In order to find the best deals, consumers diligently spend time researching their intended large purchases by shopping around, comparing prices and checking reviews about the quality of the items.

However, when it comes to enrolling in a traditional or online degree program, consumers often discard caution and good sense.

Then, somewhere down the road, many are disgruntled and disappointed with their education ‘purchase’ — especially if they are left with thousands of dollars in student loan debt and no job.

Fortunately, federal initiatives started by the Obama administration continue to encourage traditional colleges and universities to disclose pertinent information that is valuable for students in making informed decisions about college degree programs. Much of this information is already required from for-profit schools.

No one should jump into any college or university enrollment without first checking several important and critical pieces of information that are generally available about specific schools, such as:

• Graduation rate — the percentage of students who graduate from the school within a specified number of years.
• Average student debt — the average amount of student loan debt owed by students upon graduation.
• Retention rate — the percentage of first-time bachelor’s degree students who are still enrolled in the college or university after the first year.
• Graduate employment — the percentage of graduates that are gainfully employed within a specified period of time after graduation

This information may not be easy to locate on the college or university’s web site or in their college catalog. It may be listed under disclosures, consumer information, other information, facts about the school, or accessed by using the ‘Search’ box on the school’s web site.

By checking out the above-mentioned information, potential students should be able to determine that the schools in which they are interested have a proven track record of success, based upon:

• whether students graduate from the school in a timely manner,
• whether college tuition and fees are reasonable and/or whether the school provides grants and scholarships to minimize student loan debt,
• whether students are satisfied enough to remain enrolled in the school after their first year,
• whether the academic programs adequately prepare students for jobs after graduation,

It is important to remember that students are consumers who have a right to expect the best value for their money.

By treating higher education expenditures with the same care that they would any other financial purchase, consumers should experience increased satisfaction with their traditional or online college enrollment, along with fewer regrets.

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This may sound like fun and games, but it is actually part of a rigorous accredited online MBA program offered by the Lake Forest Graduate School of Management.

It was designed for those who are serious about earning a hands-on MBA filled with real-world problem solving that prepares students for real-world jobs.

The iMBA, or immersion MBA, invites students to become virtual reality trainees in the executive development department of a large firm, interacting with computer-generated managers, customers, competitors and co-workers. Students work in at least 10 different virtual departments over the course of the online MBA program — spending 8 weeks in each and completing 10-12 learning modules in every company business department.

The Lake Forest Graduate School of Management requires students to attain mastery of each learning module in the specific departments before moving to the next module. Course instructors, who are also business leaders, monitor and evaluate students’ progress at each stage of mastery, while fostering an interactive higher education experience.

The school calls this type of innovative learning “scenario based learning” because students are placed inside the virtual company, through a unique distance-learning format, where they encounter the difficulties, problems and solutions that would occur in the real world.

If this ‘learn by doing’ appeals to you, then you will not want to lose any time checking out the accredited online iMBA degree program at the Lake Forest Graduate School of Management (LSGSM).

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Online classes are an answer to that dilemma.

High school grads, who are anticipating their upcoming freshman year, wonder how they can make use of these extra-long days to get a head start on college studies.

Online classes fit the bill nicely.

Motivated employees get antsy and mull over ways to beef up credentials and strengthen job skills as they dream of promotions and salary raises.

Once again, online classes are a solution.

It is no wonder that summer elicits a desire, in so many people, to improve and strengthen educational and career skills.

And it is certainly no mystery that online classes are a perfect opportunity for accomplishing these goals.

Summer online classes are a great way to gain an advantage in school or career, especially because of the variety of course offerings, the flexibility of completing coursework and the reasonable financial investment.

While others spend their summers in non-academic pursuits, the truly diligent are able to enroll in online classes that meet specified goals. These goals may include:

• earning transferable credits to complete a college degree faster,
• taking basic classes to fulfill prerequisites for upper division classes,
• saving tuition dollars by taking less-expensive online classes to complete core requirements,
• improving job skills and career knowledge in order to more effectively perform job duties,
• taking online those classes that fill up quickly during enrollment and are difficult to snag,
• earning a professional certificate in a few weeks to land a job, promotion or pay raise,
• using online classes as an introduction to college-level work,
• taking online classes as part of a fully online degree program.

