Adult Education Service

Changing how we Educate

Wednesday, August 24, 2011 by Todd Leach

The Concord Monitor recently ran a story entitled "Changing the way we Educate" that profiled Granite State College and the unique ways in which we serve undergraduate and graduate students. The focus of the article was largely on how Granite State College balances business and academics, and how we are addressing a 48% cut in state appropriations (the largest cut ever made to the USNH appropriations). While the cut certainly impacts us, Granite State College has been very innovative this past year, launching a new BS in Health Care Management and developing our first masters degree (an MS in Project Management). We also streamlined our admissions processes, eliminated some fees, and adopted a "student-centered" approach that led to schedule improvements and the creation of student success teams.

Granite State College's innovations are leading to record enrollment levels for the college in spite of budgetary cuts. It is our ability to be responsive to student and employer needs that is becoming the college's hallmark. GSC has long been a leader in online education and today every degree the College offers is available entirely online, including our new MS in Project Management. For GSC, having our degrees available online is not enough, we have gone beyond that by building a top instructional design team that includes a media-rich specialist and adding greater support for online students through services such as online tutoring. We also provide our faculty with more tools than just the learning management system, one of the latest tools available to faculty allows them to create animated simulations.

Even with this expansion of online offerings and support, GSC has also continued to invest in technology and innovation at our state-wide campus centers. Our recent campus centers in Rochester, Manchester, and Littleton all offer an array of classroom technology, including wireless connectivity. More importantly, our innovations around curriculum are making higher education more accessible to adults and working professionals. We are launching fast-track programs this year that offer an accelerated and streamlined path to completing a bachelor degree.

State appropriations are certainly key to our ability to offer the best higher education value possible, but equally important is our ability to innovate. While appropriations may be down, innovation at GSC has never been higher.

Student Success Teams

Monday, July 18, 2011 by Jan Hodges

At all of our Granite State College campuses, we have recently implemented a new model for serving students on their path to degree completion. We have formed Student Success Teams at each of our campuses.   I am very excited about this because it provides students with even more support than they have previously enjoyed.

At the Conway NH college campus where I work, everyone is coming together to support our learners.  We have so many new options to make college learning easier!  We are offering a series of workshops, including writing and math labs, workshops on time management, organization....lots of different kinds of information to help students be more successful. These workshops are offered in a small group format, which allows us to support more students while fostering networking and relationship building.

Another exciting direction we are moving in is offering Career Advancement Services. We have always offered one-on-one career counseling, but we are expanding our programs and will soon have more to offer to students who need extensive career and life planning.

We are very unique amongst colleges with online classes in that we offer so many different kinds of learning supports. We have online 24/7 tutoring, "Smart Thinking" and online students who have access to one of our GSC Campuses, are also able to attend the live workshops.

Another exciting tool we offer is a degree auditing system called CAPP. Its available online, 24/7 and helps learners track their path toward an adult education diploma. CAPP shows students where transfer credits fit in, display grades and gpa information, and allows students to do a "What If" analysis that shows where their credits would fit in if they switch majors.

If you have a suggestion for workshops you would like to see to support your learning, please email me your suggestions at jan.hodges@granite.edu.

The story of John; a true lifelong learner

Tuesday, July 12, 2011 by Deidre Romeo

The inspiring story below is that of John, another ALA Scholarship Recpient for 2011. John is just one more example of the unique and diverse student population you will find within the classrooms or on the blackboards of Granite State College.

   My educational journey has encompassed self-learning for most of my life after high-school. My father passed away when I was in seventh-grade and I was a C+ student in a Catholic High School in Lawrence, MA. I began college in Maine intending to study Marine Biology but being a mediocre student I needed student loans to cover all of my expected expenses. I dropped out several weeks after the start for fear of mounting student loan debt. At eighteen I entered the workforce as a high-school graduate, married my wife in 1981 and began a family in 1983. As expected my job choices were very limited but I held a desire to enter the technology field. After much research I chose Sylvania Technical School and entered the Telecommunications Electronics program using student loans once again, but these were limited and controllable. Our first daughter, Bethany, was born with a heart defect and passed away after heart surgery at 7-days old. Our second daughter, Noelle, was born just over a year later in 1984 but was diagnosed with Muscular Dystrophy at 1-year. Her care was a significant part of our existence and it took a huge effort on my part to attend Sylvania Tech three days per week at night after my job to attend classes in addition to sacrificing that time away from my family, but it was for their benefit that I was educating myself to better position me for employment that provided a living wage and benefits that we so dearly needed for Noelle’s care. Just before I graduated in 1988 with a diploma I interviewed for an Information Technology position at Raytheon and because of the reputation of Sylvania Tech and my grades I was hired as a Data Communications Field Tech.

