LEARNING TOGETHER Vol 2

Posted on by Jenna Kerwin

STUDY SHOWS VIABILITY OF ONLINE INTERPROFESSIONAL NURSING EDUCATION

A paper written by Patricia Cannistraci, assistant dean of the School of Nursing, and Bonny Kehm, a faculty program director, based on their study on interprofessional education (IPE) received the United States Distance Learning Association’s (USDLA) International Quality Research Paper Award, and was published in the April 2018 issue of the Journal of Nursing Education. IPE is a team-based approach to learning where students from two or more health care professions learn together during their professional education. The Institute of Medicine, the World Health Organization, and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act approve of this practice because it encourages health care professionals to reassess how they work with patients and each other.

Cannistraci and Kehm wanted to show that it was possible to have an interprofessional education experience at an exclusively online college. “There is a gap in the literature,” says Kehm, referring to the lack of research showing online schools that successfully implement IPE. Cannistraci and Kehm sought to change that. “Our goal is to move interprofessional education from a novelty experience for the nursing student to the norm in nursing curriculum,” says Cannistraci. Their three-phase study included Excelsior College’s School of Nursing and School of Health Sciences as well as The Sage Colleges Nutrition Sciences Dietetic Internship program.

Ninety-two students (53 nursing students, 30 nutrition students, and 9 health sciences students) were assigned to teams of 9–10 students to equally distribute the professions, with a military or veteran student in each of the groups, too. In phase I of the study, each student was assigned to watch the PBS open-access movie “Poor Kids,” a 45-minute documentary following three families through their experience of homelessness. This was in preparation for phase II, where students would meet for a weeklong discussion hosted through Moodle, an open-access learning management system.

Each student signed a consent to participate in the study, which contained a pre-post test. Once in the Moodle room, students responded to five discussion questions which included, “How would these families be likely to enter ‘the system’ of care, in other words, meet you and the types of service you would provide? What would the family experience look like?” and “What views shared by members on your team, from other disciplines, helped to deepen your understanding of health and societal issues faced by children growing up in poverty?” Faculty participated in the group discussion to expand and deepen the dialogue among students. In phase III, the formal IPE experience ended and students returned to working in their discipline-specific course.

Eighty-eight percent of the 92 participants completed the pre-post survey, which measured how confident the student was in the subject matter and the other professions in their group. Cannistraci and Kehm discovered there was a statistically significant increase in self-reported confidence across all questions of the survey. “The results are encouraging because they support the notion that the IPE educational experience significantly improves student confidence in understanding and performing on an interprofessional team,” says Kehm.

As a result of the experience, many students reflected upon their interprofessional teamwork with a deeper understanding of specific provider roles. Student comments include, “An important lesson that I learned is that working as a team promotes better patient outcomes and a more successful plan of care,” and “Every professional on my team had their own opinion that tied to the overall topic of concern.”

Cannistraci and Kehm summarized their study in a manuscript which they then submitted to the USDLA. The International Quality Research Paper Award, given to the authors of a research paper that advances the field of distance education, was presented in May at the USDLA International Awards Ceremony during the annual conference. You can read Cannistraci’s and Kehm’s paper, “Difficult to doable: Interprofessional collaborative practice in distance education,” in the Excelsior College library.

Smart Eating

Posted on by Alayna DeFalco

FIVE TIPS FOR A HEALTHY DIET

How do we determine what we are supposed to eat without risking harm to our body? How do we move beyond following the latest trend to embrace a healthy eating lifestyle? Unfortunately, there is no one simple answer, and sometimes the easy way can seem like the best way. That’s when many people turn to fad diets. Fad diets promise quick weight-loss results, although they usually include an unhealthy and unbalanced diet. They allow a very low caloric consumption, ultimately leading to short-term weight loss, but don’t educate the public on how to eat a sustainable, nutritious menu that they can adopt long-term.

Here are five strategies that we can all apply to eat better and lead us on the track to a healthier lifestyle.

1.EDUCATE YOURSELF ABOUT EATING OUT.

Americans eat out four times per week on average. If you do, it is important to pay attention to the calories in your food. There are many hidden calories in take-out, but luckily, many food chains provide nutritional values, including calorie counts, for menu options. A typical person’s daily caloric consumption should be around 2,000 calories per day. If I decide to order a prepared salad at a fast food restaurant, thinking that is one of the healthiest choices on the menu, that salad could well constitute ¼ to ½ of my recommended daily caloric intake. Dressing, processed meats, croutons, and other toppings can dramatically increase calorie, fat, carbohydrate, and even sodium intake.

