4MyFuture | Career & Character Education from the Grand Forks Public Schools

Career Forums + Career Outlook = Promising Jobs for Students…

Posted on May 13, 2013 by Grand Forks Public Schools Career & Character Education

Central and Red River High School Career Centers promote job shadowing and career forums throughout the school year to all of our high school students in the Grand Forks School District. During the month of February, our main priority is to schedule as many career forums as possible and let students sign up for one or more career fields of their choice. By doing this, students have a better understanding, in person, what it would take to be in that profession and decide if this is the career path he or she wants to pursue.

Our special “Thanks” goes out to all the businesses and staff that were kind enough to share their time and knowledge to our students. This valuable information is time well spent towards a student’s future.
To give you an insight on the career forums that took place, long-term job growth outlook into the year 2020 has been provided by Job Service of North Dakota edition of “Careers in North Dakota 2012”. The percentages apply to the State of North Dakota only.

Grand Forks Law Enforcement (Career Cluster: Law, Public Safety, Corrections and Security)

Our biggest career forum for the month! Who wouldn’t want to see 10 different law enforcement officials under one roof! The panel consisted of Grand Forks finest Police Officer, County Sheriff Deputy, ND Highway Patrolman, US Marshall, FBI Agent, US Border Patrol, UND Police Officer, Grand Forks Correctional Officer, and North Dakota’s Game Warden. This forum contained so much valuable information for students that it truly showed how engaged students were in asking questions. Data shows a growth of (9.1%) for the majority of these professions and are in “High Demand” in the state of North Dakota.

Additional “High Demand” careers by 2020: EMT (24.4%), Firefighters (8.8%),
Court Reporter (13.6%), Paralegals/Legal Assistants (16.2%),
Lawyers, (10%), Emergency Management Director (18.8%)

Choice Health & Fitness (Career Cluster: Health Science)

A brand new facility, Choice Health and Fitness, focuses on health, wellness and fitness which provides various careers such as fitness instructors (11.3%) and athletic trainers (22.8%), sports managers, event coordinators, and office management. This facility also houses ;

GF Human Nutrition Research Center which focuses on careers such as Nutrition/Dietitians (13.7%), Exercise Physiologist (30%) and Biochemist (31%)
Altru focuses on careers such as Physical Therapy (22.4%) and Occupational Therapy (20.3%), Nutrition and Wellness and Chiropractic care (14%)
Truyu Aesthetic focuses on careers in Massage Therapy (6.0%), Dermatology and Aesthetics (10.9%)

Stadter Center (Career Cluster: Human Services)
This facility has a wide variety of careers ranging from Human Resources, Hospital Therapist, Psychiatrist (11.1%), License Addiction Counselor (12.7%) , Register Nurse, Occupational Therapist and Social Worker (12.7%)

ICON Architectural Group (Career Cluster: Architecture and Construction)

Huge request from students to listen and observe on what an architect does. We chose ICON Architect, Inc. because #1) they are a fast growing company in our region with projects in the western part of the state #2) they have three female architects that are succeeding in a male dominated profession. Additional careers that are promising for growth: Architects (30.3%), Interior Designer (22.4%), Graphic Designers (22.4%), Drafters (30.0%), Project Manager (18.6%)

AE2S – Advance Engineering and Environmental Services (Career Cluster: Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics)
Civil Engineers (31.7%) are in “Big Demand” and “High Wage”. Project Managers, Project Engineers, Civil Technicians (24.5%) Industrial Engineers (28.3%) and Mechanical Engineers (25.2%) handle development/infrastructure, municipal utilities, road and streets, and pipelines.

Rydells Collision Center (Career Cluster: Transportation, Distribution and Logistics)

Another promising profession in “High Demand” is mechanics specializing in automotive (15.9%), big machinery (43.2%), and diesel engines (38.9%). North Dakota will see a significant growth in these professions by 2020 due to the oil boom out West. Most of these careers can be done through two year programs, work experience and internships.

Entrepreneurship Forum (Career Cluster: Business and Management)

This forum was tailored for students who showed interest in starting their own business or wanting the tools to strive in a business world.

