Page 2 - New Hampshire Colleges Universities

My First Explication: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

Monday, August 9, 2010 by Leslie Bowering

WOW! WHO KNEW?

When I first heard the word EXPLICATION I felt that sense of panic you get when someone has blind-folded you and turned you around a couple of times, then tells you to walk straight... it will be fine.

I really wasn't fine...until I looked up the definition of the word.

Dr. Imbrascio has been wonderful about giving explicit directions with her expectations in our hybrid British Literature course this summer at Granite State College. She is a new Instructor for us who also teaches Shakespeare at the University of New Hampshire in Durham. She is a British Literature enthusiast and we are extremely fortunate to have her.

I had never experienced the task of pulling apart a literary paragraph, defining, explaining the meanings, and writing an entire essay about it. These exercises stand on their own merit as to the quality of education I am so lucky to be experiencing at Granite State College in Rochester.

The focus of my paper was on Lady Bertilak, Lord Bertilak's wife. I was mesmerized by her overt behavior toward Sir Gawain, a most interesting writing topic. Bit by bit I chipped away at this newly acquired writing technique until I was able to hand in what I assessed as a fairly well-crafted paper.

Much to my surprise I received a raving review!

One sentence at a time, meeting each of these mighty challenges gets me closer to my college degree from Granite State College. So much more spice is added when I am fortunate enough to work with interested, vested Professors who care about my success as well. The Explication has been one of my favorite writing experiences so far, right up there with Dr. Quinn and Expository Writing!

Testing the waters

Thursday, July 29, 2010 by Erin Todd

So, here I am writing my first blog post. It's a little intimidating because I've never blogged before. But there's a first time for everything and I'm excited about this new endeavor. Of course the challenge will be finding the time, between working and classes and family responsibilities.

It helps that I am surrounded by other adult college students, many of whom can relate to my balancing act, because they are also working full-time while taking part time classes. In fact, many of my classmates are only able to afford their adult college classes because at GSC taking just one class a term means that they are eligible to apply for financial aid. Another huge incentive is that the difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition at GSC is only $15 per credit! Offering the lowest tuition of all four institutions in the University of New Hampshire System, GSC is a NH state college where my classmates and I can earn an affordable bachelor degree, associate degree or even teacher certification.

I suppose I sound like I'm going for a hard-sell. But that's only because I have such a positive impression of Granite State College. One of the best aspects of my job at GSC is being a point-of-contact for prospective and new students because I want so much to help people see their potential become reality. If a student calls our Claremont NH College, needing to know how to post a comment to the discussion board in Blackboard for their online class, I can walk them through it over the phone, because I've been in their shoes.

When a potential student calls or walks into our center for the first time, they are often worried about how they'll handle taking adult college courses on top of their work and family responsibilities, and I can relate. But it really is doable! For me, taking online classes is one way I have been able to manage to keep all the balls in the air, so to speak. Sure, my first online class was a little scary in the beginning, but my classmates were incredibly helpful - explaining where to find resources and how to submit assignments. It was a great feeling to learn some new technology along with the actual course material. That's just one of the perks of taking online classes for college!

Because I really enjoy the occasional human interaction, I also take face-to-face evening college classes, as well as weekend intensive classes. I find that I can fit these into my hectic schedule quite nicely. Currently, I'm taking Managing Diversity as a weekend intensive, and The Emerging U.S. Health Care System online. It's a splendid combination of formats and learning!

Well, I better get back to the books, because I want to make sure I get my assignment in before the deadline tomorrow.

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.

Summer, a day on the lakes with a friend

Sunday, July 18, 2010 by Gail Gifford

It was a lovely Sunday morning when my friend and I started out to Lake Cunningham which is about am hour away from my house. We had to stop for our coffee, morning DD with a donut or two, before we got there as we knew we would need some energy to paddle around the whole lake. It must be six to seven miles around the lake but what fun it was. We talked about everything as we paddled. We talked about memories and good times that we had in the past, things we would like to do in the future, dreams, etc. then Granite State College came to mind. It was a memory for me as it has been nine months since I graduated with my Adult College Degree. Boy has it been that long? Time sure flies. When I was going to school it was hard to see the "light at the end of the tunnel" I was so busy. Busy with school work, busy with household work, busy with my full time job work and busy with my four young adults. I just didn't seem to get a break. Now my break is here and can hardly believe it is done. Well, done for the time being anyways. I would love to get my Masters Degree someday. Maybe the University System of New Hampshire can help with that in my future.