   Wentworth Institute of Technology purchased Sylvania Technical School before I completed my program so my diploma bore the Wentworth name. Because of this relationship Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston offered graduates of Sylvania/Wentworth Tech advance standing entry into an A.A.S. in Electronic Technology degree program. Raytheon’s tuition reimbursement benefits were significant enough to allow me to attend one course per semester at their Boston campus and continue my career college training. It took me five years from 1992 till 1997 to complete my associate degree. Five years of time and travel into Boston and precious time away from my family. Nights and weekends I worked at our kitchen table on study and research while my family patiently gave me the time I needed for my studies. My wife supported my endeavor by taking on additional care responsibilities for our daughter. I wanted to complete my associate degree so that I could advance my career, become a better provider, and show my growing daughter that education is important and is a lifelong endeavor. Noelle passed away on the second-to-last day of a wish trip to Disney on May 19, 1996. My life was shaken for months after that event. I did not attend the spring or summer semesters that year but eventually wanted to complete that degree for my daughter. Two more semesters and I was finally able to dedicate my degree to Noelle during graduation on May 18, 1997, one day short of the first anniversary of her death.

   Afterward I honestly didn’t have the drive to continue my education at Wentworth. Like many parents who have lost children I grieved by immersing myself in my work. I continued to attend annual technical training to hone my information technology skill-sets which made me a more valuable employee but every year that passed I still thought about completing my degree. After graduating Wentworth I worked with a recruiter from Boston in a job search. He informed me that he would not be able to even get me into some corporate doors for interviews without having at least a bachelor’s degree. Fortunately after interviewing at Lahey Clinic Medical Center they valued my technical skills more than my education and hired me as a Data Communications Engineer. Each year that followed I have given consideration to completing my adult college degree but talked myself out of it. Each year I thought, “if I had only begun last year I would almost be done”. Well after a close scrutiny and self-assessment a couple of years ago about my past, present, and future life and career I decided to take that first step to completing my B.S. I realized that as I grow older I am handicapped from further career growth without completing an adult college degree, B.S. After almost twenty-five years working in technical positions in the field of information technology I find myself desiring to move into a leadership/management position within my current field of healthcare IT.

   I began the next iteration of my education journey in the spring of 2009 with Granite State College. I discovered that the program for Applied Studies: Allied Health Services was tailor made to my career. I have almost twenty-five years of technical experience but I needed to round out my business skills that are so valued in industry. This B.S. will give me the necessary business skills with a slant toward the healthcare field that I currently work in, providing a targeted learning environment for me. I began this degree program intending to provide myself and my wife “career insurance” to update and round out my skills, make me a more valuable employee and insure my future ability to provide a home and life for the both of us. That goal has morphed over the course of the past two years, sparking my interest in pursuing an advanced degree after I complete my B.S. this spring at GSC. Plymouth State offers a M.B.A. in Healthcare Administration, an ideal advanced degree for my career plans to remain in healthcare.

   After spending over a decade caring for our daughter, Noelle, at home and in Boston Children’s Hospital I would never have imagined that I would be working in the healthcare field yet here I am. My education has been a struggle of work/life/family/financial balance yet we have accomplished much with the time we have had together. I dedicated my A.A.S. to my daughter, Noelle. I plan to dedicate my pending B.S. to my loving wife, Kathy, for her patient support during these past two years and God willing I will dedicate my future M.B.A. to everyone who has supported me and my family. We have a great deal of loving family and friends in our lives, some have been treated at Lahey Clinic, my employer, and at least one had his life saved at Lahey with a liver/kidney transplant. I am proud to dedicate my career to such an institution and hope that my continued education will allow me opportunities to serve in greater capacities. I plan to achieve my B.S. before I am fifty-years old. I still have between fifteen and twenty career years in front of me; I plan to contribute further to the success of Lahey Clinic’s service to our community, friends, and family. I may have started as a mediocre high-school student but I believe with time and continued commitment to the goals I set and achieve for my benefit and also for my wife I am gaining back the opportunities I missed in my youth. Two more semesters and I will have achieved this next goal while I plan yet further!

Please visit John's website to learn more about his personal accomplishments.

Amazing Weather

Tuesday, June 7, 2011 by Beth McKenna

Finally it seems that winter has left us behind and spring is giving way to summer. The flowers are in bloom and everyone wants to be outside. For me, that sunshine is also calling me to read a good book, whether in traditional book form, or on a computer screen.

Did you know that Granite State offers courses that allow you to experience the out of doors? There are science classes that allow you to travel to the Isles of Shoals. There are art classes that allow you to paint the landscape. These are some of the adult education services available to students at Granite State College.

The college also offers distance learning classes that would be perfect for you to get involved in while sitting in that warm spring sunshine. You can take online courses for adults at Granite State and enjoy the spring weather at the same time that you are studying science, math, behavioral science or early childhood education. So when you grab that good book and settle into the summer sunshine, grab a Granite State College catalog, and enjoy the weather.

A Tight Job Market

Wednesday, May 25, 2011 by Beth McKenna

Wouldn't it be nice to say, "I think I will be a teacher, or a scientist, or a writer," and then go out and get a job doing exactly what you want? The idea is nice, but the reality is often very different. You may know what you want to do but the jobs may not be there. Or, you are not sure what you want to do so you try a few things, but none of them seem just right. Unfortunately, with our economy the way it is, any job is difficult to obtain, and even more difficult without the proper education.

This is where Granite State College comes in. Did you realize you could take courses at Granite State while still earning money at that job that isn't quite right? Courses are offered at night, on weekends, or totally on line for you to do whenever your schedule permits. You could take courses in early childhood or elementary education, math, or behavioral sciences, to name a few. Granite State offers assistance in planning for your future job. They can help you figure out what that perfect job might be, and what training you would need to get there. Granite State College offers affordable college study without giving up your present income.

