Medical School is Considering Online Doctoral Nursing Program

Are you interested in getting a doctoral nursing degree, but you're worried about all the time it will take? Well, this may be the answer to your problems!

GW's Medical School has plans to launch an online program aimed at increasing the number of nurses after a study found a nationwide shortage of faculty teaching nursing courses.

The program will give students a doctorate in Nursing Practice through online courses and will allow graduates to teach nursing. The program will be voted on in February by the Board of Trustees and in the fall, if approved, it will be only the fourth of its kind in the country, said Ellen Dawson, the chair of the nursing department.

"(Medicine) is so complicated that we need clinicians who are well-versed. They need more knowledge," she said. "We are hoping this will provide stronger patient care that is based in evidence."

If approved, the school will begin recruiting students this spring and Dawson said they plan to enroll 15 to 20 students in the first year of the program.

The development of the program is largely a response to a ruling by the American Association of College Nursing that said that by 2015, the DNP will be required for nurse practitioners. Dawson said there are currently 24 DNP programs in the U.S. and more are being developed.

According to a survey by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, nursing schools rejected more than 41,000 qualified applicants in 2005, compared to 18,000 in 2003. Three out of four schools reported the increased rejections were due to shortages of faculty members.

Dawson said graduates of the doctoral program will be able to teach nursing and help alleviate the shortages of nurses.

To read the rest of the article written by by Elise KignerElise Kigner
Hatchet Staff Writer"> Hatchet Staff Writer,
click this link.

U of M to offer New Doctoral Degree Programs in Rochester

According to a recent article in the Minneapolis St. Paul Jouranl written by staff writer Joel Grostephan, University of Minnesota President Robert Bruininks has big plans for its Rochester operations which include establishing an official U of M campus in the city and envisioning the need for a chancellor to run the school.

The university also plans to implement 10 new degree programs, which don't already exist in other parts of the state, as well as several master's and doctoral programs, including a master's degree in health care administration for working professionals.

To find out all the details, check out the article by clicking this link.

ASU Social Degree Programs Merge

There's a new school for Sociology and Family and Human Development Majors at Arizona State University to call "home". The two departments recently merged and created the "School of Social and Family Dynamics."

The school is part of a redevelopment of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences which has added seven new schools in the past five years alone.

Graduate programs include master's and doctoral degrees in sociology or family and human development.

The merger means that the two departments will pool resources and offer more opportunities for students. To find out more, check out the article written by Annalyn Censky:

Critical Need for Pharmacists/Biomedical Research in Maine

Portland: In order to meet the critical need for pharmacists in Main, and to expand its biomedical research capability, the University of New England is entering into a new public/private partnership with the University of Maine.

To get all the details. check out this Press Release:http://media-newswire.com/release_1039461.html

Men are in the minority in graduate programs

According to an article I read in the Democrat and Chrinicle Local News, men are increasingly in the minority on the nation's college campuses. They only made up 42 percent of the undergraduate population in 2003-04, down from 44 percent in the 1995-96 school year, according to a study released this month by the American Council on Education.

To read the entire article (it's worth a look!) click this link:

technorati tags:doctoral, programs, Democrat, and, Chronicle, news

Unproductive College Programs In Mississippi Put on Probation and Receive Warning

This article written by Richard Lake of the Clarion Ledger gives you information you need if you're considering going to Mississippi to get your doctoral or other advanced degrees.

The only university that didn't have programs on the "probation list" was the "Mississippi University for Women"

  And according to Bill Smith, the state's acting commissioner of academic and student affairs, the state College Board isn't out to just "shut them down", but rather they're giving each school three years to get back on track.

On Wednesday, the board placed 37 programs on probation, and eliminated two others that were not graduating enough students.

To read the rest of the article, click this link:

technorati tags:doctoral, programs, Mississipi, University, for, Women, Clarion, Ledger, Richard, Lake

Gaps in Pharmacy Leadership

This is a thought-provoking article in Modern Health Care (dotcom) written by Gary Filerman and Kathryn Komaridis that talks about the critical need for leaders with advanced degrees in Pharmacology.

If this is a field you're interested in, or are already in but have been thinking about going back and continuing your degree - you're going to want to read it.
Note that you'll have to register in order to read the rest of the article, but registration is free, and takes only a minute. Here's the first three paragraphs - and click the link at the end of the post to read the entire article.

"Six years have passed since the Institute of Medicine first documented the crisis in patient safety and quality of care. In those years we have seen a plethora of studies and reports expanding upon that basic theme and, indeed, there has been progress on many fronts -- although advances have come slowly and with difficulty.

Two of the many barriers to progress are the shortage of pharmacy executive leaders with the competencies that the current system demands and the failure of senior managers to recognize how critical those skills are to achieving their performance objectives. And, the potential contribution of more effective medication system management in achieving those objectives is often overlooked.

