Project Management 101

Posted on by Excelsior Staff

ALUMNUS KANE TOMLIN PRESENTS WEBINAR SERIES

One only needs to search 鈥減roject management鈥� to see the rapid and growing influence of this business practice in today鈥檚 global market. Based on independent research, the Project Management Institute (PMI), which offers eight certifications that recognize knowledge and competency, asserts that the project management-oriented labor force is expected to grow by 33 percent鈥攏early 22听million new jobs鈥攂y 2027.

According to Kane Tomlin, 鈥�12, 鈥�14, that鈥檚 good news. Tomlin is a PMI-certified Project Management Professional who oversees the project management office of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement where he works as a special programs administrator. He studied criminal justice and cybersecurity at Excelsior and now serves on the College鈥檚 Alumni Leadership Council. Through his work on the Council, he recently launched a quarterly alumni speaker series on project management to help his fellow alumni and current students make sense of one of the fastest-growing听fields.

鈥淧roject management is as simple or as complicated as the project,鈥� says Tomlin. 鈥淎nd the skill set starts with being intellectually curious,鈥� he says, adding that PMI thinks of project management as more than a skill; it considers it to be a profession. Skill, profession, or both, project management, Tomlin explains, is a cognitive process that leads to the most effective and efficient way to perform the work. From this perspective, it鈥檚 easy to see why employers are interested in having project managers on board: how effectively you execute the growth strategy of the organization is directly related to success markers such as profit.

While many of us who are not project managers may feel as though we do this type of work in our jobs every day, not all projects are created equal. Within the industry, projects are clearly defined by the following criteria: 1) a specific product or service, 2) with a start and end date, 3) that has never been done before by you or your company, 4) which requires planning and execution, and 5) has unknown variables.

Or, as Tomlin describes it, a project is any one-time effort with an end-state goal. It can be as simple as making a pot of coffee (if you鈥檝e never made one before) or as complex as building a stadium or IT system. However, all projects share the same three constraints: limited budget, limited time, and performance constraints (good and fast vs. fast and cheap vs. good and cheap).

So, what does it take to be one of these in-demand project managers?

If you like working in an area where there isn鈥檛 much information provided, and that requires you to do research in order to accomplish your goals, then you will enjoy project management. Project managers possess the following skills and attributes: problem solver, positive attitude, high-level communication ablities (written and verbal), systematic mindset (breaks down problems), enjoy challenges, enjoy a lack of routine, and highly goal-oriented.

Project managers follow a prescribed process for handling the work. Remember those three constraints that affect every project? Project management begins with identifying the driver constraint (least flexible) and weak constraint (slightly negotiable) related to the project at hand. Then, it involves breaking down the work into a method that can be organized into a project schedule. For example:

STEP 1:听Make a list of every task that needs to be done in order to complete the project.

STEP 2:听Interview subject matter experts to find out what steps they need to take to complete their portion of the project (for example, if you鈥檙e building a stadium, the subject matter experts would include the architect and general contractor).

STEP 3:听Determine task dependencies, such as tasks that can be completed simultaneously and those that need to be completed before another task can be started.

STEP 4:听Schedule the work; how long each task will take is often identified through those interviews and conversations with the subject matter experts in Step 2.

Scheduling the work isn鈥檛 the end of the planning, of course. Some tasks take longer than scheduled and project managers have to compensate by shuffling people, time, and money to meet goals. That鈥檚 where, Tomlin says, the most important quality of project managers comes into play: problem-solving.

鈥淭he reason is twofold. First, the simple act of starting a project usually involves some version of 鈥榟ow do we solve this problem or overcome this challenge,鈥欌�� says Tomlin. 鈥淪econd, once the project is underway, no matter how much planning you have done, new problems will arise.鈥澨�� by Renee Kelly

New College Partnership: Army University

Posted on by Excelsior Staff

The U.S. Army Ordnance School recently selected Excelsior College, one of Military Times鈥� Best Colleges of 2018, to provide associate degree pathways to soldiers based on military training. The partnership is part of the Army University Continuing Education Degree Program (CEDP), which matches Army schools with civilian colleges. Excelsior was one of a select few colleges nationwide chosen to partner with Army University to participate in the CEDP Leadership Initiative Program and to offer associate degree programs at the U.S. Army Ordnance School at Fort Lee, Virginia, and the Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear School at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.

The associate degree programs selected for the program include the Associate in Applied Science in Technical Studies with a concentration in electromechanical technologies, Associate in Applied Science in Administrative Management Studies, Associate in Science in Liberal Arts with areas of focus in leadership, environmental management science, and logistics, and Bachelor of Science in Homeland Security and Emergency Management. College credit is awarded for military service school courses, and for primary and duty military occupational specialties (MOS) experience.

