New Job Jitters

Posted on by Caitlin Abram
Learn to embrace change and say goodbye to new job angst

Your phone rings.

It’s the hiring manager at the company you interviewed with last week for that great new job!

You let the phone ring twice (best to seem not too desperate), sit up a little straighter, and prep your very best “business voice.”

You got the job!

Finally!

Money, happiness, and world domination are all within your reach!

Suddenly, the soundtrack of your life shifts into a minor key, the bright shiny cartoon sun that had just moments ago been beaming above you begins to dim, and that new job grin starts to narrow.

Sure, you got the job, but now you actually have to do it.

New job anxiety is common. It can take the form of anything from mild jitters to full-blown panic. What if you end up hating your position or your boss? What if you fooled everyone into thinking you were right for the job? What if you fail so badly that you end up destitute and broken, swiping your imaginary office ID at tree stumps in a jobless, shame-fueled fugue state?!

First of all, take a deep breath and relax. There is a high probability that none of the above will actually happen. Remember that you were chosen specifically from a pool of applicants as the best candidate based on your stellar skills, flawless resume, and sparkling personality. Your new company already believes in you! Now, you just have to do the same.

Taming those nerves is easier said than done. Significant change, in any aspect of our lives, is frequently accompanied by a healthy dose of discomfort. That’s especially true today when the job market, deeply affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, has seen more people than usual searching for their next job or their new career. Whether you’re making a lateral move, stepping up into a promotion, or completely switching careers, here are a few tips to help turn anxiety into optimism and help you regain that new job glow.

“… So, feel, express, share, and don’t be afraid to be human!” –Tammy Spenziero, Director of Career Services

Talk it out. If you’re feeling stressed, don’t keep it to yourself. Tammy Spenziero, director of career services at Excelsior College, coaches that the first step to relief could be simply to tell people how you are feeling. “Career changes can certainly create both excitement and sadness. We are not robots. We are human and therefore feel and have emotions — this is normal! So, feel, express, share, and don’t be afraid to be human!” she says.

Think a little differently. Hays, a global recruiting company based in London, England, recommends adopting a “growth mindset” about your new job. This means, instead of focusing on the negative, scary, and uncertain aspects of your career transition, work on thinking about how much these new challenges will help you grow and improve your skills and your resume. Remind yourself that this new job is a journey — that you won’t know everything your first day or even your first month. Talk yourself up instead of talking yourself down, and you’ll be surprised how quickly your attitude changes.

Remember this feeling won’t last forever. It’s important to understand that this anxiety is only temporary. It’s hard being the “new kid,” but remind yourself that everyone has been that kid before you. In a few weeks, more likely than not, you will have found your routine, maybe found an office buddy or two, and found that you’ve completely forgotten how nervous you were. Starting a new job is a momentous occasion, but it’s not the only thing that matters. Remember that it’s only change, and, as with other changes in your life, you have the strength within you to adapt and thrive.

First prepare, and then self-care. When you’re feeling nervous, a little preparation can be a big help in providing stability. The employment search engine Indeed recommends preparing a list of thoughtful questions to ask on your first day. If you commute to work, plan out your driving route, and preselect a first-day outfit that makes you feel your best. If you work from home, take time to set up a workspace where you can feel your calmest, most confident self. It’s also beneficial to take time and unwind after your first day. Whether you order your favorite food, head outside for a hike, or indulge in quiet time with a good book, a bit of self-care will help you decompress, celebrate your first day, and be ready to take on the days to come.

Stay connected. Spenziero suggests that connecting with others who share your career is a good way to start feeling a sense of investment and community in your new position: “Join LinkedIn; find groups, associations, and memberships in your career area; and connect with professionals in the field. Seek mentors — yes, more than one! Talk to others, be realistic, and seek advice and help when needed.”

Now, remember how excited you were when you accepted your new job? That’s the feeling you should be carrying with you as you take this next big step. And, if you’re still working toward your next big career break, Spenziero coaches that persistence and a positive attitude go a long way. She adds that job seekers should adopt a practical approach and align their job searches with organizations that are still hiring. According to Spenziero, “You will need to compromise and make changes, but this resiliency will set you up for long-term success.”

Most important, Spenziero reminds us: “Fear of the unknown is normal. We all have special gifts to share, and none of us is perfect. Be proud of all you have contributed, and know that life happens. Keep going!”

 

Emotional Connection

Posted on by Jenna Kerwin
How emotional intelligence helps us to understand ourselves and relate better to others

Have you ever compromised with a family member to bring a resolution to an argument? Are you a manager who has had to deal with employees being in poor moods and having all-around bad days? When facilitating a group discussion, do you try to make sure everyone’s thoughts and ideas are heard equally? If you have been in any of these or similar situations, you’ve most likely used emotional intelligence, the ability to understand, use, and manage your own emotions in positive ways; communicate effectively; empathize with others; and overcome challenges.

What is Emotional Intelligence?

In its simplest form, emotional intelligence is having the awareness that emotions can influence behavior and positively or negatively have an impact on other people.

