After years of dead-end jobs, I decided to get my degree so that I could advance and do something that I loved. Granite State College has given my that opportunity. I am almost done with my degree in psychology with a minor in business. I have done all my coursework online and have absolutely loved every minute of it. The instructors have been the best, as have been my fellow students. Next in store for me is my master's degree in project management, of course to be done here at good ol' GSC!!
- Jay
I was 36 years old and working in a manufacturing environment with really no idea what I wanted to do next in life. I had been in the US Navy for over 9 years, had built and sold my successful company that I owned for 7 years, and had relocated to NH to my wife's hometown. The Quality Manager that I worked for encouraged me to go to college and get my degree. My response was, "I will be 40 years old before I could finish my degree!" The Quality Manager looked me in the eye and said, "you can turn 40 with or without a degree, the choice is yours and no one is promised tomorrow." I began my college adventure at Granite State College and graduated at the age of 40 with a 3.98 GPA with a B.S. in Business Management.
At the age of 40 I applied for a Naval Officer program that would require me to go to Officer Candidate School (OCS). A couple months later, I received the call saying that I was selected as one of the eleven candidates out of 109 that had applied that month. I graduated from OCS at the age of 41 and, just barely making the maximum age limit. I have been back in the US Navy over three years now and have one of the best jobs you could hope for. At the ripe age now of 44 I have returned to Granite State College once again, this time to complete my M.S. in Project Management.
I have been fortunate enough to do some really neat things in life, like being stationed onboard a nuclear ballistic missile submarine, being a Navy Diver and locking out of submarines, building a successful company, and now the honor to be a Naval Officer. I would not be a Naval Officer today if it were't for Granite State College. I am grateful every day that I get up just to have the opportunity to still wear the uniform.
I am not sure where the master's degree will take me when it's all done, but what I do know is that I am ready for the adventure that it brings next. Thank you to the staff and to Granite State College for opening so many doors for Amy and me. Life isn't perfect, but Life is Good!
- Scottie
You can run, but you can’t hide—in online.
If you have never taken an online course, or have free floating anxiety about logging into a classroom, please read on. Some of the potential students I meet in information sessions, graduate school fairs, or speak with on the phone, have a huge block of fear when it comes to learning this way. At Granite State College (GSC), we offer two master’s degree programs: an M.S. in Leadership and M.S. in Project Management. We do offer a few graduate courses in Concord, Portsmouth, and Manchester - however, the majority of the Master of Science classes are often online.
Laura was an adult Granite State College student for several years, furiously working towards completing her baccalaureate degree while taking part time classes. She was a professional HR director, and GSC helped her get to where she wanted to be. She loved taking courses at GSC, and had taken them in all delivery methods - hybrid, weekend, evening, and online courses. I was delighted to meet Laura at a conference recently - her enthusiasm for lifelong learning was infectious. I thought she would be a great master's candidate for either the Project Management or Leadership program.
As she was nearing the end of her undergraduate career, the last course she needed to complete was Interpersonal Communication. It was a course offered online and she had every intention of taking it, even with its ironic online delivery. While telling me her story, I flashed back to my undergraduate days. I took Interpersonal Communication in a decade when online learning was not available. I quickly assumed it could only be a classroom course, learning the art and science of successful communication. I paused in my thoughts and was preparing for the worst. How could a college create this online? I prepared for a sympathetic reply.
As she continued her enthusiasm for (what I thought) was a pedagogical mish mash of course delivery gone wrong, I started to listen closer. Her family and friends thought she was making an error in judgment. "Don’t do it," they said. "You’re crazy." She took the course successfully and told me it was the best course she ever took. The posts were lively, deep, and thoughtful. She made friends with a number of people in the virtual classroom. “You can’t hide in an online learning platform. Students who are shy in a classroom can’t hide in online learning. You can also think about your posts, edit, and get your point across clearly.” Her sales pitch was right on queue. And, I know she is correct.