Summer may feel like a time to just have fun and forget about school and work. However, summer might also be the best time to really hunker down and accomplish focused goals that have been elusive the rest of the year.

Enroll in summer online classes and join the ranks of millions who have enjoyed the benefits of e-learning through traditional and online schools.

This way, you can make your summer count and also enjoy the sun, surf and sand.

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An April Los Angeles Times article, “Community colleges’ learning disability”, by Mark Schneider and Lu Michelle Yin, reports that public community colleges are so bogged down by budget cuts, personnel shortages, reduced class offerings and the lack of streamlined remedial programs, that only 25% of students complete their degree programs.

Only 20% of students graduate at a third of California community colleges. And across the nation, approximately 300,000 students drop out of 2-year public colleges each year.

However, at for-profit online schools, students graduate at a much higher rate — primarily because these schools:

• enable students to move at their own pace,
• utilize leading-edge distance-learning technology,
• remove the barrier of students being required to sit in class at a specific time and geographic location,
• offer better uniformity in online instruction due to effective faculty training and curriculum development,
• allow students extensive flexibility in beginning their educational programs, and
• provide incentive for success by awarding promotions and pay raises to higher-performing faculty members.

The L.A. Times article suggest that public community colleges should study and emulate the successful practices of for-profit online schools in order to save taxpayer money and improve student graduation rates.

Down the road, this strategy could attract millions more tax dollars into the coffers of each state, since college graduates earn higher salaries and have a lower unemployment rate than non-graduates. Statistically, graduates are also less likely to commit crimes and are more likely to encourage their children to attend college, which also increases states’ monies.

In addition, online degree programs tend to be less costly than traditional on-campus programs. By increasing the use of online-learning formats, community colleges should be able to enroll many more students, spend fewer dollars, and increase revenue.

While community colleges are searching for solutions to their student drop-out problem, potential students should consider enrolling in for-profit online schools to earn their accredited online associate’s degree in a timely and flexible manner.

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At approximately 1am, one or more unknown gunmen reportedly opened fire on them, shattering the car’s windows and killing both occupants.

The male and female victims were international students from China who were in a 3-series BMW. The police are considering whether the $60,000 automobile was the intended target of a carjacking.

LAPD officers arrived quickly on the scene. However, both victims were pronounced dead after being taken to California Hospital. USC officials immediately notified the student community by e-mail about the shooting.

This tragic incident highlights the growing safety concerns for students who attend classes on college campuses.

According to a joint report by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Secret Service and the U.S. Department of Education entitled, “Campus Attacks: Targeted Violence Affecting Institutions of Higher Education“, there were 174 campus-related murders and non-negligent manslaughters between 2005 and 2008. Eighty of these occurred on college campuses, eighty-two were on public property adjacent to the campus, and twelve took place at non-campus locations.

In addition, the report lists the following additional campus crimes during that 3-year period:

• 46 negligent manslaughters,
• 13,842 rapes,
• 222 non-forcible sex offenses,
• 137,785 burglaries,
• 21,675 aggravated assaults,
• 37,910 motor vehicle thefts,
• 19,900 robberies, and
• 4,045 arsons.

These statistics only include crimes reported to the Department of Education under the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crimes Statistics Act. Originally known as the Crime Awareness and Campus Security Act of 1990, the legislation was renamed after Jeanne Clery, a college student who was murdered in her dorm room in 1986 after three doors leading to her room were left propped open. She was unaware that violent campus crime was a danger at her school. Ultimately, a fellow student was arrested, convicted and sentenced to death for her rape, torture and murder.

The Clery Act requires higher education institutions involved in Title IV programs to “maintain and disclose specific information about crimes committed on or near college campuses”. They must also immediately notify the campus community as soon as an emergency is confirmed, unless notification would hinder gaining control of the situation.

