ARCHIVE FOR NOVEMBER 2007

I would like to thank the men and women in uniform who have courageously and sacrificially served in the U.S. military.

A large number of military personnel are enrolled in accredited online degrees from their duty stations around the world.

My own dad spent 30 years in the U.S. Air Force; and I grew up on military bases, with my dad often leaving home in the wee hours of the morning for drills. I sometimes ironed his uniforms, which had to be impeccably clean and crisp.

Walking around the military bases in California, France and Germany, I enjoyed watching the soldiers as they marched in precision exercises. They saluted my dad; and he saluted others with higher ranks. 

Many a night, I went to sleep hearing “Taps” mixed with the sounds of planes flying overhead as soldiers practiced their maneuvers or headed to unknown duty stations. I lived without my dad when he was stationed in Japan, Korea and Vietnam; and my mom had to act as head of the household and make all decisions while he was away. Life as a military wife was not easy; but she made the sacrifices that were necessary.

My dad attended University of Maryland classes and received his bachelor’s degree in a ceremony at Heidelberg, Germany. We attended the graduation and were really proud of him. 

When he returned from his overseas missions, there was much that my dad could not tell us; but we knew that what he was doing was important. He obviously saw and did difficult things that we would never know about; and he had to hide those experiences in heart until the day he died of a heart attack at age 55.

When he died, my dad had been retired for only 5 years. He left the Air Force as a Chief Master Sergeant and was on the Inspector General’s team; so there was still a lot of traveling in his job. The military funeral — complete with a 21-gun salute — signaled the end of a life dedicated to serving our country. His military pension ended with his death; and my mom was financially on her own after 35 years of marriage — yet another sacrificial blow.

Many have placed themselves in danger to preserve the liberties that we enjoy; and for that, we owe them a debt of heartfelt gratitude. These soldiers do not make policy; but they love their country enough to willingly obey those in authority over them in order to protect America from its enemies. Their wives, husbands and children also make huge sacrifices.

Our prayers and appreciation go out to all these brave souls and their families — not just today, but every day. You are our heroes. Thank you.

online schools, veterans day, soldiers, military wives, heroes, US military, Air Force, USAF, Korea, Vietnam, University of Maryland, heart attack

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Western Governors University (WGU), an accredited online school, offers generous scholarships for qualified students.

Since WGU has one of the lowest tuition rates for any bachelor’s or masters degree program, adding a scholarship into the mix brings the tuition rate down to bargain prices.

Specific scholarships awarded to each qualified applicant include:

• Future of Nursing Scholarships - up to $5,000
• Rural Mathematics and Science Educators Scholarships - up to $7,500
• Association of American Educators (AAE) Scholarships - up to $5,000 
• Hispanic Scholarship Fund - up to $6,000
• Master’s Degrees for Educators Scholarships - up to $4,000 
• Troops to Teachers Scholarships - up to $5,000
• (Military) Spouses to Teachers Scholarships - up to $600
• Military Spouses to Graduate Scholarships - up to $1,500

Western Governors University is a non-profit, private, distance-learning university founded by 19 state governors. Its commitment to excellence has resulted in awards and recognition. Members of WGU’s Advisory Board hail from a who’s who of American corporations – including Google, Microsoft, AT&T, Dell Computers, Zions Bank, Oracle, Farmers Insurance, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Hewlett-Packard, Sun Microsystems, and Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.

accredited online degree, distance learning, Western Governors University, bachelors degree, masters degree, scholarships

Popularity: 5% [?]

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In Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare paints for us a sad tale. But interestingly, the story moves from sad to tragic when a vital message is not delivered to Romeo on time. That life-and-death information is delivered late, wrong conclusions are drawn; and a sad tale becomes a tragedy.

Naysayers often believe that online school is just like Romeo and Juliet — that communication is slow, that it is difficult to acquire the right information, that missteps can be expected. But that is not true at all.

Accredited online schools are powered by the latest in education technology, with the availability of fast communication through chat rooms, message boards, iPod lectures and e-mail. Disciplined students find online education particularly satisfying and flexible, with many choosing online colleges over traditional schools. 

The increased interest in distance learning has motivated the majority of colleges and universities to offer a wide selection of online classes; and future generations will find it easier to attend college over the Internet after growing up with techno-toys and computers. 

No, e-learning will never be anything like Romeo and Juliet. 

online schools, online education, online classes, online colleges, e-learning, distance learning, education technology, colleges and universities, Romeo and Juliet, traditional schools, college, computers, Internet

Popularity: 1% [?]

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Most likely, if you contract mumps, rubella, scarlet fever, measles or other diseases, pertinent data regarding your case may be reviewed by an epidemiologist.

Epidemiologists are often called disease hunters or medical scientists; but their turf expands far beyond the scope of simply recognizing and studying outbreaks of communicable and non-communicable diseases.  They are also involved with environmental health concerns, workplace safety, emergency preparedness and bioterrorism.

Globetrotters should become familiar with fact sheets for travelers that inform about recent disease outbreaks around the world – whether they occur on land, on a cruise ship or on a plane. Fact sheets are rich with information compiled by epidemiologists. Travelers can find out which immunizations are required, which countries have safe drinking water, what is helpful for students traveling abroad, and more.

Of course, epidemiologists do investigate disease outbreaks like SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome), bird flu and dengue fever — determining risk factors, causes, treatment plans and prevention. But they also spend a great deal of time collecting data, compiling surveys, and interpreting information.  