This brief encounter with Laura gives me more fuel and intelligence for the GSC graduate programs. I have chatted with potential students who feel the same way Laura’s friends and family did. The anxiety about getting a graduate degree online can be eradicated when you listen to Laura's story. She preferred her online courses. It was her time. She’d get up at 5:00 a.m. and start her coursework before the day got away from her. Laura is now applying to Master of Science in Leadership, and is very excited about the incredibly flexible, affordable, and relevant program. “It’s time to do it. And, I love that I can take it online.”
This week the Nashua Telegraph published this special feature:
Image source: nashuatelegraph.com
What we think is especially compelling is the section that profiles the business leaders of the next 20 years. We were proud to read about Nashua Community College's President, Lucille Jordan, and honored that GSC was mentioned as part of her story:
"Forty percent of [NCC] students transfer to four-year institutions to earn their bachelor's degree.
Making that easier is this year is the fact that Granite State College, part of the University System of New Hampshire, is now 'co-located' at NCC."
We are new to Nashua and this feature served as a great inspiration for what we can accomplish with their community. For example...
We have the opportunity to provide a convenient pathway for NCC students to expand their education goals and pursue a bachelor's degree with GSC
We can help business leaders retain their best employees with our master's degree programs like the M.S. in Leadership and M.S. in Project Management
We can engage with the healthcare community through our RN to BSN degree program
K-12 educators can pursue teacher certifications in the critical shortage areas in education and help to make a difference in the Nashua School District
These are just a few of our current goals in Nashua and we can't wait to lay our roots deep and explore the possibilities.
Congratulations to ALL who were honored in the "Nashua 50 and Next 20." Thank you for all that you do!
My life has changed so much over the past couple years. The wedding of my daughter, the move to Michigan and my new job--many changes, that is for sure. I am enjoying my new job. Learning has always been my passion. I was in my previous job for almost five years, and it was time for a change. It is such a big change from coming from a business center to a smaller, more contained office. The atmosphere was very different and the norms were challenging. Challenging is a good word for the past couple years, but if we don't have that challenge in our life, it can get boring.
I have had many challenges over the years. How to manage with four children, how to build a house living in another state, how to finish school when the company transferred me out of state... We all take on challenges every day even if we don't realize it at the moment. We are challenged in our jobs, our homes, our goals, and our dreams. I am thinking about taking on that challenge of going back to school for my master's degree. I have thought about it a lot over the past couple of days. Getting a Masters degree in Project Management would be one of the best fields of study I could go into. Projects are a constant norm where I work, and knowing how to manage a major project would open doors I never thought would be possible. Maybe I need that challenge....maybe I need to push myself forward!!
As I sit and watch the Bowl games on TV, I ponder over what happened in my life just last week. I had a wonderful time as I ventured down to Nashville, Tennessee to visit my youngest daughter who works as a manager at Roast Inc.. It is the best coffee I have ever had. They roast their own beans and make each cup of craft coffee to your liking as you wait. It is well worth the wait as it is so good, you will be hooked. So, if you are ever in the Nashville area, please look it up. I also spent a few days with my grandson who is almost five. We went ice skating one day which was really fun even if his legs didn't work right, so he says anyways. 
I remember learning how to ice skate when I was young, I remember that feeling and probably thought "what am I suppose to do on this one blade?" I am sure he probably thought the same as he could not keep himself upright for too long without the help of Grammy supporting him.
The next day my daughter had off so the three of us went up to Cave City Kentucky to go through Mammoth Cave. He had never been in a cave so I was not sure how he was going to be and my daughter was really young when she last went through. It was about a two hour drive from Nashville but it went by fast as we stopped for a snack along the way. I am all about making these experiences FUN so he will want to do it again someday. I pretty much have that attitude with everything. Even when I attended Granite State College in Manchester New Hampshire, I was thinking how can I make this a fun experience. It was easy as I met some really neat people to hang out with, study with and smile our way through one class after another. Yep, learning can be fun and what you learn can enrich your life so much that the outcome is fun. I would love to go back and get my Master of Science Project Management degree someday. School was fun and even though it was lots of hard work and time management skills, it was well worth it.