The job market is tough right now so if you are thinking of starting or changing a career, get the adult education services you need to guide you in that direction. Check out the courses offered at Granite State and beat that tight job market.

Computer Issues

Monday, March 28, 2011 by Maria Bauer

There's nothing more frustrating and nerve-wracking then your computer Internet connections giving you problems when you are trying to make a deadline for your online adult education classes. It can never be the days when you know you have a few days to submit an assignment: no, no... it's always on Sunday starting at 6pm, and it's the end of the module (which means nothing can be submitted after Sunday midnight), and you can spend HOURS trying to get your computer working and when it does, it is now Monday morning.

So what can you do about this? Fortunately, everyone in the Granite State College system are very understanding, and will help you in any way they can. Whether that means going to the college and using their computers, or working with your teacher(s) explaining the situation. My experience has shown me time and time again that the teachers don't want to see you fail: they genuinely want you to do your best and pass the class. And for those who participate and put in the effort, they will help you in any way they can.

In some respect, high school was harder than college.

I recently had some *very* annoying Internet issues, and I was very touched at how the faculty helped me. Which got me thinking about other technical issues I have had in the past. Any time I had a question about a form that adult Financial Aid sent me, or any letter about my schooling, I can call them up, or stop over at my home base (the Concord NH college campus), and they will take the time to answer any questions that I have. They are there to help make this process easier for us; including helping us with forms and/or submitting grant requests, etc. It's a true example of adult education services.

Everyone needs help at one time or another, and I will never forget all of the hands that have been and are reaching out to help. As corny as it sounds: Granite State College is a family. No one is excluded. Everyone knows your name, and it has that true feeling of "home" away from home.

Goals

Wednesday, March 23, 2011 by Maria Bauer

AH SPRING IS HERE! Although, those snowflakes the size of golf balls was weird way of welcoming us to spring.

The beginning of spring is my favorite time, especially after a long winter like this one! There's that feeling (spring fever?) that you feel when spring is on its way. There's this sense of relief and feeling like you are waiting to bust out and grab life by the horns. Storm windows are taken down, windows are opening, people are outside a lot more... It's like a cleansing, figuratively and literally from the dark and dreary winter.

Spring cleaning is here, and even though my house is a MESS from pulling out dusty boxes from the storage areas and going through them, I feel myself releasing all this negative energy from my body and home. Spring is *my* new years. It's the time where I reset my goals that I want to see accomplished; it's my starting over point.

The beginning of 2011 was not the best. I've been going through some nerve-wracking, serious stuff, and I am ready to put all that behind me. I have this really comfortable chair that I put outside in my little patio and do homework on, (or play on the computer) and I can feel how the rest of the year is going to be for me. I'm ready to reinvent myself. And one of the things that I really loved about all of these revelations, is that my adult accelerated degree program was my #1 priority. I always knew somewhere that I had a lot of pride in my schooling efforts, but this was such a great reminder.

All of you that are either going through, or are considering going through any type of adult education service should take a second and pat yourself on the back for taking control of your life. School is not easy! It's not just something that you can "do" you have to work at it! YOU are the one that is in charge of your adult financial aid, YOU are the one who goes to the adult education courses, YOU are the one that does the work, YOU are the one that gets the adult education certificate. No one else does that, but you!

So to all of you: welcome to spring! Really take the time to embrace it! Restate your goals for the year. Spring and summer are the times (for me at least) that I am more inclined to go out and do whatever it is I am focused on. Whether it's weight loss related, school related, or honestly whatever category(ies) your goals may fit in: make this spring *your* chance for a do-over. Spring clean your house, and put your best foot forward.

Hope to see you in class :)

TOP 10 REASONS TO TAKE AN ONLINE CLASS

Monday, March 21, 2011 by Chuck Bagley

Learning online at Granite State College is practical and functional for many adult learners taking adult college courses. It lends itself well to how adult learners learn best, under the unique conditions they often find themselves. Online learning is appealing from a practical lifestyle perspective but also from a theoretical and neuro-scientific perspective. Here are the top ten reasons to take online classes for college:

Easy to get started - You can get started learning online with a computer and Internet access. Computers are becoming more powerful, less expensive and more user-friendly. Internet service is widely available in many places. If owning your own computer or accessing the Internet from home is a problem, many public libraries offer free computer and Internet access. Be sure to check your school’s technical requirements for your computer before taking an online class.

Economical - No travel costs, no commuting, and no dormitory fees - just tuition and occasionally materials fees.

Accessible – As long as you have an Internet connection, you can access your online course. This is particularly appealing to parents of young children or students who travel often for their work.

Flexible –Unable to make a 9:00 AM Economics lecture on a college campus? Online classes are available 24 hours a day. You can learn online from your own home at a time that is convenient for you.

Effective – When you take online classes for adults, you can expect to learn important career building skills and abilities equal to, or better than, a traditional classroom setting. According to a 2010 evaluation of online learning conducted by the U.S. Department of Education, “Students in online conditions performed modestly better, on average, than those learning the same material through traditional face-to-face instruction.”

It gets better - Thanks to advances in technology, learning online continues to improve at an unprecedented rate. New technologies facilitate active engagement that allow adult learners to apply, integrate, implement, differentiate, and formulate new learning into experience generating activities. Technological advances also enhance learner connectedness, interaction and mutual support. Immersive learning environments and serious games are no longer distant concepts but rapidly becoming more common in online learning.

