Granite State College

I just got back from a vacation to the beach and I'm so glad I was able to take my GSC studies with me! Both of my classes are online this semester, and I was able to work on papers while I was relaxing. I have had to miss classes before for vacation and it really impacts the momentum and how you learn. It was very convenient to take my computer and check-in while away from home, keeping me from getting behind -  just another reason I enjoy online courses.

Being in my third online class, I've noticed different teaching styles and class layouts in the moodle site. I enjoy trying each one and continue learning more about my online learning preferences. I enjoy meeting new people from all over the state in different places and social exposures - it really adds great insight into life in other parts of the state. I'm happy to say I've already completed a six-week intensive class online this semester and am one step closer to earning my bachelor's degree! Yay! I can't believe how fast these last few classes have flown by.

I recieved my Granite State College summer catalog in the mail the other day - can't wait to register for classes for next semester. Bring on summer!!!!! :)

Spring has sprung -  I am so ready to start my garden, work on my flower beds, and enjoy some bike rides. School will be out soon for the kids in the neighborhood - they will be playing games, riding bikes, and enjoying time off from school.  I remember being a youngster and enjoying summer so much - I could hardly wait till that last day of school each year. I remember going to school in the summer when I attended college. In fact, that was my favorite semester when I went to Granite State College. I loved sitting on my back porch on Sunday mornings, writing papers for school while sipping on a cool glass of lemonade.  There were a few students in my previous classes that never took classes in the summer - they said they needed a break. I thought it was easier to stay in the groove, stick to a routine, and keep learning.

If having a break in the summer is what you think you want to do, think again. You may be happy you stayed in a routine when the fall semester starts! Registration is open at GSC - summer classes begin July 6! Call, fax., or register online!

Winter semester at GSC is over - YAYYYYYYYYY! All my hard work is paying off and I'm now one step closer to having my degree in-hand. After taking an online class for the first time this semester, I'm happy to say I loved it. I was always skeptical about how I would do with it, and it turns out to be a lot easier and better for my schedule than I thought. I'm now taking both of my classes online this (spring) semester. If you're thinking of applying to Granite State College, definitely look at the online programs! With so many options to choose from, it's a great way to incorporate schooling into your life.

It's not always easy to stay focused on school work - especially with warm weather right around the corner! I'm looking forward to finishing my courses AND enjoying time outside - taking classes online has really paved the way for that, an option I never took advantage of before. I'm quite excited for this oppertunity! I have a vacation booked in May and will simply take my computer with me and not miss anything in my class while I'm on the beach - WIN WIN!! Warm weather, new scenery, flowers, and courses. So much to look forward to- :)

We are DELIGHTED to share that Faith Greene has been named Middle School Special Educator of the year!

Faith earned her initial teaching certification in General Special Education through our School of Education and went on to achieve an advanced endorsement in Learning Disabilities.

This June, Faith will officially be honored at the New Hampshire Excellence in Education Awards.

Faith was on the front cover of Tuesday's (April 2)  Concord Monitor and you can congratulate her in the comments section of their website!

Photo source:  Alexander Cohn, Concord Monitor.

If you're in the Nashua area on Tuesday, April 2nd  -  Check out the "Light It Up Blue"  event at Nashua Communtiy College!

At 7 p.m. on the campus' front long, the exterior of NCC will be illuminated in blue lights and custom projection images. Several speakers, including NCC's President Lucille Jordan, will join the event line-up in recognition of Autism Awareness.

At Granite State College, we have a wide network of special education teachers, including faculty members, alumni, and future educators in our Special Education Teacher Certification programs. This month, we'll celebrate the good work that they do and their efforts to raise autism awareness each and everyday!

To learn more about becoming a teacher, get in touch with our School of Education to discuss your career possibilities!

For someone who's going for a degree in Human Services, I've taken my fair share of social science and psychology classes. I just finished "Stress and the Family" this winter and have to admit, "Nutrition Concepts and Contraversies" ranks as one of my favoriate classes during my time at Grante State College. This class was a blast and taught me a lot more than I thought it would. Not only did I learn a lot about nutrition, but a lot about myself as well. We had a project on our personal food intake that really helped me learn about my own eating habitts and the little things I can do to eat better - ultimately helping prevent health problems later in life. During our last class, it was neat to see all the topics people chose for their presentations - simple things can affect you in big ways; organic farming can help the world. We enjoyed a delicious and healthy feast as well - what a fun way to end the semester! Science was never my favorite subject, so enjoying this class as much as I did really surprised me. I love learning more about myself throughout this educational journey!