With support from the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, we have been studying the role of pharmacy management in general and in patient safety and cost containment in particular. While the IOM report addresses the role of medications in patient....."
Click here to read the rest of the article

Students in Oregon can Participate in Pre-Professional Apprenticeship Programs/Research

The  Medford News (dotcom) just ran an article about some interesting summer apprenticeship programs that pays a stipend and gives students from socially and/or economically disadvantaged backgrounds a first-hand look at what going into health, science or other graduate programs could be like.

OHSU is a partner in Saturday Academy's Apprenticeships in Science and Engineering Program that offers pre-professional experience in science and engineering careers. The program provides high school freshmen, sophomores and juniors with an intensive experience in a professional, scientific or engineering environment. It also provides the opportunity to explore interests and to make informed educational and career decisions. Positions are available throughout Oregon and southwest Washington.

For eight weeks during the summer, apprentices participate in the program for the equivalent of a full-time position at their mentors' workplaces. Some students work on special projects designed to be completed in eight weeks; others contribute to the ongoing work of the mentors. Some apprentices are credited as authors or co-authors on professional publications or products used by their mentors.

Many students are hired to work with their mentors in following years. Most apprentices receive school credit for successfully completing the apprenticeship and participating in the conferences. In addition to the eight weeks at the mentor's site, apprentices participate in other activities designed to broaden their experience of science, math and technology.

Most applications for these summer programs are due in December. Students need to contact scied@ohsu.edu in late fall for contact information about summer programs and to learn about requirements and deadlines.

Other programs include:

Environmental and Biomolecular Systems faculty in the Department of Environmental and Biomolecular Systems at the OHSU OGI School of Science & Engineering offer upper-level high school students hands-on research experience. 

MedStars is a residential summer experience designed to help high school students aged 16 to 19 learn how to pursue a health care career and health career options.

Neurological Sciences Institute Merit Underrepresented Minority Supplement Program provides up to $5,000 a year to a high school student and junior faculty member to participate in research in the Balance Disorders Lab of Fay Horak, Ph.D. 

The Oregon Institute on Disability and Development (OIDD) Summer Youth Program provides an opportunity for several high school and college students to become exposed to some of the work being accomplished at OIDD.

Partnership in Scientific Inquiry class is designed to allow Portland area high school students an opportunity to experience scientific research. This program begins in the spring and may continue into the summer if the student and mentor agree to do so. High school credit can be obtained for participation in this upper-level class.

Cell and Developmental Biology Research Fellowship program enables undergraduates from across the country to gain paid research experience by working on a specific project in the laboratory of selected faculty members. The program is designed for students who are interested in pursuing research as a career.

Center for Research on Occupational and Environmental Toxicology (CROET) Summer Student Research Awards are two-to three-month paid summer internships designed to introduce college sophomores, junior and seniors to various fields of biomedical research. I

Equity Summer Research Program is for sophomores and juniors who are interested in biomedical sciences and may be considering a medical degree or doctor of philosophy program.  Women and minorities are strongly encouraged to apply.

HAMS, Health Care Adventures in Medicine and Science, is a one-week summer enrichment program offered by OHSU Center for Diversity & Multicultural Affairs. Twenty selected undergraduate students job shadow health science professionals, use clinical equipment and attend classes similar to those taught through OHSU's various professional graduate programs.

Murdock Undergraduate Collaborative Research Program is designed for talented students from local Oregon colleges and universities who are interested in pursuing a career in biomedical research, particularly those who are considering graduate school or an M.D./Ph.D. program. 

Summer Fellowship Program in Neuroscience gives undergraduate students in-depth research experience in neuroscience with an established scientist.

To get all the details and to find out the specifics for the program you're interested in, click this link to read the entire article.

technorati tags:summer, apprenticeship, programs, Oregon, Washington, best, graduate, programs, doctoral, programs, training, stipend

Undergrad? Looking for research opportunity? Berkeley may have the answer for you!

This just in from Wendy Edelstein, Public Affairs at Berkley

Research opportunities abound for undergrads — from short-term stints to two-year programs
Berkeley offers many opportunities for undergrads to contribute to faculty research projects in myriad areas while earning a summer stipend and gaining invaluable lab experience.

Well-established campus research experiences for undergraduates (REUs) include

• SUPERB (Summer Undergrad Program in Engineering Research at Berkeley);
  
• UC LEADS (a two-year program geared toward math, engineering, and science undergrads with doctoral-degree potential who may be interested in leadership roles in different sectors);
  
• the Summer Research Opportunity Program (SROP), which provides internship opportunities to undergraduates in the humanities and biological, physical, and social sciences; and
  
• biotech internships organized by QB3 (Quantitative Biomedical Research).

For information about undergraduate research programs at Berkeley, visit research.berkeley.edu. For information about the NSF REU in evolution, developmental, and cell biology described in this article, visit mcb.berkeley.edu/nsfreu.

To read the rest of the article, click this link!

technorati tags:Berkeley, Undergrads, Research, Opportunities, Summer, Stipend, Best, graduate, programs

Excellent Prognosis for Texas Nursing Program

This in from the Star-Telegram.com in Texas...