Students will also profit from other benefits, including support from military academic advisors and admissions counselors; reduced course tuition rate of $250 per credit hour for active duty servicemembers, reservists, and National Guard personnel, and their family members; waived enrollment fee for military students; and maximum credit awarded in transfer for military training, prior college, and exams such as DLPT, CLEP, and DANTES.

鈥淲ith this new partnership with the Army University, we鈥檙e excited to further strengthen our long-standing relationship with the Army and pave pathways for servicemembers to earn college degrees,鈥� said Sue Dewan, executive director of the Excelsior College Center for Military and Veteran Education.

For more information about the partnership, visit .

Alumni Give Back by Paying It Forward

Posted on by Excelsior Staff

Alumni giving was up last fiscal year, spurred in large part by the growth of the Pay It Forward campaign. The campaign asks new graduates to contribute to the Alumni Association Scholarship Fund, which provides scholarships for students with financial need and helps ensure they stay enrolled and earn their degrees.

When graduates make a gift of $25 or more to the Pay It Forward campaign, they receive a purple honor cord to identify themselves as a contributing member of the Excelsior College Alumni Association. Nearly half of the 418 graduates attending Commencement 2017 made a gift on Commencement day.

鈥淧aying it forward to current students is similar to helping a family member with their college expense. I have noticed over the years that there is a strong desire with our alumni to see others succeed.鈥� 鈥揇wayn Hanford

Dwayn Hanford, the president of the , says the Excelsior family atmosphere makes this campaign so successful. 鈥淓xcelsior graduates are proud of our Excelsior family and overwhelmingly thankful for the opportunities they have received after earning their degree,鈥� he says. 鈥淧aying it forward to current students is similar to helping a family member with their college expense. I have noticed over the years that there is a strong desire with our alumni to see others succeed.鈥�

The participation of graduates at Commencement boosted the number of alumni donors to more than 950 for the 12 months ending July 2017. Alumni giving for that period totaled more than $116,000 to support student scholarships and resources.

Overall, Excelsior awarded 1,021 scholarships to students with financial need during the 2016鈥�2017 academic year.

Helen Benjamin Becomes Chair of the Board of Trustees

Posted on by Excelsior Staff

In January 2018, Helen Benjamin was elected by her peers to serve as the chair of the Excelsior College Board of Trustees. The first woman to serve as board chair, she brings a wealth of knowledge, deep experience, and commitment to higher education and student success to the position.

Benjamin retired as chancellor of the Contra Costa Community College District in Martinez, California, in December 2016 after serving as chancellor for more than 11 years. Before that, she held a variety of senior-level positions in the district since 1990. She had been an educator in secondary and higher education for more than 44 years. Benjamin started her career as a high school teacher in Dallas, Texas, and then was an assistant professor at Bishop College in Texas. She was with the Dallas County Community College District for 22 years, including four years as a dean.

She joined the Excelsior College Board of Trustees in 2011. 鈥淓xcelsior鈥檚 mission of serving historically underserved adult learners no matter where they are academically or geographically resonated very strongly with me because of my own educational experiences,鈥� says Benjamin. 鈥淓xcelsior makes a huge difference in the lives of so many students, and I enjoy being a part of an institution with such an important mission. One of my goals as an educator has always been to support underserved students because I identify with them, having attended segregated schools through my years as an undergraduate student.鈥�

She says she is honored to have been selected to chair the Board of Trustees and intends to continue the leadership work of those who have served in the position before her to ensure Excelsior remains true to its听mission.

In addition to her work with Excelsior, Benjamin serves as a member of the Texas Woman鈥檚 University Foundation Board and as a volunteer at the African American Museum in Dallas. President of HSV Consulting Inc., she is a consultant to community colleges in a variety of areas.

鈥淓xcelsior makes a huge difference in the lives of so many students, and I enjoy being a part of an institution with such an important mission.鈥� 鈥揌elen Benjamin

Benjamin maintains an active role in a variety of professional and community organizations, many committed to increasing opportunities for students of color and increasing access to education for economically disadvantaged individuals. She worked tirelessly for the improvement of community and junior colleges and served as president of the California Community Colleges CEOs, as president of the board of the Community College League of California, and as chair of the California Promise Leadership Team. She holds the distinction of being the first community college representative appointed by Congress to the Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance. Benjamin served with distinction as convener of the Presidents鈥� Round Table of Community College African American CEOs and on the Board of Directors of the American Association of Community Colleges.

Known as a champion for student success, Benjamin has written on the topic, has delivered many presentations, and has been acknowledged for her efforts. She co-authored, with Darroch Young, 鈥淗arvest from the Vineyard: Lessons Learned from the Vineyard Symposiums鈥� (2016) and contributed to 鈥淭he Chocolate Truth: An Anthology of Perspectives from Community College CEOs鈥� (2012). She was among 20 community college CEOs from throughout the United States to participate in the first White House Summit on community colleges held by President Barack Obama.

