Course Feature: NS 110 Science in Today鈥檚 World

Posted on by Jenna Kerwin

NS 110 Science in Today鈥檚 World gives students an overview of current and emerging trends in science and technology so that they will be able to make informed decisions. The course introduces the scientific method and terminology used in reporting scientific results and prepares students to read accounts about scientific, technological, and medical advances in the media and teaches them how to assess the scientific conclusions presented.

Dale Emeagwali, faculty program director for biology and natural science, says NS 110 is specifically designed to cover 鈥渉ot topics鈥� of current interest to everyone, and is frequently adapted to keep up to date on science trends in the news and on social media. The course also uses online educational resources (freely accessible, openly licensed text, media, and other digital assets) in place of a textbook, which is an added benefit to students looking to save some money.

According to Emeagwali, specific course topics include: genetically modified foods (How do these alterations to the DNA of our food crops affect us and the environment? Should the U.S. follow other countries in labeling foods that contain GMOs?); the human microbiome (How can our gut microbes impact our health and well-being? This includes an examination of the probiotic craze.); fresh water (Our water safety and purity is something we need to understand and monitor. Discussion points examine the pros and cons around bottled or tap water.); and climate change (What does the scientific research show and how can we, as individuals, be more aware of our carbon footprint?).

Science in Today鈥檚 World is designed to meet the general education requirement for the natural sciences and should appeal to students who may be reluctant or fearful to take a science course. 鈥淭his course is meant to be a welcoming and non-threatening learning environment where anyone can succeed with the help and guidance of the supportive instructors,鈥� says Emeagwali. She also notes 鈥渢he real goal of the course is to help students become wise consumers鈥bout scientific discoveries that impact their daily lives. The students can carry the skills in analytical and critical thinking they learn here into their future studies and many aspects of their lives.鈥�

Students have appreciated the non-threatening learning environment and informative atmosphere of the course. Comments include: 鈥淚 would highly recommend this course. The course was well constructed and enhanced my understanding of science in today鈥檚 world.鈥�, 鈥淭here are some things I learned here that I never thought of in life, which has helped to respect both nature and life and appreciate the things around me.鈥� and 鈥淚t鈥檚 a good class and introduces some good resources many students may not be using; for example, TED talks.鈥�

Faculty are equally as impressed with teaching NS 110. Stan Forrestor says, 鈥淚 love teaching this NS 110. The breadth of the topics and the ever-changing nature of science and the issues that society faces create a course in which I can engage with students on many levels.鈥� Amy Richmond says, 鈥淚 love that this course helps students think critically about everyday scientific issues鈥earning to think deeply about topics is a skill that will help students not only in their education but also in their day-to-day life.鈥� Feliz Rizvanov, who has been teaching the course since it was first offered, has this to say: 鈥淚 have been teaching the NS 110 course since its very inception鈥� In this course, I did find my fulfillment: I do what I love and I love what I do.鈥�

To learn about the ever-changing nature of science, consider signing up for NS 110 Science in Today鈥檚 World for next semester.

5 Reasons to Get an Internship

Posted on by William Trevor

Bachelor’s Degree Students – Why Enroll in an Internship Program?

Here are five reasons why taking an internship as part of your bachelor’s degree program can help boost your career prospects, build your resume, and potentially land you that dream job!

  1. It Helps You Explore a Future Career

Whether you have been thinking about a future career in cybersecurity, a role in criminal justice, or even a marketing job as a social media manager, an internship allows you to have a taste of what it鈥檚 like, without requiring you to commit to a full-time job. It gives you the opportunity to see if there are gaps in your knowledge, skills you need to improve, or even things you hadn鈥檛 anticipated. An internship might also help you to determine whether the career is for you, and if it isn鈥檛, it might just open your eyes to other opportunities.

  1. An Internship Is a Powerful Resume Builder

An internship will help you add substance to the experience section of your resume. Many students who are new to the employment market, or even those switching mid-career, face the dilemma that they cannot gain employment without experience, and they cannot gain that experience unless someone offers them a job. So, an internship can help you overcome that Catch-22 situation and develop experience in an area in which you would like to pursue a future career. What better way to gain web programming experience, for example, than by using HTML5 to create a website for a local start-up, which gives you both the experience and something to show future employers as part of a portfolio of work.

  1. As an Extended Job Interview, It Might Land You a Job

Not only does an internship allow you to have a taste of a future career, it also allows a potential future employer to check you out and vice versa. Some employers see the it as an extended job interview and if you impress them during the few months you are there, then they may even ask you to stay, or offer you a full-time position when you have gained your diploma. Treating an internship as an extended job interview is a good way to approach your internship and will give you useful skills and experience for your future career search.