The nursing program at the University of Texas at Arlington has wrapped up a national reputation as a center of educational excellence.  Most recently, the School of Nursing just purchased a new buildidng which will be turned into a "Smart Hospital" where students will be able to use high-tech simulators and gain hands-on experience on mannequin patients with symptoms that mimic a wide range of illnesses.  Because few schools in the nation have access to this technology, the School of Nursing at U of T provides students with invaluable insight that, for many others, only comes after years of on-the-job training.

Offering this program comes with other benefits for the school and the University as well - such as the $745,000 grant to the School of Nursing for a study of acute-care pediatric nursing practices, and a $728,000 grant for emergency nursing. 

Laerdal Medical Corporation provided some of the simulator manniquins for the Smart Hospital, and has designated UTA's nursing school as on of only six Laerdal Centers of Excellence Worldwide.

technorati tags:nursing, master, degree, University, of, Texas, Laerdal, Medical, Center, Best, Doctoral, Programs

Education Initiative Moves forward/Black Community Applauds Master Program and Tuition Help in Canada

This just in:  According to Rick Conrad, the education reporter for the Chronical Herald.ca, located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, the Africentric Learning Institute is moving forward with their long-awaited plans when they announced a master's degree program.  In addition, young black students will get a little more help paying for rising univiserity tuition costs.

Way back in 1994, in the Black Learner's Advisory Committee Report on Education, recommended the creation of a stand-alone institute to develop curriculum and conduct ongoing research on issues affecting black students.

In an announcement made on Tuesday, the Education Department, Mount Saint Vincent University and the Council on African-Canadian Education unveiled a master of education degree in lifelong learning with a focus on Africentric leadership that will begin in September.

The two-year pilot program will enrol 20 part-time students who will study three core courses in lifelong learning, do a practicum and a project as well as elective courses concentrating on Africentric learning, said Jim Sharpe, the Mount’s dean of the faculty of education.

To read the entire article, click the link:

technorati tags:Master's, Degree, Pilot, Program, Black, students, tuition-help, best, doctoral, programs

Computer learns to play poker - and wins!

I just read an interesting article 9n the Pittsburg PA "Post-gazette.com Business News".  It seems that there is an IBM "super-computer" in the School of Computer Science Data Center that has not only beaten other computer programs playing games of "Texas Hold 'em", but it's also forced some expert human players to fold their hands!

Carnegie Mellon University Professor Tuomas Sandholm and Andrew Gilpin, a CMU doctoral student in computer science have been working on this program for the last 2 1/2 years.  Their latest program called "GS1" plays the more complex game of seven-card Texas Hold 'em, and their paper was published last summer for the National Conference of the American Association for Artificial Intelligence in Boston.

To read more, click this link:

technorati tags:Texas, Hold-em, Computer, Science, Best, Doctoral, Degrees

Enquiring Minds Want to Know - Which Graduate Schools are Ranked the Best?

Here is a list of the highest ranking grad schools provided by U.S. News and World Report on the Yahoo Education page...thanks guys, and keep up the good work! To get more information, just click the links!

Best Business Schools (ranked in 2006)

1. Harvard University
2. Stanford University
3. University of Pennsylvania (Wharton)
4. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Sloan)
   Northwestern University (Kellogg)
6. University of Chicago
7. Columbia University
   University of California--Berkeley (Haas)
9. Dartmouth College (Tuck)
10. University of California--Los Angeles (Anderson)

Complete list of Top Business Schools Executive M.B.A. (ranked in 2006)

1. Northwestern University (Kellogg)
2. University of Chicago
3. University of Pennsylvania (Wharton)

Accounting (ranked in 2006)

1. University of Illinois--Urbana-Champaign
2. University of Texas--Austin (McCombs)
3. University of Michigan--Ann Arbor (Ross)

Finance (ranked in 2006)

1. University of Pennsylvania (Wharton)
2. University of Chicago
3. New York University (Stern)

Part-Time M.B.A. (ranked in 2006)

1. New York University (Stern)
2. University of Chicago
3. Northwestern University (Kellogg)

Entrepreneurship (ranked in 2006)

1. Babson College (Olin)
2. Stanford University
3. University of Pennsylvania (Wharton)

More Business Specialty rankings

Press Release - Capella University Hosts Lecture by Historian Author Doris Kearns Goodwin

This just in:

MINNEAPOLIS, July 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Capella University, an accredited online university, will sponsor a presentation by Doris Kearns Goodwin, the acclaimed author, researcher and presidential scholar, entitled, "Leadership Lessons from Abraham Lincoln," on Sunday, July 16, at 7:15 p.m. at the Phoenix Convention Center. Goodwin's presentation is based on her best-selling book, Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln. The cost of admission is $15 (payable at the door) and the public is invited to attend. The author will be available for book signing from 8:30 to 9 p.m.

Doris Kearns Goodwin's lecture marks the first in the Scholarly Speaker Series, a new series of learning experiences that Capella University is hosting for the public. Doris Kearns Goodwin will also present a session for Capella PhD students participating in the online university's July colloquium, or doctoral residency, in Phoenix.

