Leadership Courses

I was first introduced to GSC, (then College for Life Long Learning) as a foster parent in 1996. I was able to gain valuable skills in working with children and families in crisis while acquiring college credits. When I decided to pursue a degree, GSC was a perfect fit. They offered online and face-to-face learning options that fit my schedule and had approachable and supportive instructors. In 2000, I became and instructor for the Education and Training Partnership through GSC and began training some of the courses that had helped my development as a foster and adoptive parent.

Now, almost 18 years after discovering GSC, I am looking to further my education by getting a Masters of Science in Leadership. Returning to the college that has been such a big part of my positive learning and teaching experiences just seems natural. I am impressed with the changes I have seen over the last eighteen years and am proud to be a returning alumni.

- Misty

Occasionally, I meet up with a potential graduate student who has a touch of anxiety about writing their statement of intent, one of the application components for Granite State College's Master's Degree Programs. I gently explain that it is 500-1000 word statement which includes professional goals and aspirations, motivation for applying for the degree, and relevant formal or informal experiences. I suggest that they start by predicting their career future. Where do they see themselves in a few years? What narrative can they bring to the program? Review the course descriptions carefully, envision the skills taught in GSC graduate classes, and apply them personally and professionally. Review the Granite State College practitioner based graduate faculty. Where do they work? What can you gain from their real world experience? After these brief suggestions to the applicant, I sense relief on their part.

The greatest presumed anxiety on graduate essay writing is marketed to the upper tier and ivy b-school applicants. You can hire an editor, work with a coach, or just purchase one. I found a multitude of options on the internet. What is most alarming is that, if you think you are darn good enough for an elite school, one would hope that penning the perfect picture of your business acumen would be YOU. A well thought out and perfectly written statement about YOU can only come from YOU.

The GSC Office of Graduate Studies understands that you are who you are. You want to succeed and we're here to see that you do. Our degrees are concise, focused, and applicable to numerous businesses and industries.

Project management is the application of knowledge, skills and techniques to execute projects effectively and efficiently. It’s a strategic competency for organizations, enabling them to tie project results to business goals - and thus, better compete in their markets--according to the Project Management Institute (PMI).

The Master of Science in Leadership program focuses on an action-learning approach, intended to leverage the interdisciplinary backgrounds of participants and help build leadership competencies. We believe that the principles of leadership, when mastered, are applicable in any environment – whether commerce, education, health care, government, or social services.

To find out more about GSC's programs, give us a call at 603.513.1135 or visit www.granite.edu. And, relax about writing our essay, we know you can do it.

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.”

 

As a graduate admission counselor, I can tell you many wonderful things about our programs.  For example, you have the flexibility of the program - your choice between taking an online class and learning in a traditional classroom setting. I can speak to you about the affordability factor - where else can you earn a master’s degree for under 15k? We can talk about assessment and outcomes, and the high level of customer service the faculty and staff at Granite State College gives to all students. We can review the pedagogy of our two highly tuned programs. And how they are designed to incorporate your own set of competencies and propel them into a new improved skill set. But after much thought, I believe one of the best methods of trying to convince you to apply is to hear what our students have been saying.

“I have received my Associate, Bachelor's, and am two weeks away from receiving my Master’s degree from Granite State College. Granite State College is a professional school with professional faculty that helped me to achieve goals that I would have never thought of achieving ten years ago. The flexibility of their online courses and on-site courses in multiple locations gave me the flexibility to “fit” school in no matter where I was at in my life. In addition to the education I have received at GSC, I have also had the opportunity to make great friends and create a network of people of both faculty and students.” -- Bonnie Soule

Thank you, Bonnie! I appreciate your comments. I am delighted that Granite State College could help you achieve your educational goals.

“The graduate program at Granite State College is flexible for my demanding career and has allowed me to expand my leadership knowledge and provided me the management tools I need to succeed in today’s fast paced public safety environment.” -- Paul Dean

Thank you, Paul, for sharing your experience and growth that you gleaned from our master’s program. Paul works in law enforcement, and from his post it sounds like he got the tools he needed to excel at his job. Way to go, Paul!

Take your career and life to the next level. Achieve educational goals you never thought were possible. Call me at 603.513.1135 or visit www.granite.edu to explore our graduate programs. You will be glad you did.

According to the US Census Bureau, 30% of adults over 25 years old hold a baccalaureate degree and almost 11% hold a graduate degree. These numbers increased about 25% from 10 years ago.  

The benefits of earning a degree outweigh the negatives when it comes to job performance and skills. A graduate degree will give the recipient excellent analytical skills, an additional network of fellow students who are in the workforce, and it may get their resume to the top of the pile.