  1. Develop Your Professional Network and Gain Valuable References

Even if you don鈥檛 end up with a job from the organization that you are interning with, your new-found contacts may be able to refer you to friends and colleagues in other organizations who are hiring. If you impress them during the internship, then they may be prepared to act as a reference for you or pass your resume on to another business looking for your skills and experience. Use LinkedIn, or other social media, to stay in contact with the people you have met, so you can build a valuable professional network to help you in the years ahead.

  1. Develop Career-Relevant Skills to Smash That Job Search

In completing your internship, you are going to develop a range of skills and competencies that will benefit you in the workplace and aid you in your career. Time management, for example, is a vital skill in any role, and the ability to prioritize tasks will also benefit you in whatever future role you choose to pursue. You will probably be required to complete a project and so you will find the skills of project management invaluable in any number of jobs. The process of finding an internship, being interviewed by your supervisor, completing a resume, and some of the other activities associated with an internship will also help you in your search for a job. Ultimately, the real-world experience gained from an internship will help you stand out in a crowded employment market and enable you to smash that job search!

 

 

The INT400 Internship Program, provides bachelor鈥檚 students an opportunity to complete a 3-credit internship, whether as a traditional on-site experience or as a remote virtual internship. For more information about how the internship program can help boost your career, call Will Trevor at 518-608-8189 or email internships@excelsior.edu.

Excelsior College Celebrates Graduates at U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy Black and Gold Ceremony

Posted on by Alicia Jacobs

Excelsior Graduates Honored at Black and Gold Ceremony

On June 16, U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy hosted its annual Black and Gold Ceremony, celebrating the educational accomplishments of its graduates, including 193 Excelsior College students, in the Class of 2018. One of Excelsior College鈥檚 instructional faculty members, The Honorable M. Sue Kurita, presiding judge of El Paso County Court at Law, No. 6, provided this year鈥檚 Speaker Address.

The U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy is the senior enlisted school for the Army. It is a 42-week military course preparing Career Senior Enlisted Soldiers to be promoted to the rank of E9 Sergeants Major and Command Sergeant Major.听The Sergeants Major Academy is located at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas.

Excelsior Teaches Courses at the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy

Excelsior College offers on-site classroom courses to support associate, bachelor鈥檚, and master鈥檚 degree programs.听A new class arrives each August and graduates in June. In addition to their military/academy academic course requirements, most soldiers also pursue voluntary education.

Excelsior College has offered advising and student support services at the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy since 1994 and has provided on-site classroom courses since 2009. 鈥淢ore than 3,200 Excelsior College degrees have been earned by 2,706 graduates of the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy since 贰虫肠别濒蝉颈辞谤鈥檚 partnership with the Academy began in 1994,鈥� says Susan Dewan, assistant vice president for Student Success and Military Services at Excelsior College.

Students at the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy have access to an on-campus .听 Find your Military Education Representative, including their contact phone number and email address, at this Academy or across the U.S.

Course Feature: HIS 101: United States History 1

Posted on by Jenna Kerwin

HIS 101: United States History is an introductory course on the early history of the United States, from pre-European contact Native American societies to the end of the Reconstruction era after the Civil War. This course introduces the major political, social, and economic trends in the American colonies and new nation from the 15th through the mid-19th centuries. The course also focuses specifically on diversity and the cross-cultural encounters that contributed to the creation of the United States. HIS 101 is also the first half of a two-course sequence; HIS 102: United States History II continues the story from Reconstruction through the recent past.

Through unique and inventive written assignments, students gain a first-hand understanding of the topics covered by stepping into the mindset of the past. Faculty program director Mary Berkery explains, 鈥淚n one assignment, for example, students write a newspaper editorial in support of one candidate in the crucial turning-point election of 1800. HIS 101 uses open educational resources (freely accessible, openly licensed text, media, and other digital assets), including an innovative textbook called 鈥淭he American Yawp,鈥� written collaboratively by hundreds of historians.

The book works on any device, including tablets and mobile phones, and comprises 30 chapters divided into two volumes, split chronologically in 1877. Berkery notes students also go beyond the textbook to examine primary sources like letters, political cartoons, and speeches to understand American history from the perspective of those who lived it.