Challenging – Though there are deadlines and due dates, there are no class meeting times (although some online classes may require mandatory synchronous session), you are constantly working on your own resourcefulness and initiative to complete the coursework.

Time for Reflection – Unlike a face-to-face class where immediate responses are often required in class discussions, online discussion boards allow time for thoughtful reflection and critical thinking when interacting and responding on an online discussion board. This reflection time can facilitate metacognition – thinking about one’s own thinking or “the ability to monitor one’s current level of understanding and decide when it is not adequate” (How People Learn, 2000).

Your experience counts – Online learning facilitates the connection to past experience (cognitive activation) critical to the adult learning process. Raymond Wlodkowski author of “Enhancing Adult Motivation to Learn” explains it this way; “adults have had more time and seen the benefits and outcomes of a greater variety of experiences. Neurologically, their brains are more developed and capable of judging, planning, and making decisions about their experiences in a manner that is more integrated, stable, reflective, and future oriented.” Online learning interactive activities such as discussion boards, blogs and journals provide the opportunities to employ an adult’s “rich mosaic of experience” at deeper levels of learning as part of the learning experience.

Meaningful - You determine the meaning of the learning. “Most experts who have studied or participated in online learning communities share an approach to adult learners described as ‘constructivism.’ It is based on the premise that knowledge is constructed by adult learners as they filter new information through the prism of their own experience. It is quite different from the more traditional ‘objectivist’ idea of knowledge as a preexisting reality that teachers simply transmit by means of effective communication, and reinforce through practice and repetition. Constructivists expect adult learners to be active, reflective, and creative: managing their own learning process and often collaborating with each other to test new ideas and information by applying them to real problems and circumstances. Therefore, constructivists often describe their approach as student-centered rather than teacher-centered. Instructors facilitate learners’ progress rather than operating primarily as podium-based sages.” – Dr. Burgess Smith, Granite State College.

Like any other endeavor, learning online is what you make of it. Organization, discipline and hard work are all successful components to a positive online learning experience. As Judy Willis, MD, M.Ed. puts it: “The person who does the work LEARNS.”

Citations

Means, B, Toyama, Y, Murphy, R, Bakia, M, & Jones, K. (2010). Evaluation of Evidence-based Practices in Online Learning: A Meta-analysis and Review of Online Learning Studies . U.S. Department of Education, Office of Planning, Evaluation, and Policy Development Policy and Program Studies Service.

How People Learn. (2000). Washington, D.C. National Research Council.

Wlodkowski , R. (2008). Enhancing Adult Motivation to Learn. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

Smith, B. (2011, February). How We Learn Online [Web log message]. Retrieved from https://blackboard.granite.edu/

FAFSA Filing Tips

Friday, January 28, 2011 by Cortney Henry

It’s that time of year again! It’s time to start thinking about filing the 2011-2012 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). For many, this can be an overwhelming process, so here are a few tips to help make your FAFSA filing experience less stressful.

Many traditional schools require the FAFSA to be filed no later than March 1^st. Granite State College, however, does not have a filing deadline since our institution provides Adult and Continuing Education classes with rolling admissions. This means that our students can apply for Financial Aid at any point during the year. We do strongly encourage our students to apply by May 1^st if possible so they will be considered for any State Grants available. However, if students file after the priority filing date, they will still be considered for the federal aid programs including the Federal Pell Grant and the Stafford Loan Programs.
Students must be enrolled at least Part Time to be eligible to receive federal financial aid. Each school determines what they consider to be Part Time Classes and for Granite State College, students are required to take at least four credits to be eligible for aid. This means that our students who want to Take College Classes Online or in one of our centers, but can only do one class per term are still eligible to receive Federal Financial Aid.
For those students who recently got married, please be very careful when filing your new FAFSA. If you have not received confirmation from Social Security that your name has been updated in their system, you do not want to file your FAFSA using your married name. This will cause the FAFSA to reject. Always file your FAFSA using your legal name; this means the name that is listed on your Social Security card. Do not use abbreviations or nicknames either as this will cause the FAFSA to reject as well.
If at the time you filed your previous year’s tax return you were married, but you are now separated or divorced, still use the joint income listed on the tax return when filing your FAFSA. The Office of Financial Aid can separate out your income to reflect a more accurate financial picture, but will need additional documentation to do so. You will be required to complete a Special Circumstance form. Once your documents are received, the Office of Financial Aid will review them and make any adjustments possible to the information listed on the FAFSA. It is required that the Office of Financial Aid makes these adjustments since any change to a student’s income must be fully documented for audit purposes.
To be considered a veteran, you must have served on Active duty and must have been discharged under other than dishonorable conditions. If your service was only for training purposes such as the National Guard or Reserves, you are not considered a veteran for federal financial aid purposes.
The number one mistake students make is leaving a field blank. All income questions must be completed. If the answer is zero or the questions do not apply to you, write in a zero. Do not use dashes or leave the question blank.
If you have an unborn child who will be born before or during the award year (July 1 through June 30^th) and that child will receive more than half of his or her support from you, you can count that child as a member of your household when answering the household and dependents questions on the FAFSA.
Always remember to electronically sing your FAFSA with your PIN. The FAFSA will not be considered valid until your signature is applied.