The concept of emotional intelligence, often shortened to EI and also known as emotional quotient or EQ, was created by researchers Peter Salovey and John D. Mayer in 1990 and later popularized by psychologist Daniel Goleman through his 1995 book, “Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More than IQ.” Over the years, studies have concluded that emotional intelligence is necessary in the workplace, at home, and at school. Today, doctors continue to stress the importance of emotional intelligence for maintaining healthy relationships with others.

Components of Emotional Intelligence

According to Goleman, there are five basic components of EI: self-awareness, self-regulation, social skills, empathy, and motivation. PositivePsychology.com identifies self-awareness as the capacity to recognize and understand one’s actions and moods as well as the emotions of others. (A big part of that is being able to identify emotions in the first place.) Self-regulation involves how we deal with emotions, including our coping mechanisms and how we manage conflict and difficult situations. The component of social skills is pretty straight-forward: It’s how well we interact with other people. Remembering that interaction involves good listening and verbal and non-verbal skills is important. Empathy, of course, refers to our ability to understand and relate to how other people are feeling. Finally, motivation includes being internally driven (as opposed to externally driven by rewards such as money) to meet personal needs and goals, as well as being action-oriented.

“EQ is actually amazing in that it can really propel people forward in an organization or really help people become the best leaders possible.” –V. Blue Lemay, faculty program director

Why EI is Important

So, what does this all mean? Why is emotional intelligence important? I posed these questions to some colleagues at Excelsior College and we all seemed to agree that emotional intelligence is an intrinsic part to who we are as human beings. “EQ is very much about how we can understand others and making sure that others understand our perspective and can appreciate us just as much as we appreciate ourselves and appreciate others,” says V. Blue Lemay, faculty program director of Excelsior’s humanities programs. Khamel Abdulai, director of training and talent management in the Human Resources unit, takes it a step further, saying EQ can also be seen as the alignment between the way we perceive ourselves and the way others perceive us.

Our personal perception and others’ perception of ourselves aren’t the only reasons emotional intelligence is important. In their 2019 article, “Improving Emotional Intelligence,” authors Jeanne Segal, Melinda Smith, Lawrence Robinson, and Jennifer Shubin break down the benefits and conclude EQ affects our performance at work and school, our physical and mental health, our relationships, and our social intelligence.

Having high emotional intelligence can help us deal with complex issues in the workplace as well as help us to be successful leaders. “EQ is actually amazing in that it can really propel people forward in an organization or really help people become the best leaders possible,” says Lemay. She adds that being knowledgeable in technical or industrial skills is important, but without EQ, we wouldn’t be leading to the best of our abilities. Mark Howe, vice president of human resources at Excelsior, says, “I’ve been able to tell if someone has high EQ when they’re able to make decisions that they can accept that don’t always benefit them — in fact, might hurt them — but they understand the greater impact.”

Emotional intelligence is a crucial part of many professions. In health care, for instance, EQ is evident in the interaction between medical professionals and patients. In the McGill Journal of Medicine article “Emotional Intelligence: Use in Medical Education and Practice,” author Jimmy Bejjani argues that being emotionally aware leads to making rational decisions and taking advantage of new opportunities. “Physicians care for themselves through self-awareness and reflection, which appears to be one of the most important things to provide good care to others. By being more sensitive to their own and their patients’ feelings and emotions, EI physicians use supportive behavior and provide psychological benefits,” writes Bejjani.

Lisa Rapple, faculty program director of undergraduate health care management, referenced her own clinical experiences in critical care, emergency medicine, and several other acute care areas when considering the significance of emotional intelligence. She says that with today’s technology, sometimes it’s hard for physicians to connect personally to patients, but that human interaction — the emotional intelligence aspect — is a necessary component to health care. Anna Zendell, faculty program director of graduate health sciences programs, agreed, saying, “To have EI you have to be able to hear and see other people in a very real way.”

Benefits of Emotional Intelligence for Your Health

As Bejjani points out, though, unless we are caring for ourselves, we cannot care for each other. Therefore, having a high emotional quotient is critical for our own health. For instance, if you can’t manage your emotions, you probably can’t manage stress either.

A high emotional quotient allows us to better express how we feel and to understand how others are feeling, leading to improved communication at work and at home. As a by-product, being emotionally intelligent connects you to the world around you. Lemay explains, “Emotional intelligence is really about the strategy, being aware of myself, being aware of the strategies that I can use at any moment.” She uses her real-life working relationship with Rapple to emphasize her point, saying the two are different in their work strategies, but being able to listen and understand each other balances them out. Zendell agrees, saying, “Self [awareness] and awareness of others, and that depth of awareness for others, is really the core — it’s essential to EI.” Abdulai adds to this thought by relating emotional intelligence to his experience in HR. “In HR, our primary function is one of service, so the extent that we are seen as approachable, empathetic, and for people to sort of understand where [other] people are coming from, I think that’s a very important attribute for our work,” he says.

EQ also has an important part to play in education. Lemay, Rapple, and Zendell have woven EQ principles into many of their courses at Excelsior. Interpersonal communication, conflict management, leadership, team building, and cultural sensitivity are themes found across many health sciences and humanities courses. In HUM 321 Medical Humanities, for example, students learn about the softer side of medicine. “That medical humanities course is really to infuse those professionals with an understanding of how important the human part of the medical establishment is,” says Lemay. Rapple adds, “We’re teaching students in health sciences [that] they can be clinicians, they can be leaders, and if [EQ] is not part of what we’re helping them to understand or evaluate in their own selves, then we’re doing them a disservice.”