"It's exciting to be part of Capella University's learning experience and to talk about history," Goodwin said. "There is much to learn from Abe Lincoln about leadership. His political genius was rooted in his remarkable array of emotional strengths that enabled him to form friendships with rivals who had previously disdained him, to put past grudges aside, to assume responsibility for the failure of subordinates, to share credit with ease and to learn from mistakes."

Each year, Capella hosts eight doctoral residencies (also called colloquia), which allow the online university's PhD candidates to meet with their peers and faculty in a variety of workshops and presentations related to their degree specializations. The colloquium in Phoenix will be held at the newly renovated Phoenix Convention Center, where Capella will participate in an inaugural ribbon cutting ceremony Sunday July 16 at 10:00 a.m.

Every Capella PhD candidate is required to attend three colloquia, which are

About Capella University

Founded in 1993, Capella University is an accredited* online university that offers graduate degree programs in business, information technology, education, human services, and psychology, and bachelor's degree programs in business and information technology. Within those areas, Capella offers 77 graduate and undergraduate specializations and 16 certificate specializations. The online university currently serves more than 15,700 learners from all 50 states and 63 countries. It is a national leader in online education, committed to providing high-caliber academic excellence and pursuing balanced business growth. Capella University is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Capella Education Company, headquartered in Minneapolis. For more information, please visit http://www.capella.edu or call 1-888-CAPELLA (227-3552).

held at locations throughout the United States. Of the more than 15,700 students pursuing an online degree at Capella, nearly 45 percent are PhD candidates. Capella's students are among the estimated 1.2 million Americans enrolled in online higher education.

technorati tags:Capella, University, Online, Graduate, Programs, author, Doris, Kearns, Goodwin

Penn State Wins $34 Million Dollar Contract from U.S. Dept. of Education for Laboratory

News You Can Use:

If you've been looking around at different colleges and universities, but you still don't know where to go, take a look at Penn State College in Philadelphia...here's why:

Penn State's College of Education is building on its longstanding commitment to excellence in its professional-preparation programs to become increasingly active in research efforts designed to improve practice in many parts of the field.

The most recent U.S. News and World Report graduate school rankings reflect the strength of the college faculty and their research. Six of the college's graduate degree programs were ranked in the top 10 nationally, showing a continual rise in the rankings. And strong rankings are attracting quality students and faculty.

During the 2005-2006 fiscal year, education faculty received more than $21 million in research funding awards. The college recently won a five-year, $34 million contract from the U.S. Department of Education to run the Mid-Atlantic Regional Education Laboratory. This laboratory is one of 10 national labs that have the responsibility for meeting the education research and development needs for particular regions of the country.

Read the full article here:

technorati tags:Penn, State, College, Wins, $34, million, grant, U.S., Deptartment, Education, Laboratory, Best, Doctoral, Programs

WMU Trustees Remove 11 Grad Programs - Is Yours One of Them?

Breaking News:

This just in from KALAMAZOO (NEWS 3) –

Western Michigan University's board of trustees voted Friday to eliminate 11 graduate programs, although a dozen programs that were on the cutting block were spared.

Trustees voted to maintain four doctoral programs: Applied Economics, Clinical Psychology, Spanish, and Computer Science.

Others were maintained, but with conditions to improve, including a PhD in statistics and several masters degree programs.

Eleven graduate programs are soon to be history: two doctoral, one specialist program, and eight masters programs, but they won't close the classrooms just yet.

"Students will be allowed and, in fact, encouraged to complete the original course of their degree without any change so that whatever they were coming in with the expectation of, that is what will be delivered," assured Prof. John Jellies, Graduate Program. Review Appeals Chair.

The target date for closing the 11 programs depends on when the last student in each graduates. For some, that's this fall. For others it could be as far off as 2013.

Read more about the budget decisions

technorati tags:grad, programs, eliminated, best, doctoral, programs, online, doctoral, programs, breaking, news

Should training for physicians be subsidized when other graduate programs aren't?

Did you know that Medicare has furnished the bulk of money for graduate medical education since its inception in 1965? It’s
done through direct payments to cover administrative costs and
salaries of faculty and residents, and indirect payments made to hospitals from taking care of seriously sick patients requiring longer and more expensive stays. The rest is provided by Medicaid, the Veterans Administration, hospitals and private sources such as foundations and gifts.

So why does graduate medical education have to be subsidized when other graduate programs are not?

Americans generally feel this is a public good and a rational policy to train an excellent medical work force for the country. Besides, interns and residents provide vital services to hospitals particularly in taking care of indigent patients.

The problem, like with so many other government sponsored or subsidized programs, is that the funding has dried up. One of the reasons for this is the the “1997 Balance Buget Act” that reduced Medicare funding for graduate medical education (and capped the number of residency training programs).

Program directors have grave concerns that the shrinking Medicare budget for graduate medical education is going to threaten the viability and quality of some training programs, even as the need for physicians grows due to the aging (and growing) number of Medicare enrolless, and the expected shortage of doctors.