Businesses that participated were:
O’ For Heaven’s Cakes, (a pastry, deli and catering business)
Kittson & 3^rd Boutique (a retail and specialty store)
Rhombus Guys (a pizza restaurant and bar)
Job Service of North Dakota (assist job seekers in all aspects of training and searching)
SCORE / SBA (assist individuals in achieving business proprietorship)

UND’s Energy and Environmental Research Center (Career Cluster: Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics)

With the world watching over the environment so closely. Environmental Researchers and Scientists have seen a significant increase of jobs in this field and North Dakota will see a (12.12%) increase and in “High Demand” by 2020. Other career growths are Chemical Technicians (21.7%)

Alerus Event Center (Career Cluster: Hospitality and Tourism)

As long as people want to travel, they will need a place to stay. Also, hosting a big event takes a big facility, you will need someone to plan and organize that event. Some of the careers you will see that are in “High Demand” by 2020 are: Hotel Manager (17.6%), Event Planner (37.8%), Sales Manager (16.6%), HR Manager (8.5%), and Financial Manager (13.6%), Housekeeper (10.5%), Chefs (2.3%),

This year’s Job Shadowing and Career Forums indicated that our students are taking great interest in exploring careers outside a classroom. They are thinking ahead to what careers will be in “High Demand” and/or “High Wages” by the time they graduate from college.

For more information about our Career Forums and how you can get involved, please contact Peggy Anderson at Central High School.

Resource: “Careers in North Dakota, 2010 edition” (Job Service of North Dakota)

Peggy Anderson, Career Coordinator

Posted in Career Education, High School, Post Secondary, Uncategorized | Tagged career forums, careers, Community, education, job growth, job shadow, jobs, K-12, occupations | Leave a comment

Calculating a Mom’s Worth…

Posted on May 10, 2013 by Grand Forks Public Schools Career & Character Education

With the upcoming Mother’s Day holiday this Sunday, below is a fun and informative look at how much a mom is “worth”…..which in my estimation is priceless. Enjoy and Happy Mother’s Day!

Originally Posted on MSN Money (April 25, 2012)

Resource: http://money.msn.com/family-money/what-is-a-moms-work-worth-insure.aspx

“She’s a teller of bedtime stories, a packer of lunches, a dispenser of wisdom and a dryer of tears. From bandaging skinned elbows to helping out with homework, nobody does it like Mom.

Mom typically juggles the many jobs necessary to keep a household running smoothly, even if she works outside the home. You may think all of this devotion and TLC are priceless, but the market value of the tasks we commonly associate with motherhood has declined slightly during the past year, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Like many professions during the current recession, motherhood has taken a pay cut. For the 2012 Mother’s Day Index, Insure.com took an informal look at the work mothers do and how much a family would have to pay to hire others to take on Mom’s duties around the home.

Our review of wage data found that an assortment of common tasks is worth $60,182; last year’s Mother’s Day Index found those same tasks to be worth $61,436. That’s a drop of $1,254 (about 2%), but still much more than most families could afford to pay. It’s also a reminder of why mothers need adequate life insurance.

Based on comparable BLS data on Mom’s duties back in 2003, she earned about $51,812 for the same tasks. However, factoring in inflation, that’s the equivalent of about $64,593 in 2012 dollars.

The value of moms who focus on child care and homemaking was driven home recently when Democratic strategist Hilary Rosen criticized Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s wife, Ann, for being a stay-at-home mom. There was an immediate backlash as people rushed to Ann Romney’s defense. Even first lady Michelle Obama joined the discussion, offering a defense of mothers on Twitter.

She’s irreplaceable

In addition to the loss of her services in the home, many families would lose an important source of income if Mom was no longer around. Although there’s still a gender gap when it comes to pay, it is narrowing. In 2007, about 22% of wives out-earned their husbands, compared with only 4% in 1970, according to a study by the Pew Research Center (.pdf file).

Although Dad often earns more than Mom, there is no doubt about who is more valuable in the home. Insure.com’s 2011 Father’s Day Index found that it would cost only $20,415 to hire someone to take over Dad’s duties, roughly one-third the cost of replacing Mom.”

Peggy Anderson, Career Coordinator

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Location, Location, Location…

Posted on April 22, 2013 by Grand Forks Public Schools Career & Character Education

As with many other categories, your salary and career options can vary dramatically depending on where you are. That is true on a national level as well as a state level; especially if that state is North Dakota. With our “oil boom” in full swing in the western part of the state, I wanted to see just how the numbers compared for Grand Forks versus the oil regions to the west when looking at the same career fields.

The chart below was compiled using the latest data available from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. You will notice that I have compiled numbers for the state as a whole and then broke it down for Grand Forks compared to the far western part of the state. Keep in mind that the information did not allow me to focus on only the oil producing regions in the west. As a general comparison for the two sections, however, I think it gives a great overview.

The first thing that will probably stand out, is that the average weekly salary of Grand Forks County ($734) is slightly less than half of the average weekly salary of Williams County ($1,473), which is the hub of the oil producing region. To put that on yearly salary terms, that is $38,168 for Grand Forks compared to $76,596 for Williams. At a quick glance, that does not seem to coincide with the numbers from the chart below, given that the average salary for the far west is given as $43,110 which is nowhere near the Williams County average above. It must be remembered, however, that there are counties in the far west that are not making near the same as Williams, such as Golden Valley with a weekly average of $637 which calculates to an annual salary of $33124.