For more tips and instructions, check out this FAFSA Video.

As always, please contact the Office of Financial Aid at Granite State College at 603-513-1392 with any questions or concerns. Happy Filing!

On being student-centered

Friday, December 3, 2010 by Todd Leach

Since arriving at Granite State College, I have met with students at our Concord, Claremont, Conway, and Rochester regional campuses and hosted an online chat for our distance learning students. The message has been consistently positive when it comes to the quality of education and services students feel they are receiving from GSC. I have also spent enough time with staff throughout the college to know that there is a very high level of student caring that exists throughout the college. The Granite State College mission of access and opportunity is one staff embrace and students appreciate.

At the same time, colleges and universities must learn to go beyond caring about students and ensure that their practices, systems, and policies are "student-centered." Which means that we anticipate student needs and align our practices, systems and policies in a way that enhances student success and minimizes student frustration.

Over the past several months we have taken steps at Granite State College to better align our practices, systems and policies with student needs and goals. For example, more than half of our students are now enrolled in online courses, so in order to better support our distance learning students we have recently added new online tutoring services. We are also introducing new self-service capabilities that allow students to better plan their programs of study. And we are focusing attention on course scheduling to ensure more rapid tracks to degree obtainment.

This student-centered focus will be core to Granite State College as we engage in a process of continuous improvement moving forward, and find new ways to serve the evolving needs of adult students throughout the state of New Hampshire and the region.

Rainy Sunday Morning!!

Sunday, September 26, 2010 by Gail Gifford

It is a rainy morning here in South Carolina. Just sitting watching Sunday Morning on TV and thinking about what I will do today. I have a bit of sewing to do as Christmas is just around the corner. I also want to head out to the stores to look for some hiking boots. I do have the book that my friend wrote to dig more into later on in the day but I think most of the day will be sewing. I learned how to sew from my grandmother. She was from Scotland and was a tailor and sewed all my mothers dresses. At a young age, she sat me in front of the sewing machine and I made my first pair of shorts at the young age of seven. From then on, I was hooked. Learning to sew has been so much part of my life through the years. From making clothes for my grandsons, myself and my children. Learning, is the key word here. From all that sewing, my young son sewed for the Navy, packing and repairing parachutes was his assignment. He learned how to sew from sitting on my lap at a very young age as I made him and his brother and sisters outfits to wear. We pass things onto our children as they grow and mature. Even if we don't think they are picking things up, they are.

I went back to school for many reasons. One of those reasons was to be a good example for my children and my grandchildren. Just like my son learned how to sew from watching me, maybe he will continue his education like I did. Granite State College was a good foundation for my education and gave me the tools and smarts to carry on in today's working society. There are so many adult education services like the accelerated studies as well as online classes for adults; all are valuable recourse's to receive your adult education degree. I hope he goes to college to get his degree someday. It will only help him in his future and his development as a young adult in today society.

Life is all about learning, whether it be learning how to sew or learning that a college education is so valuable, it is all about learning. Studies show we should never let our minds get stagnate even in our senior years, so I will be learning for the rest of my life, at least that is the plan.

GSC is a Military Friendly School

Wednesday, September 8, 2010 by Bette Papa

G.I. Jobs, a publication dedicated to helping veterans with job search and placement, has announced that Granite State College is a "military friendly school." In an article published on August 16th, GSC was among the top 15% of colleges and universities nationwide doing the most to give the opportunity of an adult college education to military and veteran students.

Highlighted in the article are that GSC does the following:

Gives ACE credits for military training and experience
Accepts credit for CLEP and DSST testing
VA approved and a recipient of Post-9/11 GI Bill financing
Has flexibility in scheduling - evening college classes, weekend college classes, and GSC is a college with online classes and degree programs.
Is supported by Service members Opportunity Colleges Consortium member (SOC)
Has Baccalaureate degree programs in cooperation with Air University associates degree

In the article, Derek Blumke, president of Student Veterans of America summarizes it best, "The Military Friendly Schools list is the gold standard in letting veterans know which schools will offer them the greatest opportunity, flexibility and overall experience."

I am very proud the Granite State College is part of the list of Military Friendly Schools. It is one way that we can give back to the brave men and women that serve this great country.

Integrated Seminar: The Big Show!

Saturday, August 28, 2010 by Chris Perley

So I am wrapping up my career college training in criminal justice administration and cruising towards my bachelor's degree. I signed up for the integrated seminar in hopes that since we we were all sooooo close to finishing it would be more like a big get-together, have a few laughs, exchange some stories and off we go. Wrongo!!!!! Granite State College gives opportunity, but it doesn't give away credits!

My Online Classes for Criminal Justice had been challenging so far but this one was going to be a doozey. Melding everything I had learned in the past years into a single meaningful topic, over the course of 20 pages in APA format looked like a mountain I would never be able to climb.

I now know why CSG makes you take all those seemingly less important classes as an adult learner. My online college English classes prepared me for sustained writing. Critical thinking prepared me for tough analysis and synthesis of an idea. Communications prepared me to express myself in a thoughtful and provocative manner. It was all coming together and I could feel my confidence rising. I had what it took to do this an I would see this through!