OK, more about my day. We started out at Lake Cunningham...then went to a lake neither of us had been to before, Lake Rabon, which is only 18 miles from my house. I was so excited to find a new lake and so close!! "Life is good" as they say. We had map-quested it before we left so we had to watch for street signs as we drove, and low and behold there was the street we were looking for. No more than a stones throw was the lake. OMG what a big lake and bit bigger than Lake Cunningham. There were fisherman fishing and kayakers kayaking..it was great. The water lilies where in full bloom, even brought a couple home to enjoy.

All and all we had a wonderful day, we may feel the aches and pains in a couple days but that will pass. Just like all those classes passed by with the Adult Accelerated Degree Program for school. Isn't it funny how one experience resembles another at times.

My daughter is coming home tomorrow and I think her and I will go to my new found paddling spot one day this week. Hope you all had a wonderful weekend and remember, "this too will pass."

Benefits of Work Study

Tuesday, July 13, 2010 by Ellen Gagnon

     As I mentioned in my previous posts I do work-study at Granite State College. I am usually in the Portsmouth, NH college or at the Rochester Regional Center. Now, I already have a full-time job, so doing work-study is sort of my second job -- but not really -- it helps support my college habit. It is a means by which I can go to school and still make some money. Regardless of the type duties a work-study candidate may encounter the big pay-off is not the money. I hope that doesn’t hurt when we say it out loud.

     Other institutions within the University of New Hampshire System provide work-study opportunities to their students. A student may find themselves in the dining hall, washing dishes for the 2000 students who come in. One of my personal favorites is cleaning the horse barn; a twice daily ritual reserved for the lucky few work-study candidates who desire a truly hands on approach to learning.

     When I go online and look-up work-study, I often see lists of benefits that college-aged students reap when they participate in the program; earn money while going to college, develop time management skills, build work ethic, etc. But the funny thing is, those are not the benefits I need to reap as an adult learner. The benefits I need to have must be geared towards my goals, incorporate my experiences and enhance my learning. So as a budding student of teacher training education, I NEED to have a place where I can foster examples of new learning for young people; I NEED to practice the skills of implementing the theory I have encountered during my course work. So I was really curious about how Granite State College work-study could benefit me.

     In 2007, when I began looking into utilizing work-study funds as a means of decreasing my reliance on student loans I found that most if not all the jobs listed were in Concord and the surrounding areas. Being from the Seacoast this was a disappointing development. But as I read more I found out I could actually do meaningful work, that would also enhance my studies; utilizing work-study funds I could work in my community where I felt there was a need. This was new information for me. Did you know that work-study funds could be used in the community and not only at the college? A win-win solution.

     With the help of Cortney Henry at the Financial Aid office, and the support of my employer, we created an after-school mentoring program (a desperately needed component when working with at-risk youths).  Together the students and I created a concrete form for a garden bench and then went on to pour it. After the bench was finished, we then went on and created a garden area for our bench to be displayed in. It was meaningful work which fit in nicely with my degree program and it is a project which continues to grow today. It has created a lasting tribute to the students who participated in the program and they now have a tangible connection in their community.   When we make purposeful connections, between people and places in our community, we then share common values which enrich us all.

     Now that’s a benefit you can’t put in a pamphlet -- and after all isn’t that what learning should be about?

Granite State College Changed My Life

Tuesday, July 13, 2010 by Granite State College Stories

I was a police officer in Dover, NH when I decided to go back to school for my degree, and I chose GSC and never regretted that decision. The instructors were all working professionals who brought the real world into the classroom, which is the ultimate goal for any educational experience. I got my Bachelor's Degree in Management in 1989 and immediately applied to the University of New Hampshire's graduate school, completing my Master's Degree in Public Administration in 1993. The tools and learning experiences I had at GSC held me in good stead in my master's program, and I look back now on my time at GSC as a dynamic transitional period in my professional and personal life. I later transferred to the Portsmouth Police Department and had a wonderful career there, recently retiring as deputy chief of police. I have recommended GSC to individuals seeking to further their education and I shall continue to do so. It was a great experience for me.

