GovCentral

Job Prospects Drawing Students to Ag Schools

DAVID MERCER | The Associated Press via YellowBrix — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 05:53:00 -0800

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) - Tristesse Jones will probably never drive a tractor or guide a combine through rows of soybeans at harvest time.

There isn't a farm within miles of where she grew up on Chicago's west side, but she's set to graduate with a bachelor's degree in crop sciences from the University of Illinois' agriculture school next spring.

"People ask me what is my major, and they say 'What is that? So you want to grow plants?'" Jones said.

She is one of a growing number of students being drawn to ag schools around the country not by ties to a farm but by science, the job prospects for those who are good at it and, for some, an interest in the environment.

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Enrollment in bachelor's degree programs in agriculture across the country grew by 21.8 percent from 2005 to 2008, from about 58,300 students to nearly 71,000, according to surveys conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. And the numbers are likely higher _ not all schools respond to the surveys.

National enrollment figures for 2009 aren't yet available, but numbers from major schools make clear the trend continues: The University of California-Davis has more than 5,490 students enrolled in agricultural majors _ a jump of 210 from a year earlier. Purdue University has 2,575 ag students this fall, up 40 from last year.

Yet the number of farms nationwide has dropped for decades. There were about 2.4 million farms in the United States in 1978, and 2.2 million last year, according to the USDA.

Many students are choosing to major in agriculture, educators from across the country say, after finding out that much of what they'll learn is science _ biology, chemistry and a long list of more specialized areas that can land them jobs at companies that produce the seeds and chemicals for farmers or in still-forming industries like biofuels.

Almost a quarter of the incoming freshmen at the University of Wisconsin each year say they want to do "something in biology," said Bob Ray, associate dean for undergraduate programs and services.

Agriculture schools are doing their best to reach out to such students.

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Texas A&M University's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences has several full-time recruiters on the road talking to high school students. It also uses its Web site, YouTube and social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter to reach prospective students. A lot of the messages boil down to job prospects.

"Every one of our poultry science graduates, they average about five job offers per graduate," college spokesman Bill Gibbs said.

Demand for science graduates, agriculture industry officials say, outstrips supply.

Monsanto, the St. Louis agribusiness giant that makes seeds, pesticides and an array of other farm products, can't hire enough.

"We find it really hard to find people in science, in particular, because they tend to get snatched up by medical and health care-related things," said Monsanto spokesman Darren Wallis, adding that it has openings for 100 researchers in St. Louis.

UC-Davis' College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences is one of the country's biggest ag schools and still has plenty of students studying in traditional areas, said Diane Ullman, the college's associate dean for undergraduate academic programs.

But more than 3,200 of UC-Davis' ag students _ almost 60 percent _ are studying so-called human sciences, such as nutrition, or environmental sciences, such as environmental policy and landscape architecture.

"I think that young people are recognizing all of the issues that surround our society that have to do with food, and I think there's a real interest in new ways of doing things and solving some of these problems," Ullman said.

Kate Molak is one of the students Ullman is talking about.

Molak is from Portola Valley, a suburb of San Jose, and plans to graduate in June with a bachelor's degree in community regional development. She wants to work in public health.

"I wouldn't say that agriculture necessarily has anything to do with that, but we do deal with a lot of environmental issues with public health," she said.

At Illinois, Jones said she wound up in the ag department after her high school pompon coach _ who happened to be a biology teacher _ steered her toward a summer science program at the university.

"I always liked to pick apart worms _ I thought I was a weirdo," Jones said

Now she's applying to graduate programs and hoping she'll eventually be a research professor, maybe working on how to grow a better soybean.

"I love doing research," she said. "Just having that hands-on experience, and being able to see the product, even if it takes years to see it."

Student Loan Consolidation Makes Sense

Carolyn Bigda | Chicago Tribune via YellowBrix — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 05:43:00 -0800

Q I recently graduated from college with private student loans. Is there any institution consolidating private student loans, and does it make sense to do so? D.F.

A Yes, there are banks that offer private consolidation loans, but to benefit from this repayment option, you'll have to meet select criteria.

When you consolidate your student loans, you wrap all the money you've borrowed throughout college into one, bigger loan. So you won't have to keep track of multiple loans.

In addition, you can repay a consolidation loan over a longer period (as much as 30 years compared with 10 or 15 for standard repayment), which lowers the monthly payment.

Now the fine print: While you can consolidate federal and private student loans, you can't bundle them together. Like matters of church and state, you have to address federal and private loans separately.

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Consolidating federal education loans is relatively easy. You qualify regardless of the size of your loans, and there are no credit checks and fees. Also, the interest rate you pay -- a weighted average of the rates on your federal loans with a cap of 8.25 percent --is fixed.

To apply, go to the U.S. Department of Education's Federal Direct Loan Consolidation program at loanconsolidation.ed.gov.

Private student loan consolidation is trickier. For one, only a handful of lenders, including Chase and Wells Fargo, still do it.

"Lenders that relied on the capital markets are unable to get the funding for these loans," said Mark Kantrowitz, publisher of www.finaid.org.

To qualify, your balance generally needs to add up to at least $7,500.

Also, the interest rate you pay is variable and based on your FICO credit score. The higher your credit rating, the lower your rate. At Wells Fargo, for example, rates range from about 4.25 to 9 percent. But there is no cap, as with federal consolidation loans.

Here are three scenarios in which consolidation makes sense, if you qualify:

Your credit score has improved since you first borrowed.

"Students who are most likely to benefit are those who got their loans when they had a very thin or nonexistent credit history," Kantrowitz said. "And since then their credit score has increased by at least 50 and preferably 100 points."

With that kind of jump, your interest rate could drop by roughly 1 point, Kantrowitz estimated.

You need to release a co-signer.

To qualify for a private student loan, you may have needed a co-signer, such as a parent, spouse or other relative. Like you, the co-signer is responsible for the loan's repayment. Many lenders will "release" the co-signer after you make a series of on-time payments.

But if your lender doesn't have that option, a consolidation loan is a good way to orchestrate the "release."

You need to simplify your repayment.

You need to minimize the number of bills that you have to keep track of each month.

But comparison shop before you consolidate. Though you have few lenders to choose from, loans will vary: Some lenders, for example, may charge fees to consolidate.

There's also no "upfront pricing:" You have to apply to see what interest rate you will be charged.

"You may not qualify for the lowest advertised rate," Kantrowitz said. "You still have to shop around."

E-mail Carolyn Bigda at yourmoney@tribune.com.

Five Resume Mistakes You Should Avoid

Jaime Weinstein | Writer for Institutions of Higher Learning — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 11:45:00 -0700

Everyone’s made a mistake or three at one point or another in their career. The mistakes that sting the most are ones that can cost a job, or a potential job. My mistake involves a resume with a typo.

Over the course of a few months I interviewed several times with the same company. Prior to my final interview, the HR Recruiter asked for an updated resume. I happily obliged her request and made the update. At the same time a rogue key, courtesy of my laptop’s over-sensitive keypad, inserted itself in my resume as well. Luckily, I was able to catch this mistake before walking into the interview and explain what happened before losing the opportunity to continue the interview.

Learn From Other’s Mistakes
Thousands of other applicants are not as lucky when it comes to avoiding the #1 resume mistake – typos and grammatical errors (as cited in a Monster.com resume article). The last thing you want is for an employer to think you cannot communicate well, or that you don’t care about your job. To ensure that your resume gets the attention it deserves, here are four mistakes to avoid:

2. Don’t lack specifics. A resume with vague references will not get noticed. Employers want to know what you’ve done and any notable accomplishments.

3. Don’t take a one size fits all approach. Using one resume for all job applications will not help your resume stand out of the pile. Employers want to see how you will be an asset to their company.

4. Don’t highlight duties instead of accomplishments. This goes hand-in-hand with point number two. By making sure that your accomplishments are attached to the duties that led to your achievements, you are able to show a positive cause and effect relationship with your work.

5. Don’t create your resume too long or too short. There isn’t a specific standard when it comes to how many pages a resume should be. If you utilize points one through four, you’ll be on your way to a healthier-looking resume. Monster.com recommends two pages as a good starting point, and if you go over that amount it’s okay. You can always trim your wording down. Just make sure it’s not lacking specifics or lists an accomplishment without a duty, or vice versa.

By avoiding these common mistakes and implementing the proper strategies, you’ll be on your way to a stronger resume. Another way to strengthen your resume is through listing your credentials. Experience coupled with education makes the strongest impact to resumes that catch employers’ eyes.