According to Job Service, the statewide weekly average for all of North Dakota is $872, which multiplies out to $45,344 for the year. This is higher than the $38,870 from the chart below which is based on information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. A couple of possibilities that may account for this discrepancy are that the Job Service numbers are more recent by a year and the fact that many people will not work a full 52 weeks, which is the multiplier I am using to calculate the annual amounts for the Job Service data. According to Job Service, average weekly wages increased by 6.3 percent over the last year. This is an average annual increase of $2,856.

I would like mention a few interesting observations of the data.

Of the 22 major career categories used by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the salary in the far west is higher for 11 of them, exactly half. That means Grand Forks actually pays more for many jobs.
The largest pay differences are for the Architecture & Engineering field, Construction & Extraction and Transportation & Material Moving. Of course, the salary in the west is higher for these positions.
The largest discrepancy in data between the Bureau of Labor Statistics and Job Service comes in the salaries of jobs related to oil extraction. Bureau of Labor Statistics cites the average between $50 – $64,000, depending on the job, whereas Job Service gives the range as $94- $106,000, when multiplied out.

I will end with a few quotes from a recent article written by Larry Oakes for the Star Tribune that I found very interesting.

“…dormitory style ‘man camps’ that have sprung up across the booming oil patch to help house the influx of an estimated 35,000 workers.”
It would have been impossible for the region to handle all the workers without temporary cities known as man camps or crew camps. Officials estimate up to 20,000 workers are living in such camps, scattered across 17 counties.”
“Recruits from Minnesota, Texas and both coasts keep arriving, reversing a long population decline. Schools are rushing to hire more teachers. Towns are adding more cops.”
“The state’s most recent figures show 16,435 job openings, 48 percent more than a year ago.”
“North Dakota went from producing 110,000 barrels of oil a day in the fall of 2006 to 444,000 barrels a day today. It is expected to pass California and Alaska to become the second-highest oil producing state, behind Texas.”
“Experts say the industry could conceivably pump between 4 billion and 24 billion barrels of oil out of the Bakken… They say there appears to be enough oil to support drilling 48,000 more wells in North Dakota during the next 20 years and give the region a large role in allowing America to achieve energy independence.”
“If drilling continues as projected, western North Dakota will have 45,000 wells within two decades, each with a life expectancy of 30 years or more, supporting 45,000 long-term jobs. That’s in one corner of a state with 647,000 people.”
“Williston is straining at the seams. The population grew from 12,500 to around 20,000 in the past five years.”

OCCUPATION CATEGORY

AVERAGE SALARY

PERCENT OF TOTAL JOBS

Total

North Dakota: $38,870

Grand Forks: $37,640

Far West: $43,110

ND: 371,630 total workforce

GF: 37,640 total workforce

FW: 46,670 total workforce

Management

Ex.: Chief Executives, managers for sales, marketing, finance, etc.

North Dakota: $88,010

Grand Forks: $85,780

Far West: $93,250

ND: 4.3%

GF: 4.2%

FW: 4%

Business & Financial Operations

Purchasing agents, management analysts, accountants, loan officers, etc.

North Dakota: $55,100

Grand Forks: $57,370

Far West: $53,750

ND: 3.4%

GF: 3.2%

FW: 2.1%

Computer & Mathematical

Computer programmers, software developers, statisticians, etc.

North Dakota: $55,030

Grand Forks: $54,550

Far West: $49,510

ND: 1.8%

GF: %1.1

FW: .3%

Architecture & Engineering

Architects, surveyors, various engineering fields, drafters, etc.

North Dakota: $68,450

Grand Forks: $54,860

Far West: $111,900

ND: 1.5%

GF: 1.5%

FW: 1.5%

Life, Physical & Social Science

Various scientists, urban planners, geological and petroleum technicians, etc.

North Dakota: $53,080

Grand Forks: $53,330

Far West: $52,460

ND: .7%

GF: 1.1%

FW: .7%

Community & Social Service

Substance abuse counselors, social workers, school counselors, etc.

North Dakota: $40,230

Grand Forks: $39,220

Far West: $37,900

ND: 1.3%

GF: 1.7%

FW: .9%

Legal

Lawyers, judicial law clerks, judges, court reporters, etc.