Our students juggle.

70% are working full-time and 18% have part-time employment. For most students, having a steady and reliable job is the cornerstone of making everything work - but in today's economy, it's never easy.

This is why we are thrilled to invite our students to the New Hampshire College & University Council's (NHCUC) Job Fair!

This fair is *exclusively* presented to students in New Hampshire who attend an institution that is a member of NHCUC, like Granite State College!

If you're on the job hunt or looking for a new opportunity, this is an AWESOME place to start - there will be over 50 employers present and ready to hire!

Here are the details:

This is my second post and I would like to say that I am very much looking forward to pursuing my dream of becoming a teacher. I have finally applied and have been accepted to Granite State College ( just waiting for transcripts to come in). As I think about my future career as a teacher, I will utilize my experiences at GSC to become better prepared to enter the classroom of the 21st Century. After researching and learning more about GSC, I am more excited to begin my courses so that I can finally make my goal of becoming a teacher a reality. Today I was talking with a friend of mine and I had mentioned GSC - she told me that she had graduated from the college with her associate and bachelor's degrees, and that I would really enjoy my courses and the learning experience. I would like to say THANK YOU GSC for helping me continue my educational journey, and for being so helpful and kind throughout the admissions process. A special thanks to Doug Cooper, Jodi Quinn, and Cara Newton for being so friendly, kind , and caring.

Name: Dan DeQuoy
Graduated: 2015
Location: Manchester/Concord
Degree: B.A. Individual Studies English Language Arts with teacher certification in Elementary/General Special Education

With more than 12" of new snow Tuesday, it's hard to believe that Wednesday was the first official day of spring! What a nice treat so close to the end of the semeter - to get a snow day and catch up on all the homework I have for the last week of classes at Granite State College. What better way to motiviate you to write papers than be stuck inside all day! The day also gave me extra time for my online class. I really enjoy the online class experience and look forward to taking another one next semester. I find it helps me balance my time beween working two jobs, living my life, and not having to be in a certain place for 3.5 hours. So much to look forward to next month - Espcially a new semester :)

Granite State College will soon reach a fun milestone - our first 1,000 Likes on Facebook!

Once we reach our goal, we'll have a few surprises in store for those who helped make it happen.

Everyone who likes our page will be automatically entered into a drawing. Our top prize is a Kindle Touch and 10 runners-up will receive a grab bag with GSC gear & gifts!

As a bonus, anyone who "SHARES" our page on their own timeline will receive an additional entry into our drawing.

Note: To share our facebook page, visit facebook.com/GraniteStateCollege. Select the pull-down menu next to the like button. Click on Share. Write your accompanying post - voila!

Thank you for helping us hit 1,000 likes - we appreciate it!

Lifelong learning is a concept that GSC takes seriously - It doesn't start or end with your degree!

The OLLI program at Granite State College is a perfect example.

OLLI offers affordable, enriching classes for people over 50. The program operates out of GSC's campus locations and has a broad network throughout the state!

Tessa McDonnell, GSC's Dean of Students and External Engagement, will be featured on "Money Basics" on WTPL (107.7 FM) from 12-1 p.m. on Tues. March 12th to share more about the OLLI program!

Tune in to learn more and be sure to check out their website!

Exploring the history of fashion:

Learning the art of Japanese flower arrangement:

Discovering the wonders of the universe:

It's hard to believe, but the winter semester at Granite State College is almost over and crunch time is here - so many papers and projects due in the next few weeks! Spring semester is almost here, yet we're still getting snow stormsI just hope we don't have any more snow days so that we can end this semester on time! My "free time" is being spent finishing up these assignments and hoping that my final grades reflect of all my hard work over the last 12 weeks. Don't forget to contact an academic advisor and register for classes - classes begin April 6! I'm already signed up, so I say bring it on GSC! :)

I am so lucky to have such an amazing academic advisor at Granite State College. She reaches out to me when it's registration time, and always knows the best solutions for my questions and best academic plan for me. I'm lucky to have known my coach my whole life, as I grew up with her daughter - but I know that even if I had just met her, I would be treated with the same respect, patience, and guidance. I'm always able to get right in and meet with her no matter what. She's been there since the beginning of my academic career at Granite State College, and I couldn't have made it this far on my educational journey without all she's done. I really feel blessed knowing that not only my advisor, but all the staff at GSC are always so friendly and ready to help in any way possible - it really takes so much stress out of the leg work that goes along with college. It's not always the teachers that have an impact on us at school, it's the staff that really work so well as a team to make Granite State College and its students so successful.