Well-respected universities such as Florida Tech offer a wide variety of convenient degree programs. Florida Tech, for example offers a variety of 100% online degree programs ranging from associate’s level all the way to master’s. The online degree programs allow you to work your classes around your busy schedule while achieving your academic goals.

By keeping points 1-5 in mind, you can avoid the same resume mistakes that I, along with many other people have made along the way. Before you get started on writing that resume, go ahead and check out what Florida Tech can do for you!

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By Jaime Weinstein, Writer for Institutions of Higher Learning

Removing Barriers to College

Peter R. Orszag, Director | Office of Management & Budget — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 06:06:00 -0700

This weekend I read a fascinating new paper about the impact of providing a simplified approach to financial aid for prospective college students.

Read the report: "The Role of Simplification..." by the National Bureau of Economic Research

The results are startling: high school seniors who were provided a modest amount of help in filling out the forms were almost 30 percent more likely to attend college and receive a Pell Grant the next year than a statistically comparable control group. The paper underscores two key themes we are promoting at OMB: the crucial role of behavioral economics (which often highlights the benefits from making things easy and simple) and the use of rigorous analysis (in this case, the study relies on random assignment).

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In particular, during tax season, H&R Block professionals offered help in completing student financial aid applications to a group of low and moderate income clients. One set of clients was assisted by their tax professional through the process of completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Data already provided in their tax forms was automatically pulled into the form, and the tax specialist walked clients through a series of questions to complete the rest of the form. Families were immediately given an estimate of possible federal aid and cost information on four local post-secondary options. If the clients approved, H&R block then electronically submitted the completed FAFSA on their behalf. The result was a 40 percent increase in FAFSA submission rates, and a 29 percent increase in college attendance rates the next year (see chart).

These outcomes are very impressive, and point to the deleterious effects associated with the complexity of the current application process. The FAFSA is more than four times longer than the 1040 EZ tax form, includes 153 questions, and requires applicants to report detailed information about income and assets, much of which is difficult to understand and pull together, and often has little ultimate bearing on eligibility for aid. As this study demonstrates, small differences in application procedures can make a difference in program participation.

The Administration is already taking several steps to remove barriers from the FAFSA application process. These include the use of a shorter, simplified form as well as enabling online users to automatically transfer data previously supplied electronically in their tax forms directly into their FAFSA application. Congress is considering the Administration’s proposal to simplify aid eligibility requirements. This research underscores the benefits of these types of reforms -- and how important it is to remove barriers to college entry.

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Student Veterans Can Apply For Emergency Aid Online

Emma Brown | The Washington Post via YellowBrix — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 05:37:00 -0700

Thousands of student veterans who have not yet received tuition, housing and book payments under the Post-9/11 GI Bill may apply online for emergency aid beginning Friday, the Department of Veterans Affairs said Wednesday.

The agency announced last week that students struggling to pay their bills could receive a maximum $3,000 advance on earned educational benefits, but said that veterans could claim the aid only by going in person to one of 57 regional offices. Officials decided to offer the online option because many veterans would have had to travel a considerable distance to get to an office -- including one student at Northern Michigan University whose round trip to the nearest office in Ann Arbor would have taken 15 hours, said Student Veterans of America Executive Director Derek Blumke.

Students may apply online by going to http://www.va.gov. Applicants would receive their checks in the mail.

Veterans without their own transportation who wish to visit a regional office may request free van service by calling their nearest VA medical center.

As of last week, less than 10 percent of the 251,000 veterans who had applied for the benefit had actually received checks, forcing thousands to live off of savings, take out personal loans or run up credit card bills, according to veterans and groups that advocate on their behalf.

Photo:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/soldiersmediacenter/ / CC BY 2.0

House Bill Would Boost Pell Grants

LIBBY QUAID | The Associated Press via YellowBrix — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 05:42:00 -0700

WASHINGTON — The House voted Thursday in favor of the biggest overhaul of college aid programs since their creation in the 1960s — a bill to oust private lenders from the student loan business and put the government in charge.

The vote was 253-171 in favor of a bill that fulfills nearly all of President Barack Obama's campaign promises for higher education: The measure ends subsidies for private lenders, boosts Pell Grants for needy students and creates grant programs to improve community colleges and college graduation rates, among other things.

"These are reforms that have been talked about for years, but they're always blocked by special interests and their lobbyists," Obama said Thursday during a rally at the University of Maryland.

"Well, because you voted for change in November, we're going to bring change in the House of Representatives today," the president said.

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Ending loan subsidies and turning control over to the government would save taxpayers an estimated $87 billion, according to the Congressional Budget Office. Lawmakers would use that money to help make college more affordable, increasing the maximum Pell Grant by $1,400 to $6,900 over the next decade.

"The choice before us is clear. We can either keep sending these subsidies to banks or we can start sending them directly to students," said the bill's sponsor, California Democratic Rep. George Miller, chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee.

Yet the money also would be spent on things that don't help pay for college, such as construction at K-12 schools and new preschool programs.

And while the measure would increase Pell Grants, it would do nothing to curb college costs, which rise much faster than Pell Grants do.

In addition, the CBO says that when administrative costs and market conditions are considered, the savings from switching to direct government lending could be much lower, $47 billion instead of $87 billion.

Republicans warned that instead of saving the government money, as Democrats promise, the bill could wind up costing the government more money.

"Unfortunately, the numbers just don't add up," said Minnesota Rep. John Kline, senior Republican on the Education Committee.

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Lawmakers split largely along party lines on the bill, with only six Republicans in favor and four Democrats against. The measure goes next to the Senate, where its fate is a little less certain.

Obama didn't get his way on one thing: The president proposed earlier this year to take Pell Grants out of lawmakers' hands entirely, making the program an entitlement like Social Security and Medicare, which would have cost an estimated $117 billion — more than lawmakers have to spend.

Under the measure, Pell Grants would rise slightly more than inflation over the next decade, increasing on average by about 2.6 percent yearly, according to the bill's sponsors. However, the grants would still depend on annual spending bills and could rise less than promised, as has happened in the past.

Lawmakers met him halfway on the labyrinthine college aid form; Obama proposed to eliminate it altogether when he ran for president, but the bill would keep the form and shorten it.

As consumers, college students probably wouldn't notice much difference in their loans, which they would get through their schools. However, officials at several colleges worry they may not be able to make the switch to direct government loans in time for next year, and Education Department officials said this week they do not intend to extend the deadline.

More schools administer federal loans through the subsidized loan program than from the government's direct loan program. Private lenders made $56 billion in government-backed loans to more than 6 million students last year, compared with $14 billion in direct loans from the government.

Republicans argued it is wrong to put the government in near-total control of student lending.

Many also worry about job losses in their districts. Private lenders employ more than 30,000 people whose jobs depend on the subsidized loan program, and the industry says many would be laid off.

Sallie Mae, the biggest student lender, has about 8,500 employees in the program and probably would lay off about 30 percent of those workers. It still will have contracts to service federal loans.

Its employees have held a series of town hall meetings and petition drives to involve local leaders in Pennsylvania, Florida, Delaware, New York and Indiana.

Democratic Rep. David Wu of Oregon said lenders still could make all the loans they want. "What will not happen anymore is making those student loans with taxpayer subsidies," he said.

Community College for Career Changers

John Rossheim | Monster Senior Contributing Writer — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 05:42:00 -0700

President Barack Obama has proposed a 10-year, multibillion-dollar initiative to beef up community college programs across the nation, with a primary objective of retraining Americans for the volatile workplace of the 21st century.

For tens of millions of underemployed, unemployed or insecure workers, this boost can’t come soon enough. But federal backing should eventually provide millions of career changers and new high school grads with relevant training at a very reasonable cost.

Of the $12 billion in proposed spending, $500 million would go to developing new online courses and $9 billion to challenge grants intended to spur innovations and enable more course schedules geared to the diverse needs of working students.

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As daunting as a return to higher education can be, mid-career workers should take comfort from these statistics: Of the nation’s 11 million community college students, 58 percent are age 22 or older, according to a January 2008 report from the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC). And 27 percent of full-time community college students are also full-time workers. Learn how you could join their ranks and use community college to make a career change.

Challenges and Opportunities for Community Colleges

With their budgets severely strained and more students than ever knocking at their doors seeking superior educational value, community colleges are under stress in 2009.