Benjamin earned a Bachelor of Science in English from Bishop College where she graduated magna cum laude, and earned a MEd in supervision and reading and a PhD in English from Texas Woman鈥檚 University in Denton, Texas.

 

Partners on This Journey

Posted on by James Baldwin

For 47 years, Excelsior College has served as a model for how innovative institutions can deliver quality, affordable education, contributing to the realization of the fundamental American promise that anyone鈥攔egardless of social or economic circumstance鈥攕hould be free to pursue their听dreams.

As the College has evolved, so too has the world around us. Private and public institutions across the nation are grappling with how to fulfill their mission in the face of significant marketplace challenges, including a rapidly changing higher education environment, heightened competition, demographic changes, regulatory uncertainty, and a loss of government support.

Excelsior鈥檚 new strategic plan, unveiled in February, elevates our capacity to meet these challenges by building on our core strengths and creating a foundation for future growth and success through improvements to our academic programs, courses, and student services, all supported by dramatic improvements in technology.

Some enhancements will be easily identifiable to all students, such as a captivating new learning management system and the introduction of automated self-service options. Other changes will be difficult to discern but the cumulative effect will create a new, highly responsive, and fully automated student experience.

Our advisors, evaluators, and counselors will be empowered to identify and resolve student issues and problems. We will continue to recruit and retain high-quality faculty with deep expertise and rich teaching experience to foster robust learning communities that stimulate creativity, curiosity, and critical thought. We will elevate our program offerings, infusing them with writing across the curriculum, career-ready competencies, and skill-development opportunities to ensure all graduates are well-prepared to achieve their personal and career goals.

From inquiry to graduation, students will experience an exceptional level of service, personalized to their needs. For our students, Excelsior will be more than an institution. We will be a partner on one of life鈥檚 great journeys鈥攖he search for, and achievement of, self-actualization.听

A+ Tech for the Adult Student

Posted on by Caitlin Abram

Going to school as an adult has a way of transforming you into a modern-day magician. Juggling work, family, and life all while working on your degree requires new ways to make time, homework, and even dinner appear out of thin air! 听Sometimes, however, even the most multitalented multitasker could use a little help.

How many times have you wished for a magic spell that could help you grocery shop, write that research paper, and remember to send your aunt a birthday card? While unfortunately Hogwarts doesn鈥檛 offer online degrees, technology isn鈥檛 too far off.听 From apps that keep you focused, to clever tech for your kitchen, we鈥檝e found four new ways technology has innovated to help you work smarter until science develops that magic wand!

  1. Distraction Destroyers
    We鈥檙e all guilty of sitting down at our computer with the best intention of working only to discover it鈥檚 an hour later and we鈥檙e 10 cat videos deep down a YouTube hole. Luckily there are apps that, with a little setup, can stop digital procrastination before it starts., , and are web browser extensions that allow you to block your choice of distracting websites for the certain amount of time you want to focus on work. Each app comes with smart options like redirecting an off-limit site back to something more scholarly or serving you a landing page with an inspirational quote instead when you visit Reddit in a moment of weakness. You can even program in short breaks to keep you motivated while you work. Best of all, the basic versions of all three are completely free.
  2. Smart Kitchen Tech
    We鈥檝e heard the praises of the Instant Pot (the pressure cooker with a cult-like following), but there are a plethora of other upgrades available to your basic kitchen appliances designed to squeeze those precious extra minutes from your daily routine.The WiFi-enabled coffee maker keeps you caffeinated without even having to leave your desk. This smart coffee pot lets you use voice commands to start brewing from wherever you are. Plus, the built-in bean grinder and programmable features makes sure you always have a fresh cup waiting during those all-nighters.

    The works with Alexa voice commands to allow you to instantly stop, start, and control your cooking. Taking things even further into the future, this microwave comes with 鈥淪can-To-Cook鈥� technology that reads the barcodes of most frozen foods and instantly programs cooking time accordingly, freeing you from the scourge of burned popcorn or icy-in-the-middle entrees.

  3. Household Schedule Heroes
    One of the most difficult things about going back to school is staying on top of your own class, homework, and exam schedules while also making sure the rest of your household keeps on track. Technology can be your saving grace to keep loved ones connected and organized.The app brags that it 鈥溾�� organizes everyone鈥檚 schedules, activities, and appointments in one place that鈥檚 accessible anytime, anywhere.鈥� The helpful color-coded calendar and programmable reminders keep your family on schedule and in the loop. Additional features like shopping lists, a meal planner, and a family journal help keep track of the details so you can keep track of your school work.

    If you鈥檙e looking for a true household command center (and have a few thousand dollars to burn) consider the . This fridge has a 21.5-inch screen tablet embedded in the door as well as three interior cameras that let you know how well stocked you are on your favorite items and alerts you to their expiration dates and nutritional facts. The WiFi-enabled screen that syncs with your family calendar lets you plan recipes with the food you have available and if you don鈥檛 have time to cook, lets you order from GrubHub via voice command.