At Granite State College we have two graduate degrees that fit easily into a busy lifestyle and cover curriculums that cross many industry lines. This makes them pragmatic and practical, and one of the most affordable options in the region.

The GSC Graduate program in Leadership offers interesting courses, like Ethical Decision Making (hmm..maybe I can recruit at the political conventions), Foundations of Organizational Communication (talking to chairs may not be covered), and Emergence of a Strategic Leader (very timely).

Our Project Management degree course listing includes Risk Management, Project Planning and Scheduling, and Project Quality Management.

Interestingly enough, when I look at these course listings I see how they can fit in most jobs and many career paths. You will be better organized, a highly skill full thinker and thoughtful decision maker. I know in my own job of a graduate school recruiter and marketer how these skills help me on a daily basis.

And with that, I will close. I've got to hop a flight to Charlotte.

I read a recent survey of the cost of a graduate degree—and it got me thinking. Here’s what I am trying to understand: A Mercedes-Benz is expensive. You can find a model for $80K. Yes, it is aesthetically beautiful, comfortable, and prestigious. A Toyota Prius is roughly one-third of the cost of the Benz. The Prius is practical, well-designed, and extremely fuel efficient. However, the most important similarity is that both cars get the driver to the same place.

Fast forward to graduate programs in New Hampshire. There are many choices. Do they get you to the same place? Granite State College’s Master of Science in Leadership and MS in Project Management offer similar curriculum and assessments linked to professional standards as other higher-priced institutions, extremely good student customer service and care, pragmatic skills for an evolving and global marketplace, faculty who are experts in their subject matter, online and in-person course options, and finally, affordability.

If you are interested in looking further into an experience at Granite State College, and into the Master of Science in Leadership and the Master of Science in Project Management—I will be in Durham on Wednesday, August 8, from 12 to 1pm to conduct a drop-in info session at Memorial Union, Theater One. I hope to see you there!

It's official. Our mobile classroom is up and we're ready to enroll students at our new co-location at Nashua Community College for the Fall term!

On Thursday, July 26th, we co-hosted a celebration with NCC to announce our new partnership. The highlight of the event was the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony.

Here's an "action shot" of NCC President Lucille Jordan, Governor John Lynch, Mayor Donnalee Lozeau, and GSC President Todd Leach cutting the ribbon!

The courses offered on NCC's campus are designed so those with an associate degree can easily leverage this experience into an affordable bachelor degree program. We will be featuring classes for the B.S. in Business Management, B.S. in Psycholgoy, B.S. in Applied Studies (Management Option), the B.A. in Individualized Studies, Teacher Certification Courses, and classes in the Masters Degree in Project Management and M.S. in Leadership programs.

Click here to learn more!
 

Granite State College recently hosted a Career Information Workshop at the Portsmouth campus. It was a big success and attendees received valuable tips on job searching and career possibilities. There was a panel of faculty members who work in various professions in addition to teaching college evening classes. They are dedicated to facilitating the students taking adult college classes to excel in their coursework as well as explore potential new careers once they graduate. 

Here are some brief tips they recommended when starting the job search process:

1. Self-evaluation: Who are  you? What are your interests? If you could have any job what would that be and where? What are your best skills? What skills need work? What would your current coworkers say about you if asked these same questions? This exercise may take you beyond your comfort zone but is invaluable in highlighting the path you take after college.
2. Resume with Impact: The panel all agreed that crafting a powerful resume is very important. Employers receive a multitude of resumes every day so yours needs to set you apart in the first 30 seconds of being viewed. As you pursue your undergraduate education you may not be able to list a degree you have completed. Instead add specific courses to your resume: Communications, Critical Thinking, a Health Care Management course, a Leadership course in Management,or a Human Resource class. All of these show vital skills that can be put to use in a work environment. Highlight your skill set early in the resume and in a way that will show your distinction above other applicants.
3. Informational Interview: Are you unsure if a particular job or company is right for you? Are you exploring career options and are undecided which direction to go?  Set up an informational interview with a potential employer to gain insight into the type of careers they would offer. In this format, you are the interviewer asking the questions rather than the other way around. It not only gives you information but it may help get yourself recognized should you apply for a job at a later date.
4. Internships: Do you need an elective in your major? Are you interested in earning college course credit for exploring career options? Do you want to learn more about a job and how your classroom learning can apply?  Set up an  internship during one of the terms and gain valuable experience as well as credits towards your degree. Talk with your Academic Coach about the details of this option.
5. What all companies need: Business Management gives you broad professional capabilities. All areas of  business need managers, whether Health Care, sales or marketing, government or public services. Every company and organization has a Human Resource department. Every department in a company or organization has a manager. At your informational interview, find out what that company needs.
6. Job Fairs: Once you have a polished resume attend job fairs, dressing as though you were going to an interview.  A job fair gives you the opportunity to distribute your resume, explore the companies that anticipate growth and therefore new jobs, network with others in your field, and practice communication skills. It also will help you to educate yourself on specific companies that you may have considered applying to. Knowing as much as possible about a potential employer before your interview if vital.
7. Top industries with expected growth: Health Care is a growing industry and one that will remain vital to all communities. Management, marketing, human resources, social work, and case management were also discussed as occupations on the rise. Education related careers are prevelent. Find out what is available for someone with your degree and determine what areas interest you the most.
8. Be open to all possibilities and to further education: As an adult college student you may think completing your bachelor's degree is the ultimate goal. You may also think that landing the perfect job is an important goal. However, in the job market today you must be open to all possibilities and even decide if continuing your education is going to be beneficial to obtaining that perfect job.