鈥淭his course focuses on the untold histories of marginalized groups in our founding and early republic,鈥� says Berkery. HIS 101 considers early American history from the perspective of Native Americans, slaves, religious and ethnic minority groups, and women. This course also teaches crucial skills that will help students in future coursework and in a wide variety of careers, including primary source analysis, historical research and writing, and critical thinking, adds Berkery.

Berkery indicates that the students who would be most interested in HIS 101: United States History would be those interested in America鈥檚 origins, including America鈥檚 colonization, interaction between European, African, and Native American cultures, the Revolution, the development of an infant republic, westward migration, and the causes and consequences of the Civil War; students who would like to do upper-level course work in U.S. history, as this course provides a solid foundation in historical research, writing, and critical thinking skills; and students who are interested in courses without textbook costs.

Students have had praise for the class, saying, 鈥淚f you are interested in the history of the United States and what really led up to the Civil War then this is the course to take,鈥� and 鈥溾�nowledge is power, and knowing what happened in our nation鈥檚 history is very crucial and an important piece of knowledge. You can understand the origin of things and why things are the way they are now.鈥� They have also enjoyed the open online resources: 鈥淚 really enjoyed the online textbook. 鈥楾he American Yawp鈥� was interesting reading. Since it is online, I was able to read it across multiple devices.鈥�

Course instructors have also noted how enjoyable HIS 101 is to teach, saying, 鈥淚 think it is really a well-designed class. The discipline of history is well-represented with using the primary and secondary resources and an emphasis on integrating them to create responses and assignments,鈥� and 鈥淚 really like the assignments that asked students to think about what they learned and present the information in a creative way such as the assignment to write an editorial.鈥�

If you would like to learn more about our nation鈥檚 history, consider signing up for HIS 101: United States History for next semester.

 

CPNE and Me: Andrew Lieberman, Paramedic

Posted on by Excelsior Staff

Making the leap into the nursing field takes time, dedication and determination. It also requires passing of the Clinical Performance in Nursing Exam (CPNE), a comprehensive performance examination that validates a student鈥檚 competency to enter professional nursing practice.

But for United States Marine Corps paramedic Andrew Lieberman, the exam was reasonable and doable in large part to the right resources, assistance and investment from Excelsior College.

Working as a paramedic while teaching part-time in the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Program at Coastal Carolina Community College in Jacksonville, North Carolina, Lieberman had designs on becoming a registered nurse, but needed to find a program that accommodated his full-time paramedic schedule. Thankfully, he found that opportunity at 贰虫肠别濒蝉颈辞谤鈥檚 School of Nursing, with flexible scheduling conducive to his weeks of demanding hours.

鈥淓xcelsior College gave me the opportunity to advance myself as an adult,鈥� says Lieberman.

Once through coursework, it was time for Lieberman to master the CPNE, an 8-credit performance-based test that measures on-the-job competence over two and a half days in an acute care hospital. With the help of research materials, faculty advisement and study groups that stressed vital attention to detail, Lieberman absorbed all he could before approaching his exam at Albany, New York鈥檚 St. Peter鈥檚 Hospital in December 2017.

The Lieberman-described 鈥渆xtreme preparation鈥� paid off. He passed on his first try, which ushered him toward a new realm of professional opportunity.

鈥淚t gave me a sense of freedom and accomplishment,鈥� says Lieberman. 鈥淎s an RN, I now have recruiters calling me. I鈥檓 currently weighing my options, and have now fielded offers that can more than double my salary. That鈥檚 what [passing the exam] did for me.鈥�

While surveying his possible career directions, Lieberman has determined his next educational move: He鈥檚 in the process of enrolling in an RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program, then plans to continue onto graduate school. After successfully juggling the demands of full-time employment with pursuing an education to become a registered nurse, he finds no reason to quit his climb鈥攁nd he doesn鈥檛 think other prospective students should, either.

It鈥檚 all about commitment, and it鈥檚 a goal that any dedicated student can achieve.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a choice,鈥� says Lieberman. 鈥淚f you made it through to the point where you are eligible for the test, then you can do this. There is never a great time to do it, because stuff will always get in your way if you let it. If you decide to start, know that it takes commitment to sacrificing now for a better tomorrow.鈥�

 

More CPNE tips from Andrew Lieberman:

听Schedule faculty advisement

Stressed as vital to his CPNE success, faculty advisement calls helped Lieberman prepare for the competencies he鈥檇 need to master for eventual exam success鈥攂ut he wishes he鈥檇 utilized these sooner. 鈥淚 would鈥檝e liked maybe an initial faculty advisement call at the time of registration for the CPNE, and at that time, [have them] spend 30 minutes explaining the examination. I think that would鈥檝e been helpful.鈥�

Start a study group

No one understands CPNE-prepping students better than their fellow students. That鈥檚 why finding a study group that鈥檚 relentless about preparation is essential. Lieberman found a small group of determined individuals all united in a common goal, and ones he could depend on for the strict evaluation necessary for exam success. 鈥淲hat was different about these people from the others?鈥� asks Lieberman. 鈥淭he difference isn鈥檛 that they were smarter or better. It鈥檚 that they looked inside and committed to completion. That鈥檚 it.鈥�

听Get organized鈥攁nd relax

Success on the CPNE requires utilizing resources and available time to eventually achieve on-the-job readiness. This takes organization, whether with resource materials or scheduling calls with faculty. But according to Lieberman, you need to know that everything at your disposal is there to set you up for exam success. 鈥淐alm yourself down, go relaxed and realize the examiners aren鈥檛 allowed to be monsters,鈥� he says. 鈥淭hey want you to pass, but they can鈥檛 pass you if you can鈥檛 prove that initial RN-level of competence.鈥�

 

 

 

 

 

 

Course Feature: IT 390: Project Management

Posted on by Jenna Kerwin

The Project Management Institute Inc. (PMI), an association of project managers providing global leadership in the subject, defines project management as 鈥渢he application of knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques to a broad range of activities in order to meet the requirements of a particular project.鈥� As organizations and projects grow and become complex, many projects fall short of their objective. In turn, new knowledge is developed to help increase the success rate of these projects. Project management is the practice of this new knowledge, and learning project management theory is the basis for IT 390: Project Management.

Project management is important to many organizations and course instructor Perry Ram says IT 390 is appropriate for students in any undergraduate program. He notes the course would also 鈥渂e of keen interest to those who have had many years of supervisory experience and would want to transfer skills to project management. Project management is applicable in almost every career.鈥� The course provides students with project management skills, practices, tools, and templates that can help them in their professional growth.

Ram explains the course covers the 10 knowledge areas and five process groups that PMI segments project management into. The knowledge areas include: scope, time, cost, quality, human resource, communication, risk, procurement, stakeholder, and integration. The process groups include initiating, planning, executing, monitoring and controlling, and closing. The course also emphasizes ethics in project management.

Students in IT 390 learn hands-on through the phases of a project, from selection to completion. Throughout the course, they take on various roles such as project stakeholders and team members and also engage in productive feedback with each other through discussion posts. Assignments promote literary research and professional writing鈥攕kills which are valuable in academic and professional environments, adds Ram.

鈥淎lmost every student of this course has commented on how they have a new-found respect for project management and project managers. This course transforms students from being critical of project managers to becoming knowledgeably supportive of them,鈥� says Ram.

If you鈥檇 like to become more well-versed in project management, consider signing up for IT 390: Project Management next semester. To learn about alumnus Kane Tomlin鈥檚 project management webinar series, check out the spring issue of .

The Keto Diet: Is It Right for You?

Posted on by Cortney Shaughnessy

You鈥檝e probably heard your friends talking about the latest fad diet: the Keto Diet. It isn鈥檛 actually new. In fact, this type of diet has been prescribed for treatment of pediatric epilepsy as early as 1921. But does it also work for weight loss?

What is the Keto Diet?

The ketogenic (鈥渒eto鈥�) diet is a high fat, moderate protein, low carbohydrate diet. It is rich in meats and fats, and carbohydrate intake is limited to no more than 50 grams each day. It similar to the very low carbohydrate Atkins Diet, which gained popularity in the 1970s for weight loss.

The Keto Diet is rich in meats, fish, nuts, seeds, butter, cheese, and fibrous vegetables. Foods high in carbohydrates, such as fruits, starchy vegetables, legumes, and grains are eliminated while on the Keto Diet.

How Does the Keto Diet Work?

When you dramatically reduce your carbohydrate intake, your cells do not have enough circulating blood sugar (which comes from carbohydrates in your diet) for energy. This causes your body to release ketone bodies (broken down from stored body fat) into your bloodstream for your body to use for energy. This process is called ketosis. It usually takes 2鈥�4 days of eating no more than 20鈥�50 grams of carbohydrates each day for the body to use ketone bodies for energy instead of circulating blood sugar.听 The result is the loss of stored body fat with minimal hunger.

How Effective Is It for Weight Loss?