2.KNOW THE NUTRITIONAL NUMBERS.

Nutritional resources such as the American College of Sports Medicine and healthypeople.gov provide excellent recommendations on daily nutrient intake. For example, experts recommend a daily fat intake of no more 30 percent of our daily calories. If I am on a 2,000-calorie diet, my intake should be no more than 66 grams of fat per day. Going back to the fast food salad: if 2 tablespoons of dressing constitutes 25 grams of fat, I am left with 41 grams of fat for the rest of the day. Prepackaged, convenience, and restaurant foods can contain a lot of fat and calories!

3.READ THE LABELS.

Sometimes it’s a lifesaver to eat convenience foods. You may be balancing work, college, family, and other demands. Once you know the nutritional numbers, learn to read the labels. Then make it a lifelong habit. The Food and Drug Administration has an excellent overview on reading nutrition labels.

4.EAT PROTEIN WITH EVERY MEAL.

This may sound strange, as protein is often associated with weight gain, but protein is an essential macronutrient that helps rebuild our tissues, hair, nails, skin, and much more. Most people do not get enough protein in their daily diets. Insufficient protein leaves people hungry. When feeling hungry, people tend to eat more carbohydrates or fat, which can increase blood glucose and calorie counts.

5.WORK WITH A LICENSED DIETICIAN.

Nutrition is an ongoing battle, with a lot of inaccurate information. If you want to lose weight or alter your diet, you may need professional assistance to get started safely. Every person is wonderfully unique, and we all have different caloric needs. Dieticians can determine what a safe weight-loss program can be for that person. Most fads do not take individuality into consideration. Extremes in dietary change and weight loss can cause more harm than good in the long term.

Our food is the fuel that keeps our bodies and minds functioning at peak efficiency. Following the first four steps is vital to survive and thrive in our own bodies. If you are at all confused, follow Tip 5 and work with a professional. You can also learn more by taking HSC 403 Nutrition for Health and Wellness or HSC 304 Exercise for Health and Wellness.

Project Management 101

Posted on by Excelsior Staff

ALUMNUS KANE TOMLIN PRESENTS WEBINAR SERIES

One only needs to search “project management” to see the rapid and growing influence of this business practice in today’s global market. Based on independent research, the Project Management Institute (PMI), which offers eight certifications that recognize knowledge and competency, asserts that the project management-oriented labor force is expected to grow by 33 percent—nearly 22 million new jobs—by 2027.

According to Kane Tomlin, ’12, ’14, that’s good news. Tomlin is a PMI-certified Project Management Professional who oversees the project management office of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement where he works as a special programs administrator. He studied criminal justice and cybersecurity at Excelsior and now serves on the College’s Alumni Leadership Council. Through his work on the Council, he recently launched a quarterly alumni speaker series on project management to help his fellow alumni and current students make sense of one of the fastest-growing fields.

“Project management is as simple or as complicated as the project,” says Tomlin. “And the skill set starts with being intellectually curious,” he says, adding that PMI thinks of project management as more than a skill; it considers it to be a profession. Skill, profession, or both, project management, Tomlin explains, is a cognitive process that leads to the most effective and efficient way to perform the work. From this perspective, it’s easy to see why employers are interested in having project managers on board: how effectively you execute the growth strategy of the organization is directly related to success markers such as profit.

While many of us who are not project managers may feel as though we do this type of work in our jobs every day, not all projects are created equal. Within the industry, projects are clearly defined by the following criteria: 1) a specific product or service, 2) with a start and end date, 3) that has never been done before by you or your company, 4) which requires planning and execution, and 5) has unknown variables.

Or, as Tomlin describes it, a project is any one-time effort with an end-state goal. It can be as simple as making a pot of coffee (if you’ve never made one before) or as complex as building a stadium or IT system. However, all projects share the same three constraints: limited budget, limited time, and performance constraints (good and fast vs. fast and cheap vs. good and cheap).

So, what does it take to be one of these in-demand project managers?

If you like working in an area where there isn’t much information provided, and that requires you to do research in order to accomplish your goals, then you will enjoy project management. Project managers possess the following skills and attributes: problem solver, positive attitude, high-level communication ablities (written and verbal), systematic mindset (breaks down problems), enjoy challenges, enjoy a lack of routine, and highly goal-oriented.