North Dakota: $70,220

Grand Forks: $57,730

Far West: $48,360

ND: .4%

GF: .5%

FW: .5%

Protective Service

Police officers, security guards, firefighters, fish and game wardens,

North Dakota: $38,060

Grand Forks: $43,520

Far West: $36,070

ND: 1.5%

GF: 1.8%

FW: 1.1%

Education, Training & Library

Teachers, college professors, librarians, farm and home management advisors, etc.

North Dakota: $42,290

Grand Forks: $49,780

Far West: $38,180

ND: 5.8%

GF: 7.5%

FW: 4.1%

Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports & Media

Graphic designers, florists, interpreters, photographers, coaches, radio and television announcers, producers, directors, etc.

North Dakota: $33,570

Grand Forks: $35,150

Far West: $27,500

ND: 1.1%

GF: 1.1%

FW: .7%

Healthcare Practitioners & Technical

Surgeons, physical therapists, chiropractors, dentists, veterinarians, etc.

North Dakota: $59,630

Grand Forks: $63,810

Far West: $57,300

ND: 6.1%

GF: 6.5%

FW: 3.9%

Healthcare Support

Home health aides, nursing aides, dental assistants, pharmacy aides, etc.

North Dakota: $27,010

Grand Forks: $25,390

Far West: $27,630

ND: 3.3%

GF: 4.3%

FW: 2.3%

Food Preparation & Serving

Chefs and cooks, dishwashers, waiters, bartenders, etc.

North Dakota: $20,430

Grand Forks: $19,850

Far West: $20,920

ND: 9.1%

GF: 11.1%

FW: 7.2%

Building and Grounds Cleaning & Maintenance

Janitors, tree trimmers, housekeepers, maids, etc

North Dakota: $23,970

Grand Forks: $24,110

Far West: $23,770

ND: 4%

GF: 4.5%

FW: 3.3%

Personal Care & Service

Hairdressers, funeral attendants, tour guides, amusement and recreation attendants, etc.

North Dakota: $23,950

Grand Forks: $23,250

Far West: $27,280

ND: 3.2%

GF: 2.8%

FW: 2.1%

Sales Related

Cashiers, insurance agents, sales representatives, travel agents, telemarketers, etc.

North Dakota: $31,790

Grand Forks: $27,430

Far West: $35,470

ND: 10.8%

GF: 11.7%

FW: 7.3%

Office & Administrative Support

Tellers, customer service reps, payroll clerks, receptionists, police dispatchers, mail carriers, etc.

North Dakota: $30,350

Grand Forks: $30,050

Far West: $30,730

ND: 15.4%

GF: 13.9%

FW: 11.8%

Farming, Fishing & Forestry

Agricultural workers, agricultural inspectors, ranchers, farm laborers, etc.

North Dakota: $29,330

Grand Forks: $29,680

Far West: $25,890

ND: .3%

GF: .3%

FW: .2%

Construction & Extraction

Carpenters, tile and marble setters, electricians, construction supervisors, oil derrick operators, oil drill operators, oil roustabouts, etc.

North Dakota: $43,660

Grand Forks: $40,730

Far West: $48,730

ND: 7.6%

GF: 4.5%

FW: 20.5%

Installation, Maintenance & Repair

Electronic equipment installers, security systems installers. Computer repairers, mechanics, appliance repairers, etc.

North Dakota: $44,220

Grand Forks: $40,710

Far West: $49,350

ND: 4.8%

GF: 4%

FW: 6.8%

Production (Manufacturing)

Meat packers, equipment assemblers, machinists, welders, cabinetmakers, machine operators, jewelers, etc.

North Dakota: $35,750

Grand Forks: $35,790

Far West: $39,900

ND: 5.4%

GF: 5.2%

FW: 5.5%

Transportation & Material Moving

Pilots, drivers (trucks, buses, taxis), air traffic controllers, parking lot attendants, etc.

North Dakota: $36,040

Grand Forks: $31,870

Far West: $43,860

ND: 8.5%

GF: 7.8%

FW: 13.3%

Darrel Casperson, Career Resource Educator

Posted in Career Education, Post Secondary | Tagged careers, jobs, north dakota, oil boom, salary, wages | Leave a comment

Common Interview Mistakes…

Posted on April 11, 2013 by Grand Forks Public Schools Career & Character Education

According to education research firm Classes and Careers, here are the 10 most common mistakes people make at job interviews:

10. Over-explaining why you lost your last job
9. Conveying that you’re not over having lost your last job
8. Lacking humor, warmth or personality
7. Not showing enthusiasm or interest in the job
6. Inadequate research about the position or company
5. Concentrating on what you want rather than what the company needs
4. Trying to be all things to everyone
3. Winging the interview instead of preparing
2. Failing to set yourself apart from other candidates
1. Not asking for the job

The best way to avoid making many of these mistakes is to be prepared for your interview. Researching commonly asked interview questions, then crafting thoughtful and strategic responses to different types of questions will go a long ways in making sure you are ready to answer many of the questions you are asked in your interview.