Of course, campus crime is not a concern for those who enroll in online degree programs. By completing coursework on their computers, online students are able to choose a safe, secure environment and convenient time in which to study.

However, those who choose to study and live on college or university campuses should be particularly concerned about their own safety. Students should:

• Always be aware of one’s surroundings, travel in groups at night, and report any suspicious activity.
• Lock dorm room doors and windows, especially when leaving the room and at night before bed, to avoid the theft of valuable articles or the intrusion of unwanted visitors.
• Never hesitate to contact campus security to be escorted to a campus destination when walking alone on the school grounds after dark, or if one feels threatened or unsafe at any time.

The shooting death of two students at USC is yet another sad and senseless act that highlights the need for college and law enforcement officials to continually seek new ways to improve student safety.

law enforcement, international students, violence, rape, online degree programs, online degrees, online students, college murder, higher education, campus community

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It is called the Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act and is designed to assist start-up companies to expand and create a flood of additional jobs. AOL Inc. co-founder, Steve Case, lobbied heavily for the legislation.

The JOBS Act enables new business entrepreneurs to raise money more quickly; and it eases some of the financial regulations that have encumbered start-ups with additional costs.

Companies that fall under the category of ‘emerging growth companies’ are now exempt from a number of accounting and disclosure rules. These companies make less than $1billion in revenue and meet other specific qualifications.

Although there is, as usual, a great deal of controversy over the new law, the JOBS Act signals more good news for those who hope to snag a job from one of these start-up companies.

Since many start-ups are in the technology, business and health care sectors, hopeful job seekers may want to increase their career skills by enrolling in an accredited online certificate or degree program.

Online education offers the advantage of being able to earn college credit at home via computer, without spending extra money on transportation costs to attend traditional classes on college campuses.

Pamela M. Christian’s article, “Is College Worth It?”, states that by the year 2025, 41% of all jobs will require a college degree. This Azusa Pacific University Magazine article (Spring 2012), also states the following:

• A college graduate with a bachelor’s degree earns $412 more a week, or $21,242 a year.
• A master’s and professional degree holder earns respectively $33,592 and $40,768 more a year.
• The unemployment rate for those with a bachelor’s degree is half that of those with no college; and the unemployment rate for those with master’s degrees is only 2.5%.

Obviously, by earning additional credentials, job candidates increase their odds or landing one of the new jobs that will be created by the new legislation.

Undoubtedly, the JOBS Act is just one source of new jobs that are anticipated in the years to come.

Therefore, motivated hopefuls should consider making investments in higher education credentials that are likely to pave the way to hot careers in emerging companies.

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Capella, a high-quality and accredited online school, now offers Learner Success Grants of $2,100 to students who:

• enroll as new students in April, May or June of 2012 (up to June 4th)
• enroll in a bachelor’s degree program, and
• pass their first course.

A portion of the award would be applied to students’ accounts over each of the next 6 terms; so students must continue to enroll in subsequent quarters in order to receive the full scholarship amount.

Capella University is known for its high-quality online bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees. They also offer professional certificates.

Undergraduate students at Capella may earn online bachelor’s degrees in accounting, finance, health care, business administration, information technology, psychology, education, criminal justice, homeland security, nursing and other popular career areas.

Earlier this year, Capella added 13 new online graduate degrees - including a PsyD in School Psychology that is reportedly the only degree of its kind offered online. Online doctorate and master’s degree programs are also available in several areas of business, social sciences, public safety, education and nursing.

As a top military-friendly school, Capella strives to assist military students in understanding and applying for G.I. education benefits to help take care of college costs. Servicemembers should find the assistance they need during the application and enrollment process, as well as throughout their time at Capella.

Learners Success Grants are due to end soon, on June 4th, so interested potential students should enroll now and begin the journey to a college diploma — with a little help from Capella University.

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The partnership of individuals and computers is not only common, but  essential in the fields of business, health & medicine, law, science, education and other foundational realms of global society.