Name: Len DiSesa
Graduated: 1989
Location: Seacoast
Degree: Bachelor of Science in Management

Success As Measured in Bacons

Thursday, June 24, 2010 by Douglas Cooper

There must have been a time when livestock was expensive enough that it was currency unto itself, hence phrases like "bring home the bacon." I am pretty sure the term bucks came to mean dollars in the frontier days of the U.S for the same reason. There was probably an era, when prosperity and success in life in the developed world could be correlated to the amount of bacon a particular person ate, or at least had access to.

This however, is not the bacon I have in mind; instead, I am thinking of Kevin Bacon. In particular, I think that Kevin Bacon should get his own unit of measure, not shockingly called Bacons.

Let me back up: ever since 7th grade, I thought it would be the coolest thing to have my own unit of measure (after I took chemistry in 10th grade, I added that having my own chemical element would be awesome, too). The greatest names in science, as a tribute to their contributions to knowledge, were made synonymous with units of measure in their fields of endeavor. Some of the are familiar and heard every day, like Fahrenheit, or Newtons, if you've ever taken physics. There are dozens more, and they can get totally obscure, like angstroms, gauss, roentgens, farradays, etc. Since I changed my major in college from chemistry to psychology in my sophomore year, the odds of getting my own element or unit don't look good. Almost everyone else alive today won't get one either, but each of us can make a difference in the world with our Bacons.

The idea is to play off the "six degrees of Kevin Bacon" game, so that your one-Bacons are the people immediately around you: family, friends, colleagues. The two-Bacons and beyond are somewhat harder to measure, but it could certainly be done. Focusing on the one-Bacons, I believe that the well-being of your one-Bacons is a direct measure of yourself. The best part about this is that everyone you've ever seen, spoken, or been around is one of your one-Bacons, and anyone that they've ever seen, spoken to, or been around is one of your two-Bacons. Similarly, you could very well be a two-Bacon to two complete strangers, who turn out to be within four or five Bacons of each other....whoa, hang on... I'm dizzy.

This all hit me at the Granite State College Commencement ceremony a couple weekends ago. Even though I have been to a dozen graduation ceremonies before, both as a spectator and a graduate, I just realized a couple weeks ago that an elusive concept like success can be easily measured as your one-Bacons. Each speaker at Commencement, including GSC President Dr. Karol LaCroix, Governor John Lynch, and the faculty and student speakers, more or less made this point from different perspectives. When the students thanked their husbands and wives and children and families, they spoke volumes about being the one-Bacons of their family members. The award recipients basically said the same thing - that their personal achievements were possible only because they are the one-Bacons of their families and colleagues.

I also had a great day that Sunday on account of my one-Bacons. For the first graduation since I started here, I had a number of students graduate that "came in" with me, which is to say I was their advisor from their first day, to that Sunday where they graduated. My one-Bacons are everywhere, too. Some of them had been to multiple schools in the University of New Hampshire System, but finished at GSC. Others have a career for years, even decades, before deciding to finish with online classes for criminal justice.

All of this was huge for me, although to be fair, it's sort of rigged: each of my advisees who graduated are some of my one-Bacons, and it felt really good to have helped in the success and graduation of that many folks. The families and friends assembled that afternoon must have also been proud, so that my two-Bacons also had a great day.

Please know, this is not all about me, or about any one of us, individually. Instead, I think the true measure of the success of any one of us can be measured by our Bacons. Ask yourself, just as I do everyday (wait, that's not true; it's not every day, how about a few times a week):

How did I make my organization better today?
How did I make my spouse's/child's/friend's/neighbor's life better today?

Your one-Bacons (and two-Bacons and three-Bacons, and so on) can be your most trusted friends or total strangers on the bus, and any one of them or all of them can be vastly upgraded by the simplest or silliest things. And even though it's true that we have an opportunity to better ourselves by actively bettering the lot of our one-Bacons, it always helps to have a ceremony or event that broadcasts the betterment of your one-Bacons, like when a number of my students walked across that stage when their names were called at Commencement.

Letting go.....the New Parent Orientation

Thursday, June 24, 2010 by Jan Hodges

As a mom of a newly-minted high school graduate, I now understand the difficulty parents experience when it comes to letting go of their college-age children. As parents we dedicate so much time and energy to taking care of our children, guiding...helping. It is hard to recognize when we cross the boundary into new territory where the most helpful thing we can do is to let our children help themselves and make their own decisions.

