December 2005
 
 
Distance Learning Helps a Soldier Get His Degree -
And Get Ahead

At the Army Reserve 90th Regional Readiness Command Workshop, Thursday, November 17th was a big day for Sergeant First Class James Stasiak. After giving a presentation on Professional Soldier Development, he was honored with the Career Counselor of the 4th Quarter, 2005 award. But, the highlight of his day came when he received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration during a diploma presentation by Valerie Beall, the National Director of Business Development for Grantham University. When SFC Stasiak received his diploma, he was overwhelmed with a sense of accomplishment and pride for being recognized with rounds of applause from his peers. He said, “Walking up on that stage, I felt like I was walking on a cloud. Words cannot express the joy, the relief, the accomplishment, the satisfaction that I felt. I did it!”

SFC Stasiak (left) pictured with Area Leader and fellow Grantham student, Master Sergeant Kenneth Dillard. SFC Stasiak (left) pictured with Valerie Beall, Grantham’s National Director of Business Development.

SFC Stasiak is the first in his family to earn a bachelor’s degree. He never thought that he would attend college; he said, “I vowed after graduating from high school that I would never go to school again.” But, all of that changed when he joined the military and decided to make a career out of it. “I realized I had to have a civilian education if I wanted to compete with my peers for promotion. So, I made it a goal to get a degree.”

SFC Stasiak has been taking college classes since 1991, when he was in a rapid deployment unit at Fort Bragg. Every time he enrolled for a semester, he would be deployed before he could finish. “I knew that I wanted a degree, but military life sometimes makes it hard to accomplish that,” he said. “I was able to accumulate a lot of semester hours, but did not have a degree to show for my diligence.”

In 2001, when SFC Stasiak was assigned to Fayetteville, AR, home of the University of Arkansas, he looked into their programs, as well as the local community college. He said, “I was really concerned about being able to commit to another demanding schedule by attending night classes.”

A year later, a close friend mentioned Grantham University, and he decided to do some research. “After browsing the Web site and checking out how the program works, I remember thinking ‘Wow, I can do that,’ so I gave it a shot,” he said. SFC Stasiak discovered that, “Distance learning really fit me; I was able to concentrate on my new assignment and at the same time set my own schedule when it came to coursework.”

SFC Stasiak reached his goal of earning his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Grantham University. He said, “The knowledge I gained through my studies has made me a better soldier, leader and counselor.” As a Career Counselor at the Leroy Pond Army Reserve Center in Fayetteville, AR, he added, “What better way is there to show other soldiers that the military education assistance programs work, and that there is a college ready to give them the opportunity?” Currently, four other soldiers assigned to Camp Robinson, AR, are Grantham students.

Now that SFC Stasiak has received his bachelor’s degree, he is reaching for a new goal; “I hope to begin classes again in 2006 and pursue my master’s degree through Grantham University.”

Congratulations from everyone at Grantham University!
  Test Prep Scams

Grantham University has learned that the Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES) and several of the national testing programs such as the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) and Chauncey Group International have received numerous complaints regarding test preparation companies selling highly questionable products and services.

Before you invest money into these testing programs, watch out for:

• Attempts to sell you prep services for many tests at once, with payment up front.
• Credit arrangements made with a company other than the one selling you the prep service.
• Direct sales contact at your home.
• Promises that you can receive college credit without enrolling in college.
• Book lists that include dictionaries or encyclopedias.

Prior to purchasing any test prep service, contact your Education Service Officer to ensure that you are working with a reputable company. Numerous free and low-cost test preparation alternatives are available either at your education center, installation library or through college textbook stores.

Students enrolling at Grantham University may receive credit for prior college coursework, military training, employer courses, and equivalency exams such as CLEP, DSST, and Challenge Tests in lieu of course and credit hour requirements. Credit is awarded on a course-by-course basis for classes with equivalent content and value as the corresponding Grantham course(s), and for which the student earned a grade of C or higher.

CLEP exams test a student’s knowledge of various subjects gained through coursework, independent study, cultural pursuits, travel, special interests, military service schools, and professional development. Grantham is guided by the credit recommendations of the American Council on Education (www.acenet.edu) in its evaluations of military training and testing-service examinations. A student must request an evaluation of college coursework prior to enrollment.

Students may also receive credit toward their degree program through Grantham’s Challenge Tests. Challenge Tests (C-Test) are designed for students who wish to demonstrate proficiency in a subject field based on experience gained from on-the-job training. It is tacitly assumed that this experiential training has not been applied to basic transfer credit evaluations through other methods such as: college transcripts, ACE recommendations, CLEP exams, etc.