Research has shown that a low-carbohydrate diet is very effective for rapid, short-term weight loss compared to traditional weight reduction diets. However, over time, traditional weight loss diets (such as a low-fat diet or the Mediterranean Diet) appear to be equally effective. Research has also shown that the Keto Diet can reduce blood sugar levels for people living with type 2 diabetes.

Are There Any Side Effects to Following the Keto Diet?

Careful diet planning is key to ensuring you are not consuming too much red meat, sodium, processed meats, or saturated fat. Some people report it is difficult to stick to on a long-term basis, since the typical American diet is at least 50 percent carbohydrates. Reported side effects from the ketosis process include nausea, fatigue, bad breath, and constipation.

Is the Keto Diet Right for Me?

If you want to lose weight, a low-carbohydrate diet such as the Keto Diet can be an effective tool for jump-starting your weight loss. Proper planning can ensure your diet remains balanced in vitamins and essential nutrients while following the very low carbohydrate phase of this diet. However, decades of research supports a balanced diet rich in unprocessed foods such as vegetables, fruits, lean meats, fish, and healthy fats found in nuts, seeds, and oils to be the most effective for health and longevity. Learn more about improving your health with a Master of Science in Health Sciences.

Interested in learning more about nutrition and health? Consider enrolling in HSC 403: Nutrition for Wellness.

 

Disclaimer:听The views expressed here are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of Excelsior College, its trustees, officers, or employees.

Policing Careers and Technology: How New Technology Is Changing the Policing Profession

Posted on by Lynda Holt

The world of law enforcement is very different than it was 20 or even 10 years ago. New digital technologies are transforming the world of policing, allowing agencies to prevent crimes more effectively and solve crimes faster. Now, the unimaginable is reality; from drones in the sky to computers in our glasses, technological advancements are everywhere. Here are just a few of the new technologies that are helping police do their jobs more effectively and efficiently.

  • You may be aware of cases being solved and crimes being thwarted because of what someone posted on social media. Facebook, Twitter, Reddit, Instagram, and other platforms can be used to gather intelligence, locate suspects, find crucial clues, and get the word out about cases to the public. A 2013 report from The Police Executive Research Forum indicates 80 percent of police departments used social media regularly for investigations and the associated official regarded social media investigations as 鈥渃ritically important to the future.鈥�
  • Augmented reality is an interactive experience wherein technological information and virtual objects are overlaid onto real-world scenes in real-time. One great example of this technology is Google Glasses or HoloLens glasses. By using these types of glasses, a foot patrol officer can get information on homes and business he or she passes, and special face recognition software can analyze people he/she passes to compare to BOLO descriptions or those with outstanding warrants. In an October 2017 news report, the multimedia company VRScout reported on HoloLens, describing how it can be used to map out crime scene layouts and evidence and immediately share them with others, allowing for better workflow and collaboration. The company cited Nick Lyall, superintendent of the Bedfordshire (United Kingdom) police, who said, 鈥淎s a detective, I can also say that its ability to scan crime scenes and create a mapped 3D version will allow for a reduction in cross-contamination issues and allow for investigators to visualize in real time the scenes of major crime.鈥�
  • According to the Department of Homeland Security, biometrics are unique physical characteristics, such as fingerprints, that can be used for automated recognition. Officers may soon have small handheld devices to take accurate fingerprints, DNA samples, or other biological markers at the scene of a crime, or from suspects in the field, to compare to fingerprints in the system. The databases and technology continue to improve the collection and accuracy of the samples. The FBI maintains the largest database of biometric and criminal history information in the Next Generation Identification (NGI) system. The FBI is also working on new technology in facial services, voice recognition, palm print technology, and iris scans.
  • Allied Market Research defines situational awareness systems as security systems that help in collecting, visualizing, and analyzing information related to the surrounding and remote environment to facilitate surveillance as well as security. These systems also help in threat identification, assessment, strategy planning, risk analysis, and course-of-action development, and as a result find maximum application in the military and aerospace industries. Currently in use in New York City, the Domain Awareness System (DAS) uses data from a number of outside hosts and sources to provide instant access to photos and video. Jointly built by the NYPD and Microsoft, DAS uses the largest network of cameras, license plate readers, and sensors in the world. The system gives officers instant information about calls in progress, allowing officers a quick glimpse that helps guide an appropriate response to an ongoing situation. TDAS also contains a GPS system that is installed in over 5,000 police vehicles, designed to manage patrols and assist with police safety. The NYPD reports that DAS also gives officers in the field access to 911 data, alerts in real time, and translator apps to help with community members who do not speak English. On the management front, DAS allows commanding officers access to predictive analytics and data visualization so they can efficiently and effectively place patrols where and when they are most needed.

