A survey of business school staff and corporate recruiters conducted by Jeff Kavanaugh, senior partner at Infosys, found that the skills recruiters look for in potential employees are not necessarily the ones students focus on as they pursue their education. While many students believe that leadership is a skills that can be learned in a class, it’s actually more important to develop skills like critical thinking, teamwork, communication, and professionalism/work ethic.
News
Teenage Mom Beats the Odds at UC
Just nine years ago, Tani Huddleson was a single, unemployed high school dropout with a newborn baby. She swore she’d give her son a better chance at life, and after earning her GED, Huddleson enrolled in a degree program at University College through the Higher Education Opportunity Program. Five years later, she is doing an internship in forensic science and is on track to complete her master’s degree at Syracuse University. Read her story here.
Alpha Sigma Lambda Recognition
An Honors Reception to recognize University College achievers will take place March 10 in the Panasci Lounge at Schine Student Center. Part of this inspiring annual event will be the induction of new members into Alpha Sigma Lambda (ASL), the country’s oldest and largest chapter-based honor society for nontraditional students. ASL was founded in 1945 and boasts more than 300 chapters. SU’s Beta Delta Chapter was established in 1977.
Membership is on an invitation-only basis for students who are matriculated in a degree program and represent the top 20 percent of their class. They must have a minimum GPA of 3.2 and have completed a minimum of 24 credit hours with at least 12 credits earned in liberal studies.
Erik Newcome, an iSchool student in Information Management and Technology who expects to graduate in May, was inducted in 2015. “I have an extremely high standard for my academic achievements and it was very rewarding to be recognized for the sacrifices I have made to support those achievements,” he says. The Navy veteran works full time for the Department of Homeland Security and has a wife and two young children. “ASL membership reminds me that hard work WILL get you places if you are willing to put in the effort,” he asserts.
Annette Saule, who graduated from SU’s College of Visual and Performing Arts in 2016, was inducted in 2014. “It was an accomplishment I would never have dreamed of achieving at the beginning of my journey at SU,” she says. Sheera Buckley, currently a UC student in Anthropology with a goal of graduating in 2020, says “It was an unexpected surprise” to be inducted into ASL in 2015. “Maintaining my membership is a great carrot to keep me motivated to do well!”
Learn more at professionalstudies.syracuse.edu/alpha-sigma-lambda
Employers are looking hard for soft skills
The job market has long been friendly toward workers with technical skills, but there’s an increasing demand for soft skills now, too. The rapidly changing economy now demands employees with well-rounded skillsets. Employers are seeking candidates who are skilled speakers, writers, managers, and collaborators as well as those with good analytical skills.
Making the Choice to Go Back to School
Are you ready for the challenge of going back to school?
The decision to go back to school as an adult can be a complex one. Prospective adult students face many complicating factors that “traditional” students usually don’t think about. With families, community obligations, jobs, and household duties, free-time is limited for adults interested in returning to college.
However, adult learners are the largest growing demographic in colleges today and this trend shows no sign of slowing. Additionally, with online programs, night and weekend classes, and tuition reimbursement programs through the workplace, going back to school has never been easier.
Over 50% of companies with more than 100 employees offer some type of tuition assistance.
Of course, higher education isn’t for everyone. Without specific goals and a preconceived plan, adult students may struggle. Let’s explore some of the common concerns that go along with returning to school as an adult learner.
Will a Degree Really Benefit Me?
It’s no secret that people with college degrees often earn more than people without. Although, this isn’t always the case, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, the median income for employees holding a bachelor’s degree is $51,206, compared to $27,915 median income for those with only a high school diploma. Simply put: people with degrees make almost twice as much as people without.
Unemployment is also on the rise and has become an increasing worry to the United States economy. Putting unemployment in a college perspective: Individuals with no college degree are twice as likely to be unemployed as those who have one.
Not only do college degrees help you earn more, but they’ll help you keep steady work as well.
Will I Fit in with Younger Students?
The “traditional” student is often thought of as an 18 to 22-year-old who is attending a four-year college. A classroom full of students like this can be intimidating for adult learners. Adults sometimes think they won’t fit in, or can’t keep up with their younger counterparts.
But aside from the fact that adults are often more motivated to succeed than younger students, the traditional/non-traditional segregation simply isn’t as prevalent as it once was. Non-traditional students, like part-time and adult learners, are populating classrooms across the country—from elite four-year institutions to community colleges, and certificate programs.
Adult education has become so popular that “traditional” students are no longer the vast majority.
How Do I Get Started?
Before you begin researching schools and picking out classes, it’s important to understand the commitment that’s required to go back to school and to make a clear set of goals to accomplish. It may also help to turn to family members and friends for support, as returning to school can be a stressful transition. It’s always good to have a few people in your corner, supporting you.
The next step is to focus on ways to finance your education. Over 50% of companies with more than 100 employees offer some type of tuition assistance, which can greatly decrease the financial burden of going back to school.
Explore financial aid programs, fill out your FAFSA, and do a detailed search for scholarships for which you might be eligible. Then make a financial plan, and stick to it as you move towards your degree.
Whether it’s a continuing education that’s required by your current employer, or a full-degree program, it’s important to select a school that will help you achieve the goals you set in the beginning. Stick to these goals, and remember that the path to higher education will sometimes be challenging. But as with most challenges, overcoming them will be greatly rewarding.
Originally published on www.campusexplorer.com
http://www.campusexplorer.com/college-advice-tips/C6804D74/Making-The-Choice-To-Go-Back-To-School/