The phrase “practice makes perfect” isn’t far off from reality when it comes to preparing for an interview. Asking a friend or family member to do a mock interview with you is particularly helpful because you are forced to think about and practice multiple components of an interview: body language, your greeting, your closing, how to answer a variety of questions, etc.

Students at Red River High School, Grand Forks Central, and Community High School can visit their Career Center staff for interviewing assistance. We have a list of commonly asked interview questions and can talk with the student about what to wear to an interview. We also do mock interviews giving students a feel for what an interview experience feels like, then we debrief giving the student suggestions on how to continue improving their interview skills. Our goal is that each student walks away feeling confident and prepared to go out and get the job they are desiring.

Jennifer George, Career Educator

Posted in High School, Post Secondary | Tagged career center, careers, employment, interviews, jobs, mock interviews | Leave a comment

Power from Below…

Posted on February 21, 2013 by Grand Forks Public Schools Career & Character Education

Careers in Geothermal Energy

This article (link below) describes geothermal energy and career opportunities in the industry, focusing on geothermal projects that generate electricity for power grids.

“In the search for new energy resources, scientists have discovered ways to use the Earth itself as a valuable source of power. Geothermal power plants use the Earth’s natural underground heat to provide clean, renewable energy.

The geothermal energy industry has expanded rapidly in recent years as interest in renewable energy has grown. In 2011, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) counted about 1,050 jobs in geothermal power generation. And the Geothermal Energy Association estimates that there were about 5,200 jobs directly related to geothermal power production and management in the United States in 2010.

Geothermal energy production is expected to continue to grow, and with it the demand for workers in associated occupations. In 2012, the geothermal industry was developing 130 geothermal projects in 15 states, according to the association.”

Read the entire article here:

http://www.bls.gov/opub/ooq/2012/winter/art02.pdf

Jennifer George, Career Educator

Posted in High School, Post Secondary | Tagged careers, education, energy, geothermal, occupational outlook | Leave a comment

Student Achievement Data Shows CTE Works…

Posted on February 12, 2013 by Grand Forks Public Schools Career & Character Education

The following information details the findings of the 2012 Career and Technical Education Consolidated Annual Report (CAR) and Department of Public Instruction’s Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) Report.

The information provided below compares CTE concentrators (a student who has earned two or more credits in a CTE program area) who met proficiency on the 11^th state assessment in Math and Reading versus all North Dakota students who met proficiency. This assessment is used to help determine a school’s AYP score.

As you can see by the graphs, the percentage increase for the CTE students is impressive and statistically significant (+10.9% in Reading and +6.4% in Math). Comparing graduation percentages shows a +8.5% increase for graduation rates of CTE concentrators. The results are also remarkable when comparing specific student groups such as ethnicity, economically disadvantaged, and individuals with disabilities.

In summary, CTE concentrators within North Dakota performed significantly higher on the state assessment in Reading and Math, and are more likely to graduate than other students. February is National Career and Technical Education Month, and this year’s theme is “CTE Works!” Examining these statewide results, it is evident our CTE classrooms are doing just that and are playing a vital role in preparing our students to be college and career ready.

Posted in High School, Middle School, Post Secondary | Tagged assessment, AYP, cte, CTE Month, education, graduation, K-12, math, north dakota, proficiency, reading, Students | Leave a comment

ND Alcohol Culture Video…

Posted on February 7, 2013 by Grand Forks Public Schools Career & Character Education

The following video was produced by the ND Department of Human Services State Prevention Program and is definitely worth watching.

This may help people understand the seriousness of underage drinking and other alcohol abuse in our state. Here is a link to the YouTube video which tells North Dakota’s story:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQdsvIav6WA

Mary Lien, Character Education & Prevention Coordinator

Posted in Character Education, Elementary School, High School, Middle School, Post Secondary | Tagged alcohol, binge drinking, character, drinking, DUI, north dakota | 1 Comment

Online Degrees, Where Do They Stand (Part II)…

Posted on February 5, 2013 by Grand Forks Public Schools Career & Character Education

Last week, we focused on online degrees through a narrative post. Included below is a list of survey statistics and other information related to post-secondary costs and online education. All of the information was gathered from the online articles listed at the bottom of the page.

DROPPING OUT OF COLLEGE

According to a new study from Harvard University, only 56% of college students who enter a four year program graduate within six years.

Only 29% of students who enter a two year program complete their degree within 3 years.