  4. Academic All Stars
    You鈥檝e just scheduled a pot of coffee with your phone, your distraction blocking app is activated, and now it鈥檚 time to study! While these last two innovations won鈥檛 guarantee you an A, they鈥檒l certainly make it easier.

    Adult students have to be flexible and that often means getting homework or reading done wherever there鈥檚 a will and a WiFi connection. This makes having a portable, wireless power source like the The pad is small enough to carry in a bag or store in a car鈥檚 glove box. Simply place your QI-enabled phone or laptop on the pad and your device begins to charge without the hassle of cords and cables.The path to your degree is surely paved with reading, writing, and research. One of the most time-consuming parts of any writing assignment is making sure your sources are correctly cited. is a subscription service that helps you collect and organize sources and reading materials on any device. CiteThisForMe鈥檚 unique features allow you to cite as you write and can generate citations for a variety of source media in any commonly used style. For group projects, CiteThisForMe gives you a simple way to share research materials with your team and the plagiarism checker function compares your work against your source content to guard against any overzealous borrowing.

听

These innovations are just a sampling of the advancements available designed to streamline our lives with the magic of technology, but any adult student knows the real magic is as simple and as complicated as good old-fashioned drive and determination. Find out ways you can implement these clever hacks while enrolled in our liberal arts degree.

What鈥檚 your favorite technological life-hack?听 Let us know on our .

The Dangers of Negative Thinking and How to Master Positive Self-Talk

Posted on by Lisa Lavigna

Self-talk is our internal dialogue. Some call it the voice in our head. In their book, 鈥淯nderstanding Psychological Preparation for Sport: Theory and Practice of Elite Performers,鈥� Lew Hardy, Graham Jones, and Daniel Gould define self-talk as a form of self-regulation that uses affirmations鈥攄eliberate automatic statements to help control thoughts, instruct, and motivate. Positive self-talk increases self-esteem. Scientific studies have shown self-talk positively effects performance, reduces stress, enhances persistence, and improves learning.

What is Negative Self-Talk?

Every person has some form of self-talk, and it can be positive or negative. Unfortunately, most of our self-talk is negative鈥攚hat is called our inner critic. In his article in the American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy, S.J. White says, 鈥淭he human mind seems to focus on the negative, and we tend to berate ourselves in ways we would never tolerate from a boss, spouse, or anyone else.鈥� Have you ever heard your inner voice say:

  • I can鈥檛 do this
  • I am going to fail
  • What a loser
  • Idiot

Negative self-talk is dangerous. Negative thoughts can affect our behavior and performance, so it is important that we focus instead on the positive. One way to silence our inner critic and to empower our self is through affirmations, like repeating, 鈥淚 am improving every day鈥� or 鈥淚 did my best.鈥�

What is Positive Self-Talk?

Positive self-talk can be motivational or instructional. Motivational听self-talk involves statements that facilitate performance by increasing effort and boosting self-confidence and mood. Instructional self-talk involves affirmations intended to enhance performance. During the 2002 Wimbledon ladies鈥� singles tennis final between the Williams sisters, Serena Williams (who won) used hand-written notes as affirmations between games. As reported in The Guardian, Williams said these 鈥渇lash cards鈥� were 鈥渞eminders to think about cues such as 鈥榟it in front鈥� or 鈥榮tay low鈥� during the match.鈥�

Athletes are taught to use self-talk to motivate themselves and improve their performance. Have you heard self-talk from athletes? Maybe 鈥渓et鈥檚 go,鈥� 鈥渟tay calm,鈥� or 鈥渇ocus on the ball.鈥� Some do it aloud, but it doesn鈥檛 have to be aloud. Researchers found that self-talk is one of the strongest predictors of successful Olympic performance among U.S. athletes. Athletes and students who listen to their inner critic lose or fail more. Those who use听positive听self-talk consistently improve their performance significantly more than counterparts who use听negative听self-talk. We want to focus on eliminating negative self-talk and practice using positive self-talk.

Here are some steps for developing a positive self-talk habit:

  1. Know thyself. Find your strengths. Analyze your thoughts. What psyches you out? What motivates you? What are your strengths?
  2. Choose a mantra:听To get started, choose one of two simple affirmations, such as “I am college material,” “I can do this,” or another simple, positive phrase you can repeat over and over.
  3. Practice:听Once you have developed the habit of repeating this phrase to the point where it is automatic, start expanding the dialogue so that you have familiar and comfortable statements for a variety of situations. For example, “I鈥檝e done this before and it鈥檚 doable.”
  4. Create a positive mental image or visualization:听The phrases and words you choose should be those that you can immediately call up and create a听听of yourself doing exactly what you say. The image along with the words is a powerful combination that creates a positive message tied to a belief. Picture yourself studying as you repeat 鈥淚 am a good student.鈥�
  5. Silence your inner critic. Don’t defeat yourself or argue for your limitations. Students can be particularly hard on themselves, analyzing every moment, being too sensitive to “mistakes” they might have made, etc. Remember, when you live inside your head, your head is the only information you’re getting– and it can be wrong. Just because you feel something, doesn’t make it true. When the inner critic talks, replace the damaging self-talk with a positive statement.
  1. Focus on your successes. What have you done well? What are three strengths you can focus on? The more you know about your strengths, the less you’ll be tempted to focus on your challenges.
  2. Keep repeating your affirmations. I had one taped to my steering wheel for a long time to practice.