“Our enrollment is up 30 percent over a year ago,” says Katie Headlee, assistant director of student advising at Cascadia Community College in Bothell, Washington. “We’re seeing more and more people who need to add to their professional qualifications or entirely change careers.”

Some community colleges will be forced to increase class sizes; others may be forced to turn away some students temporarily. When you’re checking out community colleges in your area, it’s important to find out how they’re coping.

But regardless of economic strains, the curricular focus of community college is unlikely to change: They’re particularly strong in fields of study relevant to careers in local industry. And in 2009, they’re emphasizing fields like allied health, public safety and alternative energy.

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Community Colleges Offer a Range of IT Certification Courses

Information technology is one area of special strength for community colleges. For the IT certifications that can give aspiring technologists a toehold, many community colleges offer unsurpassed training.

Certifications in areas like desktop PCs and networking help career changers enter the field at a substantially higher pay level. “The Geek Squad says they pay entry-level technicians without a certification $10 an hour, but those with A+ start at $16,” says Gretchen Koch, director of workforce development programs at CompTIA.

Offshoring of jobs and economic volatility notwithstanding, bread-and-butter IT jobs will continue to be created, and community colleges train thousands to fill these openings each year. “There will always be a need for help-desk professionals, computer technicians, network administrators and Microsoft specialists,” says Koch.

Industry-standard certifications are the goal of the best-focused community college IT programs. “There might be some community colleges that offer a generic networking curriculum, but those that offer industry certifications are really setting up their students to find jobs,” says Fred Weiller, a spokesman for training programs at Cisco. The networking giant provides community colleges with curricula, instructor training and networking equipment for student computer laboratories.

“At a community college, the bang for the buck is huge,” says Christopher Cugno, a senior network engineer for Paramount Pictures in Hollywood. Cugno should know: he paired education at a technical training center with courses in PERL, C, Cisco and more at Rancho Santiago Community College's Santa Ana campus to change careers from grocery store manager. His work connecting Paramount business units around the world has earned him screen credits in films including Bee Movie and Shrek III.

Going Back to School for Mid-Career Workers

For workers who have lost hours or suffered a layoff, even the modest tuition at community colleges can be an obstacle to career change. Fortunately, help is widely available.

“We offer access to state and federal money for unemployed and underemployed students,” says Headlee. About 47 percent of community college students receive some financial aid, according to AACC.

It’s important to evaluate the quality of education offered by a specific community college before staking a career change on its programs.

“All community colleges are striving, but not all are achieving,” says Susan Stafford, author of Community College: Is It Right for You? “So you should go there and visit. Talk to people who have attended community colleges you’re interested in. Ask people in business about their experience with graduates of specific programs. Research how your community college is partnering with industry, how it’s participating in workforce development councils.”

Finally, expect a years-later return to school to pose substantial personal challenges. “To say it’s difficult is an understatement,” says Headlee. “The first step of walking in the building is difficult; so is getting into a study routine. But older students are serious about what they’re doing, so they tend to succeed.”

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See the original article on Monster.com

Sallie Mae: No Gov't Takeover of College Loans

BILL O ’ BOYLE | The Times Leader (Wilkes-Barre, Pa.) via YellowBrix — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 05:58:00 -0700

HANOVER TWP. – The chief executive officer of Sallie Mae – the nation’s leading provider of student loans – said Tuesday he has concerns about his firm’s future, but the company is committed to its Wilkes-Barre operations and he expects to add jobs here.

Al Lord addressed most of the 900 employees at the Hanover Township facility, asking them to sign a petition, contact their elected representatives and become energized in the face of Obama administration plans to shift all student loans into the government-backed direct lending program.

Private lenders such as Sallie Mae are trying to retain their position in the market. However, they are at risk of being cut out of the lending market and thereby being relegated to a much smaller role of servicing the government loans.

On July 21, U.S. Rep. George Miller, D-Calif., introduced a bill that seeks to eliminate government-subsidized private student lending and replace it with loans to students through the Department of Education.

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Sallie Mae was one of four companies awarded a loan servicing contract by the Department of Education. If the legislation passes, even with the servicing contract, “We would be about half of our size,” Sallie Mae spokeswoman Martha Holler was quoted as saying in a news story.

Lord said if the legislation doesn’t change, Sallie Mae could face drastic cuts. On a scale of 1 to 10, Lord said his level of concern is “about 7 or 8, but much less in Wilkes-Barre.”

“We remain committed to Wilkes-Barre,” Lord said. “We were here in April to announce 600 new jobs coming here and 300 are here already ahead of schedule and 300 more will be here soon.”

Holler said Sallie Mae agrees with the president’s main objectives: to create better student loan programs for students, schools and taxpayers, and to secure a historic level of savings for Pell Grants.

“With a few enhancements to the administration’s proposal, choice and competition in loan servicing and loan origination can be preserved by affording numerous originators and servicers the opportunity to compete to provide quality service to students,” Holler said.

Sallie Mae has offered a counter proposal to the government’s plan. Lord said all he wants is to have the two proposals placed side-by-side to see which one would be more beneficial.

Holler said more than 30 members of the student loan community — including nonprofit state agencies, stand-alone lenders, loan servicers, consumer banks and nonprofit state-based guaranty agencies and secondary markets — have signed on to “a constructive, alternative proposal.”

In April, Lord made national news when he announced he was bringing back 2,000 jobs from overseas. On Tuesday, he said he plans to return 1,400 more from offshore sites.

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“And some of them will come here,” Lord said. “But I am not in favor of making any of those jobs government jobs.”

Sallie Mae currently employs 8,500 company-wide, Lord said. That’s down from a high of 12,000 a couple of years ago. In Wilkes-Barre, Sallie Mae employs 900 and Lord said that number will reach 1,200 soon.

Lord asked his employees to sign the petitions, call their elected officials and get involved if they care about their jobs.

“I know you care about your jobs and you care about Pennsylvania jobs,” he said. “Your elected officials will listen because they care about their jobs, too.”

Lord scoffed at the Obama administration’s contention that the government can do a better job at student lending.

“We have 35 years of experience,” Lord said. “The government can secure loans at rates better than anyone else, that’s true. Let the government do what it does best and let us do what we do best.”

Holler offered an assessment of the impact the legislation will have on Sallie Mae.

“If student loan reform legislation is passed as currently drafted (the Miller bill), we would need to dramatically restructure our business,” Holler said. “Our total work force would have to shrink by about one-third, and we would need to re-evaluate our geographic footprint.”

Regarding Miller’s proposed legislation, Lord said, “We disagree with it, but we won’t be disagreeable. But the legislation needs to be changed.”

Lord told his employees to contact U.S. Rep. Paul Kanjorski, D-Nanticoke, U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Scranton, U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter, D-Philadelphia, and U.S. Rep. Chris Carney, D-Dimock Township.

“Contact them all,” Lord urged. “Remind them all that you work for Sallie Mae and they work for you.”

Kanjorski and Casey stood with Lord in April when the 600 new jobs were announced.

“Our main goal is to allow as many students as possible to afford to go to college,” Kanjorski said.

Larry Smar, spokesman for Casey, said the senator met with Lord privately earlier this year to express his concerns about state jobs as proposals have been made to reform the federal student loan programs.

Improve Your Contract Management Skills!

Villanova University — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 09:31:00 -0700

As a contract manager in the private or government sector, you know how vital your role is in maintaining a successful organization. Keeping your skills sharp is equally critical for boosting your earning potential, which can increase by 16%* with contract management certification.

Get Certified

The National Contract Management Association (NCMA) offers three certifications depending on your management role:

Certified Commercial Contracts Manager (CCCM) – Validates your understanding of the practice of contract management in the commercial environment.

Certified Professional Contracts Manager (CPCM) – Demonstrates that you understand all facets of contract management in both the commercial and government arenas.

Certified Federal Contracts Manager (CFCM) – Demonstrates that you understand the federal government regulatory environment.

Villanova Can Prepare You

You can get ready for any of these certifications through Villanova University’s Master Certificate in Contract Management programs. Whether you choose the 100% online commercial or government certificate, you’ll learn skills to enhance and gain an important credential to use throughout your career.

The Master Certificate in Commercial Contract Management or the Master Certificate in Government Contract Management empower you with an in-depth understanding of contract law, procurement processes, federal and commercial law, and best practices. These master certificate programs not only demonstrate your commitment to continuing education, but will prepare you to obtain the prestigious industry certifications described above.