Project managers follow a prescribed process for handling the work. Remember those three constraints that affect every project? Project management begins with identifying the driver constraint (least flexible) and weak constraint (slightly negotiable) related to the project at hand. Then, it involves breaking down the work into a method that can be organized into a project schedule. For example:

STEP 1: Make a list of every task that needs to be done in order to complete the project.

STEP 2: Interview subject matter experts to find out what steps they need to take to complete their portion of the project (for example, if you’re building a stadium, the subject matter experts would include the architect and general contractor).

STEP 3: Determine task dependencies, such as tasks that can be completed simultaneously and those that need to be completed before another task can be started.

STEP 4: Schedule the work; how long each task will take is often identified through those interviews and conversations with the subject matter experts in Step 2.

Scheduling the work isn’t the end of the planning, of course. Some tasks take longer than scheduled and project managers have to compensate by shuffling people, time, and money to meet goals. That’s where, Tomlin says, the most important quality of project managers comes into play: problem-solving.

“The reason is twofold. First, the simple act of starting a project usually involves some version of ‘how do we solve this problem or overcome this challenge,’” says Tomlin. “Second, once the project is underway, no matter how much planning you have done, new problems will arise.”  — by Renee Kelly

New College Partnership: Army University

Posted on by Excelsior Staff

The U.S. Army Ordnance School recently selected Excelsior College, one of Military Times’ Best Colleges of 2018, to provide associate degree pathways to soldiers based on military training. The partnership is part of the Army University Continuing Education Degree Program (CEDP), which matches Army schools with civilian colleges. Excelsior was one of a select few colleges nationwide chosen to partner with Army University to participate in the CEDP Leadership Initiative Program and to offer associate degree programs at the U.S. Army Ordnance School at Fort Lee, Virginia, and the Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear School at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.

The associate degree programs selected for the program include the Associate in Applied Science in Technical Studies with a concentration in electromechanical technologies, Associate in Applied Science in Administrative Management Studies, Associate in Science in Liberal Arts with areas of focus in leadership, environmental management science, and logistics, and Bachelor of Science in Homeland Security and Emergency Management. College credit is awarded for military service school courses, and for primary and duty military occupational specialties (MOS) experience.

Students will also profit from other benefits, including support from military academic advisors and admissions counselors; reduced course tuition rate of $250 per credit hour for active duty servicemembers, reservists, and National Guard personnel, and their family members; waived enrollment fee for military students; and maximum credit awarded in transfer for military training, prior college, and exams such as DLPT, CLEP, and DANTES.

“With this new partnership with the Army University, we’re excited to further strengthen our long-standing relationship with the Army and pave pathways for servicemembers to earn college degrees,” said Sue Dewan, executive director of the Excelsior College Center for Military and Veteran Education.

For more information about the partnership, visit cme.excelsior.edu/army.

Alumni Give Back by Paying It Forward

Posted on by Excelsior Staff

Alumni giving was up last fiscal year, spurred in large part by the growth of the Pay It Forward campaign. The campaign asks new graduates to contribute to the Alumni Association Scholarship Fund, which provides scholarships for students with financial need and helps ensure they stay enrolled and earn their degrees.

When graduates make a gift of $25 or more to the Pay It Forward campaign, they receive a purple honor cord to identify themselves as a contributing member of the Excelsior College Alumni Association. Nearly half of the 418 graduates attending Commencement 2017 made a gift on Commencement day.

“Paying it forward to current students is similar to helping a family member with their college expense. I have noticed over the years that there is a strong desire with our alumni to see others succeed.” –Dwayn Hanford

Dwayn Hanford, the president of the Alumni Leadership Council, says the Excelsior family atmosphere makes this campaign so successful. “Excelsior graduates are proud of our Excelsior family and overwhelmingly thankful for the opportunities they have received after earning their degree,” he says. “Paying it forward to current students is similar to helping a family member with their college expense. I have noticed over the years that there is a strong desire with our alumni to see others succeed.”

The participation of graduates at Commencement boosted the number of alumni donors to more than 950 for the 12 months ending July 2017. Alumni giving for that period totaled more than $116,000 to support student scholarships and resources.

Overall, Excelsior awarded 1,021 scholarships to students with financial need during the 2016–2017 academic year.