I can tell you that having that integrated seminar behind me is a great feeling.  I submitted a 20-page research paper on a topic I really cared about. It gave me an opportunity to truly express myself, and show that I had obtained the academic skills a person should have when attending a true institute of higher learning. I felt like not only had I learned, but that I had become educated as well. For me, as an Adult Education Service, Granite State College delivers.

Next up:  One down, one to GO!

The Big Finish! (at least halfway anyway!)

Wednesday, August 11, 2010 by Chris Perley

So I returned to GSC with a renewed spirit. As far as distance learning universities went, Granite State College was offering everything I needed to get my degree. I started back up in the winter of 2008 with critical thinking. The blackboard tutorial walked me through everything I needed t know to make it in this new electronic blackboard jungle!

I found the level of instruction and interaction more fulfilling than before in my face to face classes. It was exciting to not only be back in school but using new tools and techniques to achieve my goals. The on-line college opportunity that GSC was providing me was really making a difference. I began to rack up the credits and get closer to my goals, feeling like I was on an accelerated undergraduate degree path. I knew I was going to seal the deal this time!

One resource that I tapped with GSC was the ability to do CLEP and DANTES test-outs. These college level aptitude tests evaluate whether you possess college level knowledge in a number of subject matter. Although I did study to prepare for each test, you can really take advantage of prior learning with this adult education service the college provides. In one summer I was able to CLEP out of three subjects, which gave me 12 credits towards my degree. This also saved me 9 months and about $3,000 bucks too! This is a perfect way for adults learners to qualify the knowledge and skill they already possess and really race towards a college degree.

Well after 18 short months from my second go-round, the impossible became the possible and I walked with the class of 2009 receiving my Associates degree in Business. This was a great feeling, well worth the wait, and a milestone that no one can take away from me. I described it as a half way victory because getting that degree let me know, I had what it took to go all the way. I was going to continue on for my Bachelors in Criminal Justice Administration. Now I knew, getting a degree wouldn't be a matter of if I could do it, but WHEN!

Next up: More classes and a trip to Validation Nation!

Change and education opportunities

Sunday, July 25, 2010 by John Ford

Recently I've had a few opportunities to talk with some recent high school graduates about their plans for the summer and beyond....including continuing education. I found it rather interesting listening to them talk about the pressures of attaining good grades to get into good schools to try and get good jobs (the typical parental mantra to motivate kids through the high school years - it didn't work on us when we were kids yet we try it on our kids and they will try it on theirs as well - maybe some things are genetically coded.....).

Anyway what struck me is the attitude of some of these young people. They are not "buying in" to the college right after high school tradition. As a matter of fact many of them are looking at ways to get involved in the global community for a year or two before going "back to school" to earn a degree.

Some are looking at AmericaCorp, Habitat for Humanity, and other global service opportunities. They are seeking ways to expand their experiences as a world citizen, gain a better understanding of how the world works, meet some people with similar values and aspirations and concerns, and share their passion for giving back. Some want to be able to use this time to get to know themselves better. Many are considering smaller, less well known colleges or universities. Some are pursuing their own interests distance learning universities and online classes. And yes, the truth be told, some just don't know what they want to do, but they know that the traditional path just isn't the right thing for them now.

Some are looking at the experiences that their parents have had both in academics and in the business world. Many think about deferring college to enlist in the military. Some are considering adult education certificate programs or getting into an adult education diploma program that allows them to go to school while pursuing a job or their passion. They've seen their parents working while getting their degrees (undergrad as well as post grad work). They've seen their parents go back to get a second degree or certificate and start a new career. They have learned that education is the key to their future, but it doesn't have to be down the traditional path.

For all of the caterwauling about today's generation (every generation past has complained about the one they created), there are a lot of bright kids (okay, parents, you can acknowledge that you did a great job with your kids....there, feel better?). I came away from this conversation feeling pretty good about the next generation of learners. They are taking charge of their own education. They have challenged the system, the teachers, the parent, and even the business world. They have options that we never heard about, they are courageous, they are afraid of the future, but not paralyzed by their fear. It feeds their desire to get outside of their comfort zone. They know that you can hit the reset button and recover if you make a mistake. They are not afraid of doing something they haven't done before. They create opportunities, they create their future, they create our future.

They will change the way education will be delivered in the years to come and they will complain and be overly concerned about the next generation.....and somewhere down the road, some one will have a conversation with a group of the next generation and find out that this new generation, like the ones before it, will create a world of new knowledge and opportunities for living, for working and even for learning.......

They are using online courses, accelerated undergraduate programs, and distance learning in ways that create opportunities for those in academics to create the future of colleges and universities. They are creating new careers and new technologies that are creating opportunities for colleges and universities to grow and evolve faster than ever before.

The adult learning community is listening and responding! Never before has there been so many options for today's learning community to access education. Never before has there been so many options and academic programs to purse so many unique and innovative degrees. Never before has the academic world been more ready to serve and support the adult learning community.

So, graduates (high school, tech school, community college, college and university grad, and even you post-grad learners) when you get ready to turn to the college and university community to continue and support your education and career advancement goals, we will be there, ready to give you the education you need to continue your journey as a lifelong learner......

See you in class......

My Philosophy

Tuesday, July 20, 2010 by Mary Gaetz

What Would Mel Brooks Do?