The following quote sums it up this way:

“Computers are incredibly fast, accurate, and stupid. Human beings are incredibly slow, inaccurate, and brilliant. Together, they are powerful beyond imagination.” — Albert Einstein

Nowhere is this digital-age cornucopia more valuable than in the field of education.

For example, in primary and elementary schools around the world, young malleable minds thrive on the education menus spoon-fed to them through visually stimulating multimedia devices.

These students are being prepped for an education journey that stresses online learning. They will hunger for e-learning in every future educational setting, including middle or junior high school, high school and, ultimately, college.

Traditional learning alone will not cut it for these high-tech children, who are indulged by their parents on birthdays and at Christmas time with almost every type of digital gadget.

The Sloan Consortium shows an increasing trend toward online learning in their 2011 report, Going the Distance: Online Education in the United States, 2011. They discovered that:

• A third of all college students are enrolled in at least one online class.
• Enrollments in fully online degree programs are growing.
• Student satisfaction is just as high with online classes as it is with traditional classes.
• Enrollment in online courses is growing at a rate of 10%, while traditional enrollment is growing by only 2%.

The Sloan C report, which analyzed results from 2500 colleges and universities, appears to bear out the inclination of new college students to enroll in online classes.

In the future, mew multimedia devices will be designed, new fiber optic networks will be built, and more sophisticated distance learning will be created.

And young schoolchildren will continue to enjoy the benefits of a digitally-charged learning environment that preps them for e-learning education options down the road.

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Bryant & Stratton maintains eight campuses in New York, three in Virginia, three in Wisconsin and four in Ohio where students may attend traditional classes. However, students are also welcome to enroll in popular online degree programs offered for the convenience of those who require additional flexibility.

The school offers on-campus and online bachelor’s degrees in hot career fields like health administration, information technology, accounting, finance, criminal justice, engineering and business management.

Traditional and online associate degree programs are also available to those who wish to complete a two-year degree and begin working in their chosen career field. Additional fields of study for the associate’s degree programs include graphic design, paralegal studies, medical assisting, medical coding & billing, nursing, security technology, travel and tourism, restaurant & hotel management, interactive media design, electronic technology and more.

Professional certificate programs are also available. These require far fewer classes and are less expensive than associate’s and bachelor’s degree programs.

Veterans and active-duty military students are welcome at Bryant & Stratton, which is committed to excellence in meeting the needs of servicemembers through admissions assistance, educational counseling and help in deciphering financial aid options.

Bryant & Stratton is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and is approved by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.

accounting, criminal justice, engineering, health administration, hot careers, information technology, online associates degree, online bachelors, online degree programs, military students

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Today’s Employment Situation news release from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported on the hundreds of thousands of jobs added in February, and increased the employment figures from the two preceding months.

As it stands, these are the BLS figures for employment gains in the last three months:

• February 2012   — 227,000 jobs added
• January 2012     — 284,000 jobs added (up from the 243,000 originally reported)
• December 2011 — 223,000 jobs added (up from the 203,000 originally reported)

The 734,000 new jobs are focused in the areas of professional and business services, health care, social services, leisure and hospitality, manufacturing and mining.

This encouraging employment news arrives on the heels of another recent BLS report showing that unemployment declined in 48 states by the end of 2011.

Although the unemployment rate did not fall in February, the current 8.3% rate is still more than a full percentage point lower than the December 2011 rate of 9.4%.

Americans are feeling so positive about the economy that the consumer confidence level is at its highest in four years, according to the Bloomberg Consumer Comfort Index. Shoppers are out in droves as Americans make more money, watch their stock portfolios rise in value, and are encouraged by the increased momentum of employment gains.

Although millions remain without jobs, their prospects have increased as they pursue additional job training, earn advanced college degrees, or pursue vocational training in hot career areas. Others, seeking to improve their chances of snagging a job, have relocated to states with low unemployment rates and greater opportunities.

It appears that the U.S. economy is rising to meet the expectations of millions of job seekers who are doing what it takes to prepare for the careers of the future and to thrive financially in the years to come.

jobs, job seekers, careers, college, snag a job, unemployment, consumer confidence, us economy, stock portfolio, bls

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