That brought up the question, Can emotional intelligence be taught? As Abdulai deftly points out, “People are careful to say that it can be learned and not say that it can be taught, because the whole key thing is that a lot of how you acquire it is through self-motivation.” In short, you have to want to improve your emotional intelligence, and self-improvement leads to better relationships. “It’s a skill worth honing if you want to progress and you want to be successful in the workplace and in home life,” says Rapple.

How to Assess Your EI

An easy way to assess your emotional intelligence is by evaluating your own performance and comparing it to the opinions of your peers, according to Lauren Landry, who wrote the article “Why Emotional Intelligence Is Important in Leadership” for Harvard Business School Online. “Through this process, you’ll gain insights into your own behavior and discover how you’re perceived in the organization,” wrote Landry.

By being aware of our emotional intelligence and taking steps to improve it, we can improve our relationships and our success in life. In a CareerBuilder survey, 71 percent of employers valued EQ over IQ, citing that employees with high EQ are the employees who can best deal with conflict and pressure. Thus, being able to understand our own emotions and those of other people can benefit not only ourselves, but also the world around us. By understanding and improving our emotional intelligence or emotional quotient, we can better connect with our fellow humans. “What gives me hope is the idea that we now recognize that we’re a collective species and part of this is not just our physical survival, but our ability to connect on an emotional level as well,” says Abdulai.

Seven Tips to Boost Your Emotional Intelligence

    1. Be present. When you are truly “in the moment,” you are more able to notice and respond to other peoples’ emotions. You can notice their body language and changes in mood more readily. If you notice a change in a person’s behavior, you can then alter your way of communicating.

 

    1. Listen. It might seem easy, but listening to others requires a lot of skill. Pay attention to the words that are spoken to you. Repeat what you’ve heard back to the person, letting them know you’ve understood them, and even ask for confirmation on what you think they meant. Then give your response.

 

    1. Respond, don’t react. Instead of subconsciously reacting purely due to emotions, take a moment to pause and think over the situation. After you have recognized your emotions, you are able to respond in a more emotionally intelligent way.

 

    1. Take responsibility for yourself. Remember that how you act is your responsibility; no one is controlling you. Your emotions and behavior are under your control so remember to always take responsibility for how you feel and behave.

 

    1. Practice empathy. Empathy is the ability to put yourself into someone else’s position and relate to their situation. It involves being able to feel what the other person is feeling. Identifying and recognizing emotions is a good way to improve one’s empathy. Ask yourself questions such as, What is the reason for this emotion?

 

    1. Seek feedback from others. A good way to grow in your emotional intelligence is to ask others how they think you’re doing. Understanding their perception of you can help you work on different areas.

 

  1. It’s a lifelong process. You won’t get better at emotional intelligence overnight; you’ll be practicing and fine-tuning it as your life experiences unfold.

 

Q&A with Rick Hernandez

Posted on by Jenna Kerwin
Military Education Representative
Arrow up
Richard “Rick” Hernandez has been a military education representative at Fort Hood, Texas, for more than 10 years. A graduate of Excelsior College, Hernandez earned a Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts in 2006 and an MBA in 2017. With his unique perspective as a veteran who earned his bachelor’s degree while in the service, he provides assistance and encouragement to soldiers who wish to further their education. Photo: Courtesy of Rick Hernandez

What led you to your position as a military education representative?
When I retired from the Army, I knew that I wanted to be involved in education. While in the Army, I understood the importance of an education and I encouraged soldiers to seek it. When an opportunity developed, I applied for a temporary position with Excelsior with duties at Fort Hood, Texas. That was in December 2007. This title has changed several times, but I still provide unofficial reviews, help with course selection, give educational advice; conduct education fairs; and assist students with enrollment procedures.

What do you enjoy the most about your job as a military education representative?
I enjoy working with military personnel, family members, and veterans to achieve their educational goals and to help them with their careers and personal growth. It is exciting to see their enthusiasm during the process. Seeing their satisfaction as well as the excitement of their family and friends is rewarding for me, especially during graduation.

What drew you to the military?
I volunteered for military service in 1974, at a time when the Army was not a good place to be. The Vietnam War was still going on and many Americans opposed our country’s involvement. My parents and siblings were also opposed to me volunteering. However, I believe I understood that I needed to do something better for myself. Not coming from a military family or with any education intentions, I entered the Army as a reconnaissance specialist shortly after high school. It took me some time to understand the discipline needed as well as the many personal sacrifices for myself and family that came with being in the Army. As I look back on my decision for military service, I thank those who served before me and helped me along my 30-year journey.

What inspires you about the military students you work with?
I see myself in them. I try to explain to them the work needed for a good education and how it will help them in the future. I also see the push back from some of the older soldiers and those who do not fully understand how education would benefit them. There rests my real challenge: convincing military leaders how education would benefit them in their future. I must make sure that my educational relationship with the students is professional but, more important, current with their needs and that of our country.