I tend to ask myself this whenever I am held up by my own insecurities and fears.  I have lot of anxiety and so I almost always have Mel Brooks in my head. Mel's movies and sense of humor always remind me of how ridiculous the entire world can be, and if we're stressed out about it, we're probably taking ourselves too seriously. I am the newly hired Outreach Coordinator for Granite State College, Claremont/Lebanon. I am thrilled to be working in a college again, but I am very nervous and definitely have some anxiety about starting this job. I totally commiserate with those of you beginning your studies this semester. So here we go.  Remember: life is unrehearsed and a sense of humor is necessary.

I suppose I must admit that I am not from around here. I was born and raised in Kansas and went to graduate school in Nebraska. Just a note: if you are from New Hampshire NEVER GO TO THESE STATES. You won't like them. Trust me. I, on the other hand, am in long distance love affair with Kansas. I won't elaborate except to say that I find it beautiful and enchanting and like nowhere else I've ever been. I also liked Nebraska very much and hope to end up back there someday.

Education is very important to me and I understand the value of it.  Since I was young I always assumed I would go to college after high school. Both of my parents have Bachelor degrees and growing up we were regaled with fun stories from my father's exploits as a college student. I couldn't wait to adopt stray cats and keep them in my dorm room, accidentally blow up trash cans at drive thrus, and put pink light bulbs in all the light fixtures. I wanted to have friends with weird names like "Tree", or call them by their last names. It was what I wanted while I was in high school--freedom! Unfortunately, life happened while I was making college plans and college fell by the wayside. So life beat me up for five years, but during those five years I never forgot about college. I would look at adult education services at local community colleges, but could never seem to get my life together enough to take the plunge. I thought about taking part-time classes or night time classes but still wasn't sure how to make it work. And of course there was no such thing as taking online classes back in the nineties. I didn't even own a computer.

One day, when I finally had a great job, a cute apartment, and a cat, I knew it was time. I had proved to myself that I could have a stable life, so time to scrap it and get going on making those dreams come true. I packed up the cat and the boyfriend and moved to Emporia KS where I spent the next five years learning everything I could fit into my schedule. It. was. so. hard. I. was. so. scared. I would mourn the loss of my job and apartment and sit around being a big ball of stress. But: I was succeeding in my studies in a way that was surprising and exciting.  I set the goal that I would get a B+ average in my first semester. I had a 4.0. I was very shy around the other students. They were all so young and spry, beautiful and annoying. They were also talented, accepting, inspiring, smart and LIKED me!! My fellow students were a great source of inspiration and information, and still are to this day.  I liked school so much that I went on to get my MFA at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Through it all I have had the most incredible teachers and the most supportive classmates, but I never forget that I worked my tail off, that I did it, that I had the strength and the vision and the courage to get my degree. Sure, I missed out on the dorm experiences, but I still have college stories that I hope to share some day with my children--the cat doesn't seem to care. So now I am ready to embark on my adventure at Granite State College, helping people transition into students, a noble and wonderful title.

1990: My first Try at College

Sunday, July 18, 2010 by Chris Perley

In 1990 I decided to enroll in College. I was 30 years old, had two children, a mortgage and a full time job at a busy police department. Even though I knew I needed to obtain a degree, I was really dreading it. The only brick and mortar school in my area was the Berlin NH college, or as we called it, "The Vo-Tech". This really wasn't a realistic option as the drive was too far, and the time commitment to large. A friend of mine was involved in adult education services at our local high school and mentioned the night school they held there for adult learners. Back then it was known as the College For Lifelong Learning. My first thought was "how would they fit that title on a diploma?"  It didn't sound very enriching but it was the only real option if I wanted to get any level of career college training in my area.

I reluctantly went down to the local C.L.L. office and met some wonderful people. I am guessing that Gail Paine and Beth Beyerle had met the likes of me before as they quickly stripped away all the preconceived obstacles I felt stood between me and a degree. I was left with only one real option, jump in with both feet! I can still remember how helpful they were in taking me from looking in from the outside to actually being a real college student.

Back in 1990 our college offered a much more limited plate of degree choices and options. Although a police officer, the school had no criminal justice classes to offer.  As far as delivery method you had the choice of face to face or face to face! That's right Gen-xer's the Internet hadn't yet been applied to commercial use for distance learning universities. I picked a degree that I though would help me in the higher ranks of police work. It was a business offering called a Business and Professional Studies Degree, only offered at the Bachelor's level. So here I was, signed up with the School For Lifelong Learning in a Business and Professional Studies Degree Program (like I said, imagine the size of the diploma!), and starring down the barrel of at least 6 years of school ahead of me.  So with great trepidation I walked into my first college classroom, at 6:00pm, in my old high school, with my old English teacher. I thought to myself "was this really going to work?"

Next blog I'll discuss how GSC made the impossible possible for me!

...and the learning continues

Sunday, July 11, 2010 by John Ford

Well, another semester has come and gone with yet another group of adult learners moving on....some to other classes......some onto graduation and new adventures.....the rest hoping that their new knowledge and capabilities makes them move valuable to current or future employers.

Everyone one of them has a story but not many stop to think about the role that the "teacher" plays in these stories.