Helen Benjamin Becomes Chair of the Board of Trustees

Posted on by Excelsior Staff

In January 2018, Helen Benjamin was elected by her peers to serve as the chair of the Excelsior College Board of Trustees. The first woman to serve as board chair, she brings a wealth of knowledge, deep experience, and commitment to higher education and student success to the position.

Benjamin retired as chancellor of the Contra Costa Community College District in Martinez, California, in December 2016 after serving as chancellor for more than 11 years. Before that, she held a variety of senior-level positions in the district since 1990. She had been an educator in secondary and higher education for more than 44 years. Benjamin started her career as a high school teacher in Dallas, Texas, and then was an assistant professor at Bishop College in Texas. She was with the Dallas County Community College District for 22 years, including four years as a dean.

She joined the Excelsior College Board of Trustees in 2011. “Excelsior’s mission of serving historically underserved adult learners no matter where they are academically or geographically resonated very strongly with me because of my own educational experiences,” says Benjamin. “Excelsior makes a huge difference in the lives of so many students, and I enjoy being a part of an institution with such an important mission. One of my goals as an educator has always been to support underserved students because I identify with them, having attended segregated schools through my years as an undergraduate student.”

She says she is honored to have been selected to chair the Board of Trustees and intends to continue the leadership work of those who have served in the position before her to ensure Excelsior remains true to its mission.

In addition to her work with Excelsior, Benjamin serves as a member of the Texas Woman’s University Foundation Board and as a volunteer at the African American Museum in Dallas. President of HSV Consulting Inc., she is a consultant to community colleges in a variety of areas.

“Excelsior makes a huge difference in the lives of so many students, and I enjoy being a part of an institution with such an important mission.” –Helen Benjamin

Benjamin maintains an active role in a variety of professional and community organizations, many committed to increasing opportunities for students of color and increasing access to education for economically disadvantaged individuals. She worked tirelessly for the improvement of community and junior colleges and served as president of the California Community Colleges CEOs, as president of the board of the Community College League of California, and as chair of the California Promise Leadership Team. She holds the distinction of being the first community college representative appointed by Congress to the Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance. Benjamin served with distinction as convener of the Presidents’ Round Table of Community College African American CEOs and on the Board of Directors of the American Association of Community Colleges.

Known as a champion for student success, Benjamin has written on the topic, has delivered many presentations, and has been acknowledged for her efforts. She co-authored, with Darroch Young, “Harvest from the Vineyard: Lessons Learned from the Vineyard Symposiums” (2016) and contributed to “The Chocolate Truth: An Anthology of Perspectives from Community College CEOs” (2012). She was among 20 community college CEOs from throughout the United States to participate in the first White House Summit on community colleges held by President Barack Obama.

Benjamin earned a Bachelor of Science in English from Bishop College where she graduated magna cum laude, and earned a MEd in supervision and reading and a PhD in English from Texas Woman’s University in Denton, Texas.

 

Partners on This Journey

Posted on by James Baldwin

For 47 years, Excelsior College has served as a model for how innovative institutions can deliver quality, affordable education, contributing to the realization of the fundamental American promise that anyone—regardless of social or economic circumstance—should be free to pursue their dreams.

As the College has evolved, so too has the world around us. Private and public institutions across the nation are grappling with how to fulfill their mission in the face of significant marketplace challenges, including a rapidly changing higher education environment, heightened competition, demographic changes, regulatory uncertainty, and a loss of government support.

Excelsior’s new strategic plan, unveiled in February, elevates our capacity to meet these challenges by building on our core strengths and creating a foundation for future growth and success through improvements to our academic programs, courses, and student services, all supported by dramatic improvements in technology.

Some enhancements will be easily identifiable to all students, such as a captivating new learning management system and the introduction of automated self-service options. Other changes will be difficult to discern but the cumulative effect will create a new, highly responsive, and fully automated student experience.

Our advisors, evaluators, and counselors will be empowered to identify and resolve student issues and problems. We will continue to recruit and retain high-quality faculty with deep expertise and rich teaching experience to foster robust learning communities that stimulate creativity, curiosity, and critical thought. We will elevate our program offerings, infusing them with writing across the curriculum, career-ready competencies, and skill-development opportunities to ensure all graduates are well-prepared to achieve their personal and career goals.

From inquiry to graduation, students will experience an exceptional level of service, personalized to their needs. For our students, Excelsior will be more than an institution. We will be a partner on one of life’s great journeys—the search for, and achievement of, self-actualization. 