For my grandson, skating and spelunking through the caves, were something new for him. If school is something you want to do, just do it. It may be new to you but you will never get that degree until you make that first step kind of just like my grandson learning to skate.
I remember learning how to ice skate when I was young, I remember that feeling and probably thought "what am I suppose to do on this one blade?" I am sure he probably thought the same as he could not keep himself upright for too long without the help of Grammy supporting him. The next day my daughter had off so the three of us went up to Cave City Kentucky to go through Mammoth Cave. He had never been in a cave so I was not sure how he was going to be and my daughter was really young when she last went through. It was about a two hour drive from Nashville but it went by fast as we stopped for a snack along the way. I am all about making these experiences FUN so he will want to do it again someday. I pretty much have that attitude with everything. Even when I attended Granite State College in Manchester New Hampshire, I was thinking how can I make this a fun experience. It was easy as I met some really neat people to hang out with, study with and smile our way through one class after another. Yep, learning can be fun and what you learn can enrich your life so much that the outcome is fun. I would love to go back and get my Master of Science Project Management degree someday. School was fun and even though it was lots of hard work and time management skills, it was well worth it.
For my grandson, skating and spelunking through the caves, were something new for him. If school is something you want to do, just do it. It may be new to you but you will never get that degree until you make that first step kind of just like my grandson learning to skate.
Good Morning fans and friends,
I just woke up and saw that Westland is going to be selling Rain Barrels with some of the proceeds going to the cancer foundation. My mum died of cancer so whenever I can give, help promote research, I am in for it. But, it is not just for the cancer research fund, it is for the rain barrel. I have always wanted one to water my flowers, garden and save the water that comes from the sky and recycle it. I think it is a good thing for our earth as well as a good example of conservation. My grandparents had two of them at their cottage in Canada and I can remember at a young age, putting a dipper in and getting out a bucket full of water. The Cottage didn't have running water, so we used it to wash our hair, water the garden and yes, even flush the toilet. I know I won't use mine for all those reasons but I do think it is a good way to reuse our water that comes from the sky.
I have to research it and see where the best down spout to put it under. But, that is no different than researching a subject for school. Learning again is what I am talking about, learning about something new, exciting, is all part of life. I just found out that Granite State College is offering a Masters of Science Degree in Project Management. I am so excited and want to get signed up as soon as I learn my new job better. I want to be proficient in this new position before I put other information in my brain. Taking these classes is a great education and career advancement opportunity. I am so excited about this new class, I have told other colleagues about the program and who knows, maybe a few of us will go to Granite State College and take these accelerated adult studies classes.
OK, I am off to get my rain barrel. I hope you all have a great weekend!!
I just woke up and saw that Westland is going to be selling Rain Barrels with some of the proceeds going to the cancer foundation. My mum died of cancer so whenever I can give, help promote research, I am in for it. But, it is not just for the cancer research fund, it is for the rain barrel. I have always wanted one to water my flowers, garden and save the water that comes from the sky and recycle it. I think it is a good thing for our earth as well as a good example of conservation. My grandparents had two of them at their cottage in Canada and I can remember at a young age, putting a dipper in and getting out a bucket full of water. The Cottage didn't have running water, so we used it to wash our hair, water the garden and yes, even flush the toilet. I know I won't use mine for all those reasons but I do think it is a good way to reuse our water that comes from the sky.
I have to research it and see where the best down spout to put it under. But, that is no different than researching a subject for school. Learning again is what I am talking about, learning about something new, exciting, is all part of life. I just found out that Granite State College is offering a Masters of Science Degree in Project Management. I am so excited and want to get signed up as soon as I learn my new job better. I want to be proficient in this new position before I put other information in my brain. Taking these classes is a great education and career advancement opportunity. I am so excited about this new class, I have told other colleagues about the program and who knows, maybe a few of us will go to Granite State College and take these accelerated adult studies classes.
OK, I am off to get my rain barrel. I hope you all have a great weekend!!
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.
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.
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