To learn more about Grantham University’s transfer credit policies, visit: http://www.grantham.edu/admissions.htm.

 
  4 Ways to Balance Family and School
By Jamie Littlefield
Contributing Writer, About.com

Balancing school and family life can be a challenge, even for online learners. While many older adults choose to continue their education through the internet, they often find their study time interrupted by spouses and children who miss them and don’t understand the need for “alone time.” Here are a few suggestions for maintaining good relationships with those you love while studying online.

1. Set some ground rules for all parties. Chances are you’ll need some peace and quiet to get your work done. Setting specific times and posting a schedule on your office door (or kitchen fridge) can be a great way to form a common understanding and keep resentments from forming. Let your family know when you’ll be available and when they shouldn’t disturb you.

If you’re in an online chat meeting, for example, you may want to hang a “do not disturb” sign on the door. Let children know what instances are appropriate for interruption (a stuffed bear causing the toilet to overflow) and which are inappropriate (they have a sudden urge for ice-cream). This street goes both ways, however, and you’ll also need to set some ground rules for yourself. Be available to your family during your off-hours and give them the attention they need. Let them know that they can trust you to be available when you say you will, and they’ll be more willing to wait.

2. Don’t forget play time. Online courses can get intense at times, particularly if you’re enrolled in more than one. But, don’t get so caught up that you forget to have fun. If need be, set aside a “family night” to play games or find entertainment with your children or a “date night” to spend a little quality time with your spouse. You’ll get much needed relaxation and they’ll appreciate seeing you in a less stressful mood.

3. Be an example. If you have school-aged children, use your own studies to set an example for how they can succeed in their own classes. Try setting aside a study time each afternoon when you study along side your kids. Serve a nutritious snack (think smoothie and apples rather than green beans) and play relaxing music. Chances are they’ll mimic the study skills you model and their grades will benefit. Meanwhile, you’ll get a chance to complete your own studies while spending some time with your kids. It’s a win-win.

4. Involve your family in your learning. Don’t just slink away into the back room and come out, red-eyed and silent, after a few hours of intense studying. Let your family know you’re accomplishing something meaningful. If you discover something interesting, bring it up at the dinner table or discuss it while driving your kids to school. Let your spouse tag along on field trips to the art museum or city counsel. Chances are they’ll enjoy being involved in this part of your life and you’ll appreciate the chance to share it.
Scholarship Opportunities for Military Family Members
Scholarships for Military Children Program
The Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) and the Fisher House Foundation have teamed up again to offer educational scholarships to children of military families and retirees. The goal is to provide at least one $1,500 scholarship for each of DeCA’s 268 commissaries worldwide. Eligible applicants must be unmarried children under age 21 of active duty, Guard or Reserve, or military retiree families. Applicants may also range up to 23 years in age if they are enrolled in school. Applications can be picked up from any commissary beginning in mid-November and can be downloaded from www.militaryscholar.org.

American Patriot Scholarship Program
Prompted by the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, MOAA established the American Patriot Scholarship program for the sons and daughters of Uniformed Services personnel -- officers, enlisted personnel, Guard members, and reservists -- who have died in active service. The size and number of grants available to these students depends on how much MOAA raises each year. Each grant will be at least $2,500. To qualify for consideration, a student must be under the age of 24 and a child of a member of the uniformed services who died in active service. If such a child served in a Uniformed Service before completing college, however, his or her maximum age for eligibility will be increased by the number of years he or she so served, up to five years. For more information, visit: www.moaa.org.

Base/Post Scholarship
The Base/Post Scholarship, offered by the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) is a one-time $1,000 scholarship grant to 25 students. Only dependent sons and daughters of active duty officers and enlisted military personnel who are under the age of 24 are eligible to apply. This includes members of the drilling reserve and National Guard. Membership in MOAA is not a requirement for the Base/Post Scholarship. There is no GPA requirement for this program. Applications are due by March 1, 2006, and winners will be notified in May. For more information, visit: www.moaa.org.

 

Navy League Foundation’s Scholarship Program
The Navy League of the United States (NLUS) offers scholarships to children of sea going services. The Navy League Foundation has a total of 22 endowed, four-year, $10,000 scholarships. The Foundation also awards several one-year scholarships on behalf of other military and civilian foundations, and Navy League Councils across the United States provide additional scholarships to students and Sea Cadets in their cities and regions. For more information, visit: http://www.navyleague.org/scholarship/.

 

Navy Wives Club of America Scholarship Foundation
The Navy Wives Club of America (NWCA) Scholarship Foundation awards forty scholarships annually to children of enlisted personnel of the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard. For application information, visit: http://navywivesclubsofamerica.org/nwc/.

