I have been teaching math at GSC since 1998 when it was called College for Lifelong Learning. I enjoy working with adult students helping them to build confidence in the study and understanding of mathematics. In 2005 I began working as an Administrative Assistant at the GSC offices in Portsmouth and Rochester, NH. It is great having that contact with students outside of the classroom, helping them through their educational journey from a different perspective.
In September 2009, I added another hat to my collection at Granite State College when I accepted the position of Academic Advisor for students at the Portsmouth site. In this additional role at the college, I continue to guide students through the pursuit of a college education. I love it! This is the most rewarding job I have ever had, watching dreams come true.
I grew up in New Hampshire and studied Biology and Math at the University of New Hampshire. I then earned a Masters of Education at Tufts University. Currently, I live in Dover, NH with my husband and however many of my three adult children are at home at any given time. When not working, I enjoy walking with the dog, reading, and attempting to grow a flower garden. It is important to learn new things so my latest adventure is learning to ride and drive my daughter's Saddlebred horse. I have discovered muscles that I did not know existed but it is a blast!
On Sunday, June 10, 2012, Granite State College held its annual graduation ceremony. Under a near-perfect blue sky and beautiful warm sunshine, more than 200 students marched proudly across the stage at Meadowbrook Pavilion. It is one of my favorite days of the year as it is an uplifting and positive reminder of what we do - help adult students reach goals, better themselves, and prepare for new adventures.
Quite simply, graduation is the attaining of an academic degree. The reality is much more than that. The common theme of the speakers at the ceremony was one of commitment and support. Commitment by the students to pursue and complete their degree despite obstacles that often came their way. Support from family, friends, faculty, and college staff to continue the journey even when it was rough going.
I am always drawn to the other word we use for this occasion: Commencement. This is the ceremony to mark the conferral of the degree but the word also means to begin, to commence, to start new. As students walked the stage, clutching their hard earned diploma they feel great satisfaction about the accomplishment they have completed . What they may not be thinking about at the time is that it is a new beginning for them. Whether they studied Business, Health Care Management or Elementary Education, new opportunities will be theirs to pursue.
As I watched each happy graduate breathe a sigh of relief and celebrate their achievement, I was also reminded that Granite State College has helped them start on a new path. It is what we do. Congratulations and best wishes for all of the graduates.
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
I recently attended the 2011 College Access Showcase sponsored by Campus Compact for NH and NHCUC. One of the workshops I attended was with John T. Kirkpatrick, Associate Dean, College of Liberal Arts, UNH. A dynamic and engaging speaker, John spoke about his experience as Dean and the challenges that new college students encounter. While his focus was on the traditional aged student in the New Hampshire university system, he made some great points that are appropriate for all of us.
The purpose of higher education is more than just filling students with information. It should not only develop the intellect but also the heart, character, integrity and judgment and how to use all of this wisely. We want students to become productive and useful citizens contributing to society in a meaningful way. Intellect needs to be balanced with innovation and creativity.
Look at any job search website and you will find lists of qualities that employees are looking for. Apart from skills in the profession, employers want people who have reasoning skills and the ability to problem solve. Communication skills, both written and oral, are crucial. Understanding of human behavior is important to be able to work well with others. Having an historical consciousness to have that understanding of how we got where we are today.
As I listened to John talk I realized this makes a good argument to the complaint "Do I have to take these gen eds?" Yes, you do! Those classes help to develop skills apart from those specific to your field of study. They help you to learn about yourself, others and the world around you.
Granite State College offers a great variety of general education electives that I encourage students to take advantage of. Whether students are looking for online classes for adults or evening college classes there are plenty of classes to choose from that will help develop their creativity, intellect, and compassion.
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.
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.
In the summer I volunteer at the Therapeutic Riding Program at the University of New Hampshire system. It is a horseback riding program that serves children and adults with physical, developmental, and emotional challenges. It is a volunteer dependent program as it takes 3-4 handlers per student: one to lead the horse, 2 on each side of the horse, initially holding on to the student as she/he rides, and sometimes one additional spotter. (The program also depends on donations in case you are feeling generous.) As the summer progresses so do the students' abilities and some are allowed to become more and more independent riders. I get a lump in my throat and feel so proud when we are able to let go of them or the lead line comes off and they are in control. Believe me, nothing makes you feel more empowered than knowing that you have control of a 1000 lb animal with just a set of reins and a bit! It is truly a fantastic experience for me to be a part of.
What does this have to do with my role as advisor at Granite State College at the Conway NH college campus, you ask? In June I attended the graduation ceremonies for the college and recently received the conferral list from the registrar. The ceremony is a wonderful day of recognizing completion and independence. As I read the list of names again and again I felt so proud of each student who completed their degree program. I feel like I am letting go of the lead line and watching them go out on their own to pursue other opportunities since they now have completed a continuing education degree program. I know each student is proud of them self as well and feels more in control of their lives, which can be much like a 1000 lb animal at times.
Congratulations to all graduates and I wish you all the best as you continue your life's adventure.