Earn Your Master Certificate in Contract Management 100% Online

The Master Certificate in Commercial Contract Management online program focuses on the commercial contract management process – from requisition to contract completion. Learn how to strengthen your negotiating skills for the private and public sector through a more thorough understanding of this process, while preparing for the CCCM or CPCM certification.

For those working in the local, state or federal government sector, the Master Certificate in Government Contract Management online program focuses on improving negotiating skills. It will also help you perform crucial tasks such as tracking and reporting the expenditure of taxpayers’ money. Earning this credential will also help you prepare for either the CFCM or CPCM certification exam.

Villanova University is an NCMA Education Partner. Both the Master Certificate in Commercial Contract Management and Master Certificate in Government Contract Management programs are offered 100% online, and are endorsed by the NCMA. Click here to find out how you can master your future in contract management.

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*Certification Magazine

Get Uncle Sam to Pay Your Student Loans

Chris McConnell | GovCentral — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 21:48:00 -0700

Whether or not you work for the government, Uncle Sam can help pay for those pesky student loans. GovCentral researched three federal programs that will reduce your student loan payments or even make the payments for you. We’ve also found which careers can give you the best chance to qualify for them. Read on to find out how to get Uncle Sam to pick up the tab for your education.

Even if you don’t work for the government, Uncle Sam can pay for your loans or if you qualify, make the payments more affordable.

The three programs we're go into a little more detail are:

*Federal Student Loan Repayment Program*

*Income-Based Repayment*

*Public Service Loan Forgiveness*

**Federal Student Loan Repayment Program**

The Federal Student Loans Repayment Program is used by federal agencies to recruit and retain high-value employees. Last year, 33 federal agencies dolled out over $42 million to help repay student loans. The average benefit was $6,377, but you can qualify for up to $10,000 per year and a lifetime max of $60,000.

The Department of Justice provided assistance to over 37 percent of their employees, mainly those working at the Federal Bureau of Investigations. The agency with the highest average benefit was the Securities and Exchange Commission at $9,187 per recipient.

Here are some of the more common jobs that receive benefits under the Federal Loan Repayment Program. Click the links to find more information or search for jobs in your area:_

• "Criminal Investigator":http://govcentral.monster.com/careers/articles/26
• "Attorney":http://govcentral.monster.com/careers/careers_searc/search?global_search[keyword]=analyst&global_search[search_type]=career&q=attorney
• "Intelligence":http://govcentral.monster.com/careers/careers_search/search?global_search[keyword]=analyst&global_search[search_type]=career&q=intelligence
• "Mechanical Engineer":http://edu.govcentral.com/articles/40-engineering_architecture
• "GAO Analyst":http://govcentral.monster.com/careers/careers_search/search?global_search[keyword]=analyst&global_search[search_type]=career&q=analyst
• "MISC Administration":http://govcentral.monster.com/careers/careers_search/search?global_search[keyword]=analyst&global_search[search_type]=career&q=adminstrative
• "Information Technology Management":http://govcentral.monster.com/careers/careers_search/search?global_search[keyword]=information+technology&global_search[search_type]=career&q=information+technology
• "Management and Program Analysis":http://govcentral.monster.com/careers/careers_search/search?global_search[keyword]=information+technology&global_search[search_type]=career&q=program+analyst
• "Inspection, Investigation, and Compliance":http://govcentral.monster.com/careers/careers_search/search?global_search[keyword]=information+technology&global_search[search_type]=career&q=investigator
• "Nuclear Engineer":http://edu.govcentral.com/articles/40-engineering_architecture
• "Contract Specialist":http://govcentral.monster.com/careers/articles/25-contract-specialist
• "Accounting":http://edu.govcentral.com/articles/35-accounting_budget_finance
• "Miscellaneous Clerk and Assistant":http://govcentral.monster.com/careers/careers_search/search?global_search[keyword]=information+technology&global_search[search_type]=career&q=assistant
• "Business and Industry":http://govcentral.monster.com/careers/careers_search/search?global_search[keyword]=information+technology&global_search[search_type]=career&q=business
• "Electronics Engineer":http://govcentral.monster.com/careers/careers_search/search?global_search[keyword]=information+technology&global_search[search_type]=career&q=electronic+engineer
• "Financial Administration":http://govcentral.monster.com/careers/careers_search/search?global_search[keyword]=information+technology&global_search[search_type]=career&q=financial
• "Human Resources Specialist":http://govcentral.monster.com/careers/careers_search/search?global_search[keyword]=human+resources&global_search[search_type]=career&q=human+resources
• "General Engineer":http://edu.govcentral.com/articles/40-engineering_architecture

_Read More to Find out how the Government can reduce your monthly student loan payment_

[page]

**Income-Based Repayment**

On July 1st, the government will introduce the Income-Based Repayment (IBR) program, a new payment option for individuals that have high student debt and lower-income.

As the name suggests, monthly payments will be calculated based on income and family size. For most people, payments are around 10% of your monthly income. The government will even pick up the interest on your subsidized student loans for the three years. If you have a balance after making payments for the next 25 years, the government will forgive the remainder of your student loan.

Resources on the Web:

"Sallie Mae":http://www.salliemae.com/after_graduation/manage_your_loans/repaying-student-loans/starting_repayment/income-based-repayment.htm

You can find more information about the Income-Based Repayment plan and calculate your estimated monthly payment

"IBRinfo.org":http://www.ibrinfo.org

An independent and non-profit source of information about the Income-Based Repayment program.

**Public-Service Loan Forgiveness**

The Public-Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program is targeted for people who currently work in “public service” jobs in the government or non-profit organizations. The program will forgive remaining student loan debt after the 10 years working for an eligible employer while making student loan payments. The PSLF program covers federal Stafford, Grad PLUS, or consolidated loans as long as they are a part of the Direct Loan program.

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The definition of an eligible job is pretty wide. You job is considered eligible for the PSLF program if you:
1. Work for any nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization;

2. Are employees by the federal, state, local, or tribal government (including the military, public schools, and colleges); or

3. Serve with AmeriCorps or Peace Corps full-time.

If you don’t meet these criteria, don’t worry; the Department of Education created a two-part test to check for eligibility:

1. Your employer is not "a business organized for profit, a labor union, a partisan political organization, or an organization engaged in religious activities, unless the qualifying activities are unrelated to religious instruction, worship services, or any form of proselytizing;" and

2. Your employer provides any of the following public services: emergency management; military service; public safety; law enforcement; public interest law services; early childhood education; public service for individuals with disabilities and the elderly; public health; public education; public library services; and school library or other school-based services.

You can also find more information about these student loan programs, and others, at the Department of Education’s Federal Student Aid "website":http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/PSF.jsp

_Love it. Hate it. What would you like to see from GovCentral.com? Leave a comment below._

Secretary Duncan Announces Grant Competition to Retrain Displaced Workers, Help Rebuild America's Economy

Department of Education Presss Release — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 14:01:00 -0700

Milwaukee — U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan visited the Milwaukee Area Technical College today to announce a $7 million special competitive grant to establish innovative and sustainable community college programs that prepare displaced workers for second careers. This first-of-its-kind grant program will be used to develop national models that can be replicated across the country, especially in communities where autoworkers have lost their jobs.

Accompanied by Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle, Milwaukee Area Technical College Acting President Vicki Martin and Manpower Chairman and CEO Jeffrey Joerres, Secretary Duncan called upon institutions of higher learning, private and public nonprofit organizations, and other agencies to propose model programs for training adults to pursue family-sustaining second careers. Secretary Duncan is one of several cabinet secretaries and other high-level officials from the Obama administration traveling across the Midwest this week to visit communities affected by layoffs in the automobile industry.

"Education is the catalyst for a strong economy and the means by which adults will reinvent themselves and rebuild the industrial cities that have been the foundation of our nation," Secretary Duncan said. "The Obama administration is committed to supporting auto communities and workers, who have been displaced from their jobs. Community colleges are invaluable resources for adults seeking to acquire new skills that are needed by employers."

According to Manpower, the 10 hardest jobs for U.S. employers to fill in 2009 are:

Engineers
Nurses
Skilled/Manual Trades
Teachers
Sales Representatives
Technicians
Drivers (delivery and short-haul)
Information Technology
Laborers
Machinist/Machine Operators

Many of these careers are within the reach of a community college graduate and will be made even more accessible by Secretary Duncan's announcement.

The U.S. Department of Education launched its first special focus competition grant today from the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE) benefiting community colleges. The grant will provide seed funding for model programs in community colleges that help adults develop the skills they need to succeed in a new career.

