enforcement officer. He has been able to advance in his career thanks to hard work, dedication, and pursuing his higher education. He has advice for others, however: when it comes to being successful in his career he mentions the importance of sustained performance. He says, 鈥淵ou can鈥檛 just make a couple of cases and then sit back on your laurels. Being dedicated and passionate about my career field helped as well.鈥�

Industry Notes From Robert Leonard鈥�

Best book/podcast/e-newsletter that鈥檚 relevant to your industry?

鈥溾�楽worn鈥� podcast is awesome, especially for detectives and investigators. The National Tactical Officer鈥檚 Association magazine is also a great resource.鈥�

What time management tips do you have for current students juggling activities outside their Excelsior studies?

鈥淪et a schedule and make it a routine. Be flexible, but have that routine in place. Keep your eyes on the prize and stay dedicated. Everything else will fall into place.鈥�

What networking tips would you give to current Excelsior students?

鈥淭here is no better asset than a good network. Here鈥檚 my advice to establishing a good network: never turn down the opportunity to help someone in your job field. Do anything you can to help a colleague obtain their objective and that will pay itself off 10 times down the road. I wouldn鈥檛 be where I am today without an awesome network of colleagues that know they can count on me and are always there when I need them.”

Personal and Professional Financing for the Health Care Administrator

Posted on by Lisa Giarda

Finance and budgeting may seem like a thousand miles away when deciding your path toward a health care administration career, but it only takes one step to begin the journey of budgeting on a professional level 鈥� or even in our personal lives. My students often students say, 鈥淚s it math?鈥� I promise you it is not! Well, there is math involved, but it is completed using the basic tools of a calculator, an Excel spreadsheet, or software. Budgeting is much more about decision making and less about math. The financial information we usually need is easily generated through software programs.

Why Do I Need a Budget?

Most people ask themselves if they really need a budget. If you have financial goals, such as saving for a new TV, or a larger goal of putting money away for your or your children鈥檚 college education or even for retirement, then I highly recommend a budget even if it is only a few entries.
A budget can be a guide and allow you to control your finances. This is especially vital for college students, who are often incurring college expenses or anticipating student loan expenses. For military personnel who are planning to return to civilian life, having a workable budget can make all the difference.

When budgets are not in place, and this goes personally and professionally as a manager, you lose control. Budgeting and saving for something specific, or just for an emergency, is the best outcome of any budget. With control of my finances I can sleep well knowing I am possibly preventing financial hardship if it were to knock at my door tomorrow. I remain prepared for most emergencies that may arise unexpectedly (auto repairs, medical bills, etc.).

When budgeting, make sure to include:

  • Cash Savings/Emergency Fund 鈥� Have at least three months of living expenses (mortgage, utilities, food, car payment, insurance, and whatever else you normally budget for) in a savings account. Whatever you do, don鈥檛 touch it. It鈥檚 not yours to spend (I tell myself that every day)! It may or may not take a bit of time to save this up, but with a budget you鈥檒l plan to save. I鈥檝e been to many financial seminars that stress paying yourself first. Don鈥檛 keep more than six months of living expenses in savings; if you have more, consider investing the rest to earn a higher level of interest.
  • Percentage of your Income to Retirement 鈥� An IRA, or retirement type of account offered by your workplace. A small percentage adds up over the year and you鈥檒l barely miss it. Make sure your percentage also meets your goals (and at least the max percentage your organization is matching), that鈥檚 free money for your retirement plan. Retirement plan advisors are always helpful in discussing the type of accounts that will suit your needs, goals, and based on your age at the time you open the account.
  • Take advantage of flexible spending听accounts听(FSA) and/or health听savings accounts听(HSA) 鈥� These a can be pre-tax contributions put aside for out of pocket daycare or medical expenses on an annual basis. With four school-age children at one time with summer daycare/camp and after school care, I was able to pay for it on my pre-taxed contributions, another way to save money. You are never too young or old to have a retirement account and/or flexible spending accounts.
  • Budget for fun 鈥� Yes, budget for fun鈥� a date night, your special coffee, and even your vacation. When you don鈥檛 budget for it you鈥檒l spend more than you really wanted, and you can never get it back, trust me on this one.

Budgeting Software

Being in finance, working with health care organizations software programs, I realized it was also convenient to use software to keep track of my personal finances. The financial software available can assist in keeping you on target, and most are good; it鈥檚 just based on your individual needs and what you鈥檙e willing to spend. Most financial institutions now can download your transactions directly into your software and with a few clicks of your mouse, let you know exactly where you stand, financially. There is software that can assist with your personal finances and software that can account for multiple financial records. For example, your personal and maybe a small business or consultant income and expenses can be kept separate within the same program, which is important, since reporting can be separated for budgeting and even tax preparation.

Professional Budgeting

Just as important as a personal budget is a professional budget. As a health care administrator, I worked in billing for medical practices and hospitals, and as business manager of several retail businesses that were owned by the doctors, as well as a veterinary clinic. In each financial management position, I continued to build my knowledge. I encourage you to take every opportunity while in school to learn financial management principles so that you can identify a strong budget and identify warning signs in a budget that could spell trouble for a unit or organization. In our courses at Excelsior College, you will learn about a collection of commonly followed accounting rules (commonly referred to as GAAP or generally accepted accounting principles) and standards for financial management and reporting used in the health professions. Our health care management students learn how to read and interpret standard financial statements, organizational budgeting, navigate the complexities of reimbursements in the healthcare sector, and manage financial risk while meeting the needs of their client base. Our students create a budget using spreadsheet software and make informed decisions to help health care organizations remain competitive and successful.

With that said, most elements of budgeting are the same across professions. In health care, we focus on patient revenue and make decisions on how to remain profitable while increasing the quality of our services and decreasing costs. It鈥檚 always a fun challenge, as the health care industry is ever-changing.

Are you interested in learning more about budgeting or financial management for health care? Finance does not have to be scary! Consider signing up for HSC 414 Budget and Finance in Health Care Organizations in the Bachelor of Science in Health Care Management program (or the Management emphasis of the Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences program) or HSC 518 Health Care Finance in the Master of Healthcare Administration.