I have been comparing notes with friends whose children also just graduated and are on their way to various New Hampshire Colleges and Universities this fall. Many have already attended orientations where the children are herded off to one session, the parents to another. The parent orientations talk about financial aid, what we can expect from our children once they are in college - but the main focus seems to be on teaching us to let our children have their own academic experience, complete with poor decisions and the occasional failure - and for us to resist the urge to do everything for them. Point taken.

Even though GSC is known for Adult Higher Education, we are seeing more and more traditional age students. As an Academic Advisor at Granite State College in Conway, NH, I have been in the position to gently point out to parents who are emailing or calling me for course suggestions, that perhaps it might be better for the student to communicate with me directly. Of course, there are also laws that prohibit advisors from sharing adult student's information.

For parents of new Granite State College students, however, it is a somewhat easier transition. Because we are not a residential college, the student is still living at home. Also, unlike many other colleges, Granite State College employs full time academic advisors who are designated student advocates. Parents can take comfort in knowing there is someone there to provide guidance and help when needed.

So, fellow parents, join me in learning how to let go so we can watch our children learn to soar.

Where do I go from here?

Wednesday, June 23, 2010 by Deidre Romeo

Now that I have attained my degree, where do I go from here? I knew before I graduated with my adult college degree from Granite State College that I wanted to continue my education so I am working on my MBA degree from our sister institution of the University of New Hampshire System, Plymouth State University. I was able to take two of the required MBA graduate courses from PSU during this past year and have the credit awarded towards my adult college degree from Granite State College as well as towards my MBA degree. Therefore I am beginning my MBA program with two courses already accomplished.

Now that I have decided to continue my love of education, what am I to do about my career? The economy is slowly but surely turning around. I have slowly but surely turned around my career options by attaining my adult college degree. One of my business professors told me that any professional seriously looking to change careers should pay a professional resume writer to accomplish the task. I took his advice and had the professionals at monster.com create my new resume earlier this month. Below is my new education portion of my resume. Before this week it simply incorporated my High School diploma.

I have many years of practical business knowledge and now have the degree to compliment my experience. My real passion and ambition is to somehow enter the fields of HR or Organizational Communication/Public Relations at the age of 43! My adult college degree is a B.S. in Business Management with a minor in human resources and a concentration in communication. Being able to say that I have attained my adult college degree not only offers me more opportunities it boosts my confidence in myself.

Follow me on my blog and see where my career aspirations lead me with my degree in hand!

The evolution of GSC; looking back and ahead

Thursday, April 15, 2010 by Tom Oetinger

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!

That Which You Seek May Be Found Online

Tuesday, April 13, 2010 by Douglas Cooper

Like any other chemical, mechanical or technological change that has ever been discovered, the internet can be used for well or for ill. Naturally, the misuses of the internet make more headlines, and the good things fade to the background. For this reason, bullying-induced suicide, breaking news stories about poorly updated sex offender registires, and $50 gift cards to Olive Garden just for you! are more likely to occupy the collective attention than credible reference material, banking and bill-pay features, or a college with online classes ever could.

As I mentioned before, there are several websites that I visit regularly, almost daily, and I get excellent and reliable information from them that is either just for my own geeky benefit or for a very practical purpose, or both.

For my unabashed love of maps, I rely heavily on Google maps at maps.google.com/maps . That maps will show any square mile of the Earth's surface that you want, and I have on several occasions used it in real time, as recently as yesterday, to guide a lost or uncertain friend or student to a particular destination.

In fifth grade, I was accused of reading the dictionary for fun. Although it started out as a joke (I think?), it was also persistent interest to know what particular big words meant, so that I eventually did flip to random pages of a nearby dictionary just to see what was there. For several years now, I have regularly visited dictionary.com to check on spelling, definition, and etymology of all kinds of words. It even has a Translator on there, which although imperfect can still give you a pretty good idea of what is written in another language.

I have something of a love-hate relationship with wikipedia.org. While I am in it all the time, I am bummed that it suffers from such a bad reputation in higher education. It seems pretty clear now that it's not a good idea to rely on wikipedia for research papers, but it can still point one in the direction of scholarly research, indisputable information and trivia, and for conventional wisdom, too.