The Council on Graduate Medical Education, created in 1987 to advise Congress about medical issues, has recommended revamping the current funding program. They insist that, besides Medicare, an all-payer system should be implemented and to eventually require more funding from commercial insurers and institutions sponsoring these training programs.

The good news? If you’re considering a medical career, now may be the best time to get signed up. Recognizing the shortage of doctors, many Universities are now scrambling to put together the best financial aid packages, subsidies and funding they can find. And with the coming need for physicians in the future, you’ll never be out of work!

technorati tags:doctoral, programs, medical, graduates, aging, population, physican, shortage

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What a day!

Have you ever had one of those days when absolutely nothing related to technology worked right?

(Personally, I think I must have been an evil copymachine repair person in another life, and I'm paying back my bad karma in this life!)

One of the things that happened was that I a little while ago, I created a really interesting post - about gnome mapping - and somehow the whole thing just disappeared!

But, I really wanted to tell you about it, in case this is an area you're interested in, and have thought about getting your doctoral degree in...It's about a really exciting computer system, called "SuperLink Online" - it's been around for five years, and using the capabilities of literally thousands of linked computers (during their down time), they can pinpoint the exact location of disease genes in certain families genomes - which helps scientists to develop effective disease treatments.

And the thing is super-fast as well...in fact, the system provides results tens of times faster than previous gene-mapping programs!

If you'd like to learn more, click on the link to read the entire article.

I've written a couple of magazine articles on this stuff, and like I said, I find it completely fascinating!

Let me know what you think...

Working Adults - Use Accelerated Online Graduate Degree Program and Get Your Degree Fast!

Town Talk - Neumann Hosts Info Sessions For Degree-Seeking Adults

If you're a working adult and you've considered going back to school to finish your degree, you should check out Neumann College near Philly.

In fact, if you live in the area, why not plan on attending their free Undergraduate Program Information session on Wednesday, July 26 at 6 p.m.

College reps will be providing information about their accelerated undergraduate degree completion program for adults, as well as the traditional adult evening programs in business administration, education and nursing.

But starting this fall, the accelerated program will be available completely online, or in a classroom setting.

To find out more, read the entire article here:

The laws of aerodynamics

I just got this, and wanted to share it with you - maybe if you're feeling frustrated or stuck and not sure what to do next, it will give you some "food for thought!"

According to the laws of aerodynamics, a bumblebee cannot fly. At all. However somebody apparently forgot to tell the bumblebee.

So, since it doesn't know about aerodynamics, or the laws of physics guess what? It flies anyway!

So my advice to you is - don't listen to anyone who tells you the reasons why you can't do something - and just do it anyway!

Do You Suffer from "Leisure Guilt?"

Okay, I admit it! After reading this article written by Dr. Raymond Folen who's an assoicate professor of psychology at Argosy University/Hawaii in Honolulu, I realized that I do suffer from Leisure Guilt! (But I'm working on it...) How about you?

Imagine that it's time for your vacation - one or two blissful, lazy weeks that are all yours to enjoy...you have visions of sleeping late, running around in your underwear or most comfortable pair of old jeans or sweats, maybe watching some television, going to the beach, or working on your hobby - basically, whatever you want to do! Nobody to check in with, report to, no deadlines, no reports - just peace and quiet...and finally, the day arrives...and you're so ready to enjoy yourself...

Just as soon as you check your email, your cell phone, your voice mail, fax machine, palm pilot, blackberry, Website, and intranet. (10 times a day).

Sound familiar?

According to Dr. Folen, "Leisure Guilt" isn't a new phenomenon. It's just that with the advent of technology that lets us keep in touch - with our friends, our families, our associates, our jobs - all at the touch of a button and at the speed of light - it's become too easy to keep in touch, even during a vacation, when you're supposed to be able to take a break from the rest of the world!

Of course, the simple solution would be to simply "unplug" and leave all your electronic devices at home - or to turn everything off, if you're spending your vacation at home. (Uh huh. I heard that gasp...)

So how do you know if you suffer from Leisure Guilt?

Symptoms:

• Overwhelming, compelling need to check your messages
• Concern over what's happening while you're "on vacation"
• Feelings of worthlessness or unproductiveness
• Fear of "missing out" or "losing something" while you're away
• Anxiety, stress and the inability to relax
• Worrying about your job or tasks that will face you on your return

What Can You Do if you have Leisure Guilt?

• Ask a trusted colleage to "watch your back" while you're gone and to contact you only if there's something urgent that only you can attend to
  
• Before your vacation, make a list of the benefits and liabilites of taking it - if you're reassured by having someone watching your back, the liabilities side of the list should be shorter than the benefit side
• Recognize the importance of taking a vacation for your mind, body and soul - it's as important as getting regular exercise, drinking plenty of water and watching your diet! (A vactions releases stress, gives you a fresh perspective and helps your body to rest and heal)

According to Dr. Folen, if you don't take a vacation now, chances are you'll be taking one later - at your local hospital while you recover from a stress-related condition. (And think of this - at the hospital, they don't serve poolside daiquiris!