As an alumnus of Excelsior College, what advice do you give to current students?
For myself, it [being an Excelsior graduate] allows me to connect with other Excelsior graduates, especially military persons. I enjoy discussing ideas about how to best highlight our experience and quality of the coursework at Excelsior. I also like to enlighten others about the process of how the College was able to use my experience from the military and transfer it to college credit. The people I talk to are amazed at how much credit Excelsior accepts. For me, this is what makes the school truly military friendly!

How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected, if at all, your ability to help students?
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, many students could come and visit me in my office to discuss their educational needs. Many of their questions involved answering with visual effects or assistance from one of the military counselors. Now, this is something that I must be able to articulate over the phone or by email. I am still able to provide them with the same quality advice without being physically present although it requires me to be patient because it is time consuming. I must make sure they fully understand the process.

What motivates you?
I would say that I motivate myself through my children. I want to set a good example for others. I grew up in a family in which education was not as important as working. However, my mother would tell me that I needed to work harder at school, but I did not take it to heart. While in the military, I knew a couple of soldiers who had associate degrees. From them, I learned the importance of an education. In the military it was difficult to earn a degree because, during my time, most enlisted soldiers did not have degrees and the leadership did not encourage you. However, I was set on completing my bachelor’s degree. Once I completed my bachelor’s degree, I wanted more. My three grown children have traditional bachelor’s degrees.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?
I have a few good pieces of advice.

My mother would say that we should be respectful of others as best that we can. Always say thank you and try to let go of an unfriendly feeling toward others. For me, that means to be kind to others and never be a fair-weather friend.

My mentor told me this: Knowledge is vital to success and well-being, so never stop growing. To do this you must keep on learning from others and for yourself. For me, that means pursuing education and being involved in the community.

I learned this from a Vietnam veteran: He would tell me that you can only change what is your responsibility, so don’t wait for someone to improve your situation. While in the military, many soldiers would ask where was the best place to be stationed. I would always respond with, “Wherever I am at is the best place.” What I meant by that is that it was my obligation to make my next duty station as good, if not better, than where I came from.

 

Dorothy Jimenez Makes Giving Back to the U.S. Navy Part of Her Transition Plan

Posted on by Maria C. Sparks

In December 2019, Dorothy Jimenez was making a life change. She had separated from the U.S. Navy on November 30 after a 20 plus-year career and less than a month later moved from Virginia to Florida with her husband and children. It was a time of change.

Introduction to Excelsior:
A visit to a Navy college office
Source of Inspiration:
Her family, her kids
Greatest accomplishments:
Serving her country in the Navy, meeting her husband, earning her master’s degree

“My transition was like going into unchartered territory, but with all the tools I learned and with all the connections I had with Excelsior College and with the companies that support military members ­— Wounded Warriors, etc. ­— and staying connected with mentors helped me transition,” says Jimenez, petty officer first class, retired.

Jimenez has earned three degrees from Excelsior, all while serving in the Navy. She has always been someone focused on pursuing her dreams and moving toward her goals.

With her retirement from the service and her family’s relocation to Florida, the past year has been one of transition to the civilian world. Jimenez spent the first six months after settling in Florida volunteering and giving back to the Navy. She was a case worker for the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCR), a nonprofit organization that partners with the Navy and Marine Corps to provide financial, educational, and other assistance to servicemembers, their eligible family members, and survivors. “There was a time in my career NMCR helped my family,” says Jimenez. “Volunteering was a two-way street. When I dedicated my time, I was able to make new friends, expand my network, and boost social skills.”

“I needed to be of service and give back, and I’m still finding ways of being of service and to give back.” –Dorothy Jimenez

She was also able to be a part of something she believed in. “Every time I went to work, I enjoyed meaningful conversation, support, and witnessed genuine compassion toward active-duty and retired military,” she says. “Being able to connect with our community and contribute to a cause that I cared about encouraged me to use my skills learned through Excelsior College in a productive way.”

At the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, Jimenez assisted servicemembers and their families with meeting their urgent financial needs. The volunteer role took on added importance during the COVID-19 pandemic. She helped families to pay their bills and learn better ways to make it through the pandemic and hard times. “It was what I needed,” says Jimenez. “I needed to be of service and give back, and I’m still finding ways of being of service and to give back.”

She’s continuing to give back while working as a cybersecurity engineer for Logistic Services International Inc., a company that provides training and technical support services to the U.S. government, foreign militaries, and the defense industry. Jimenez joined the company in July 2020.

Her position is close to the role she had in the Navy as a cyber defense operations supervisor for the Navy Cyber Defense Operations Command, and she’s able to apply her military experience. In addition, the MPA she earned from Excelsior in 2018 complements her position and builds on the other degrees she earned from the College. “Everything I’ve learned from Excelsior completes this job at this point,” says Jimenez.

As Jimenez tells it, she is gradually getting back to the civilian world. Her resiliency stems from meeting life’s challenges and serving in the Navy. “I am able to stay motivated, have self-direction, and set high goals for myself and achieve them because of my military experience,” she says.

 

Jennifer Gentry Leads Her Organization to Its Fourth Magnet Recognition

Posted on by Maria C. Sparks

Jennifer Gentry recently sent an email to Excelsior College that started like this: “Today marks the greatest achievement of my professional career.”