Other things I have been into lately are:

ted.com/talks - Interesting lectures on a variety of topics

www.aldaily.com - Recent articles, criticism and essays in all kinds of scholarly subjects.

This where we bring it back to Granite State College. Much like going online to figure out the difference between a frittata and quiche, and what's the temperature going to be like tomorrow, an online school for adults can be the answer that you didn't know where to find, or that you didn't know you were looking for at all. As part of the New Hampshire University System, we make sure to have our stuff together and the our credits are as reliable as looking up a word in the dictionary.

One last thing - I am not a salesman. If GSC doesn't have quite the right program or degree you're looking for, I and any advisor here could point you in the direction of a school that does. As I tend to say in emails to my students: Let me know what you think. Thanks.

The Changing of the Guard

Monday, April 12, 2010 by Deidre Romeo

It has now become reality in my mind; Karol LaCroix is really retiring this June! Karol is the current President of Granite State College. She has truly made this school what it is today, a thriving academic environment available to all within our State and beyond. Granite State College is one of the best Colleges of New Hampshire. We are the leader in online course offerings and almost 50% of our alumni continue on to graduate school. GSC offers flexible class scheduling, many degree majors which include self-design degrees and utilizes an abundance of career educators as well as business leaders to teach our students. Karol has been instrumental in bringing Granite State College to the new millennium. Karol has been a strong leader, a mentor to many and a friend to all. She will be greatly missed.

Last week the new President of Granite State College was announced, Dr. Todd Leach from the College of Professional Studies at Northeastern University. I was fortunate enough to be able to attend a question and answer forum with Dr. Leach and the other two finalists for the Presidency. I was very pleased with the information and answers he gave at his “drilling”! You can find a link to his resume on the GSC homepage if you are interested. Below is a word cloud I created from my impression of our new President.

If it is not obvious, I am reluctantly excited. My reluctance is only in losing Karol, I could not be more pleased with the candidate that was chosen. Change is usually a good thing. I welcome Dr. Leach to our learning community and look forward to the opportunity to watch him thrive.

Broccoli is good for you

Friday, April 9, 2010 by Jeanne Lester

There's nothing like telling someone that something is "good for you" to suck the enjoyment right out of it. Silly really, but true. One of my favorite breakfast cereals is "Quaker Crunchy Corn Bran" --yes, I am under the age of 73--it just plain tastes good. That is, it did until I discovered that it has been "certified" by many nutritionists and personal trainers as one of the healthiest cereals. Suddenly it has lost some of it's appeal for me.

And as a confirmed and proud-of-it chocoholic, I initially rejoiced when "experts" determined that dark chocolate has health benefits. That is, until I realized that really, when you come down to it, I prefer milk chocolate. Suddenly.

Jumping rope was one of my favorite things to do outside as a kid. Now, I know it is a great form of excercise. (Strangely I no longer own a jump rope.)

My 6-year-old and 4-year-old sons actually love broccoli. Last night, Nicholas did not want any of his chicken or rice for dinner, but asked for more broccoli. I hope he will never find out it is good for him.  Lock that information in the childhood vault of secrets right beside Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy--only to be released in dire circumstances.

Of course, we all need to do things that ARE good for us, even if they are not particularly enjoyable. This brings me to tell you about radical action we took in our house--we cancelled our cable. (Insert gasp here.) No, it wasn't any statement we were making to the cable company, or protest we were staging--it was something we simply felt would benefit us--and were willing to try. After noticing how much time "evaporated" as we fell into a habit of watching TV pretty often, and at the same time jumping for the remote as a commercial began to air that was decidedly inappropriate for the kids to see, it was easy to see this as a great way to save money and mental health each month. Easy to see, a little harder to make the call and pull the plug. Especially once we decided it would be a good thing for us to do. But call we did, and cancel they did--and we prepared for the misery of our good decision.

The results?  Living more deliberately. Hey, we're not martyrs--we "upped" our membership in Netflix, and have bought a few more movies, but now we consciously choose when and what we view, and have had some great family times together watching new movies and revisiting old favorites.  Anyone remember The Waltons?