Epidemiologists generally hold a master’s degree in public health or in one of the biological sciences; and it is possible to prepare for this career by earning an accredited online degree. A thorough knowledge of biology and physiology enables epidemiologists to understand disease processes and to draw conclusions based upon the statistical analysis of information.

Epidemiologists may be employed by the government, hospitals, universities, public health agencies, and medical schools. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) are two agencies that focus on disease control and offer jobs often coveted by those who prepare for a career in this field.

accredited online degree, epidemiologist, health career, medical scientist, communicable diseases, disease outbreaks, masters in public health, CDC, WHO, Centers for Disease Control

Popularity: 2% [?]

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It is rare to register for classes at a private university and find that the total due on the tuition bill is zero.

But that is what is happening to a group of students at Strayer University.

Strayer University offers generous financial aid benefits to military personnel through its Military Scholarship Supplements program, its partnership with GoArmyEd and its membership in the Servicemembers Opportunity College (SOC). Eligible students may be able to attend college with no out-of-pocket tuition expenses.

Scholarships are offered by Strayer to aid active-duty and other military personnel.  Those who are eligible will be offered enough scholarship money to cover what is not paid by military assistance programs or other resources.  Undergraduate tuition may be paid up to 100%.

Strayer is both an accredited online school and a traditional college with 53 campus locations. It has been around since 1892.

online school, accredited online school, university, college tuition, financial aid, military personnel, GoArmyEd, Servicemembers Opportunity College, active-duty_military, traditional college

Popularity: 7% [?]

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Historically, traditional colleges have not been user-friendly for the working adult.

With these colleges generally keeping regular 9 to 5 office hours, it has been difficult for full-time employees to make appointments with on-campus counselors, purchase textbooks or visit their professors during office hours. To do so required taking time off from work.

The for-profit online schools recognized the problem and found a solution that was win-win for everyone. Students could complete an accredited online degree without ever setting foot on a college campus.

According to Investor’s Business Daily, distance learning universities like Capella and Strayer have the edge in customer service over traditional schools. As a result, these and other high-quality online schools continue to attract students — and investors — at an impressive rate. Profits are up for education stockholders; and students keep enrolling at record rates.

For example, Strayer’s enrollment has grown about 15% each year. Their focus is on retaining their e-learning students through graduation; so customer service is a high priority.

Successful distance learning universities offer students a smooth registration process, friendly and helpful financial aid counseling, personal attention through graduation, access to extensive 24-hour online libraries, fully stocked round-the-clock online bookstores and more. Teachers are highly-qualified, available by e-mail and message boards, and well-versed in the technologies of the online delivery system.

Traditional colleges are scurrying to increase their online offerings; though many did not take the distance education movement seriously. However, the popularity of online classes and online degree programs has forced the hand of these schools, motivating them to give students the flexibility they want, or risk losing them to savvy schools with extensive online choices.

According to Investor’s Business Daily, traditional colleges and universities are expected to corner 68% of the online student market in 2008, up from 65% in 2005.

But they still need to polish up their customer service. And that is where online schools continue to shine.

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Popularity: 4% [?]

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For a small town, Mexia, Texas has had more than its share of notoriety. And now — yet another scandal.

Located 42 miles east of Waco, Mexia hit the newspapers and celebrity mags in grand style as the former hometown of troubled, but glamorous, Anna Nicole Smith. Smith lived in Mexia during her youth, attended the public schools and married a home-town boy. Her son, Daniel, was born there. She died tragically this past February of a reported drug overdose.

Now Mexia’s Liberty Hill school board is embroiled in a heated battle concerning school superintendent Dean Andrews, who acquired his doctorate in 1999 from California Coast University (CCA), a distance learning school. Although CCA has been recognized since 2005 by the U.S. Department of Education as an accredited online school, degrees awarded before that time are not considered by Texas to be accredited. Andrews received his Ph.D. from CCA in 1999; and Texas considers it to be a ”fraudulent or substandard degree“. The town is divided about how to handle the problem.

In Texas, it is against the law to list a non-accredited degree on a resume or job application. Some irate Liberty Hill parents believe that Andrews should be fired and charged with a crime. Supporters of Andrews, however, feel strongly that he should remain in his position. But as a top leader in the schools, many wonder if his example to the children would remain a positive one if his credentials are in question.

An epidemic of fake college degrees have been wreaking havoc across the nation as employers learn that valued employees purchased their college degrees, with little or no college-level work required. But in Texas, diploma mills are more than just frowned upon — they are illegal.

Yet California Coast University is in that category of schools that worked diligently toward accreditation and succeeded in acquiring it. It was a work-in-progress when Dean Andrews was there; it was not a shady operation. Obviously, the students were held to at least minimal standards which were eventually raised high enough to satisfy the appropriate accrediting bodies. The people of Mexia have their hands full with this one.

In 1981, Mexia was in the news when three African-American teens, who were in police custody for possession of marijuana, drowned while being transported across Lake Mexia. Three law enforcement officers accompanying them swam safely to shore; so questions arose about why the teens drowned less than 100 feet from land. Later, the officers were charged with criminally negligent homicide, but subsequently were found innocent of wrongdoing.

And in the 1940’s in Mexia, members of Field Marshall Erwin Rommel’s Afrika Corp and other German prisoners were housed in a prisoner of war camp now known as the Mexia State School. Over 5,000 were incarcerated on the grounds.

With Mexia, it appears that there is rarely a dull moment.

fake degrees, Anna Nicole Smith, diploma mill, fraudulent degree, distance learning, Texas, Mexia, California Coast University, US Department of Education, resume, jobs, employers, accreditation, accrediting body, Rommel, German_prisoners

Popularity: 5% [?]

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