Technology is reshaping the world of police work. From the FBI to small-town police departments, law enforcement agencies are adopting new technologies, from the use of social media to drones to facial recognition software. When used properly, these advances can assist police officers in more effectively 鈥減rotecting and serving鈥� the public.听 Hear from alumni Kane Tomlin as he discusses his policing career and how technology influences it daily on .

 

Disclaimer:听The views expressed here are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of Excelsior College, its trustees, officers, or employees.

 

 

Faculty Focus: Kathryn Saintcross

Posted on by Excelsior Staff

Life is full of impactful moments, ones that take you from someplace you expected to a path of invigorating unfamiliarity. That unfamiliar path can be exciting and often delivers individuals to an ongoing series of rewarding experiences.

Just ask Excelsior College instructor Kathryn Saintcross. A faculty member since 2014, the native of Burlington, Vermont, earned undergraduate degrees in psychology, business administration, and retailing and merchandising from her hometown Trinity College and Champlain College. These degrees led her into a variety of fields, concentrating on such focuses as management, team development and training, and technical writing throughout the public and private sector, starting in 1976.

But when she decided to pursue an MBA, she elected to eschew another brick-and-mortar locale and enroll with Excelsior College.

鈥淚 can remember feeling nervous and overwhelmed as I started my first graduate course. I wondered if I would be successful earning a degree online,鈥� said Saintcross, who now lives in New York鈥檚 Capital Region. 鈥淟ike many adult learners, I was raising a family, working full-time, [plus] taking care of an elderly neighbor, and doing other volunteer work. Time was a precious commodity. Gratefully, I had a wonderful professor and I began to relax and excel in my work.鈥�

And Saintcross understood the importance of good instruction. Over the years, she鈥檇 served as a teacher in a variety of capacities, working with everyone from young children with learning disabilities and adolescents with behavioral problems, to adult learners eager to pursue new avenues. But after earning her master鈥檚 at Excelsior (where she also served as an academic advisor), she was encouraged to extend her experience to other students鈥攕o she became an adjunct instructor.

Since 2014鈥攚hen began teaching business-related Organizational Behavior and Management Concepts and Applications courses鈥擲aintcross has been an integral part of the Excelsior experience, aiming to extend the kind of instruction that such an impact on her education. This starts and ends with the students, and she points to them as the reason she鈥檚 moved to the front of the class.

鈥淚 have enjoyed many wonderful teaching moments at Excelsior College and can only credit them to the students,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 great when they make connections between theoretical information and actual business practices. When I can help them gain a deeper understanding of their own styles and tendencies and how they relate to others in the business world, that鈥檚 even more exciting.鈥�

According to Saintcross, these experiences have been numerous. The student with a full-time job, three young children, and an infant who somehow managed to always hit her assignment deadlines. The student who suffered through a chronic medical condition while protecting his family from Hurricane Irma, yet still earned an impressive grade. The student whose critical thinking and reflection allowed him to understand himself and the world around him in a whole new way. All are part of the collective experience of the Excelsior student, and all have helped to enrich an instructor intent on preparing students for the days after their degrees.

She鈥檚 helping them navigate their own shifting narratives, all while they add to her ongoing and continuously fulfilling Excelsior adventure.

鈥淢any students have created their own impressive success stories through determination, hard work, and perseverance,鈥� says Saintcross. 鈥淚 am just there to guide, encourage, and empower them along their journey and it is an honor and privilege to do so.鈥�

 

More from Kathryn Saintcross:

Important skills for success

In a time when texting and social media have made sentence fragments and spelling mistakes the norm, students need to understand the importance of writing skills for both undergraduate- and graduate-level coursework. 鈥淪tudents who have strong written English skills tend to have an easier time and earn better grades,鈥� says Saintcross. 鈥淎 common grading criterion on the grading rubrics pertains to writing style, spelling, and grammar.