I spend more time reading to the kids, talking with my husband, and it just seems like I get more done without the distraction. Do I miss TV? Truly there have only been a handful of times that I really wished we had it: for the olympics, sometimes for the news (although I can get most of it online), and I was an "American Greed" junkie. Otherwise, I am enjoying the benefits of this "good for you" decision.

Kind of like pursuing adult education and training at Granite State College. The University of New Hampshire system provides the vehicle for completing my degree--which is good for me; good for my future, and good for my kids to see that learning never stops--even when you're "way old" like me. But the students and faculty provide added benefits which make the process enjoyable. I get additional social interaction, intellectual challenge, and to hear of great experiences from people I probably wouldn't have run into otherwise. Am I missing out on something while I am at school? Ehhh- there's not much on TV now anyway.

Presidential Proceedings

Friday, April 9, 2010 by Wayne Churchill

April 8, 2010 was a special day for Granite State College, as Dr. Todd Leach was elected to be our next president. This is an exciting time for all members of the GSC Community, as we find ourselves on the horizon of a new era, and the changes that will come with it. As I sat in the Manchester NH College, patiently awaiting the announcement with other audience members for the big news, I found myself consistently repeating this thought: "I can not wait to see what changes take place immediately, as well as the changes that will take place over time." Dr. Leach's first two years on the job will be my last two years with the college, so I look forward to participating in the improvements that he will implement.

For some audience members, this was their first exposure to the process of selecting a new president (the announcement being the end of the process). I was one of the lucky few in the room to actively participate in the process from end to end. In October, I was asked to be the student representative to the Presidential Search Committee. My first thought was that this was an amazing honor to be asked and to serve, but reality settled in very quickly. Our first meeting in Concord in November was an introduction to the rest of the search committee. Ed MacKay, Chancellor of the University System of New Hampshire, welcomed and introduced us to Trustee George Epstein, who would chair the committee. With the advice from our consultants, we mapped out a process that called for us to immediately begin to request applicants to express interest in the position, to interview in January and February, and finally to recommend three candidates to the Chancellor in March.

Each member was granted access to the email in box that resumes and cover letters were submitted to, and we were expected to return to our next meeting in December with a go/no go for each applicant. After logging into the account, my initial impression was that we had an extremely talented pool of approximately 70 potential candidates to choose from. Our first meeting in December carried the daunting task of whittling the list down to a manageable number of candidates. In January, we discussed the nearly 25 applicants who expressed interest after our December meeting, and interviewed two candidates. Through the month of February, we met three more times in Concord to interview candidates. After those sessions, we forwarded the names of three candidates that we as a committee felt that could be the next president of Granite State College.

Today's announcement was the culmination of a lot of hard work and tough decisions. The inherent stress that comes with the process of making these decisions increased as we came closer to a decision, yet some very nice relationships were forged among the committee members through the hours of deliberating. It was an honor to be part of this committee, and I send my most sincere congratulations to President Todd Leach of Granite State College.

A Weekend Among Women Warriors

Tuesday, April 6, 2010 by Deidre Romeo

I just finished my capstone course last semester and needed only one more elective credit to complete my adult education degree in Business Management from Granite State College (GSC). Because GSC is part of the University of New Hampshire System we are eligible to attend classes at Keene State College, Plymouth State University or the Univerity of New Hampshire for direct credit. These are not treated as transfer credits but instead the grades are calculated into our GPA’s just as if they were earned from a GSC course. In this particular situation not only does the credit and grade from this PSU course count towards my affordable Bachelor degree at GSC but it also satisfies one required elective course in the MBA program at PSU which I am pursuing after graduation. I took a graduate course through PSU in the fall as well. I will graduate from GSC with my Bachelors degree and already have two required graduate courses for my MBA accomplished. This is referred to as double dipping. I get the credit for having taken four courses at the investment cost and time of only two classes!

The course at PSU which I chose to take was “Women as Leaders.” The class met for a long weekend at a charming Inn in Waterville Valley. The class utilized four seasoned educators who possessed incredible synergy with one another. My classmates were a diverse group of strong, accomplished and enthusiastic women who empowered one another through the bonding experience. I gained valuable knowledge, insight and networking contacts from this weekend. I also gained some weight as the owner of the Inn is an accomplished chef who presented us unbelievable meals three times a day! Did I forget to mention that this course included a room and board fee? I had a room to myself and ate better than I ever could have at home.