A+ Tech for the Adult Student

Posted on by Caitlin Abram

Going to school as an adult has a way of transforming you into a modern-day magician. Juggling work, family, and life all while working on your degree requires new ways to make time, homework, and even dinner appear out of thin air!  Sometimes, however, even the most multitalented multitasker could use a little help.

How many times have you wished for a magic spell that could help you grocery shop, write that research paper, and remember to send your aunt a birthday card? While unfortunately Hogwarts doesn’t offer online degrees, technology isn’t too far off.  From apps that keep you focused, to clever tech for your kitchen, we’ve found four new ways technology has innovated to help you work smarter until science develops that magic wand!

  1. Distraction Destroyers
    We’re all guilty of sitting down at our computer with the best intention of working only to discover it’s an hour later and we’re 10 cat videos deep down a YouTube hole. Luckily there are apps that, with a little setup, can stop digital procrastination before it starts.Cold Turkey, StayFocusd, and LeechBlock are web browser extensions that allow you to block your choice of distracting websites for the certain amount of time you want to focus on work. Each app comes with smart options like redirecting an off-limit site back to something more scholarly or serving you a landing page with an inspirational quote instead when you visit Reddit in a moment of weakness. You can even program in short breaks to keep you motivated while you work. Best of all, the basic versions of all three are completely free.
  2. Smart Kitchen Tech
    We’ve heard the praises of the Instant Pot (the pressure cooker with a cult-like following), but there are a plethora of other upgrades available to your basic kitchen appliances designed to squeeze those precious extra minutes from your daily routine.The Gourmia WiFi-enabled coffee maker keeps you caffeinated without even having to leave your desk. This smart coffee pot lets you use voice commands to start brewing from wherever you are. Plus, the built-in bean grinder and programmable features makes sure you always have a fresh cup waiting during those all-nighters.

    The GE Smart Countertop Microwave Oven works with Alexa voice commands to allow you to instantly stop, start, and control your cooking. Taking things even further into the future, this microwave comes with “Scan-To-Cook” technology that reads the barcodes of most frozen foods and instantly programs cooking time accordingly, freeing you from the scourge of burned popcorn or icy-in-the-middle entrees.

  3. Household Schedule Heroes
    One of the most difficult things about going back to school is staying on top of your own class, homework, and exam schedules while also making sure the rest of your household keeps on track. Technology can be your saving grace to keep loved ones connected and organized.The Cozi Family Scheduler app brags that it “… organizes everyone’s schedules, activities, and appointments in one place that’s accessible anytime, anywhere.” The helpful color-coded calendar and programmable reminders keep your family on schedule and in the loop. Additional features like shopping lists, a meal planner, and a family journal help keep track of the details so you can keep track of your school work.

    If you’re looking for a true household command center (and have a few thousand dollars to burn) consider the Samsung Connected Touch Screen Family Hub™ Refrigerator. This fridge has a 21.5-inch screen tablet embedded in the door as well as three interior cameras that let you know how well stocked you are on your favorite items and alerts you to their expiration dates and nutritional facts. The WiFi-enabled screen that syncs with your family calendar lets you plan recipes with the food you have available and if you don’t have time to cook, lets you order from GrubHub via voice command.

  4. Academic All Stars
    You’ve just scheduled a pot of coffee with your phone, your distraction blocking app is activated, and now it’s time to study! While these last two innovations won’t guarantee you an A, they’ll certainly make it easier.

    Adult students have to be flexible and that often means getting homework or reading done wherever there’s a will and a WiFi connection. This makes having a portable, wireless power source like the Samsung Wireless Charging Pad The pad is small enough to carry in a bag or store in a car’s glove box. Simply place your QI-enabled phone or laptop on the pad and your device begins to charge without the hassle of cords and cables.The path to your degree is surely paved with reading, writing, and research. One of the most time-consuming parts of any writing assignment is making sure your sources are correctly cited. CiteThisForMe is a subscription service that helps you collect and organize sources and reading materials on any device. CiteThisForMe’s unique features allow you to cite as you write and can generate citations for a variety of source media in any commonly used style. For group projects, CiteThisForMe gives you a simple way to share research materials with your team and the plagiarism checker function compares your work against your source content to guard against any overzealous borrowing.

 

These innovations are just a sampling of the advancements available designed to streamline our lives with the magic of technology, but any adult student knows the real magic is as simple and as complicated as good old-fashioned drive and determination. Find out ways you can implement these clever hacks while enrolled in our liberal arts degree.