The programs could provide services, such as tutoring, academic and career counseling, and help with the registration process. They also could remove financial constraints for adults returning to school, including child care, transportation, and textbooks. These innovative new programs must be sustainable beyond the three-year grant period.

The grant application will be announced online today, June 4, in the Federal Register, and published tomorrow, June 5. Applications will be due on Aug. 4. The Department of Education anticipates awarding approximately 28 grants by mid-September with projects beginning on or about Oct. 1. The estimated range of the grant awards is $300,000-$750,000 over a three-year period.

###

Florida Tech University Online – Undergrad Degree Programs 100% Online

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 08:31:00 -0700

Success is Just a Degree Away

Florida Tech’s nationally recognized "associate’s and bachelor’s degree programs":http://clk.atdmt.com/BED/go/142427748/direct/01/ ensure your success by opening new doors — now and throughout your professional career.

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Undergraduate Degrees

• AA Liberal Arts

• AA Business Administration

• AA Accounting

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• AA Healthcare Management

• AA Criminal Justice

• AS Computer Information Systems

• BA Criminal Justice

• BA Accounting

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• BA Business Administration/Accounting

• BA Business Administration/Computer Information Systems

• BA Business Administration/Healthcare Management

• BS Computer Information Systems

• HR Administration Minor with any Bachelor’s

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Top-ranked Florida Tech stands among the most respected and visionary research universities of the 21st century. With Florida Tech you’ll benefit from an excellent education, and appreciate the convenience and flexibility of learning from anywhere at anytime. For your convenience, streaming video lectures are available online or on CD-ROM so you can take classes even if you’re in an area where the Internet is not always available. In addition, you can acquire your associate’s or bachelor’s degree with these out-of-this-world advantages:

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Accreditation

Florida Institute of Technology is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award associate, baccalaureate, master's, education specialist, and doctoral degrees.

Security Infiltrates College Classrooms

By Chris Joyner, USA TODAY — Thu, 21 May 2009 14:41:00 -0700

James Davis hopes to get a job with a professional sports team — ideally, the New Orleans Saints — when he graduates next year with a master's degree in sports management from the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg.

To bolster his job prospects, Davis, 23, has chosen a concentration in sports security management, a new offering at Southern Mississippi and part of a growing number of academic programs around the country with a homeland security bent.

Davis, who is taking classes in emergency preparedness and risk analysis as part of the program, says he believes the extra credential will make him a more marketable candidate when he graduates.

"It has to, with the level of terrorism where it's at," he says.

Security jobs are everywhere

There has been huge growth in the popularity of security-related programs since 2002, when the Department of Homeland Security was created, says David Silverberg, editor of the trade magazine Homeland Security Today. The programs began popping up at community colleges and online-only institutions five or six years ago, and now they are being offered at some of the nation's most prestigious universities.

"Homeland security has developed as a discipline, and it took time for people to realize that it was a discipline," Silverberg says. "People think of homeland security as just screeners at the airport, and it is way more than that."

In the spring of 2007, Homeland Security Today published its first educational directory, with a list of 81 institutions with homeland security programs. The most recent directory, published last fall, had nearly twice that number.

Silverberg says the growth in academic programs mirrors the job market. The Department of Homeland Security, a labyrinthine federal department made up of 22 agencies with more than 200,000 employees, is just the beginning, he adds. Every state has its own homeland security framework, and job seekers in the private sector, even in seemingly unrelated fields such as nursing and law, find the courses are a résumé builder, he says.

Offerings range from vocational certificates earned in a few weeks to advanced degrees. George Mason University in Fairfax, Va., for example, offers a doctorate in biodefense, which teaches "intelligence and threat assessment, nonproliferation, and medical and public health preparedness," according to the university's website.

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Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind., founded its Homeland Security Institute in 2002 as an interdisciplinary program. Director Eric Dietz says the coursework offered through the institute is designed as an enhancement to traditional fields of study, such as engineering and agriculture.

"It's a new set of thoughts that you can take back to your old job," he says.

Higher quality of programs

Silverberg notes that although small schools, including for-profit online ventures, were the first to offer homeland security courses, the quality of these early programs varied. It took longer for universities to develop programs and hire faculty who met traditional education standards, he says.

Lou Marciani, director of Southern Mississippi's Center for Spectator Sports Security Management, has been an athletic director for five universities and worked for the federal government evaluating security threats for sports venues. His faculty includes a former FBI counterterrorism expert, who managed security for the 2004 U.S. Summer Olympic team, and a professor whose doctoral dissertation was on security measures for sporting events.

Marciani says his center has an advisory board made up of representatives of every major professional sports league and the National Collegiate Athletic Association to make sure students are getting the skills they need for the workplace.

"It's a new discipline," he says. "When I came through as a student, I didn't take any classes in sports security."

Contributing: Joyner reports for The Clarion-Ledger in Jackson, Miss., and USA TODAY

New GI Bill Could Open Education Doors for More Vets

By Jim Michaels, USA TODAY — Mon, 18 May 2009 09:09:00 -0700

HANOVER, N.H. — Through a classroom window, Samuel Crist can see the stately buildings and tree-lined sidewalks of a picture-book New England campus. Inside, Crist refers occasionally to notecards as he reads aloud his assignment in Arabic, while nine other students listen intently and his professor takes notes.

More than four years ago, Crist lay bleeding on a Fallujah street, where he had been shot in the arm and leg on the second day of one of the Iraq war's deadliest battles. Today, Crist, 24, is in his final year at Dartmouth College.

"A lot of people in my unit didn't come back," he says. "It would feel like such a waste if I came back and didn't work to my fullest potential."

Crist is one of a small but growing number of veterans studying at Dartmouth. They're a reflection of a broader effort that encourages today's veterans to enter college in much the same way the World War II-era GI Bill gave their grandparents a shot at higher education.

That effort has been led by two former Marines: Dartmouth President James Wright and Sen. Jim Webb, a Virginia Democrat. The result is a new law, the Post-9/11 GI Bill, that increases education aid for veterans who have served at least 90 days after the terrorist attacks. The bill takes effect Aug. 1.

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Wright spent his career emphasizing the need to expand the number of people who consider college. After reading about the Fallujah battle, he began visiting wounded troops in hospitals and talking about higher education.

"Diversity is about more than race and religion and national background," says Wright, who served in the Marines and was the first in his family to attend college. "These veterans are part of a demographic that is being missed," he says.

Wright had concluded that the existing GI Bill, which hadn't kept up with the escalating cost of higher education, was inadequate. Wright says he contacted Webb and offered his help in winning support for a new bill.

The new law, which could potentially more than double the amount covered in the current GI Bill, could open college doors to thousands of veterans, many of whom would not otherwise have considered college because of the expense.

The law provides the equivalent of in-state tuition at the highest-priced public college in the state where the veteran lives, based on undergraduate tuition and fees. There is also a monthly housing allowance and a $1,000 stipend for books and supplies.

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Volunteer force

Today's wars are being fought by a much smaller volunteer military than previous wars had. The Pentagon is working to keep the forces it has by issuing bonuses and other incentives.

Even so, many servicemembers leave the military after their initial enlistment, Webb and others point out. "There's a huge misperception in this society that the volunteer system is a career system," Webb says. "It is still a citizen-soldier system," says Webb, whose son, Jimmy, served in Iraq as an enlisted Marine.

Nearly 70% of the Army and 74% of the Marines serve one enlistment, according to Pentagon statistics. College can be financially out of reach for many servicemembers leaving the military.

"Those are the people who weren't being taken care of," Webb says.

Webb, a decorated Marine veteran of the Vietnam War first elected in 2006, pushed the new GI Bill through Congress last year.

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The bill traveled an unlikely path to becoming law.

The Bush administration and its allies, such as Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., initially opposed the new bill, worried it could encourage too many people to leave the service and go to college at a time when the Pentagon was increasing the size of the military.

William Carr, a Pentagon personnel official, said the military was concerned the government would have to offer even more generous bonuses to keep people from taking advantage of the new GI Bill and leaving the military. "We were bidding against ourselves," Carr says.

The Pentagon later dropped its opposition after the bill's supporters added a clause allowing servicemembers to pass benefits to a spouse or child.

Not 'conventional applicants'

Nine veterans landed at Dartmouth, an Ivy League school.

Crist, who grew up near Lafayette, La., joined the Marines at 18. He was off to boot camp, then Iraq, arriving in June 2004. His infantry unit later went to Fallujah as part of an assault force that in November 2004 would participate in one of the toughest urban fights in recent history.