This was my second experience with the weekend college classes format which includes room and board and incorporates a 24 hour learning experience. I cannot adequately express everything that is gained from such an arrangement. If flexibility and opportunities are what you are looking for, stop right here; you have found them.

No regrets

Sunday, April 4, 2010 by Jeanne Lester

Last week I was left shaken by the unexpected death of my step-father. As members of the family gathered in support, we hugged, cried, laughed and talked of new perspectives. Although I have not previously experienced the death of anyone close to me, I certainly expected most of those reactions.  What really struck me, however, was how often I heard "I wish I had.........." The regret for actions not taken, for time not spent, is hard to get past.

Certainly we have come away from this initial grieving process with a new perspective on the things in life that matter, and a resolve to spend time really investing in the people we love. It has reinforced the concept that we all know deep down---time marches on quickly, and if we keep putting off 'til tomorrow what could be done today, there is a danger the "right" time may not be available.

It would be ridiculous to equate anything on a "to do" list to the importance of personal relationships, but this focus on regret did get me thinking about regrets in my own life. Although I have had my share of heartache and have made plenty of mistakes, I have said for years that my only true regret (probably because I really could find no good reason for this particular mistake) was in not finishing my University of New Hampshire System degree.  I am so glad to be participating now in an Adult College Program through Granite State College that will allow me to finish, to complete my degree--and yes, to alleviate that regret.   It feels good to be working toward that goal, so I won't have to "wish I had........"

So, this week I will be looking at all of the people in my life a bit differently, spending time really engaging with them, and with a new found sense of purpose. Let me encourage you to look at what you'd like to accomplish--whether it's with a career, a relationship, or any other life event, and ask yourself "What's really holding me back?" As for me, "hats off!" to Granite State College for making it possible for me to take action, and toward my resolve to look forward with no regret.

Fifty Thousand per year? How about a whole degree for thirty-five?

Monday, March 29, 2010 by Douglas Cooper

I first heard about top-flight college and universities topping the $50,000 per year mark a couple of weeks ago. The first one to announce corssing this threshold was Boston University (I think), followed quickly by Dartmouth (unique among NH colleges & universities to cross this benchmark), Mount Holyoke, and Tufts, among others.

Most folks that mention this on talk radio and other media do so with overt disgust and contempt. The cost of higher education is portrayed as an extortion with impunity by unscrupulous professors and bloated administrations. One could even argue that the announcements of astronomical cost to attend the aforementioned institutions and their ilk is to some extent fashionable; certainly, if I were running Brandeis University and neighboring Wllesley College announced that they cost more than $50k, what would it say about Brandeis if we don't cost more than fifty?

Expressions of pity for the parents of high school graduates usually follow, but I feel there are two important points that commentators miss, whether acciedntally or deliberately. First - the very parents for whom they express their spendthrift sympathies are likely to be the ones demanding the state-of-the-art facilities and accommodations that have contributed heavily to the steady rise in these tuition and room-and-board totals. That top-flight schools and even some state schools have sushi bars and world-class fitness centers is demanded by the marketplace, rather than artificially dreamed up and foisted upon the higher education public.

The second point that commentators seem to regularly pass over is that there are still far more ways to obtain an affordable bachelor degree than an inaffordable one. It reminds me of the joke where a guy goes to his doctor and says, "Doctor - it hurts when I do this," and the doctor replies "Well, don't do that." If attending Holy Cross and staying on campus and having a meal plan costs more than you can afford, then don't go there. The idea that if you don't go to Holy Cross or Amherst that you won't get a decent education, or worse, that if you can't afford to send your child to one of those places that you are somehow inadequate or a failure, is stupid at best and destructive at worst.

Maybe this kind of discussion gets my hackles to stand up because I attended a public college myself - not a New Hampshire state university, mind you - but the flagship of a nearby system. I wouldn't trade my undergraduate education and experience for anything, and it would be a shame if folks, whether straight out of high school, or looking for Adult college classes, didn't consider public schools, i.e. Granite State College, which are particularly designed to be affordable, accessible, etc.

Fifty thousand a year? Really? Even when a students comes into my office starting from scratch, we can work out a plan that can finish off the degree for less than $35,000 total.