Gentry, who earned three nursing degrees from Excelsior, is the chief nursing executive at Providence Portland Medical Center in Portland, Oregon. She was writing to share that she had led the organization to its fourth consecutive magnet recognition, the gold standard of nursing excellence.

Current job:
Chief nursing executive
Responsibilities:
Nursing strategic plans, quality outcomes, and caregiver wellness
Giving Back to Excelsior:
Alumni Leadership Council (2014–2017), Trustee (since January 2020)

The Magnet Recognition Program was developed by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to recognize health care organizations that provide nursing excellence. Organizations seeking magnet status must submit qualitative and quantitative evidence of patient care and outcomes in a written document that addresses dozens of standards. If a sufficiently high score on the written document is achieved, the next step is a site visit for a thorough assessment.

Gentry had joined Providence Portland Medical Center in October 2017, at a time when it was critical to strengthen the nursing infrastructure in preparation for submitting the magnet application. In her experience as a chief nurse, Gentry had not led an organization through the magnet recognition process, and she relied on her well-honed leadership and communication skills to ensure the hospital made the needed improvements to meet benchmarks for magnet recognition. “It really takes a lot of vision and hospital-wide coordination across many different departments,” she says.

“I focused on transparency and making sure the team understood the why behind what they were doing” –Jennifer Gentry

Drawing from her more than 20 years of nursing experience, she also empowered her team. “I focused on transparency and making sure the team understood the why behind what they were doing,” says Gentry. She knew she did not have all the answers; she made sure that processes were in place and she was clear about the vision for what they were trying to accomplish. The nursing team weighed in on what worked for them as they improved internal procedures and practices in preparation of completing their magnet document. “My education proved as relevant today as it was when I went through the program,” Gentry wrote in her email.

Ultimately, the organization had 90 days to complete its written document and more than 80 standards to write in that time. Gentry quickly made the decisions needed to put the organization on track. She spearheaded the rebuilding of shared governance, a professional practice model, and a nursing leadership model. After a highly coordinated effort, the magnet designation document was completed and submitted on time.

The challenges continued, however. The site visit was scheduled for March 2020, but Providence Portland Medical Center saw its first patient with COVID-19 in late February and experienced an increase in patients with the virus five days before the visit. As a result, the site visit was moved to June. The teams used the time to prepare and train on their professional practice model, which they applied to patient care situations by focusing on patient care and their own safety.

The three-day site visit with four appraisers occurred in a most creative way: by putting an iPad on a stand that was head height, dressing it with scrubs and a nametag, and escorting the surveyors through their visit.

“We were among the first hospitals to do a virtual site visit,” says Gentry. The site visit went smoothly, and the final report included no opportunities for improvement.

 

Excelsior Community Remembers U.S. Rep. John Lewis

Posted on by Maria C. Sparks

When U.S. Rep. John Lewis died on July 17, 2020, our thoughts turned to 2010, the year Excelsior College awarded him an honorary degree at Commencement.

In his remarks to the graduates and their guests, the great civil rights leader said he was taught to never, ever give up — or give in. Lewis shared that, “ … Dr. King and Rosa Parks, and many others inspired me to get in the way, to get in trouble. It was good trouble, necessary trouble.” He went on to congratulate the graduates “ … for never, ever giving up, but for keeping the faith and keeping your eyes on the prize.”

His words ring as true today as when they were spoken in July 2010.

View the video of John Lewis giving his remarks on Facebook.

 

Advance Your Nursing Career with Online RN Programs

Posted on by Excelsior Staff

There is a natural evolution in a nurse’s career, one that often requires further education. Online degree programs are key to that evolution. Nurses can earn the education they need to qualify for more challenging jobs with better pay.

Excelsior College provides 100% online RN programs that help nurses achieve their goals while maintaining their current job. This includes those who want to earn a bachelor’s degree or move on to earning a master’s degree.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics  projects  there will be almost 222,000 more nurses by 2029. In New York, the median salary reached $87,330 in May 2019. These trends demonstrate the value of earning a higher degree and competing for the best jobs.

Excelsior College Online RN Programs

The online RN programs at Excelsior College for registered nurses rank among the school’s most popular degrees. The nursing programs divide into two major areas at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

RN to BS in Nursing Program

The Excelsior College online RN to BS in Nursing program allows working RNs to earn their degree while scheduling coursework around busy professional and personal schedules. Excelsior College also offers one of the most generous credit transfer policies in the United States. Students can earn college credit through the completion of UExcel exams and transfer credits earned from other accredited academic institutions.

The program offers nursing students a well-rounded general education in the arts and sciences, including the humanities, social science, history, the natural sciences, and math. In the nursing program, students learn how to apply nursing and arts and sciences knowledge to real-world situations that involve providing care for individuals, families, and communities. Students also develop strong critical thinking skills and nursing judgment.

RN to Master’s Degree in Nursing

Excelsior College also offers dual degree programs that allow RNs with an associate degree to earn a Masters of Science in a nursing specialty. These programs give nurses a seamless transition to the highest level of nursing education.