 

Fleet Reserve Association (FRA) Scholarship Program
FRA is proud to support America’s future leaders by awarding more than $80,000 annually in scholarships to deserving students. Awardees are selected based on financial need, academic standing, character and leadership qualities. FRA scholarships are awarded to FRA members, their spouses, children, and grandchildren. For membership information and scholarship applications, visit: www.fra.org/Content/FRA/
AboutFRA/Scholarships/

 


**These are just a few of the scholarships open to military family members. There are many more: several Marine Divisions sponsor scholarships, as does the submarine community and numerous other service-related organizations. Some of these awards are open to a relatively small group, so extend your search and apply for several different scholarships.
  Advance Your Career -
Motivation, Mentors and Networks
by Pat Boer, Monster.com Contributing Writer

Think passing out a few resumes and making some calls will advance your career? Think twice. Experts say the best way to advance is by having a trusted and powerful mentor. A mentor is a person who advises and coaches you, offers support and acts as your advocate. From the beginning, a mentor shows you the ropes, introduces you to the right people and points you in the right direction, suggesting training and professional development opportunities for career advancement. In short, a mentor works to ensure that you receive advantages for advancement. Credentials do open doors, but advancement requires more, including motivation and multiple networks.

Motivation is the toughest. Start by recognizing that you're in charge. You have skills and talents and like any professional, you need support -- lots of it. You need more than one person, too. Staying motivated over the long haul takes networks of people to tap. Online networking sites offer many valuable alternatives, whether you are looking for a mentor or want to be one. Through targeted searches, online profiles and direct introductions -- provided by Monster and aligned with your experience and expertise -- the opportunity for connections is endless. There are millions of professionals available that you can tap into any time.

Whether to relax, find assistance with projects, or gain career advice on promotions and raises, three types of networks will help you move forward.

Personal Networks
Family, friends and like-minded people whose eyes light up when they see you are all part of your personal network. These are the people who make you feel good or recharged when you're around them, who love you and who want to see you happy. Making time for your personal network is absolutely necessary for motivation.

Social Networks
These are networks of acquaintances you see less often. They are people you have fun with and see at parties, or people who enjoy similar hobbies such as working out, hiking, biking or going to the movies. If you're new in town, develop and expand your social networks by meeting people at places you enjoy or by taking continuing education classes or volunteering in your community.

Professional Networks
These are groups of people you meet even less often than social acquaintances. You see them at alumni gatherings, at professional meetings or in the workplace. Professional networks also include former coworkers, bosses, academic advisors and professors. Career counselors can also be part of your professional network as well as connections you make through online networking sites. Web sites allow you to reach millions of potential contacts you wouldn't otherwise meet. You can quickly get to know potential contacts online by viewing their profiles before you get in touch with them to see if their skills, background or experience match your needs. This ensures that you're not wasting time contacting people who have nothing to offer you, and to whom you have nothing to offer.

Although there are no guarantees for advancement, staying motivated and strengthening your personal, social and professional networks will earn you a positive reputation. Online, built-in feedback ratings help network members see the level and quality of another member's contributions in the community at a glance. If you begin to tap your networks and take action on your goals, you'll be motivated to move forward. If not, it may be time to see a career counselor for a review of your accomplishments and goals. You may realize, too, that making lateral moves or continuing your role at a deeper level is the best form of career advancement and personal reward.
 
  Military Spouse Career Center Adds New Search Option
If your service member has received new orders and your family is about to relocate, chances are you will be looking for a new job. The Military Spouse Career Center job search now offers you the ability to search for jobs in and around your next military installation. For more information, visit: http://jobsearch.spouse.military.com/base_search.asp.
 
  Grantham Sightings

Grantham University’s staff has been busy in the last month visiting bases, and attending education fairs and conferences. On November 16th, Marva Kemp, Grantham’s Military Liaison, was on hand at the Red Stone Arsenal in Huntsville, AL to pass out materials and answer questions from current and prospective students. Grantham’s National Director of Business Development, Valerie Beall, attended the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association’s (FLEOA) Annual Meeting and Exposition, in Tyson’s Corner, VA from November 3rd-5th, to present Grantham’s new Law Enforcement Scholarship program. Valerie also attended Ft. Detrick’s Education Fair on November 15th, where she talked with soldiers interested in attending Grantham University.

Keep your eyes peeled for Grantham’s staff, because they might be coming to your area soon.
 
This Month’s Online Learning Quote

“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”
~Eleanor Roosevelt~
 

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