If that works better for your budget and prevents you from having to take out a second mortgage, drop me an email, and we can talk about that some more.

Spare Time

Monday, March 15, 2010 by Beth McKenna

What do you do with your spare time? If you are like most people, you probably don't have a lot of spare time. You are probably running from one thing to another. Maybe you have a job and a family and friends that you juggle your time for. But what about in the evening? Are you sitting in front of tv watching commercials for New Hampshire Colleges and Universities? Maybe an add for a Concord NH College, or a Manchester NH University caught your eye. But you say to yourself, "no way, not me, I can't go to college."

But why not you? Do you realize that you could be taking courses at home on your computer instead of watching tv? You could be enrolled in a course at Granite State College right now at home, or you could be in Rochester, Concord, Manchester, or any number of locations sitting in a classroom and learning new things.

Oh, I lost you again. You say to yourself, "I can't sit in a classroom. I am too ____," (old, tired, busy..) But what if you went to class one night a week? Everyone else in the room is just as busy as you. Even most of your instructors are working somewhere else during the day. They know what it is like to juggle responsibilities. So instructors give you work that is geared to help you in your profession, classmates support one another and suddenly, TADA! You have taken your first course.

Give it a try! Granite State is a place where adult learners can grow and learn and only by giving up a tv show or two!

New doors

Wednesday, March 10, 2010 by Ellen Gagnon

When I walked into the building they called me "a non-traditional student." This meant I was different than most of the student body, (I had enrolled at state university, herein after known as College No. 1.) Not only was it going to be my first college class, it was my first class in over ten years. Even though I was a bit older than before, (hoping the extra years of maturity would compensate for the years of absence), I was still feeling a bit scared. But I knew enough about myself to just keep going -- no matter how I felt. Once I was 'back into the swing of things,' I knew I would settle down and possibly enjoy the experience. That is the advantage of maturity I had hoped would kick in.

"Ok, settle down and open the door," I started to tell myself. As I reached for the door to the building I flashed back to a commercial from the 70s. The picture was of a young black man. He had a worried look on his face as he stood before a large building about to walk in. As he reached for the door the announcer's voice cut-in, "A mind is a terrible thing to waste." As if the announcer were talking through me I echoed the tag line out loud. I was that young black man, except I was a woman, and older than him, but other than that, I was him! Both of us shaking off the social conventions that kept us outside that building, and beginning a new chapter in our lives. I opened that door and, with a renewed confidence, marched right in.

Life events would prevent me from continuing with this College No. 1, and it would be another 10+ plus years before I would return again. But taking that first step was a bit less intimidating with Granite State College. A lot of the New Hampshire colleges, universities and other institutions may offer you an education but only GSC provides you with unique opportunities for learning. As the premier provider of adult college courses these unique opportunities don't always come from the syllabus, rather they come from the knowledge base of the students themselves. Each new semester always brings new classes and new students. Usually they are also adults who have experienced life and are not afraid to bring what they have learned into the classroom or the discussion boards.

Being afraid is a natural part of life -- walking through the door, in spite of my fears, has made the difference in my learning experiences. Are you ready to open new doors?

A Day Outdoors with Master-Teacher

Monday, March 8, 2010 by John Cook

What a weekend to be outside!

It was quite the treat this Saturday - I was able to join a field trip with our Enviromental Heritage class in Maine. The course is offered out of our Rochester NH College, but it also includes some time outdoors.

The course is being taught by Dan Gardoqui, and it is safe to say that he is truly a Master-Teacher. As Executive Director of White Pine Programs based in Cape Neddick Maine, Dan supplies a tremendous amount of passion, knowledge and experience in his teaching with Granite State students.  He is well-known for field components in his courses - frankly, it is an aspect sought out by students.  For adult college students, or students of any age, learning doesn't get any better than being outside, being active, and having a Master like Dan making science accessible.

We started our day atop Mt. Agamenticus, and ended up at the Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve.  It seems clear that potentially abstract notions about conservation, our environment, and public policy, are transformed during class time spent in this manner. As I have written before, the New Hampshire University System through Granite State, offers such a wealth of experienes for students. Be they online classes, weekend college classes, or classes that get students outdoors, it is thrilling to offer such a range of educational experiences.

Pics below!

View from atop Mt. Agamenticus (York, ME):