Excelsior College offers three specialties in its dual degree programs:

  • RN to Master of Science in Nursing Education: This program prepares graduates to become educators in academic and service settings. Students study nurse educator theories, teaching strategies, and curriculum development. They also learn how to best employ technology that supports better learning outcomes for students.
  • RN to Master of Science in Leadership and Administration of Health Care Systems: Graduates of this program are prepared to take leadership roles in health care operations. They help plan and implement strategies in hospitals, community health centers, academic institutions, IT companies, and the pharmaceutical industry.
  • RN to Master of Science in Nursing Informatics: This program teaches graduates to understand nursing best practices for information technology, data science, and nursing science that are fundamental to the health care industry. They study how to leverage technology that improves patient outcomes and makes health care operations more efficient. Graduates have the expertise to make data-driven clinical and administrative decisions.

Qualifications for Online RN Programs

To qualify for Excelsior College nursing programs, nurses must already hold an RN license. Prospective students will need to submit an active and unencumbered U.S. RN license with an expiration date.

For the RN to BS in Nursing program, nurses must submit an official transcript showing completion of an associate degree in nursing or an RN diploma. Nurses must have earned the degree or diploma from a New York State (NYSED) approved program, a program with specialty accreditation, or a regionally accredited institution.

Applicants to RN to MS programs must fill out an MS Capstone requirements form.

With the impressive employment growth, rising pay, and specialized opportunities available for nurses, there’s never been a better time to explore the possibilities of online RN programs at Excelsior and how they can improve your career.

Through Their Contributions, Excelsior College Employees Help Make 2020 and the Holiday Season Brighter for Those Less Fortunate

Posted on by Alicia Jacobs

Albany, NY — As Thanksgiving approaches and the need for humanitarian efforts remains prominent, Excelsior College reflects on gratitude and how simple acts of kindness through personal contributions can make an impact during a tough year. Excelsior College’s community engagement initiatives and efforts have remained strong with staff, faculty, and students from New York’s Capital Region and beyond giving their support to different causes while social distancing.

During COVID-19, Excelsior College received many requests to help charitable organizations and address basic needs such as food insecurity. According to NYS Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed (ALICE) data, 11 percent of households in the Greater Capital Region earn an income below the federal poverty line, and 30 percent of households are considered ALICE, which are working families that earn more than the federal poverty level but do not earn enough to cover the basic costs of living. The COVID-19 pandemic accentuated existing challenges and inequities for these families across the Capital Region.

As Excelsior College, a not-for-profit online college in Albany, N.Y., transitioned to a mostly remote workforce in mid-March, the employee-led Community Engagement Group began to shift its efforts to volunteer remotely, raise funds online, and contribute to collection drives. Since that time, employees have personally contributed over $22,000 to charitable organizations, including $13,000 in student scholarships this year.

Highlights of Excelsior College’s philanthropy in 2020 include

:

Annual Volunteer Week

  • To make sure our Annual Excelsior Cares Volunteer Week remained intact, in April, employees shifted from their usual in-person volunteering to donating $2,800 to benefit 14 local non-profit organizations.

Getting Creative with Community Engagement

  • In September, we hosted our first virtual volunteer fair so employees, faculty, students, and alumni could learn about volunteering remotely, rather than in person, while still making an impact in their hometowns. Representatives included the United Way, American Red Cross, American Heart Association, Head Count, the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York, and American Cancer Society.
  • In October, 30 employees participated in the American Heart Association October Field Days Challenge. Excelsior College was excited to be the first organization in the Capital Region and among the eastern states to support this event, which allowed employees to participate while working remotely. They engaged in a four-week friendly competition of exercise, eating healthy, sharing gratitude, raising money, and promoting awareness to benefit those impacted by heart disease. The employees also raised more than $2,300.

Supporting Student Scholarships

  • In 2020, 105 Excelsior College employees have contributed $13,803 to student scholarships at the College. The impact of these funds makes it possible for students to persist to degree completion and reduces their financial burdens.

Raising Money for Collection Drives

  • From October to November, Excelsior College employees donated $1,095 for Equinox to provide wholesome Thanksgiving dinners to lonely, homebound, and homeless neighbors around the Capital Region. This equates to 109 Thanksgiving meals.
  • For the Making Strides Breast Cancer Walk 2020 in October, Excelsior College raised $1,136 to help ensure that no one dealing with a breast cancer diagnosis might have to face it alone.
  • In October, Excelsior College also raised $850 for the Regional Food Bank Hunger Action Challenge. We helped the food bank surpass its goal and reach 32,852 meals in 30 days.

To make the holiday season a little brighter for members of our local community, Excelsior College will once again support the Albany County Adopt A Family campaign and the Northern Rivers Holiday Giving Campaign by collecting gift wishes.

Even Excelsior College students are exploring ways to volunteer and make an in impact during a pandemic. Four Excelsior College graduate students are participating in the Business Case Competition sponsored by the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE) this month. Students Christine McCormick of Rhode Island, Michelle Tochiki of Indiana, Joseph Graham of Mississippi, and Ronald Kiernicki of Indiana are developing strategic solutions for challenges identified by Ronald McDonald Charities in Jacksonville, Fla. They are considering issues resulting from 400 volunteers having to work remotely to support the organization.