Self-talk can help you as a student reduce stress and improve your study habits. Why not tape an affirmation like 鈥淚 am a successful college student鈥� or 鈥淚 can ace this class鈥� to your computer monitor?

 

Why Diversity in Nursing Matters

Posted on by Caitlin Abram

In 2017, the estimated that ethnic and racial minority groups accounted for more than one- third of the country鈥檚 population and projected the U.S. will become a plurality nation by 2048.听This means that no one ethnic or racial group will make up the majority of the population.听With the country鈥檚 makeup growing ever more diverse, it鈥檚 especially important to make sure the first line of care in exam rooms represents the demographics of America鈥檚 waiting rooms.

As the country ages and national spending on health care increases, the industry continues to expand far faster than average and the predicts a growth of more than 15 percent by 2026. With the need for skilled nurses increasing exponentially, it鈥檚 going to be the industry鈥檚 challenge to make sure those new jobs are filled by as diverse a workforce as possible.

How do nursing demographics currently rank? The 鈥檚 2017 Workforce Survey shows that nurses from minority backgrounds make up 19.1 percent of the workforce and male nurses comprise 9 percent. While these diversifying statistics are encouraging in moving nursing beyond its reputation as a majority white and female profession, the health care industry needs to continue to attract, retain, and promote a diverse nursing staff to keep pace with equal representation.听Equally important to consider is that while many studies quantify diversity in terms of racial percentages, measures of diversity would do well to expand to include gender, socioeconomic background, and LGBTQ identification as well.

Why Diversity in Nursing is Important

  • Nurses who share a cultural background and experience with their patients are better able to communicate and advocate for their care.
  • Patients are better participants in their own care when they are able interact with health care providers with whom they feel more comfortable communicating their symptoms and concerns.
  • When nursing staff more accurately represent the communities they serve, it helps eliminate health disparities among underserved populations.
  • A diverse nursing staff can influence policy and decision-making within their institutions to better serve minority populations.
  • Increasing diversity in nursing can have the added trickle-up benefit of increasing diversity in nurse educators and research staff as nurses advance through the health care system.

With all-important health outcomes on the line, health care organizations are eager to recruit and retain nurses from traditionally under-represented groups, with nurses possessing a bachelor鈥檚 degree being in especially high demand.听Since these under-represented populations are often at a disadvantage for educational opportunities, colleges and universities are exploring recruitment strategies that speak to those populations as well as incentives like flexible course structures and hands-on career advisement. Many large health care organizations have implemented internal committees aimed at nurturing diversity within their staff and are increasingly looking at outside partnerships with educational institutions to promote nursing as an occupation to a wider population.

Independent associations such as the , the , the , , and others are also working to support nurses currently in the field with mentorships, continuing education opportunities, and professional networking events.

The entire health care industry is healthier when a concerted effort is made to increase diversity. Are you ready to add your unique voice? Learn more about Excelsior鈥檚 associate, bachelor鈥檚, master鈥檚 in nursing programs, including a dual nursing degree.

 

118 Excelsior College Employees Volunteer During One Week (April 8鈥�12) Impacting 17 Community Projects

Posted on by Alicia Jacobs

Excelsior College encourages volunteerism throughout the year and will hold the 4th Annual Excelsior Cares Volunteer Week April 8鈥�12, 2019. A total of 118 employees plan to volunteer 260 hours by assisting on 17 community projects during the workday throughout the Capital Region and beyond.

鈥淲e are excited about the impact we make from lending time and talent to so many worthy causes,鈥� says Alicia Jacobs, Excelsior Cares Volunteer Week organizer. 鈥淭his annual event is fun for our employees. They learn firsthand about services right in our backyard while working with colleagues to make a difference.鈥� 2019 community projects include sorting, packing, cleaning, painting, light construction, seeding, planting, making phone calls, promoting fundraising events, assisting with mailings, cooking for families, creating thank you stars from retired American Flags, and helping at an animal shelter.

Excelsior Cares Volunteer Week in Albany has grown from 7 projects in 2016 with 65 employees participating to 17 projects in 2019 with 118 employees participating. April is National Volunteer Month with celebrated April 7鈥�13. Excelsior plans its volunteer week to coincide with National Volunteer Week.