Among 18 countries tracked by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, the U.S. finished last for the percentage of students who completed college once they started.

The high cost of college is the main factor cited for the high college dropout rate in the U.S. according to a 2009 study conducted by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

A 2009 report from the nonpartisan research group Public Agenda stated that “most dropouts leave college because they have trouble going to school while working to support themselves.”

Unlike in the past, many students today work and have families.

COST OF COLLEGE

The cost of college has nearly sextupled since 1985.

Average Annual sticker price for an in-state public college: 22,261

This is an increase of 42% over last 10 years

Private not for profit institutions – 36,300

Private for profit institutions – 23,500

Average cost of just tuition and fees:

Public – 8,665

Private 29,056

Online tuition costs tend to be more than traditional college.

A study in 2008 by the Babson Research Group found that online students pay about the same in tuition and fees as traditional college students. They also found that scholarships and grants are more scarce.

A 2009 college costs survey by WCET and the Campus Computing Project found that among accredited colleges which offer the same courses online as on campus about half charge more for online courses.

20% of colleges reported that they charge less for online courses.

“Tuition costs tend to be more expensive than at public, nonprofit institutions, but less expensive than at private nonprofit schools. But there is value in that students may be paying a premium for an accelerated program. They might be able to complete a degree within half the time it would take at a traditional university.” According to EduVenture’s Gallagher.

INCREASE IN ENROLLMENT OF ONLINE COURSES

More than 1,700 of the roughly 4,500 U.S. colleges offer completely online degree programs and more than 3,300 of them offer at least 1 online course in 2009.

Ten years ago less than 10% of college students were enrolled in online courses.

31% of students are enrolled in online courses.

The number of college students enrolled in at least one online course increased for the ninth straight year, with more than 6.1 million students taking an online course in 2010. This is a 10% increase from 2009.

Almost 2 million students are taking courses fully online. This makes up about 10% of higher education students.

The majority of online students are between the ages of 23 and 40.

“It’s widely accepted among educators that online courses are more difficult in most cases because you need to be a self-directed student.” Gallagher

88% of HR professionals agree that online degrees are viewed more favorably today than they were five years ago.

PERCEPTION OF ONLINE DEGREES

According to Breneman, studies suggest that an online education “is about the same as sitting in a classroom.”

Most employers consider online degrees acceptable, but not as credible as traditional degrees.” According to a recent survey by Vault, a career information provider.

Nearly two-thirds of those surveyed said they prefer applicants with traditional college over online.

In a survey of 1,500 CEOs conducted by Zogby only 45 percent felt that online programs were just as credible as traditional college.

83% of business executives surveyed by Zogby in 2008 said that an online degree was as credible as one earned through a traditional program.

49% of executives had encountered an applicant with an online degree. Only 19% had hired such an applicant according to a 2008 survey by Vault.

Abigail Tremble, the director of learning and development for Randstad, a global staffing company, said that employers are split down the middle, with about half fully accepting online degrees. However, she says employers regard degrees earned from an online program through a traditional campus based university more favorably than those from completely online universities.

66% of college faculty members surveyed who had not conducted an online course felt that online courses were inferior to traditional courses.

39% of college faculty members surveyed who HAD conducted an online course felt that felt that online courses were inferior to traditional courses.

Julianna Gilbert, executive director of the Office of Teaching and Learning at the University of Denver said that just like in traditional courses, the success of the course is dependent on the quality of the instructor.

ONLINE SOURCES USED

U.S. News and World Report

How to Maximize an Online Education Program

By Rebecca Kern

http://www.usnews.com/education/articles/2010/04/15/how-to-maximize-an-online-education-program?page=3

Online Colleges Earning Respect — To A Degree

Many hiring managers still skeptical, but distance learning hard to ignore

By Eve Tahmincioglu

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26458424/ns/business-careers/t/online-colleges-earning-respect-degree/

Online Certificates – Cheaper, Faster, Better Than a College Degree?

Online Learning Statistics & Education News

By Vicky Phillips

Do Online Colleges Make the Grade?

By Marilyn Bowden • Bankrate.com

U.S. News and World Report

College Professors Fearful of Online Education Growth

A recent study reflects faculty members’ anxieties and doubts about online courses.

By Ryan Lytle

3 Reasons Why E-Learning Is Bigger and Better than Ever

by Elizabeth O’Neill | Published on: August 07, 2012

http://www.elearners.com/online-education-resources/online-learning/3-reasons-why-e-learning-is-bigger-and-better-than-ever/

U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics. (2012). Digest of Education Statistics, 2011 (NCES 2012-001), Chapter 3

Study: Nearly Half Of America’s College Students Drop Out Before Receiving A Degree

By Travis Waldron on Mar 28, 2012 at 1:55 pm

http://thinkprogress.org/education/2012/03/28/453632/half-college-students-drop-out/

Darrel Casperson, Career Educator

Posted in Career Education, Post Secondary, Uncategorized | Tagged college, degrees, education, online, post-secondary | Leave a comment

Online Degrees, Where Do They Stand (Part I)….