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Crist was shot in the leg on the battle's second day as he and other Marines ran across a street. As he crawled away, another bullet struck his arm. His colleagues dragged him off the street as insurgents raked the area with automatic weapons fire.

At National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., Crist met Wright while medicated and has only a dim recollection of their chat. After his medical retirement, Crist says, he was "just treading water." A "C" student in high school, he didn't consider himself Ivy League material.

Still, he had kept Wright's business card. Crist wrote to Wright, explaining that he felt it would be a waste of his life not to work to his fullest potential when many in his unit didn't return from Iraq.

Wright called Crist, telling him it was too late that year to apply for Dartmouth but urged him to attend any college and try the next year. Crist attended University of St. Thomas in Houston, then transferred to Dartmouth.

Wright says he doesn't interfere with Dartmouth's admissions process, but adds that admissions officials know he is interested in veterans and look beyond an applicant's test scores and grades. "These are not conventional applicants," he says.

The nine veterans at Dartmouth are focused and disciplined, Wright says. Because the new GI Bill is not yet in effect, the nine are paying for school with a combination of military benefits, scholarships and federal aid.

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During the Vietnam War era, veterans were not welcome on some campuses that had become hotbeds of anti-war activism. Now, "we're able to separate the warrior from the war," says Brendan Hart, 26, a former Marine and Dartmouth junior.

New perspectives

Wright says he gave no thought about college when he graduated from high school. After getting discharged from the Marines in 1960, though, he entered college and eventually earned a Ph.D. He went to Dartmouth as a history professor in 1969. He will retire as president at the end of this academic year.

Webb, who earned a Navy Cross as a Marine in Vietnam, unseated incumbent Republican George Allen in 2006. Webb introduced the new GI Bill on his first day in office.

Veterans will bring their experiences to campus, lending a new perspective, Wright says.

Crist is studying Arabic and Middle Eastern history. Recently, he learned his Arabic teacher was from Iraq and said he felt obliged to tell him he had fought there, in the event the teacher harbored strong feelings against the war.

The instructor, Hussein Kadhim, said Crist's background posed no problem. Kadhim had served time as a conscript in Saddam Hussein's military.

"I wish he told me earlier," Kadhim says. "Transitioning from the army to civilian life can be challenging."

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CIA Heads to College Campuses to Find Next-Gen Spies

By Larry Gordon | Los Angeles Times — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 18:41:00 -0700

Looking to hire recent graduates, Central Intelligence Agency turns to university students nationwide for help developing ad campaigns. The economic downturn increases the jobs' appeal.

It's not all cloak-and-dagger anymore. These days, the Central Intelligence Agency is using marketing classes at USC and elsewhere to create public recruitment campaigns on college campuses.

The timing during such a deep recession helps sell the agency as an attractive employer, say USC students involved in advertising a CIA recruiting event at their school next month. After all, a well-paid, secure government job, even one touched by controversy, may appeal to soon-to-be college graduates who might never have considered a spy career in better economic times.

"All we hear today is about the bad economy and how this is basically the worst time to graduate. But the CIA is very interested in hiring graduating seniors and is targeting USC students," said Allison Kosty, a political science major who is in a class of USC students working on the CIA campaign. "So that's a huge bonus for us."

She and 26 classmates are part of a five-year-old program that has joined the CIA with students in marketing courses at 30 universities throughout the country.

The agency wants help selling itself to bright young candidates, especially those who speak such key languages as Mandarin and Farsi or who studied economics or computer engineering. The schools -- USC, Michigan State and the University of New Mexico for the current semester -- say they want their students to gain real-world marketing experience, whether for soft drinks or clandestine operations.

Therese Wilbur, an assistant professor of marketing who teaches the USC course and ran a similar project for the FBI last year, said CIA officers visited her class twice this semester and asked for a campaign that taps into USC's ethnic diversity and does not wrap itself too tightly in the flag.

Wilbur, who managed international brands for toy-maker Mattel Inc. before she began teaching in 2006, said the campaign tries to appeal both to students' interest in an intriguing, well-rewarded career and to their altruism.

The student marketers say they know they may face criticism that the CIA failed in intelligence-gathering missions before the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and the U.S. invasion of Iraq and that its past practices are much-debated. Still, Wilbur said, no student objected to assisting the CIA in finding high-quality recruits to help keep the country safe.

In the class, a preliminary suggestion for a slogan urged potential recruits to "Discover the Truth" about the CIA. That was jettisoned after some students in a test survey didn't understand it and others suggested that such a search might turn up information discouraging to applicants.

Instead, the class settled on a slogan that invites people to "Discover the CIA. Be Part of Something Bigger," imposed over a colorful world map in the campaign's graphics.

Class member Sunny Nguyen, a fine arts major, said she was struck by the assignment's significance. "By joining the CIA, you can make a difference globally," she said. "And your life holds a different sort of meaning."

USC is the first Southern California campus to participate in the CIA's collegiate marketing program. Other schools have included UC Berkeley, San Jose State, Georgia State, the University of Pittsburgh and Morehouse College, according to CIA spokesman George Little.

Schools are chosen for their marketing curricula as well as a broadly diverse student population. "We are looking constantly for diverse pools of applicants given the critical nature of our mission," said Little, who added that the agency especially values language skills, overseas experience and candidates from families who are first- or second-generation Americans. U.S. citizenship, however, is a requirement.

Last year, the CIA recruited at about 1,000 U.S. campuses, with the marketing classes a small part of those efforts, he said. About 120,000 people, college-age and older, applied for CIA jobs last year and the numbers are running higher this recessionary year.

Overall, the agency is continuing a hiring surge that began after the 2001 attacks, but Little said the number of hirings is classified. CIA starting salaries range from about $50,000 to $90,000, with bonuses for some language fluencies.

The student-designed marketing programs are arranged through EdVenture Partners, an organization based in Orinda, just east of Berkeley, that serves as a middleman between colleges and such clients as Honda and the country of Morocco. The classes receive $2,500 to cover such costs as posters, table rentals and pizza for focus groups, but reap no reward aside from bragging rights on their resumes, officials said.

Wilbur's upper-division marketing class, which operates like an actual advertising agency with one big account per semester, did not know in advance whom its client would be. So students quickly had to dispel their own CIA stereotypes of a James Bond life with hot cars and cool gadgets or a secretive existence with no family contact allowed.

Jeffrey Kelly, an architecture major and advertising minor who is one of the campaign coordinators, said another common myth, soon belied by their own efforts, was "that you don't apply to the CIA but that the CIA finds you."

At a recent session in a Hoffman Hall classroom, group leaders discussed deadlines for announcements in campus publications, colors for a banner, the name of a website and how to ensure that USC police are aware of the recruiting event, which is scheduled for midday April 7 on a central campus lawn area.

A similar event at New York University in 2005 was canceled after protests, but Little said that had been the only disruption in the student marketing program. The USC students say they have encountered no criticism on campus and don't expect any organized protests at a school that has a substantial number of conservative-leaning students.

Some political activists on campus say that they are not thrilled to host the CIA but that no one wants to stop students from exploring jobs and possibly helping to improve the nation's espionage.

The Rev. Frank Wulf, pastor at United University Church and a campus chaplain active in antiwar protests, said the CIA has the right to recruit on campus. Still, he has concerns "that military, CIA and FBI recruiters use this time of economic crisis to present themselves when students don't have the opportunity to make as independent a choice."

As a result of working on the campaign, some of Wilbur's students say they too may apply for CIA jobs. But as if already inculcated in spy culture, they say they can't publicly acknowledge that.

"No comment," said one young man who was clearly mulling it. "I'd rather not say."

A Contract for Success

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 14:05:00 -0700

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Villanova contract management master certificates prepare you for industry certification, which can boost your income by 56%! The programs, which are endorsed by the National Contract Management Association (NCMA), prepare you to test for these NCMA certifications:

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Earning your Master Certificate in Contract Management online is the fastest way to gain professional expertise and valuable skills you can use right away. Get started today and save!

MBAs: Uncle Sam Wants You

By Anne VanderMey | Business Week — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 12:24:00 -0700

At the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin on Feb. 9, dozens of students crowded a classroom for an evening career workshop, breaking an attendance record. The scene was typical of B-school campuses across the country—with jobs in short supply, recruiters are finding themselves more courted than ever. What was different, though, was that this wasn't an event for investment banking, management, or even consulting. It was a pitch for nonprofit and government work.