This year, Excelsior College also provides an opportunity for employees, their families, and friends to encourage reading and raise money during April 1鈥揗ay 8 by supporting the from the comfort of home.

The 2019 Excelsior Cares Volunteer Week will feature projects at various locations:

Monday, April 8

Cystic Fibrosis Foundation 鈥� Northeastern New York

(Jezreel International) in Albany

Tuesday, April 9

Rebuilding Together Saratoga County

Wednesday, April 10

The Patroon Land Farm (connected to Regional Food Bank)

Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Capital Region

Mohawk Hudson Humane Society

Thursday, April 11

(Jezreel International) in Albany

Stars for our Troops Inc.

Mohawk Hudson Humane Society

Friday, April 12

Alzheimer鈥檚 Association of Northeastern New York

Please contact Alicia Jacobs at ajacobs@excelsior.edu to set up interviews or photo opportunities.

O: (518) 464-8531

C: (518) 410-4624

 

ABOUT EXCELSIOR COLLEGE

Excelsior College (excelsior.edu) is a regionally accredited, not-for-profit online college focused on helping adults complete their degrees and advance their careers. The college contributes to the development of a diverse, educated, and career-ready society by valuing lifelong learning with an emphasis on serving individuals historically underrepresented in higher education. Founded in 1971, Excelsior meets students where they are 鈥� academically and geographically 鈥� removing obstacles to the educational goals of adults pursuing continuing education and degree completion. Our pillars include innovation, flexibility, academic excellence, and integrity. Learn more at excelsior.edu.

Exceeding His Potential: Jeremy Lampley

Posted on by Jenna Kerwin

Jeremy Lampley has always been motivated to accomplish his goals. So far, he鈥檚 marked a lot off his list: joining the military, earning two鈥攕oon to be three鈥攄egrees with Excelsior College and starting the process to pursue a fourth.

Originally from St. Louis, MO, Lampley attended the University of Missouri-Columbia where he studied Sports Venue Management as a student athlete, but decided the traditional college route wasn鈥檛 for him. In 2012 he joined the U.S. Navy and in 2014 and 2015 he was deployed to serve in the AFRICOM tours.

While in service, Lampley heard about Excelsior鈥檚 online learning model from his mentor and thought it was right for him. He enrolled in the Associate in Applied Science and Administrative/Management Studies program in 2014 and earned his degree the following year. But he wasn鈥檛 finished. The very same August, in 2015, Lampley began working toward his bachelor鈥檚 and in 2016, he earned a Bachelor of Professional Studies鈥� Business and Management. Lampley says of the experience at Excelsior College, 鈥淎 small school like Excelsior showed me that if you want anything bad enough, you鈥檒l have to work day and night for it.鈥�

Lampley鈥檚 academic advisor was with him every step of the way, too, he says. 鈥淚t was kind of like having a champion guide, prepping you for the greatest success,鈥� he says of the one-on-one support he received. It helped that Lampley鈥檚 academic advisor was a recent graduate of the Master鈥檚 of Science in Management degree program and could relate to what he was going through. When Lampley finished his bachelor鈥檚 degree, she was the first person he called to say he was ready to go for his master鈥檚.

Lampley made a personal goal to earn a 4.0 GPA for his master鈥檚 in management degree. It was difficult, he says, especially since the courses were hard and sometimes he bumped heads with the faculty. Now he realizes they helped him persevere. 鈥淭hey truly pushed me; they told me to write better, to think more critically鈥hey were forcing me to be the best version of me, and so I did just that. I’ll never forget that motivational push,鈥� he says. He also notes the courses opened his eyes and changed his perspective on the norm: 鈥淓very course was different and readjusted my mindset on a lot of things happening in HR that is overdue for change.鈥�

During the year he spent pursuing his master鈥檚 degree, Lampley took the opportunity to volunteer instead of working full-time. He has helped out at his church, worked on peoples鈥� cars, and lent a hand in his community. This has helped him stay humbled and focused on his school work, but the real support and source of focus for Lampley, he says, has been the unwavering support of his girlfriend. Without her, he says he doesn鈥檛 think he could have made it through the courses.

His time spent in his master鈥檚 classes also prepared him for his next big step. The work he put into his papers, and interacting with classmates and faculty on the discussion boards prepared him for his interview with law enforcement. 鈥淒o not get me wrong, law enforcement is very intimidating; however, BUS 523 is more intimidating. It鈥檚 just something about having a 25-page paper due by Sunday,鈥� he jokes, recalling the experiences of writing a master鈥檚 paper and interviewing for his next career. It has paid off, though; this year, Lampley will be in a new law enforcement field serving his country again.

He says if it wasn鈥檛 for this time in the military, he wouldn鈥檛 be as confident to have a badge and when he thinks about his long-term prospects for career growth, he thinks his master鈥檚 degree will be a plus.