There is so much more on this topic and I encourage you to research, network, ask questions and get the help you need to make your job search successful.

It is an exciting time at Granite State College! The Office of Graduate Studies will launch in July the new Master of Science in Leadership. The Leadership Master’s Program is designed to develop student’s strategic leadership skills while guided by their ethical principles. The MIT Leadership Institute defines 4 capabilities Leadership Framework. The components are sense-making, relating, visioning, and inventing.[1]  In this new graduate program the curriculum embodies these components.  Students will focus on making sense of their capacity to function as a leader in today’s environment, relate organizational relationships to facilitate organizational effectiveness, conducting visionary exercises to facilitate organizational growth and opportunity, and invent new ways to respond to changes in the environment of the organization  and actualizing the organizational vision. This framework makes for a sound leadership education. The ten course program provides students with practical and theoretical foundations to develop a personalized leadership construct. The Master of Science in Leadership is one of Granite State College’s Online Graduate Degrees. Get more information on the new graduate program being offered at Granite State College at http://www.granite.edu/academics/degrees/masters/leadership.php.

This month we learned the identity of the incoming president of Granite State College. Dr. Todd Leach will assume leadership of the college upon the retirement of President Karol LaCroix on June 30^th.  Dr. Leach was selected after an extensive search and joins us after a successfully guiding the College of Professional Studies at Northeastern University since 2007.  Dr. Leach brings with him a wealth of experience in providing access to higher education for adult learners and non-traditional students.   If Dr. Leach’s history at Northeastern is any indication, students can look forward to new courses and degree programs; all based on the current and future needs of NH’s adult students. The next few years should prove to be exciting for the Granite State College community.
 

That being said we must take a moment and look to the past and express our appreciation to President LaCroix for six years of leadership.  With her hand to steady the helm, Granite State College experienced consistent growth and developed a reputation as New Hampshire’s “go to” college for online learning and easy access for the State’s working adult student population.  Through Karol’s leadership, GSC now provides a balanced matrix of courses and a student-centric organizational ethic that both encourages and supports our non-traditional learners.  For those of you who have been, or are currently in this situation, you know how difficult it can be to manage multiple life priorities while attending classes.  President LaCroix’s stamp is firmly imprinted into the history of this institution and through her hard work we are better prepared to tackle new academic challenges and move the college forward.
 

Thank you Karol!

We love the success stories when we can congratulate a recent GSC graduate who has just received a promotion as a result of finishing their degree.  MaryJane Lavoie, our lead Rochester advisor, passed on this wonderful story about one of our students.

Lisa Merrill first came to meet with an advisor at “College for Lifelong Learning” in the summer of 2004. She was working at the State of NH as a Family Service Specialist II, and she had already earned an Associate’s degree from McIntosh College many years earlier. But she wanted to pursue her Bachelor’s degree to be able to advance within her department at the State. She took one course per term starting in the fall of 2004, and although her progress at times seemed a bit slow (at one point dealing with a back injury and the serious illness of a family member), she steadily completed more of her requirements each year, primarily taking her courses at the Rochester Center.

She did well in her courses and made the Dean’s List for 2006-07, 2007-08, and 2008-09. By the end of the summer 2009, she had finished the last of her degree requirements, and was conferred her Bachelor of Science with a major in Management, with an Option in Leadership and Strategic Management,

at the end of December.   She graduated Cum Laude and plans to attend the

Commencement ceremony in June.

Lisa has recently been promoted to a position with the State of NH Health and Human Services offices in Concord. She will be starting 4/9/10 as the Administrator I for Q/C in the Department of Improvement, Integrity and Information. This position is federally mandated as part of reviewing Food Stamp and Medical Assistance cases to make sure the guidelines and required percentages are met.

Lisa indicates that “This move would not have happened if I had not returned to school to obtain my degree.”

The Rochester GSC staff congratulates Lisa on her promotion and we all wish her much success in her new position!