What’s your favorite technological life-hack?  Let us know on our Facebook page.

The Dangers of Negative Thinking and How to Master Positive Self-Talk

Posted on by Lisa Lavigna

Self-talk is our internal dialogue. Some call it the voice in our head. In their book, “Understanding Psychological Preparation for Sport: Theory and Practice of Elite Performers,” Lew Hardy, Graham Jones, and Daniel Gould define self-talk as a form of self-regulation that uses affirmations—deliberate automatic statements to help control thoughts, instruct, and motivate. Positive self-talk increases self-esteem. Scientific studies have shown self-talk positively effects performance, reduces stress, enhances persistence, and improves learning.

What is Negative Self-Talk?

Every person has some form of self-talk, and it can be positive or negative. Unfortunately, most of our self-talk is negative—what is called our inner critic. In his article in the American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy, S.J. White says, “The human mind seems to focus on the negative, and we tend to berate ourselves in ways we would never tolerate from a boss, spouse, or anyone else.” Have you ever heard your inner voice say:

  • I can’t do this
  • I am going to fail
  • What a loser
  • Idiot

Negative self-talk is dangerous. Negative thoughts can affect our behavior and performance, so it is important that we focus instead on the positive. One way to silence our inner critic and to empower our self is through affirmations, like repeating, “I am improving every day” or “I did my best.”

What is Positive Self-Talk?

Positive self-talk can be motivational or instructional. Motivational self-talk involves statements that facilitate performance by increasing effort and boosting self-confidence and mood. Instructional self-talk involves affirmations intended to enhance performance. During the 2002 Wimbledon ladies’ singles tennis final between the Williams sisters, Serena Williams (who won) used hand-written notes as affirmations between games. As reported in The Guardian, Williams said these “flash cards” were “reminders to think about cues such as ‘hit in front’ or ‘stay low’ during the match.”

Athletes are taught to use self-talk to motivate themselves and improve their performance. Have you heard self-talk from athletes? Maybe “let’s go,” “stay calm,” or “focus on the ball.” Some do it aloud, but it doesn’t have to be aloud. Researchers found that self-talk is one of the strongest predictors of successful Olympic performance among U.S. athletes. Athletes and students who listen to their inner critic lose or fail more. Those who use positive self-talk consistently improve their performance significantly more than counterparts who use negative self-talk. We want to focus on eliminating negative self-talk and practice using positive self-talk.

Here are some steps for developing a positive self-talk habit:

  1. Know thyself. Find your strengths. Analyze your thoughts. What psyches you out? What motivates you? What are your strengths?
  2. Choose a mantra: To get started, choose one of two simple affirmations, such as “I am college material,” “I can do this,” or another simple, positive phrase you can repeat over and over.
  3. Practice: Once you have developed the habit of repeating this phrase to the point where it is automatic, start expanding the dialogue so that you have familiar and comfortable statements for a variety of situations. For example, “I’ve done this before and it’s doable.”
  4. Create a positive mental image or visualization: The phrases and words you choose should be those that you can immediately call up and create a visual picture of yourself doing exactly what you say. The image along with the words is a powerful combination that creates a positive message tied to a belief. Picture yourself studying as you repeat “I am a good student.”
  5. Silence your inner critic. Don’t defeat yourself or argue for your limitations. Students can be particularly hard on themselves, analyzing every moment, being too sensitive to “mistakes” they might have made, etc. Remember, when you live inside your head, your head is the only information you’re getting– and it can be wrong. Just because you feel something, doesn’t make it true. When the inner critic talks, replace the damaging self-talk with a positive statement.
  1. Focus on your successes. What have you done well? What are three strengths you can focus on? The more you know about your strengths, the less you’ll be tempted to focus on your challenges.
  2. Keep repeating your affirmations. I had one taped to my steering wheel for a long time to practice.

Self-talk can help you as a student reduce stress and improve your study habits. Why not tape an affirmation like “I am a successful college student” or “I can ace this class” to your computer monitor?

 

Why Diversity in Nursing Matters

Posted on by Caitlin Abram

In 2017, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated that ethnic and racial minority groups accounted for more than one- third of the country’s population and projected the U.S. will become a plurality nation by 2048. This means that no one ethnic or racial group will make up the majority of the population. With the country’s makeup growing ever more diverse, it’s especially important to make sure the first line of care in exam rooms represents the demographics of America’s waiting rooms.