Working remotely has not changed Excelsior employees’ commitment to supporting organizations and those in need. Inspired by the premise that a strong social fabric creates opportunity, the Community Engagement Group maintained its mission despite social distancing and the changing volunteer experience for the organizations they support.

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Media Contact Excelsior College:

Alicia Jacobs, ajacobs@excelsior.edu, 518-410-4624

 ABOUT EXCELSIOR COLLEGE

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

 

 

Are You Looking for a High College Credit Transfer Program?

Posted on by Excelsior Staff

For many students, life can get in the way of completing a degree. Students may pause their schooling because of a job or personal obligations, or both, and they may have many credits but no degree.

Online education, coupled with a generous college credit transfer policy, makes it easier for adult learners returning to school to complete their degrees.

Excelsior ranks among the best colleges in these important areas. In addition to offering a wide variety of online degree programs, Excelsior also accepts up to 113 credits depending on the specific program.

Students can receive credits from Excelsior College for a variety of learning accomplishments, including college-level exams, professional training, military training, health care credentials, and industry certifications.

“Excelsior College is incredibly transfer-friendly,” says Rebecca S. Schenck, director of academic evaluation at Excelsior College’s Transcript Analysis Center. “Our dedicated team of 30-plus academic evaluators are trained to maximize the number of transfer credits each individual student presents, and they work to build a degree MAP (My Academic Plan) that gets students to the finish line as quickly and efficiently as possible.”

The Residency Requirement at Excelsior College

The college credit transfer policy at Excelsior College makes the school a great choice for those who have started degrees at other accredited institutions or have an associate degree and want to move on to earn a bachelor’s degree.

The policy, which ranks among the best in the country, also can result in cost savings for students who can transfer credit from other schools and earn their degree sooner.

To earn a degree from Excelsior College, students must meet the standards of the school’s residency requirement. These standards mandate that all students complete three specific courses at Excelsior College:

  • A Cornerstone course at the beginning of their time at Excelsior College
  • A Capstone course at the end
  • A 1-credit Information Literacy course

A Generous Transfer Expiration Policy

Excelsior College also designed its college credit transfer policy to provide a generous expiration period for courses taken in the past. According to the college’s transfer credit guidelines, students may still be able to transfer credits earned decades ago.  Guidelines vary based on the degree program.

For example, the health sciences transfer credit policy allows students in the Bachelor of Science in Health Care Management/MBA dual degree program to claim credits earned within 20 years to the date of enrollment in the undergraduate component and within 10 years of the date of enrollment in the graduate component.

For the Master of Science in Health Sciences specializations, students must earn the credits within seven years of enrollment.

The Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts and Associate in Science in Liberal Arts programs have no time limit on credits earned. In theory, a student could transfer 113 credits and then complete a Cornerstone, Capstone, and Information Literacy course to graduate.

“This means that credit a student completed in the ’70s,’80s,’90s or last month could be used to fulfill degree requirements, depending on what type/level of credit the student presents to us,” Schenck says.

Excelsior College provides a list of time limitations on transfer credit for all online degree programs. The Academic Evaluation team is divided into specialties, says Schenck. This gives each degree area a group of dedicated experts to support students.

Prospective students must first apply to the College to have their transcripts reviewed. Students currently pay a $50 application fee.

With the potential of transferring so many credits, it’s worthwhile for prospective students to determine what credits they will receive. Many may find they are closer to completing their degree than they imagine.

For more information, and to see how much credit you can transfer, visit https://www.excelsior.edu/start-with-more-credit/ on Excelsior’s website.

States Leading the Way in Cannabis Legalization

Posted on by Excelsior Staff

As cannabis legalization spreads from coast to coast, each state takes a different approach to how they use their cannabis profits and revenue. Some states in particular are making huge impacts with money collected from legal cannabis, setting the stage for other states and showing them how they can benefit communities through legal cannabis profits.

Colorado

Colorado has been, perhaps, one of the most progressive states when it comes to benefiting from cannabis legalization. As of 2020, the taxes that came from Colorado cannabis businesses have funded programs for cleaner roads, with 51 cannabis companies sponsoring 66 percent of the roads covered by the “Clean Colorado.” Tax revenue has also gone into anti-bullying programs for schools, which helped teachers and school staff teach over 34,400 students.

Another way Colorado is using its cannabis tax revenue for good is by helping the homeless. In 2018, The Denver Post reported that Aurora, in the Denver metro area, spent $7.3 million on homeless services and housing. Cannabis tax revenue has also been used to fund scholarships. In 2019, the Pueblo Chieftain published a story about Pueblo using its cannabis tax revenue to award $700,000 in scholarships for the 2019–2020 school year.

California

Just like Colorado, California has been progressive with its cannabis programs, putting cannabis tax revenue toward programs that benefit the community. According to the news outlet Leafly, the Golden State received an estimated $635 million in state and local cannabis tax revenue in 2019, which went toward youth anti-drug programs, the environment, and public safety grants.