Posted on January 31, 2013 by Grand Forks Public Schools Career & Character Education

It is no secret that the average cost of college has long been on an upward trend and continues to rise steeply. This year students are looking at paying more than $20,000 to attend college for a single year. Granted, this includes tuition, room and board, fees, transportation and all other expenses combined. Still, this is a hefty fee that has actually almost doubled over the last 10 years and increased by more than 6 times over the last 30 years.

This high cost of college is causing many students to drop out of school. In fact only about half of all college students will earn a degree, based on the current statistics. According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development the U.S. ranks last of the advanced nations as far as the percentage of students who graduate college after enrolling. The main reason for this high attrition rate is the inability of students to afford college and support themselves, and in some cases their families, at the same time.

One avenue of relief may be the increasing availability of online courses. Historically the problem with online learning, however, has been the negative stigma associated with it. The question is, has the increased availability of online courses blunted some of the negative connotation associated with them? More than two-thirds of all U.S. colleges now offer online courses. More than one-third of them offer entire online degrees. Last year more than 6 million students were enrolled in an online course. Ten years ago less than ten percent of students took an online class; now almost one-third of all students will take at least one and there are almost 2 million students taking all of their classes online.

This increase in online enrollment has not entirely alleviated the inferior status given to online learning, but it has definitely changed the opinion of many. More than two-thirds of employers surveyed said they still preferred traditional degrees, but an ever larger majority have become more accepting of online degrees. In one study 83% of those surveyed stated that an online degree is just as credible as a traditional degree. And what of college professor’s themselves? Well, turns out it depends on whether they’ve taught one or not. Two-thirds of those that had NOT taught an online course felt they were inferior compared to just over one-third of those that HAD taught an online course. Probably the best summary on the subject was given by Julianna Gilbert, executive director of the Office of Teaching and Learning at the University of Denver, who said that just like in traditional courses, the success of the course is dependent on the quality of the instructor.

The discussion now goes full circle; will taking courses online or even earning an entire degree online be more cost beneficial, thus reducing the need to drop out? Generally speaking, tuition costs appear slightly higher for online courses than for traditional ones. There are exceptions in both directions, however, with some institutions charging less for online than for traditional courses and others charging significantly more for online than traditional. Financially speaking there are some great advantages to online schooling. The savings in travel, room and board, parking, and many other areas can be substantial. Another advantage is that the courses can be completed at an accelerated rate at a savings in most cases. The only significant disadvantage financially is that there are less scholarships and grants available to those completing online degrees than if they were taking the traditional route. When all is said and done, the majority of people completing online degrees spend less money than if they had earned them by attending face-to-face classes.

Of course there are the other advantages to taking classes online; namely the convenience of scheduling. Online classes offer so much more freedom for those with full time jobs and/or families to arrange their classes around their busy schedules. The downside of online courses, as recognized by most educators, is that they require so much more self discipline. In many cases they are considered much more difficult because there are no set schedules and thus require a much higher level of self direction and motivation; qualities often deficient in younger students especially. This may explain why the majority of students enrolled in online courses are older; usually in the 23 to 40 age range.

Darrel Casperson, Career Resource Educator

Posted in High School, Post Secondary | Tagged college, degrees, education, online, post-secondary, virtual | 1 Comment

New College Grads, 6 Tips for Success…

Posted on January 18, 2013 by Grand Forks Public Schools Career & Character Education

By Sonia Acosta, Special to CareerBuilder

College seniors and recent graduates are in a delicate, crucial and demanding time of their lives. They face an overwhelming number of decisions to make, paths to choose from and obstacles to overcome. Have you ever heard someone say, “I wish I knew then what I know now?” It’s time to walk away from the wishing well and check out six pieces of advice that will enlighten you and improve your experience as a college senior or recent college grad.

1. Cut the expense fat
Take an honest look at your expenses, and you are likely to find several areas where you can shave off a few dollars and still live to talk about it. A few unnecessary extras here and there can add up to a lot of cash, leaving you unable to accept lower-paying job opportunities with greater long-term potential over a less desirable position that pays more now.

Marc Hyman, partner at Pacific West Investor Services based in Santa Barbara, Calif., provides a list of nonessential expenses that could be hurting your ability to jump start a successful career.