As the country ages and national spending on health care increases, the industry continues to expand far faster than average and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a growth of more than 15 percent by 2026. With the need for skilled nurses increasing exponentially, it’s going to be the industry’s challenge to make sure those new jobs are filled by as diverse a workforce as possible.

How do nursing demographics currently rank? The National Council of State Boards of Nursing’s 2017 Workforce Survey shows that nurses from minority backgrounds make up 19.1 percent of the workforce and male nurses comprise 9 percent. While these diversifying statistics are encouraging in moving nursing beyond its reputation as a majority white and female profession, the health care industry needs to continue to attract, retain, and promote a diverse nursing staff to keep pace with equal representation. Equally important to consider is that while many studies quantify diversity in terms of racial percentages, measures of diversity would do well to expand to include gender, socioeconomic background, and LGBTQ identification as well.

Why Diversity in Nursing is Important

  • Nurses who share a cultural background and experience with their patients are better able to communicate and advocate for their care.
  • Patients are better participants in their own care when they are able interact with health care providers with whom they feel more comfortable communicating their symptoms and concerns.
  • When nursing staff more accurately represent the communities they serve, it helps eliminate health disparities among underserved populations.
  • A diverse nursing staff can influence policy and decision-making within their institutions to better serve minority populations.
  • Increasing diversity in nursing can have the added trickle-up benefit of increasing diversity in nurse educators and research staff as nurses advance through the health care system.

With all-important health outcomes on the line, health care organizations are eager to recruit and retain nurses from traditionally under-represented groups, with nurses possessing a bachelor’s degree being in especially high demand. Since these under-represented populations are often at a disadvantage for educational opportunities, colleges and universities are exploring recruitment strategies that speak to those populations as well as incentives like flexible course structures and hands-on career advisement. Many large health care organizations have implemented internal committees aimed at nurturing diversity within their staff and are increasingly looking at outside partnerships with educational institutions to promote nursing as an occupation to a wider population.

Independent associations such as the National Black Nurses Association, the National Association of Hispanic Nurses, the American Association for Men in Nursing, Black Nurses Rock, and others are also working to support nurses currently in the field with mentorships, continuing education opportunities, and professional networking events.

The entire health care industry is healthier when a concerted effort is made to increase diversity. Are you ready to add your unique voice? Learn more about Excelsior’s associate, bachelor’s, master’s in nursing programs, including a dual nursing degree.

 

118 Excelsior College Employees Volunteer During One Week (April 8–12) Impacting 17 Community Projects

Posted on by Alicia Jacobs

Excelsior College encourages volunteerism throughout the year and will hold the 4th Annual Excelsior Cares Volunteer Week April 8–12, 2019. A total of 118 employees plan to volunteer 260 hours by assisting on 17 community projects during the workday throughout the Capital Region and beyond.

“We are excited about the impact we make from lending time and talent to so many worthy causes,” says Alicia Jacobs, Excelsior Cares Volunteer Week organizer. “This annual event is fun for our employees. They learn firsthand about services right in our backyard while working with colleagues to make a difference.” 2019 community projects include sorting, packing, cleaning, painting, light construction, seeding, planting, making phone calls, promoting fundraising events, assisting with mailings, cooking for families, creating thank you stars from retired American Flags, and helping at an animal shelter.

Excelsior Cares Volunteer Week in Albany has grown from 7 projects in 2016 with 65 employees participating to 17 projects in 2019 with 118 employees participating. April is National Volunteer Month with National Volunteer Week celebrated April 7–13. Excelsior plans its volunteer week to coincide with National Volunteer Week.

This year, Excelsior College also provides an opportunity for employees, their families, and friends to encourage reading and raise money during April 1–May 8 by supporting the Read for Ronald McDonald House Program from the comfort of home.

The 2019 Excelsior Cares Volunteer Week will feature projects at various locations:

Monday, April 8

Cystic Fibrosis Foundation – Northeastern New York

Veterans Miracle Center (Jezreel International) in Albany

Tuesday, April 9

Refugee and Immigrant Support Services of Emmaus

Girl Scouts of NENY in Albany

Rebuilding Together Saratoga County

Wednesday, April 10

The Patroon Land Farm (connected to Regional Food Bank)

Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Capital Region

Mohawk Hudson Humane Society

Girl Scouts of NENY in Albany

South End Children’s Café

Thursday, April 11

Veterans Miracle Center (Jezreel International) in Albany

Stars for our Troops Inc.