If you're looking for a school, make sure you check out Argosy University/Hawaii - it's one of 14 Argosy University campuses, and four approved degree sites in 12 states. You can get more information at: http://www.argosyu.edu . They offer doctoral and master's degree programs in psychology, business, counseling and education. They also offer bachelor's degree completion programs in psychology and business and associate's degree programs in various health science fields. And how hard could it be to live in Hawaii while you're going to school? Surfing, beach combing, hulu girls and luaos...hmmm...I might have to look into this one myself!

technorati tags:Leisure, Guilt, Doctoral, Degree, Programs, Hawaii, Argosy, University

Pilot Fellowship Program for Minorities Announced

Here's another press release, announcing nearly $1 million in funding for a new fellowship pilot program to increase cultural diversity...this one is pretty cool. Interested? Follow the links for more information!

The Chicago Community Trust has committed nearly $1 million over three years to expand management opportunities for minorities at local cultural institutions, the Chicago Tribune reports.

According to foundation officials, the trust is developing a pilot minority fellowship program with the Art Institute of Chicago, the Chicago Children's Museum, the Chicago History Museum, Lincoln Park Zoo, the Museum of Science and Industry, and Shedd Aquarium. Six people of color will be recruited and trained to work in mid-level management positions at the six institutions, and will rotate from institution to institution every four months. During the course of the program, fellows, whose salaries and benefits will be paid by the trust, will be mentored by managers they work beside or meet at regional and national conferences.

After completing the program, the fellows will be expected to assume full-time management jobs at a local cultural institution. "To help ensure that Chicago continues to grow as an important arts and cultural center, it is essential to train and support well-qualified, diverse individuals who can assume management positions in our cultural institutions," said Kassie Davis, the trust's senior program officer for arts and culture.

technorati tags:Chicago, Community, Trust, Pilot, Fellowship, Program, Minorities, Doctoral, Degree, Programs

Fannie-Mae Foundation Accounces Fellowships for 2006

This is a perfect example of the kinds of financial assistance you can get, if you know where to look and how to apply! If you're interested in getting more details, just click on the appropriate links - and congratualtions to all of this year's winners!

This is a perfect example of the types of funding or financial assistance you can get, if you know where to look, what questions to ask and how to apply. If you're looking for financial help, and don't know where to look, feel free to post to the blog with your most "burning question" and I'll do my best to find an answer for you!

The Fannie Mae Foundation in Washington, D.C., has announced the 2006 class of Fannie Mae Fellows.

Chosen from a record 110 applicants for their accomplishments in the field of affordable housing, the twenty-five fellows attend an intensive, three-week course at the John F. Kennedy School of Government Senior Executives in State and Local Government program at Harvard University, where they learn enhanced leadership skills, develop new management techniques, cultivate relationships among public-sector colleagues, and attend special sessions coordinated by Harvard's Joint Center for Housing Studies, faculty from the Kennedy School of Government, and foundation staff.

"The Fannie Mae Foundation Fellowship Program is a natural extension of our ongoing work with emerging and established leaders on the front lines of housing affordability," said foundation president and CEO Stacey D. Stewart. "Our goal...is to give the fellows an unprecedented opportunity to expand their knowledge and effectiveness so they can better serve their communities as the next generation of leaders in the affordable housing field."

For a list of 2006 fellows, see: http://www.fanniemaefoundation.org/news/pr/
2006spr/2006_kennedy_pr.pdf.

HP Awards More Than $2 Million to 25 Schools in United States, Canada

Hewlett Packard just issued this press release. Click on the link to see if your school is one of the recipients of this funding...

Ten two- and four-year colleges and universities in the United States will receive a total of $1.2 million in cash and equipment, along with a faculty stipend of $10,500 and travel expenses for one participant from each campus to attend the Worldwide HP Technology for Teaching Higher Education Conference in February 2007.

"We are delighted to make these reinvestment grants," said Bess Stephens, the company's vice president of philanthropy and education, "so that even more educators and students can benefit from innovative applications of technology to improve teaching and learning."

For a complete list of recipients, see: http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/newsroom/press/2006/
060707.html.

“Doris Duke Charitable Foundation Launches College and University Presenters Program With Grants Totaling $4.5 Million.” Doris Duke Charitable Foundat

This press release provides some interesting information - especially if you're a presenter, or have been thinking about becoming one...if you want more details, just click the links...

The Doris Duke Charitable Foundation has announced four grants totaling $4.5 million through its new College and University Presenters Program, which encourages projects that integrate performing arts into academic life and the community.

The grants will provide both artistic programming and endowment support to university presenters of national significance. The first grantees included the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center at the University of Maryland ($375,000 artistic programming, $750,000 endowment), the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign ($375,000 artistic programming, $750,000 endowment), and the University Musical Society at the University of Michigan ($250,000 artistic programming, $500,000 endowment).

In addition, the Association of Performing Arts Presenters was awarded $1.5 million to launch and manage the Creative Campus Innovations Grant Program. In April 2007, the association will award six to twelve grants ranging from $50,000 to $200,000 over two years to campus-based presenters proposing groundbreaking projects that demonstrate the importance of the arts to the educational, service, and scholarly missions of academic institutions.