General Education Requirements - GenEds - are a part of every college degree be it associates or bachelors, Management or Early Childhood Education. English, math, computer, communications, and Critical Thinking are the 5 core GenEd courses required at Granite State College. Other requisite GenEds are in the areas of Arts & Culture, Literature & Ideas, History & Politics, Science, Global Perspectives, and Social Science. Why are students required to take these courses? What purpose do they serve the major? How quickly can they be taken to just get them out of the way?
I hear similar questions frequently from the students I advise and do not always know how to respond. I cringe however when I hear myself saying "Intro to Sociology is offered in Portsmouth this term. You could take it now to get your social science GenEd out of the way." Ouch! Does that mean if you aren't a Behavioral Science major and don't need Intro to Sociology for your major that it isn't an important class? Of course not! So I am trying not to say that any more and instead encourage students to use their GenEd choices to take classes that sound interesting or subjects they have never studied before. I want to tell students to use these classes to enrich their lives, gain understanding of topics outside the focus of their degree, find interests and talents that they never knew they had and, most of all, savor the learning experience. GenEds round out any degree and enable us to pursue subjects that are sometimes outside our comfort zone or to enhance the degree in creative ways. GenEd courses should be chosen thoughtfully and not taken just get it out of the way...
As the Academic Advisor at Granite State College Portsmouth I have many advisees who are enlisted in the military. Pease Air National Guard is located less than a mile from where we hold evening college classes and is a convenient way for these men and women to take advantage of obtaining a degree. Many of the students are also pursuing an associates degree from the Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) or have recently completed that degree.
Granite State College has a great program that grants college credit for their military training. A Bachelor of Science in Applied Studies (BSAS) works in conjunction with their military credits as a technical/career focus and students receive 24 or more credits towards the major component of a BS degree. They then choose an option to further round-out their career goals: Management, Allied Health Service, or Education & Training. In addition to taking the general education courses such as math and English, students include classes in one of these focus areas to meet their specific career needs.
Have you been or are you now in a branch of the military service? Visit an Academic Advisor at Granite State College and learn how easily you can get an education and career advancement.
I have several Granite State College canvas tote bags that I use for just about everything: shopping, books, overnight packing. . . Recently, my daughter Emily needed a tote for her books as she headed off to classes at a local college in New Hampshire. She was running late as usual and couldn't find her own book bag so I grabbed one of mine for her to use. As she slung it over her shoulder and headed out the door, she exclaimed, "This is so convenient!" It got me thinking.
We shop at convenience stores, look for banks with convenient hours, flick a switch to turn on a light, use the drive through to buy coffee, and the list goes on. In short we are a society that wants things to be convenient.
All of these synonyms are descriptive of taking adult college classes at Granite State College. The class times are suitable to anyone's schedule: nights, weekends, online. The degrees fit the needs of our students and the job market today. The atmosphere at the college is comfortable and with 9 locations around the state we are handy. Having a degree is favorable to your career and this is an opportune time to start taking classes. We are currently registering for Spring term classes. Give us a call today and set up a convenient time to meet with an advisor to discuss the ease of getting a degree at Granite State College.
Then you will be the one slinging a canvas tote over your shoulder saying "This is so convenient!"
I have heard this statement numerous times in the past few weeks uttered by new students planning to start attending evening college classes at Granite State College. Of course it was also uttered with "I don't know how I will find the time" and "I am not sure I can do this." But they are doing it and they are excited about it.
"It" is college evening classes or weekend college classes. They will make the time because education is important to them. A college degree will advance their career, help them feel confident and proud of themselves, and even stave off Alzheimer's. I actually had a student tell me this was her reason for returning to an adult college program. She is right, too. Education will keep your mind active, exercised, in shape, sharp and, well you get the point.
Another adult learner I met with was returning because her grandson asked her why she hadn't finished her college degree. After all she had just 2 classes left. There was no good reason not to and now she will be graduating in September. She is so excited! As are so many adult learners who are taking classes to complete, or start, a college degree.
What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail? Dr. Robert Schuller
This is an interesting question that everyone should ask of themselves. Many might answer that getting a college education would be something they would attempt if they knew they could not fail. Returning to college, or even starting for the first time, as an adult can be very scary. It would make it easier if we knew we couldn't fail. With help, support, and encouragement it is possible to succeed.
Granite State College (GSC) offers an adult college education with a strong support system in place. Advisors, Academic Resource Coordinators, Faculty and Administrative Staff are all advocates for the students here and want to see them flourish. I see established students everyday marvel in their own accomplishments where they once were new, scared and unsure of their ability to make it in college.
In addition to the positive support, one of the greatest advantages of attending GSC is the flexibility it affords. We offer night college classes, weekend college classes, and courses available online. This variety of delivery options allows college to fit into the busyness of life and is one more reason attributing to our students' success in adult higher education.
I encourage anyone who has ever thought about getting, or completing, a college degree to jump in and make the attempt now. In the right environment with the right options, you will not fail!
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Hello and welcome to my blog. My name is Bette Papa and I am an academic advisor and math faculty at Granite State College, Portsmouth, NH. 
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