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Uncle Sam has never been very popular with MBA graduates, most of whom are accustomed to the hefty signing bonuses and competitive salaries in private industry. But with the U.S. shedding hundreds of thousands of jobs each month, many companies freezing wages, and an MBA job market turning more dismal by the minute, the stability of government is starting to look a lot more appealing.

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At McCombs, Director of MBA Career Services Stacey Rudnick said 70 people came to a workshop called "MBA Jobs You've Never Considered," the largest turnout in recent memory for a spring career workshop. Usually, by this time of year, students already have jobs lined up. "Students are looking for every opportunity, every bit of new information that might help them extend or broaden their search," Rudnick said.

Luckily for MBAs, the interest is mutual. Career services directors predict that government and nonprofit hiring will increase this year, though it's too early to say by how much. According to recently released data from the Career Services Council, 35% of schools reported an increase in recruiting activity for government and 12% reported an increase in the nonprofit sector, even as overall recruiting activity was level or down at 75% of schools. Net Impact, a nonprofit group dedicated to using business skills to affect change, said social sector job postings more than doubled last year. The recruiting Web site for the U.S. government lists tens of thousands of vacant business-related positions, and with an incoming administration bent on job creation, that number is likely to grow.
Better than Nothing

Business schools have already been seeing some movement toward nonprofit professions, though historically those students have been outnumbered by investment bankers and consultants. Few new graduates—4.4% last year—typically take positions in nonprofits or government, says Kip Harrell, president of the CSC and vice-president for professional and career management at Thunderbird School of Global Management. However, the financial crisis and the scarcity of six-figure offers, could accelerate the do-gooder trend. Patrick Perrella, the director of MBA career development at the University of Notre Dame Mendoza College of Business, broke it down this way: It's an easy decision "if your choice is a government job at a lower salary or no job at all."

The salary disparity may be narrowing, though. A recent survey by the Graduate Admission Council reported that about 80% of nonprofit and government respondents were actually poised to raise incoming MBA salary in 2009, by far the most of any group. However, they also had by far the lowest salaries, with average starting pay for MBAs just $63,176. For consultants, it was $92,931.

Even a slight decrease in private sector pay may be enough to tip some graduates toward idealism, though. Vanessa Leong, a 2008 graduate of the George Washington University School of Business, always wanted to make a difference, but isn't sure if she would have taken her current, nonprofit position if the economy had been better. "If I had really had offers and offers pouring and pouring in with big, big money, there's a chance I wouldn't be here," she said.

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She's now living in Lesotho, a small country in Africa advising the country's ministry of health on the efficiency of HIV/AIDS programs through the Clinton Foundation. The program pays "literally half as much" as some of the offers she received from mainstream consulting companies, but she hopes the experience will set her up for an ever more influential, better paying position in the future. Still, she said, in her B-school days she had imagined working in Washington when she graduated, not living in Africa in a house surrounded by fences topped with barbed wire and a guard keeping watch at night.
An Odd Couple

Government and nonprofit jobs typically aren't as glamorous as those in private industry, and public sector hires can bid farewell to their dreams of riding on the corporate jet. A few jobs listed on the federal jobs Web site include finance director for a sculpture garden, accountant for the Army Corps of Engineers, and bankruptcy analyst for the U.S. Trustee Program in Greenbelt, Md. Other federal agencies are seeking accountants, tax examiners, auditors, and budget and financial analysts. At the nonprofits, there are also a wide array of roles for MBAs. Many smaller nonprofits have only one employee with a business education, and that person often handles all the organization's finances.

Public sector jobs are in especially high demand as a wave of baby-boomer retirement hits the federal government. With more than 200,000 new government jobs expected as part of President Obama's economic stimulus plan, the number of positions available to MBAs and others is sure to grow. The government bailout of banks, and the regulatory push that's sure to follow, both represent real opportunities for MBAs. "Somebody's got to redesign the governmental rules of the financial market and someone has to oversee the redistribution of the government funds," says Jeannette Frett, assistant dean and director of MBA career services at Georgetown University's McDonough School of Business, where student interest in nonprofits and government is up 50% this year. "It's an opportunity for those who were interested, and continue to be interested in pursuing careers on the financial side."

Because MBA graduates and government or nonprofit positions are not a typical match, connecting students and recruiters poses more of a challenge than it does for companies that base their hiring cycles on the academic year. While several federal agencies make the occasional campus visit, much of the impetus for finding government jobs falls on the shoulders of the applicant.

"The federal government is a terrible recruiter, that's the bottom line," said Max Stier, president of the Partnership for Public Service, a nonprofit group which promotes federal employment. Of course, some agencies are better than others. The intelligence community is proactive, Stier says, as is NASA, and the Labor Dept. has an MBA fellowship program, but these are the exceptions to the rule. Most government recruiting takes place on the only official federal recruiting site, USAJobs.gov.

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In dark times, though, sifting through search results on USAJobs.gov, doesn't seem like much of an obstacle. Career services directors, too are making an extra effort to connect with nonprofits and government, as they continue to be relatively unaffected by the hiring slump. More schools than ever are signing up for the Partnership for Public Service's "Call to Serve" training, aimed at demystifying the government application process and other campuses are setting up their own nonprofit and government recruiting workshops.

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Rebecca Joffrey, co-director of career development at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College, said that for the first time she would be heading down to Washington to learn more about government jobs by talking with alumni in high-level government positions. Even after the financial crisis is over, she hopes that the new, stronger connection between business schools and nonprofits and government persists. Jennifer Brooks, senior associate director of the career management center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Kenan-Flagler Business School, says she thinks a wider array of career options may be MBA students' silver lining in the financial crisis.

"(Students) want jobs where they can make an impact," Brooks said. "And they want jobs. That's No. 1."

Anne Vandermey is a B-Schools writer at BusinessWeek.

Bachelor's Degree in Human Resources

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 17:00:00 -0700

Human resource management covers a wide variety of tasks and functions within an organization, including: recruiting and hiring, employee compensation and benefits, corporate policy, employee assistance, and training. Within the field of human resource management there is an endless list of possible jobs. Some of these include: recruiters, EEO officers, employer relations specialist, benefits managers, training and development managers, and labor relations, just to name a few.

A bachelor's degree in human resources equips graduates with the necessary background and tools to enter a human resources career in a variety of business settings.

Programs typically include a comprehensive overview of human resources principles and practices, business and technology training and communication courses.

In general, course work for a bachelor's degree in human resources covers contemporary HR issues, organizational theory and design, behavioral science, legal issues in HR management, performance management and assessment, employee training and development, and compensation and benefits.

Students can also expect a human resources bachelor's program to include core business training in areas such as accounting, finance, information technology and marketing. Additionally, most programs require an array of general education courses to meet various general studies distributions and also allow room for electives.

With a bachelor's degree in human resources, graduates qualify for human resources leadership roles in private, public and nonprofit organizations. Specific HR competencies covered in these bachelor degree programs include training and development, strategic staffing, labor and employment law, managing organizational change, compensation and benefits, leadership and team building. Undergraduates with a bachelor's degree in human resources often work as human resources generalists, corporate recruiters and employee benefits managers, while others take positions as training specialists, employee relations managers and HR information systems managers.

Jobs in the human resource industry are plentiful. Because human resource management is needed in every industry, and just about any company with 50 or more employees has human resource workers, human resource professionals have a great deal of options available to them. Specific job availability and salary depend on the specific area one pursues. However, the Bureau of Labor statistics reported that human resource jobs are expected to grow 36 percent or more through 2012, and in 2002 the average annual salary for human resource managers was just under $65,000.

Median Salary by Job - Degree: Bachelor of Science (BS/BSc/SB), Human Resources (United States)

Compare your salary: Get a free Salary Report

Bachelor of Science in Health Administration

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 17:00:00 -0700

A Bachelor of Science in Health Administration provides a balance of health sciences knowledge with business administration skills. The degree is awarded by a college or university after completion of a minimum number of academic units, with a specific number of units in the Health Administration major. A BS in Health Administration is often the minimum requirement for most medical and health services manager positions. A BS is also a stepping stone toward a Master of Science in Health Administration or a Master of Business Administration with an emphasis on healthcare administration.

A BS in health administration typically takes four years to complete as a full-time student. Part-time programs and online degrees allow for flexibility and can increase or decrease the amount of time it takes to complete the degree requirements.