"Campus-based presenters have access to a unique combination of intellectual, technological, and physical resources that could significantly enrich the creative process and experience for artists, students, and local residents," said Joan E. Spero, president of the New York City-based foundation. "We are excited to seed ideas through these grants for innovative ways to deepen the relationships and expand collaborations between artists and institutions of higher education."

DAC Professional Development Fund offers more than $165,000 in new funding!

Design Automation Conference Professional Development Fund to Award More than $165,000

Design Automation Conference 2006

BOULDER, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 10, 2006--This just published! Red Hot News!

The Design Automation Conference (DAC), the electronic design automation (EDA) industry's premier event, today announced that together with several sponsoring societies it is awarding more than $165,000 in professional development funds to students and professionals in the EDA field. These funds, which bring the total amount awarded during the past twelve years to more than $3.57 million, will be presented at the 43rd DAC, July 24-28, at the Moscone Center in San Francisco.

The DAC Professional Development Fund supports a range of programs, including the Engineering Scholarship Program, the P.O. Pistilli Advancement in Computer Science and Electrical Engineering Program, the University Booth Program, the Young Student Support Program, the DAC Graduate Scholarships and the Student Design Contest. DAC also supports the Workshop for Women in Design Automation, the Integrated Design Systems Workshop, and the ACM/Special Interest Group on Design Automation (SIGDA) Ph.D. Forum.

"DAC has a strong commitment to supporting continuing education through the professional development fund," said William Joyner, the 2005 DAC chair, who oversees the DAC Professional Development Fund. "It has a tremendous impact on the EDA community and helps contribute to the future success of the industry."

To read the entire article (and to find out if you qualify for funding or to get more information) go here:

Noted inventor, author and futurist to speak on the St. Paul Campus of the U of St. Thomas on Wed July 12

Ray Kurzweil, an inventor, futurist and author who has been recognized by three U.S. presidents for his contributions to science and technology, will speak at 5:45 p.m. Wednesday, July 12, in the auditorium of O’Shaughnessy Educational Center on the St. Paul campus of the University of St. Thomas at 5:45 p.m. Wednesday, July 12.

The talk, and a 7 p.m. reception, are part of a celebration of the 20th anniversary of Graduate Programs in Software, which now is part of the College of Business.

Kurzweil, called the “greatest thinker on artificial intelligence” by Bill Gates, will discuss virtual technology, molecular computing, cybernetics, nanorobots and other developments in technology.

Kurzweil was the first to invent such devices at the flatbed scanner, omni-font optical character recognition, print-to-speech reading machine, and text-to-speech synthesizer.

Don't Be a Victim of Scholarship Scams

Remember those old sayings - "if it sounds to good to be true, then it probably is?" or "There's no such thing as a free lunch?" or how about "There's a sucker born every minute!"

According to the National Association of Student Financial Aid (NASFA), more than 350,000 people fall victim to scholarship scams every single year. Want to know how to protect yourself?

The Federal Trade Commission, Bureau of Consumer Protection says to watch out if:

• You're told the "scholarship is guaranteed or your money back." (Not possible, unless the organization you're dealing with is the one actually giving you the money - otherwise, who gets scholarships is completely OUT of their control!)

• You're told "this information isn't available anywhere else." (Uh huh. What about all the free resources available online, at your local library, college or university?)

• You're told that they "just need your credit card or bank account number to hold the scholarship for you." (Right...and you've also won a million dollars in the lottery, someone you've never heard of in Nigeria has 20 million dollars they want to put into your bank account and the Brooklyn Bridge is for sale again!)

• You're told "This is a great investment, plus, we'll do all the work for you. (And the check is in the mail, and your blind date is really going to call you, and...well, you know!)

• You're told "Congratulations! You've been selected as a finalist in the national/regional scholarship program, or some foundation has chosen you to receive a scholarship, or you're the winner in a contest" - only you didn't enter one. (Since this is one of the biggest scams going, make sure you always do a little background research. Contact the Better Business Bureau, the Federal Trade Commission, your state's Attorney General. Also check into the online scambuster sites.)

• You're told "You have the opportunity to attend this once-in-a-lifetime financial aid seminar." (Only it's really just a big sales pitch to get you to spend your money on high priced products, or lists that you could find somewhere else for free.)

• You're told that "there is a small processing fee in order for you to receive your scholarship." (Wrong answer! Free money is just that - FREE! If someone wants to charge you, run away!)

• You're told "we have a matching scholarship program and we guarantee success" (big scam!) or that a company will give you the money upfront - and you can pay it back when your scholarship arrives (advance payday loan scheme - with huge interest rates), or any type of "processing or application fees" are involved (why not just throw your money out the window - at least you've got a better chance that whoever finds it will need it more than you do!)
  

The Value of continuing your education

"In 2003, the average full-time worker with a four-year college degree earned $49,900. That's 62% more than the $30,800 earned by the average full-time worker who only has a high school diploma."