I firmly believe that throughout our lives we encounter friends and acquaintances; co-workers and colleagues; coaches and mentors; instructors and teachers. Some of us aspired to actually become teachers, some of us ended up being instructors. Many of us aspired to be something all-together different yet we ended up "teaching."

The difference to me is that many can be an instructor - you have a knowledge you can share with others and help them make that knowledge their own. There are fewer people who can actually "teach" and by that I mean make a lasting impression on an individual and actually help them learn how to engage knowledge; how to tease it out of text books, and peers in their classes; people they work with; and yes, faculty members.

With this passing semester I have had it brought to my attention by several of my students that I was the first faculty member they encounters several years ago when they started (or restarted) their academic adventures. They said it was appropriate that I was also the last "teacher" they encountered on their journey at Granite State College.

As I stopped to reflect on the number of people who have crossed my path as a faculty member, or even as a "corporate trainer" I started to wonder how many of these people I had actually been able to "reach." Not just had them in my class, but left them with something tangible that will stay with them for their lifetime. It isn't a degree, it isn't a class, it isn't a textbook. It's a desire to not "unlearn" the lessons they have internalized and now see their own worlds as something different than it was last semester, last year or will be next semester or next year.

Adult education services and adult accelerated degree programs are sometimes viewed as simply about coming to evening or weekend intensive classes and getting through them while balancing life, family, work, and the occasional quiet moment for the harried student. We forget simply that we (faculty and students alike) share a brief moment of discovery and either we mark that discovery or we eventually lose it.

I've had students come to me and thank me for helping them gain a new perspective about their careers. They've given me a hard time about making their work environment a terrible place because that can't go back to accepting things as they are, things they know can and should be changed, and in some cases, things THEY can and should change to make their work environment more effective. Some of my students have thanked me for helping me get them re-engaged in their work or careers; some have thanked me for helping them make the choice to pursue something different, something closer to their heart and soul. Some have cursed me for long writing assignments that are akin to holding up a mirror and being asked to tell the truth about what you see. Sometimes knowledge, or the responsibility that comes along with it, can be overwhelming. It is our job, as faculty to work with you, the adult learner, to challenge your thinking...and it is your job as students, to challenge our thinking so together, when you graduate, you and the faculty you leave behind, can continue to make your make in the classroom as others follow in your footsteps.

I'd like to close this piece with two things:

First, a thank-you to the students that have honored me with their presence in my classrooms over the past 6+ years. You have taught me lessons that I will never forget and I will share them with others as long as there are new faces hungry for ideas walking through the doors at the college.

Second, for the students who have yet to walk into my classroom. You have big shoes to fill, ones left behind by other students who one walked into their first class. Bring every part of you to every class in which you enroll and I can guarantee that you will have the time of your life....learning lessons that will never leave you behind!

What's with all the changes?

Tuesday, May 11, 2010 by Cortney Henry

Many of you may have noticed that there are quite a few changes happening in the Financial Aid world right now. A new legislature was passed stating that all schools are now required to switch their lending program to Direct Lending(meaning the government will now be providing Stafford loans as opposed to private lenders). Are you wondering how this will effect you?

The good news is that for the most part it will be seamless for students. You will be required to sign a New Master Promissory Note (MPN) with Direct Lending, but other than that, things will remain the same in terms of how and when the aid is disbursed.

The real change will happen behind the scenes at the Adult Financial Aid office here at Granite State College. We have been working feverishly to make sure we are ready for the July 1st deadline imposed by the government.

What was the reason behind the switch you ask? The intention is to provide increased funding for federal grant programs such as the Pell Grant. Now, rather than private lenders collecting origination fees from students and using them towards their own services, the Department of Education will now take the fees charged for the Stafford loan programs and funnel it back into the Federal Grant programs.

Also, over time, the Department of Education is planning to lower the Stafford Loan Interest rates, making educational loans more affordable for students.

In order to make the process of signing the new Direct Lending MPN easier for our students, the Office of Financial Aid will be making visits to the Rochester NH College, the Claremont NH College, the Conway NH College and the Manchester New Hampshire College to assist students and answer any questions. To find out the specific times of our visits, please contact the regional centers. Also, as always, students are welcome to stop in and see us at the Concord New Hampshire College at any time.

A Unique Profile

Friday, March 5, 2010 by John Cook

I continue to be amazed by the individuals that teach here at Granite State College. I'm pleased that this blog has provided an opportunity to trumpet news about so many of the unique people that contribute to learning at this wonderful New Hampshire State College.

Just the other day, Dr. William "Bill" Cuff popped by my office. To say Bill is interesting would be a true understatement. In addition to teaching behavioral science classes here at Granite State College, Bill teaches at UNH, and is also heavily involved with service projects, through groups like Danny's Team.

Bill was chatting with me about his upcoming class this Spring at our Portsmouth NH College - PSY 602, Theories of Personality.  The structure of this class exemplifies the Granite State perspective on adult college education: it is a weekend-intensive that takes place over five Saturdays. Yes, Granite State offers affordable Bachelor degree programs, but weekend college classes also work for students with other obligations.

Bill is off to New Orleans and Mississipi next week for more service. As part of this trip he mentioned an opportunity to visit the hometown of Medgar Evers. His eyes were lit-up and intense, and I thought - right, so this is quite a person to have teaching here in our corner of the New Hampshire University System.