Expense: Large car payments
Tip: Buy a Kia, Hyundai or other less expensive vehicle.

Expense: High rent
Tip: Rent or share a room first before you go out and get a large, expensive apartment.

Expense: Large cable bills
Tip: Drop premium cable channels and digital music subscriptions. Perhaps drop cable altogether and get Netflix and Hulu instead.

Expense: Gym membership
Tip: Join a Y instead. It’s usually much more affordable.

Expense: $100 cell-phone plans
Tip: Get a $35-$50 cell-phone plan. Carriers such as Boost Mobile, Cricket and Virgin Mobile offer many reasonable plans that include texting and data.

Expense: Daily expensive coffee (example: large vanilla latte with soy)
Tip: Get a regular coffee instead.

“I have interviewed and hired a large number of recent graduates, and I am always shocked by the large amount of expenses, beyond school loans, these grads are carrying,” Hyman says. “Many new grads can shave at least $500 off their monthly living expenses. This increases [their] flexibility when a lower-paying job with better prospects is available.”

2. Monitor your online personality
“Many students don’t realize what’s online about them, and some of this content may be questionable in an employer’s eyes,” says Amanda Haddaway, author of “Destination Real World: Success after Graduation.”

To keep your social-media presence from hurting your chances at gainful employment, Haddaway suggests following four simple tips:

Determine what’s out there about you. Search your name and see what comes up, and review your profiles on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and other social-media websites. Remove any inappropriate or workplace-unfriendly content.
Be honest. If unflattering content about you has been posted online and you’ve tried to remove it without success, be upfront with recruiters or interviewers. Let them know the information is not a true reflection of who you are and how you would perform as an employee.
Be careful about what you post in the future. Remember that anything posted in a public domain may remain public indefinitely and could be available to a prospective employer.
Use free tools to monitor your online presence. If you set up a search-engine alert on your name, you will receive an email each time your name shows up in a search. This way you can do something about inappropriate content before it’s too late.

3. Go beyond the textbooks
“If you’re still in school, now is the time to gain experience,” says Heather Huhman, founder and president of Come Recommended, a content marketing and digital PR consultancy for job-seeker and employer-focused organizations. “Pick up an internship, volunteer in your field and take on more leadership roles.”

While an education is an invaluable asset, in order to succeed in today’s market, you have to go beyond the textbooks whenever possible. “A degree isn’t going to be your golden ticket to gainful employment; worthwhile experience is,” Huhman says.

4. Be honest; have integrity
Brooke Allen, founder of Noshortageofwork.com, shares an interesting story:

“I was addressing a class of college seniors when someone asked, ‘What do you look for in an employee?’ I said, ‘Integrity and the ability to do the work.’ The class laughed and the student said, ‘Do you mean to say that, in this day and age, anyone cares about integrity?’

“While it is relatively painless to find competent people who can do the work required for a position, it is much harder to find good people with integrity that you can count on. If you want to stand out among the others, practice being the best possible person you can be; don’t lie, say what you will do, then do what you say.”

5. Emotional intelligence
Emotional intelligence — the ability to manage emotions — is the most important factor that will determine a student’s success after graduation, says Tim Elmore, founder of Growing Leaders, an international nonprofit organization focused on developing young leaders.

“As students transition from backpack to briefcase, intelligence plays a smaller role than you may think,” Elmore says. “Success in school is made up of 75 percent intelligence (IQ) and 25 percent emotional intelligence (EQ). Success in the real world is just the opposite — 25 percent IQ and 75 percent EQ.”

Learning to reduce stress quickly is a valuable EQ skill, Elmore says. “It allows you to stay balanced, focused, in control and in the moment, even in the most challenging situations.”

6. Help out wherever possible
Successful people are those who work hard and go above and beyond whenever possible. No one ever got promoted or built a successful career by doing the bare minimum.

Michelle Tillis Lederman, author of “The 11 Laws of Likability” and founder of Executive Essentials, a corporate training and coaching company based in New York, suggests that recent graduates build relationships at every level of the organization and always offer to help.

“Don’t narrow your focus just to colleagues at your level,” Tillis says. “Pursue the relationships that feel authentic to you to expand your resources, knowledge base and support network, and offer your help. If you don’t have anything to do, find something. Build your brand as someone who pitches in.”

Always maintain a positive attitude as well, Tillis suggests. While you can teach technical skills, you can’t teach attitude. “Approach every situation openly with a willingness to learn, and don’t act as if anything is below you.”

Sonia Acosta researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues for CareerBuilder.

Posted in Career Education, Post Secondary | Tagged careerbuilder, careers, college, post-secondary, Students | Leave a comment