A BS in Health Administration will increase your salary. A Healthcare Administrator with a Bachelor Degree can make up to *$40,000 more a year* than a Healthcare Administrator with an Associate degree. Plus, career opportunities open up for those with Bachelor degrees. Employers look for candidates with advanced experience and knowledge, which is what you will get with a Bachelor of Science in Health Administration.

*Career Options*:

• Healthcare Administrator

• Department Manager

• Medical and Health Services Manager

• Administrative Assistant

Median Salary by Job - Degree: Bachelor of Science (BS/BSc/SB), Health Care Administration (United States)

Compare your salary: Get a free Salary Report

Well-Paying, Dynamic Federal Internships and Special Recruitment Programs for Young Professionals

Lily Whiteman | Federal Career Coach — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 15:52:00 -0700

One of the best kept secrets in government is that federal employers sponsor hundreds of well-paying, dynamic internship programs for students and young professionals. That’s right, even if you’re just starting your career, you don’t have to slave for free.

Federal internships are based all over the U.S. and available in virtually every field. The timing and duration of federal internships vary from program to program: some internships are held during the summer; some internships extend throughout the academic year; and some special management programs for young professionals last one or more years.

Here is a sample of programs:

• The Commission and Security and Cooperation in Europe: Students and recent grads spend one semester researching human rights, religious liberties, corruption and law, and free media; communicating with House and Senate offices about pending foreign policy initiatives; and assisting staff advisors with hearings and briefings; see http://www.csce.gov.

• Congressional Budget Office Internships: Summer positions in Washington, DC, available to undergrads and graduates of advanced degree programs in policy, economics, health analysis, and public administration. See http://cbo.gov.

• Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Corporate Employee Program: College grads participate in a three-year internship program, which includes an orientation, rotations, on-the-job training, opportunities to earn certifications, and other activities to become Financial Institution Specialists. Financial Institution Specialists evaluate the practices, international controls, and management of financial institutions and their compliance with consumer protection, fair lending, and civil rights laws. For more info, type the program name into the search window at http://www.fdic.gov.

• Federal Trade Commission: Entry-level lawyers, economists, and PhDs conduct research, educate consumers, and the business community and enforce laws in a fast-paced and challenging environment. See http://ftc.gov.

• FBI Programs: Undergrads and grad students work with special agents on important cases in DC or forensics labs in Quantico, Virginia. One prestigious program recruits language students. See http://fbi.gov.

• Global Change Education Programs: Undergrads in the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience spend multiple summers researching global change in U.S. labs and universities, and participate in professional development activities. The Graduate Research Environmental Fellowship Program supports grad students studying global change. See http://www.atmos.anl.gov/GCEP.

• John A. Volpe Transportation Internships: Grad students in engineering, science, and social science alternate periods of work and study, or continuously work part-time in a world-class lab in Cambridge, MA. Interns work side-by-side with transportation leaders and receive a salary plus travel and up to $10,000 for tuition. See http://www.volpe.dot.gov/.

• Justice Department Programs for Lawyers: A highly competitive summer program recruits law students. The Attorney General’s Honors Program recruits entry-level attorneys. See http://www.usdoj.gov.

• National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA): The Undergraduate Student Research Program offers college graduates mentored internships at NASA facilities throughout the U.S. Most students work on projects that will be incorporated into aerospace and future missions. See http://www.epo.usra.edu/usrp. The Contracting Intern Program recruits college grads with business expertise. See http://ncip.nssc.nasa.gov. Find various other summer and year-round mentored internships, fellowships, and research positions at http://www.education.nasa.gov/edprograms/stdprograms/index.html#interships and
http://www.nasajobs.nasa.gov/studentopps/employment/programs.htm. Also, type internships into the search window at http://NASA.gov and at http://www.gsfc.nasa.gov.

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• National Cancer Institute Health Communications Internships: Grad students work on health communications projects for six months near Washington, DC. See http://internship.cancer.gov.

• National Gallery of Art Internships: Summer and year-round positions as curators, lecturers, and other positions in Washington, DC for college grads and grad students. See http://www.nga.gov.

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INTERNATIONAL INTERNSHIPS

Federal internships that are based overseas internships provide unparalleled opportunities to earn substantive, career-boosting experience addressing hot-button issues such as global warming, trade, and disaster relief.

All four Foreign Service agencies sponsor overseas internships for students and recent grads during the academic year and summer. These four agencies are 1) The State Department; 2) the United States Agency for International Development; 3) The Department of Agriculture; and 4) the U.S. Commercial Service. In addition, the Association of Schools of Public Health also places interns in international positions in federal agencies.

Other agencies that sponsor U.S.-based internships addressing international issues include the African Development Foundation; agencies in the intelligence community including the CIA; the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe; the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security, the Department of Health & Human Services, the FBI, the Federal Communications Commission, the Government Accountability Office, the Library of Congress, the Millennium Challenge Corporation, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency, and the Voice of America.

INTERNSHIPS FOR MINORITIES, WOMEN AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

Many federal internship programs are specially recruiting for minorities, women and people with disabilities. In addition to paying excellent salaries, many of these programs cover travel and housing. Here is a sample of such programs:

• CIA Programs: Interns work with highly-skilled professionals and observe how the CIA contributes to foreign policy. Summer and year-round internships and scholarship/internship packages are available for undergrads and grad students who are minorities or have disabilities. See http://www.intelligence.gov.

• Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Inc., Programs: Undergrads work for Congressional Black Caucus Members in the summer. See http://cbcfinc.org.

• Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute Internships: Undergrads spend the summer and college grads spend nine months working for Congress in positions that offer dynamic assignments, interaction with high-level official, and professional development activities. See http://chci.org.

• Defense Intelligence Agency: Minorities, women, and people with disabilities who are undergrads and grad students are in demand for summer and year-round internships. See See http://www.dia.mil.

• Energy Department Programs for Minorities: 1) The Minority Education Institution Student Partnership Program: Undergrads and grad students conduct research and work on policy, business, and communications issues in nationwide labs and offices. They work side-by-side with leading scientists, engineers, and other top professionals to develop professional and leadership skills. See http://doeminorityinternships.org. 2) The College Student Summer Internships for Native Americans at Sandia National Laboratories is discussed at http://www.eere.energy.gov/tribalenergy/internships.cfm. 3) The Mickey Leland Energy Fellowship provides summer internships for minority students in science and engineering throughout the U.S. See http://fossil.energy.gov/education/lelandfellowships.

• National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education (NAFEO): Students from historically and predominantly black colleges and universities are placed in federal offices during the summer and school year. Stipends, travel expenses, and housing are covered. See http://nafeo.org/.

• Significant Opportunities in Atmospheric Research and Science (SOARS): Does it get any better than this? Interns work in state-of-the-art labs in beautiful, groovy Boulder, CO, on fascinating scientific projects, are mentored by top scientists, and live in modern group housing. Activities include conducting research and attending science writing workshops and other trainings. This is a multi-summer program and salaries increase each year of participation. See http://ucar.edu/soars/index.html.

• Women’s Research and Education Institute for Women and Public Policy Fellowship: Grad students and recent grads who are committed to women’s issues work for 8 months in Washington, DC as Congressional aids. See http://wrei.org.

• Workforce Recruitment Program for College Students with Disabilities: This program serves as a pipeline for undergrads, grad students, and law students who have disabilities into summer and full-time jobs throughout the federal government and private organizations. See http://opm.gov; type Workforce Recruitment Program into the search window.

FINDING MORE INTERNSHIP PROGRAMS

Almost every federal agency sponsors an internship program. But unfortunately, most of these programs are not advertised on USAJOBS.gov, and the federal government has not created a consolidated directory of its internship programs.

Find federal internships by using these resources:

• How to Land a Top-Paying Federal Job (Amacom Books) by Lily Whiteman features a comprehensive, hyperlinked directory of internships and special recruitment programs for students and recent graduates as well as a directory of programs that are specially recruiting minorities, women and people with disabilities. The book is on sale on Amazon.com here.

• Check the career sections of the websites of your target agencies. A hyperlinked A-to-Z directory of agency websites is posted here. Also check the career sections of national parks, forests and marine sanctuaries and federal libraries, museums and federal research laboratories.

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• A list of science-based opportunities for students of all levels, recent grads, and post-docs is posted here.

• More internship programs are listed on these sites:

 http://thejobpage.gov/starting.asp;

 http://thejobpage.gov/students.asp#;

 http://www.students.gov/STUGOVWebApp/Public;

 http://studentjobs.gov