California’s money from tax revenue is spent in various ways, such as childcare for low-income families, safer roads, cannabis science and policy research, and more. Most recently, the news outlet Marijuana Moment reported that California will provide $30 million in grant funding for individuals who have been disproportionately impacted by the drug war, an initiative from the Bureau of Cannabis Control and Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development.

Nevada

The most recent in this list to legalize cannabis for adult-use, the Nevada cannabis industry created 8,300 full-time jobs once it was legalized. In May of 2019, Nevada lawmakers introduced a bill that would move all money that was collected from the state’s 10 percent excise sales tax on cannabis toward education. The same year, Clark County commissioners decided to divert $1.8 million of cannabis licensing fee revenue to fight homelessness.

Of the $1.8 million going toward the homeless, Clark County directed $855,000 to expand services at HELP of Southern Nevada’s Shannon West Homeless Youth Center, a facility that can house up to 166 at-risk youth from ages 16 to 22. In addition, $930,000 will be allocated to go toward rehousing homeless individuals who have been discharged from the hospital.

A common theme throughout these states leading the way for cannabis legalization is that the cannabis tax revenue goes toward programs that benefit communities, usually through education. We’re happy to see these states taking the initiative to create better communities with money raised from cannabis legalization and hope that other states follow suit.

A common theme among these states that have legalized cannabis is that they put cannabis tax revenue toward programs that benefit communities, usually through education. They are taking the initiative to create better communities with money raised from cannabis legalization, setting an example for other states to follow.

Education is an important component of understanding an environment where cannabis legalization has been expanding, which is why we created our Graduate Certificate in Cannabis Control. Learn more about our program and see how it can help you achieve your cannabis career goals.

Excelsior College Hosts Virtual Fraud, Forensics, and Cybersecurity Executive Panel on November 18 with Siena College

Posted on by Alicia Jacobs

Albany, N.Y. — Excelsior College will host a virtual panel discussion focused on emerging trends and careers in the fields of fraud, forensics, and cybersecurity on Wednesday, November 18 from 8:30–9:30 a.m. ET. This event, in collaboration with Siena College, will be moderated by Chelsea Diana, a reporter from the Albany Business Review.

The public is invited to join top leaders in the field as they discuss current trends and issues in fraud, forensics, and cybersecurity. Discussions will cover:

  • Major developments and issues in the fields of fraud, forensics, and cybersecurity, and how they impact different industries;
  • How organizations and individuals respond to changes within the fields;
  • Skills and competencies required for success in fraud, forensics, and cybersecurity careers; and
  • How market trends impact the labor force.

Panelists include:

  • Richard Peters, Senior Information Security Advisor, UHY LLP
  • John Roman, CIO, The Bonadio Group; President and COO, Bonadio’s Information Risk Management and Cybersecurity Division, FoxPointe Solutions
  • Matthew Miller, Principal in the New York Office of KPMG LLP’s U.S. Cyber Security Services Financial Services
  • Amelia Estwick, Director, National Cybersecurity Institute at Excelsior College

“We are pleased to again participate with Dean Scott Dolan and Excelsior College to present a panel discussion on topics of global concern: fraud, forensics and cybersecurity,” said Chester Brearey, professor of accounting and director, Master of Science in Accountancy with Data & Analytics at Siena College. “Incidents of fraud are escalating in frequency, duration, and complexity. Hardly a day goes by without a news story about another breach. Our panelists and moderator will elicit not only conversation but will offer statements and questions for the purpose of eliciting a spirited dialogue.”

“The job market for people with skills in fraud, forensics, and cybersecurity is expected to grow dramatically over the next few years. Even prior to the pandemic, the world economy was going through a radical restructuring brought on by the development and increased adoption of emerging technologies,” stated Scott Dolan, dean, School of Graduate Studies, Excelsior College. Dolan continued, “Mobile and cloud, advancements in computing power, the growth of big data, along with the emergence of robotics, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and the Internet of Things are changing how we consume, produce, and distribute goods and services. And they have radically changed the amount of data at our disposal, and how we collect and manage information. But the access to this information has raised corresponding organizational and individual concerns about how we protect our data, ensure our privacy, and ethically manage information. We are excited to offer a panel series focused on how these trends are impacting various industries, and what is needed for people to gain access to careers in these high-demand fields.”

To register to attend this event, visit  https://excelsior.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_01eb1_5-SPKe-ujDcl5B-A

 

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Media Contact Excelsior College:

Alicia Jacobs, ajacobs@excelsior.edu, 518-410-4624

 

Media Contact Siena College

Lisa Witkowski, lwitkowski@siena.edu, 518-859-8632

 

ABOUT EXCELSIOR COLLEGE

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

 

ABOUT SIENA COLLEGE

Siena College is a private, co-educational liberal arts college in the Franciscan and Catholic tradition. Siena is committed to offering the Education for a Lifetime for a new generation of leaders eager to create a more just, peaceful and humane world. This education empowers them through a transformative journey of intellectual, spiritual and personal discovery.

Founded in 1937, Siena offers 36 majors, 80-plus minors and certificates, and prestigious joint-degree programs in liberal arts, science and business. A wide range of student activities join with immersive service learning, research opportunities, extensive study abroad options and an NCAA Division I athletic program in providing more than 3,000 students the opportunity to prepare for a lifetime of making a difference.