Mohawk Hudson Humane Society

Friday, April 12

Crohns and Colitis Foundation

Alzheimer’s Association of Northeastern New York

Please contact Alicia Jacobs at ajacobs@excelsior.edu to set up interviews or photo opportunities.

O: (518) 464-8531

C: (518) 410-4624

 

ABOUT EXCELSIOR COLLEGE

Excelsior College (excelsior.edu) is a regionally 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.

Exceeding His Potential: Jeremy Lampley

Posted on by Jenna Kerwin

Jeremy Lampley has always been motivated to accomplish his goals. So far, he’s marked a lot off his list: joining the military, earning two—soon to be three—degrees with Excelsior College and starting the process to pursue a fourth.

Originally from St. Louis, MO, Lampley attended the University of Missouri-Columbia where he studied Sports Venue Management as a student athlete, but decided the traditional college route wasn’t for him. In 2012 he joined the U.S. Navy and in 2014 and 2015 he was deployed to serve in the AFRICOM tours.

While in service, Lampley heard about Excelsior’s online learning model from his mentor and thought it was right for him. He enrolled in the Associate in Applied Science and Administrative/Management Studies program in 2014 and earned his degree the following year. But he wasn’t finished. The very same August, in 2015, Lampley began working toward his bachelor’s and in 2016, he earned a Bachelor of Professional Studies– Business and Management. Lampley says of the experience at Excelsior College, “A small school like Excelsior showed me that if you want anything bad enough, you’ll have to work day and night for it.”

Lampley’s academic advisor was with him every step of the way, too, he says. “It was kind of like having a champion guide, prepping you for the greatest success,” he says of the one-on-one support he received. It helped that Lampley’s academic advisor was a recent graduate of the Master’s of Science in Management degree program and could relate to what he was going through. When Lampley finished his bachelor’s degree, she was the first person he called to say he was ready to go for his master’s.

Lampley made a personal goal to earn a 4.0 GPA for his master’s in management degree. It was difficult, he says, especially since the courses were hard and sometimes he bumped heads with the faculty. Now he realizes they helped him persevere. “They truly pushed me; they told me to write better, to think more critically…they were forcing me to be the best version of me, and so I did just that. I’ll never forget that motivational push,” he says. He also notes the courses opened his eyes and changed his perspective on the norm: “Every course was different and readjusted my mindset on a lot of things happening in HR that is overdue for change.”

During the year he spent pursuing his master’s degree, Lampley took the opportunity to volunteer instead of working full-time. He has helped out at his church, worked on peoples’ cars, and lent a hand in his community. This has helped him stay humbled and focused on his school work, but the real support and source of focus for Lampley, he says, has been the unwavering support of his girlfriend. Without her, he says he doesn’t think he could have made it through the courses.

His time spent in his master’s classes also prepared him for his next big step. The work he put into his papers, and interacting with classmates and faculty on the discussion boards prepared him for his interview with law enforcement. “Do not get me wrong, law enforcement is very intimidating; however, BUS 523 is more intimidating. It’s just something about having a 25-page paper due by Sunday,” he jokes, recalling the experiences of writing a master’s paper and interviewing for his next career. It has paid off, though; this year, Lampley will be in a new law enforcement field serving his country again.

He says if it wasn’t for this time in the military, he wouldn’t be as confident to have a badge and when he thinks about his long-term prospects for career growth, he thinks his master’s degree will be a plus.

Lampley says servicemembers have to think ahead to what’s after the military. That’s exactly what he did. Now, he is encouraging other servicemembers to pursue their degrees, too. “I tell every servicemember I come across that your wildest dreams are possible but it’s up to you to make them come to life,” he says and notes that education is not to be wasted. He says, “It may not be for everyone, but everyone that tries will learn something.”

Lampley believes places like Excelsior help people go after their education with confidence. “Excelsior is building [up] people to live out their dreams, I kid you not; every advisor, every financial aid representative is there to help you on the path of completion of your schooling,” he says. He notes, though, that it’s important to remember why you’re on your journey; your “why” is critical in what you do. Lampley says his why is, “I was put on this earth to fulfill a purpose that only I can fulfill, to serve and shine my light as brightly as possible” and he is determined to show the world just what he has to offer.