I love to travel, always have. I travel so much that my friend at Granite State College never knew where I was at any single time. She would call and say, "where are you" every time we talked. Inevitably, I was in another state or city checking out the stores and sites. I would travel on weekends to visit new cities and towns in the area, especially if I was new to the area. There was no limit to the ground I would cover when I was behind the wheel of my car or on my bike. I also love history, so often found myself in museums. I enjoy seeing new art, visiting new knitting shops, and talking to people at various stores. Traveling is an outing for me, and my kind of adventure - I don't think I will ever stop.

This weekend, I'm traveling to see my daughter in Greenville, South Carolina. That is the very place I finished my online degree with Granite State College. I truly enjoyed going to school and online learning. I was never limited to what courses I could take - GSC offers so many options! Online learning is so convenient, even when you are a traveler. I was initially worried about taking a math class online, but the teacher was great and there were so many resources availabe for students to use. If you like to travel and you're looking to further your education, I highly recommend online learning.

If you are planning a move, a trip, or just wanting to try college, check out Granite State College and their online learning curriculum..... I think you will agree, it works!!

It's hard to believe that it's already half way through the winter semester at GSC - time to make another appoinment with my academic advisor and look at signing up for classes for spring! The classes I'm currently taking are pretty interesting so far - looking forward to completing quite a few projects due in the next few weeks. I'm also doing a self-analysis on my food intake for my science class - Nutrition Concepts and Contraversies. I'm really enjoying learning about myself and health related things that affect us all. It's crazy how much you don't think about when you eat. I'm looking forward to seeing how some of these projects turn out, and what great courses I have to look forward to in the spring :)

I am a student at GSC and love so many things! I love how easy it was to matriculate in - everyone was very helpful, especially transferring all my credits. I also love how many semesters they offer - winter, spring, summer, and fall.- not many colleges can offer that. Most of all, I love that I am considered a full time student with two classes, as they are 4 credits each. This is very helpful for me as I work full time and, for my Pell Grant to kick in fully, I needed to be a full time student. I am very proud to say that on June 2 I will graduate from GSC!

- Donna

In honor of celebrating the college's 40th anniversary, the million dollar topic of discussion has become, "What I love about Granite State College." It's amazing to see the answers that people have come up with, and the positive impact Granite State College is having on so many lives. If you get a chance to ask someone, read a sign on one of the campuses, or look online, you will see all the reasons why Granite State College is so successful. Not to mention I got a free t-shirt just for saying why I love GSC. Here's to another 40 years of changing lives :)

As an older, non-traditional college student, I have had the opportunity to attend several different colleges throughout my life. During the last couple of months, I have been reflecting on who I am and where I want to be in the next 5-10 years in order to really formulate my goals/plans for a better future with a degree which would bring deep innner satisfaction to me. As a part of this process, I made an appointment to speak with Jodi Quinn, a new academic coach at GSC who has gone above and beyond to help me focus on my career goals and actually begin the application process. Although I am not a student at GSC, Jodi, Doug Cooper, Bonnie, and other staff have always greeted me with a pleasant hello and personal greeting - and to me, that is very impressive. My ultimate goal is to obtain certification for elementary/special education and, with the assistance of Jodi and Doug, I feel that I can finally reach for the stars and make my dream a reality. I may be an older student, but I always tell others that slow and steady wins the race. As I write out my thoughts and ideas, the thought of embarking on a new learning journey will bring forth a new beginning for all who seek to pursue knowledge and learning in order to make our world a better place.

- Dan

I love knowing that whenever I need help, I know I can count on the staff at Granite State College - they have always been there for me. One person in particular has not only gone above and beyond, but she has never made it seem like I am a nuisance. I don't know how I'd get through all my classes without her help. It is definitely reassuring.

- Kathy

I have been a part of Granite State College since 2005. I first obtained my bachelor's degree and then went on for teacher certification. GSC has prepared me for my new teacher career. I have a job teaching kindergarten and was able to do this while working full time. The faculty and staff are helpful and understand the demands of the working student yet they provide an amazing education. I loved it so much that my sons now attend GSC on the GI Bill.

- Billi