Why Excelsior works for today鈥檚 students

The modern, multitasking student is often without blocks of unassailable time to accommodate stand course schedules. That鈥檚 why, in Saintcross鈥檚 estimation, 贰虫肠别濒蝉颈辞谤鈥檚 eight-week courses鈥攕cheduled six times per year鈥攎ake incredible sense to any student. 鈥淭his allows traditional and nontraditional students the opportunity to advance through their degrees rather quickly, as they do not have to wait for the longer spring and fall terms that traditional schools offer.鈥�

An under-the-radar benefit of the Excelsior experience

With every college experience, a particular institution鈥檚 resources鈥攚hether on campus or throughout its host communities鈥攃an mean the difference between frustration or a future. According to Saintcross, this 鈥渦nsung hero鈥� at Excelsior is its Career Center. 鈥淸The center] offers all kinds of useful information and support to help students prepare for the job of their dreams. Students can even schedule a free consultation with a career counselor.鈥�

听One thing learned as a faculty member she wished she knew as a student

Don鈥檛 be afraid to make mistakes. This can be hard to accept for those used to excellence, but it鈥檚 all part of a process that, success or failure, always ends in an education. 鈥淚 learned it is perfectly okay to be a perfectionist in my academic endeavors, but it is not necessary,鈥� says Saintcross. 鈥淚 encourage students to do their best, but also to relax a bit and enjoy the learning experience.鈥�

 

Portable Careers for Military Spouses

Posted on by Excelsior Staff

It鈥檚 not always easy for spouses of active-duty military members to maintain successful careers when dealing with the uncertainty and fluctuation of frequently moving from base to base. So, selecting jobs that are portable and skills that are transferable is crucial for those spouses looking to work while their partners are serving.

Individual skills are often what drive portable careers, which makes a sound, well-rounded education even more valuable should you have to shift to a new market and new employers. When looking for a portable career, it鈥檚 usually best to start with what interests you most and what experience and skills you possess (or are interested in learning). Make sure to consider the value of transferable skills such as communication, leadership, information management, organization, project management, research, and data analysis.

Ranked the No. 4 best college by in 2018, Excelsior College has a proven track record helping military spouses apply portable skills to degrees that support flexible jobs and either allow people to work from home or are available in most communities.

Whether you鈥檙e thinking of working as an independent contractor or looking for a career that travels, the following areas of study at Excelsior support some of the most portable jobs for military spouses.

Business

贰虫肠别濒蝉颈辞谤鈥檚 business degrees provide an excellent foundation that can apply across various jobs and give you the expertise, leadership skills, and business sense you need to either start or scale your own company or provide value for small to large businesses across a host of different sectors.

These Excelsior business concentrations are frequently considered among the best for portable jobs for military spouses: finance, accounting, and marketing.

听Health Sciences

Rooted in the connection of science to health, the field of health sciences is becoming increasingly popular for students looking for jobs that transfer across multiple markets. For instance, the job market for pharmacy technicians is expected to grow 12 percent from 2016 to 2026 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

If you love exercise and healthy living, job opportunities for therapists, trainers, and nutritionists are plentiful in many communities, and would fall under 贰虫肠别濒蝉颈辞谤鈥檚 Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences (Health and Wellness emphasis) program.

Liberal Arts

A liberal arts degree will give you experience and knowledge that is diverse enough to provide options should your location change throughout your career. Writing, especially, is valuable in virtually every job, so a Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts with a concentration in Professional and Technical Writing would prepare you for a variety of work environments.

Most importantly, according to the Economic and Fiscal Impact Report from CGR Inc., a liberal arts degree pays for itself in 1.8 years. So it鈥檚 a worthwhile investment in your personal and professional future. Among the degree options in 贰虫肠别濒蝉颈辞谤鈥檚 Liberal Arts program, concentrations in logistics, psychology, and professional and technical writing, as well as a degree in psychology, are excellent options for those looking for transferable jobs.

Nursing

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that employment of registered nurses is expected to grow by 15 percent from 2016鈥�2026, more than double the rate of all occupations. With hospitals and health care systems often among the largest employers in many markets, this field is one of the country鈥檚 hottest right now.

Designated a 2016鈥�2021 Center of Excellence in Nursing Education, Excelsior offers accredited nursing programs, from associate to master鈥檚, and is especially popular with nurses wanting to advance their careers.

Course Feature: ENG 201: Writing for the Professions

Posted on by Jenna Kerwin

ENG 201: Writing for the Professions helps students improve the writing skills necessary for success in academic study and workplace application. Focus is given to how to conduct and present research in academic and workplace settings, and students practice developing persuasive arguments that are well supported and clearly presented. The 15-week structure gives students time to practice using the Excelsior College Library, choosing sources, paraphrasing and summarizing, outlining, writing, and revising.