Lampley says servicemembers have to think ahead to what鈥檚 after the military. That鈥檚 exactly what he did. Now, he is encouraging other servicemembers to pursue their degrees, too. 鈥淚 tell every servicemember I come across that your wildest dreams are possible but it鈥檚 up to you to make them come to life,鈥� he says and notes that education is not to be wasted. He says, 鈥淚t may not be for everyone, but everyone that tries will learn something.”

Lampley believes places like Excelsior help people go after their education with confidence. 鈥淓xcelsior is building [up] people to live out their dreams, I kid you not; every advisor, every financial aid representative is there to help you on the path of completion of your schooling,” he says. He notes, though, that it鈥檚 important to remember why you鈥檙e on your journey; your 鈥渨hy鈥� is critical in what you do. Lampley says his why is, 鈥淚 was put on this earth to fulfill a purpose that only I can fulfill, to serve and shine my light as brightly as possible鈥� and he is determined to show the world just what he has to offer.

3 Ways an Instant Pot Saves Your Life as a Working Student

Posted on by Emily Miller

I don鈥檛 know about you, but sometimes鈥攎ore like all the time鈥攂eing a single mom, working a full-time job, and going to grad school is exhausting. There are never enough hours in the day to get everything done. So, when it comes to food, convenience tends to win out. That means a lot of takeout, or quick and easy meals to make with ingredients I have on hand.

While I鈥檝e always been a fan of slow cookers, ever since Jack died on 鈥淭his is Us,鈥� I get a little nervous leaving my newer slow cooker on all day while I鈥檓 not home. Add to that a mischievous dog who gets into anything left on the counter, and you鈥檙e looking at a recipe for disaster. Enter, my lifesaver (and yours!), the .

Instant Pots were a hot gift this past holiday season and now that I know more about them, I understand why! Despite my best attempt to meal plan and prep, I often end up at the grocery store on my lunch, or popping in quick after work on my way to daycare, desperately trying to remember what I need to pick up to complete the meal I鈥檓 throwing together. The Instant Pot has turned my constant state of frazzled into a state of 鈥測es I can!鈥� Seriously, getting everything done, and in a somewhat nutritious manner, makes me feel like a super mom. I like to plan my meals throughout the week, and looking at my day from start to finish means I don鈥檛 have to worry or scramble after a long day.

Mornings Made Easy

Mornings in my house can only be described as chaos. Sometimes I鈥檓 running on little to no sleep from being up writing a paper, or responding to discussion posts. To get my daughter to daycare and myself to work on time, it requires getting up at 5:15 a.m. 听and rushing to leave by 6:15 a.m. I have whittled out every possible thing I can in the mornings, and still I鈥檓 grabbing a banana for her and stopping for a second coffee and a muffin or bagel for myself as we rush around town. Certainly, these are not the best choices I could make; there are healthier options, but I鈥檓 so go-go-go that I can鈥檛 think about them. And I鈥檇 much rather spend some time in the morning on goal setting for the day and making my plan of attack than thinking about what I鈥檓 going to eat 鈥� or cooking! An easy and much healthier breakfast is Greek yogurt. Although it doesn鈥檛 seem like a hard thing to have cups of Greek yogurt in the refrigerator to grab and go, I never seem to have it in my house or pick it up at the grocery store. But, with an Instant Pot, I can make a huge batch of that will last a week from just one container of Greek yogurt and a gallon of milk. It needs to incubate nine hours, so it鈥檚 a perfect thing to make overnight. Might as well put my sleeping hours to use!

Lunch鈥擝ring Not Buy

Lunches are my downfall. As a busy, working mom trying to fit schoolwork into my day, it never fails that I end up getting takeout for lunch. The problem is, my lunch hour is also a time that I typically devote to schoolwork, reading a chapter, or getting discussion posts done, and taking the 20 minutes to go get something to eat really cuts into that time. I鈥檓 a soup girl. I love soups for lunch, but making a healthy soup at home takes hours. Instant Pot is my lifesaver here, too. I can make just about any delicious soup from start to finish in 45 minutes in an Instant Pot, and use only one pan. That cuts down on my dishes and time spent in the kitchen. If I start the soup right after dinner in the half hour when my daughter plays before her bedtime routine, I鈥檓 done for the week. All that鈥檚 left to do is just place the soup in bowls to transport and go.

Dinner Time鈥擨nstant Means Instant

If you鈥檙e an adult trying to fit school in your life, especially if you鈥檙e a parent, dinner might be the last thing you鈥檙e thinking about on a daily basis. After work, evenings are spent running kids to activities and sports, helping with homework, and packing for the next day. You don鈥檛 have the time to make anything other than a simple meal, and you鈥檙e probably not even home for the hour or two it would take to make a traditional pot roast or meatloaf or pork chops. Here鈥檚 another way Instant Pots save the day: Instant Pots allow you bring weekend meals into the work week. Want to make baked potatoes to go with your dinner but don鈥檛 have an hour to cook them? In an Instant Pot, it鈥檚 15 minutes.