In its 鈥溾�� survey, the National Association of Colleges and Employers discovered employers look for written communication skills as one of the top three attributes on job candidate resumes. More than 80 percent of respondents said this was important to them. Ben Pearson, faculty program director for the Master of Arts in Liberal Studies and writing says, 鈥淭his class helps students to develop each of these skills and to gain confidence in their abilities. Students who have completed this class should be comfortable identifying and defining workplace problems, researching them using high-quality sources, and effectively communicating solutions.鈥�

Pearson adds that any student looking to attend graduate school would be interested in this class. 鈥淭he class is also ideal for students who may someday have to conduct research or write reports in other settings, including business, government, and the non-profit sector,鈥� he says. For their research topic in the course, students select a problem related to their professional or academic field and a write a paper proposing a solution.

Students and faculty alike have had positive reviews of the course. Student comments include: 鈥淭his should be the first writing class that an advisor should tell you to take鈥he semester length and logical order made paper writing very easy.鈥� and 鈥淥verall, I think was a great course. It is imperative that every nurse knows how to do a research paper and how to cite it appropriately. In addition, this course has taught me how to write clearly and concisely. I will definitely use this knowledge in any future writing that I do.鈥�

Instructor Crystal Sands remarks, 鈥淭he class is structured to help students develop a stronger writing process鈥ot only are students getting a chance to improve their writing skills, they are getting an important opportunity to delve into the academic research in their fields, which helps them develop a beginning understanding of scholarship in their disciplines.鈥� Instructor David Izzo adds that he could鈥檝e used a course in professional writing as an undergrad to prepare him for resume writing as he entered the job market and business world. The opportunity for students to apply what they鈥檝e learned to their own career also stands out. Instructor Linda Joffe Marciano describes the course as a 鈥渃hoose-your-own-learning-adventure鈥� experience, and says 鈥渋t gives students the chance to hone their research and academic writing skills by focusing on an issue or problem related to their professional interests and goals. It鈥檚 an opportunity for students to indulge their own curiosity and really focus on a single issue or problem for the duration of an entire course, while sharpening their academic writing skills at the same time.鈥�

If you鈥檇 like to improve your writing skills and prepare yourself for the workplace setting, consider signing up for ENG 201: Writing for the Professions next semester.

Becoming a Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education

Posted on by Excelsior Staff

Is your institution a ? Excelsior College is designated as one by the National Security Agency (NSA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in recognition of its Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity program. If you鈥檙e looking to become accredited, you鈥檙e in luck; Excelsior is beginning to mentor other institutions seeking this designation.

For some background, the NSA and DHS jointly sponsor the National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD) program, whose goal is to reduce vulnerability in our national information infrastructure by promoting higher education and research in cyber defense and producing professionals with cyber defense expertise for the nation.

The CAE-CD program comprises the following designations: Four-Year Baccalaureate/Graduate Education, Two-Year Education and Research. All regionally accredited two-year, four-year, and graduate-level institutions in the United States are eligible to apply for this exciting distinction! But, prospective schools are only designated after meeting stringent CAE criteria and mapping curricula to a core set of cyber defense knowledge units. Schools may also elect to map their curricula to specialized focus areas. Bragging rights abound because once designated, CAE-CD institutions receive formal recognition from the U.S. government as well as other opportunities for prestige and publicity.

Excelsior offers cybersecurity-related programs at the undergraduate and graduate level, including:

Each of these programs have been certified by the National Security Agency to meet the Committee on National Security Systems (CNSS) training standards. The college is also home to the , an academic center dedicated to assisting government, industry, military, and academic sectors meet the challenges in cybersecurity policy, technology, and education!

贰虫肠别濒蝉颈辞谤鈥檚 BS in Cybersecurity has two options 鈥攁 general cybersecurity track and a cyber operations concentration, in which students acquire the knowledge needed to solve cyber incidents. In both, students receive training in areas such as cyberattacks and defenses, computer forensics, cryptography, and risk management. Students engage in hands-on applications via simulations, exercises, and labs in cybersecurity. The school鈥檚 cybersecurity degree is one of 贰虫肠别濒蝉颈辞谤鈥檚 focal programs. To give you an idea of why it鈥檚 so popular, it is rigorous with input from industry leaders, has affordable tuition and low student fees, and is flexible with online classes that accommodate students鈥� schedules. Additionally, Excelsior was ranked No.2 in a ranking of Best Online Bachelor鈥檚 in Cybersecurity in 2018 by bestcolleges.com. (To view the ranking details, visit )

To learn more about the requirements to receive designation as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education, visit