Time Spent Elsewhere

To me, it鈥檚 not just about saving time and being healthier. What the Instant Pot means to me is not taking away from the amount of time I have with my daughter. It鈥檚 saving dishes and using one pot, so I don鈥檛 have to spend half an hour after my little girl is sleeping doing dishes and that time could be spent on schoolwork. It means I can still get my homework done and get to sleep at a reasonable hour. It鈥檚 my lifesaver.

Do you have an Instant Pot? Is it as life-changing for you as it is for me? Share your favorite Instant Pot recipes and the ways it鈥檚 helping you get your schoolwork done on our!

 

Lending a Helping Hand: Excelsior College Highlights Giving Back & Upcoming Volunteer Week

Posted on by Caitlin Abram

Excelsior Cares
As part of the culture at Excelsior College, employees show the College is a caring community making an impact on both our colleagues and the community at large. One of the benefits working of Excelsior College is a generous volunteer time off (VTO) policy that gives full-time employees up to 15 hours annually for volunteering during the workday.

Alicia Jacobs, an employee who helps lead community engagement efforts, encourages her colleagues to learn about nonprofit causes by sharing time and talent through volunteerism. She says the VTO policy creates a culture that shows the work employees do inside the College is just as important as the impact made by their volunteerism outside of the College.

Jacobs helped create Excelsior Cares Volunteer Week in 2016. The 4th Annual Excelsior Cares Annual Volunteer Week will be held from April 8鈥�12 when employees lend a helping hand on community projects during the workday. 鈥淭his year, we look forward to having 136 employees help with 25 projects. This annual event creates a better understanding through firsthand experience about services right here in the community that potentially impact friends, family, and their colleagues in times of need,鈥� says Jacobs. Volunteer Week also introduces nonprofits to employees of the College while they assist with the critical needs of the community.

In advance of Volunteer Week, Excelsior College held a volunteer fair on March 6 so employees could learn about local volunteer opportunities. Representatives from Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Epilepsy Foundation, Rebuilding Together Saratoga, Stars for Our Troops, United Way, American Red Cross, Regional Food Bank, Best Buddies, Orange Street Cats, and Alzheimer鈥檚 Association attended and shared their organizations鈥� missions.

Susan Wells, founder of Stars for our Troops Inc., an organization that annually participates in Volunteer Week, shared, 鈥淭hank you for letting us have time to talk about our projects. It was fun to share opportunities that we can pass on to others.鈥�
takes old, tattered, and faded U.S. flags and passes on the embroidered stars to those for whom defending the flag has made an impact. Recently, a group of veterans worked together to remove stars and in the process discovered their commonalities. If you would like to host a star party, contact S4otstarmaker@aol.com.

Volunteering is also way to give back, meet other people, learn something new, and help a great cause. It also provides volunteers with a different perspective. Although diverse in their mission, the participants in the Volunteer Fair had at least one thing in common鈥攈elping society at large and serving the needs of others by providing resources, services, supplies, food, housing, friendships, and skills.
Red Cross at Excelsior College

If you would like to volunteer with lifesaving work, the Red Cross seeks volunteers as blood transportation specialists. These volunteers transport lifesaving blood to area hospitals using Red Cross-owned and branded vehicles. Gas and tolls are covered. Volunteers can work independently or alongside a partner. Qualified volunteers need a valid driver’s license, proof of insurance, and a clean driving record of 3 or more years. The time commitment is 1鈥�2 shifts a month for 4 or more hours. For more information, call 518-694-5103.

If you would like to support hunger initiatives, the partners with the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York. On average 100,000 lbs. of food are harvested annually and two-thirds is donated to 23 surrounding communities. Located near Thatcher Park, the Patroon Land Farm is seeking volunteers from now until October to help with harvesting. It also holds an annual Strawberry Festival at the Altamont Fairgrounds and needs volunteers for this year鈥檚 event on June 15. To volunteer, email ninap@regionalfoodbank.net.
Orange Street Cats at Excelsior College

If you have a passion for saving pets, was started nine years ago when several cats where found at a building that was to be condemned. Now this organization helps foster and adopt kittens and cats, while assisting with food, liter, and vet care. It also has adult cats seeking homes. Orange Street Cats needs volunteers to help with clerical work, website updates, and photography. To volunteer, email osc@orangestreetcats.org.

If you would like to be more than a mentor, can use your help. Its adult citizen program pairs volunteers with people with disabilities to form friendships. Like Big Brothers Big Sisters, this is about creating inclusion and forming a bond. The time commitment is meeting a few times a month with your buddy, texting, or keeping in touch with phone calls.

Together, we can make a difference.