Source: Education Pays 2005, College Board

Minority Graduate Scholarship and Educational Resources Site Opens

Why do fewer minority students attend graduate school? It's certainly not their scores, their ability or their determination.

In many cases, it's because they're not aware of the all the educational and financial aid opportunities. According to Mark Shay, President and CEO of GradSchools.com, that's about to change.

Chester, PA (PRWEB) July 9, 2006 -- GradPortal.org is a free directory of graduate school programs geared directly toward minority students. The minority graduate scholarship and school resource directory also offers information on financial aid as well as advice on preparing for and surviving graduate school.

"There are hundreds of thousands of students out there who could add so much to this society but are never given the chance," says Mark Shay, president and CEO of GradSchools.com. "Our hope is that this new minority graduate scholarship and school resource directory will reveal opportunities that these students never realized were open to them, and will help them attend the school of their dreams and further their education."

This sounds like something worth checking out!

technorati tags:minority, graduate, programs, financial, aid, resources

Learn the Lingo and show you're part of the "secret club"

I just read an interesting article in the "Chronicle of Higher Education" that you might find interesting. It talked about how every field of study has its own slang - or, as I like to call it, "secret code". If you're a graduate student or new Ph.D., it's very important for you to "Learn the Lingo" of the academic world.

Why?

For one thing, just like a secret handshake, knowing the language shows that you're a part of the club, that you belong.

Do you understand phrases like "chalk talk," "faculty lines," or "NRSA?" If not, (or even if you do), you're going to want to read this article to see what's new in the Lingo of your world...To see if you get to be part of the "club", just click the link (and give me the secret handshake!)

There's a New "Club Med" in town...

Here's something that might help you in your search for the best universities, funding programs and career building efforts. (Of course, always use your due dilligence before spending any money on any type of program...)

There's a new "Club Med" in town - at least, in the digital community. Launched by "Dream Advisors Ltd.", "MyCareerClub.com" is an online membership program that "researches, evaluates, categorizes, summarizes and publishes the top internet-related career resources" all around the world.

According to their recent press release (you can find it on Newswire today), applicants save time and effort of doing all the research themselves which makes career progress more efficient and successful.

Their core service is an exclusive online global database with approximately 1,000 of the top qualified Web resources. They say it's easy to access, searchable and can give you information in the following modules:

• Career Exploration
• Higher Education (bachelors, masters, doctoral and post doctoral programs)
• Funds Searching (awards, fellowships, grants, scholarships, assistantships and loans)
  
• Employment (finding potential employers, employees and contractors, internships, temp positions, entry, middle, senior and executive-level positions)
  
• Immigration (temporary, business, long-term, permanent visas, green cards and citizenship)

They say they offer information in countries such as Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK and the USA, with more information being added daily.

Because the site is new, they're hoping to spread the word virally, and are inviting people to check it out, bookmark it and then tell their friends...social bookmarking at it's best! If you want to check out the site, click here:

After you check it out - come back here and let us know what you think of it!

If your head is in the clouds and your eyes on the stars, check out Utah...

The Willard L. Eccles Foundation just donated $600,000 to the University of Utah, so that they can build a 32-inch, research-class, optical telescope in southern Utah. What's the big attraction? The University of Utah wants to establish a full-fledged astronomy program (and maybe create a high-altitude observatory to attract other new telescopes to the state.

The physicists' online proposal for the new telescope says: "Additional telescopes will be attracted to the facility due to its large area, dark sky, excellent weather, high altitude and relatively centralized location within the United States."

University of Utah physicists already have formed a collaboration with other institutions to develop the observatory. They include Utah State University, Weber State University, Dixie State College, Southern Utah University, Brigham Young University, the University of Nevada-Las Vegas, the Salt Lake Astronomical Society, Clark Planetarium in Salt Lake City, the University of Chicago, Chicago's Adler Planetarium, Argonne National Laboratory in Illinois and Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico.

According to the proposal, the new telescope "will greatly enhance the ability of our department to train graduate students in astronomy,"

The Department of Physics has researchers in gamma ray astronomy and cosmic ray physics, and theoreticians who study black holes, dark matter and planet formation, but it lacks observational astronomers, Gondolo says.

You can read the entire article by clicking this link.

I for one think this sounds like a stellar idea...

technorati tags:new, graduate, programs, astronomy

Looking for a generous graduate fellowship? Check out IU

Here's an interesting tidbit...According to a press released recently issued by Indiana University, there are a record number of IU international centers that have been awarded $16 million in Title VI funding!

What does that mean to you? Well, in addition to the money being used for effectively using technology to teach courses from Bloomington to students in places as divergent as Thailand, South Africa, Spain and Scandinavia, they have also created and placed online teaching materials and dictionaries for less-frequently taught languages of Inner Asia and Africa. "We've got the infrastructure to do this because of what we've established here," O'Meara said.

Seven centers at IU Bloomington were designated as National Resource Centers (NRCs) and will receive funding for programs, faculty research, curriculum development, national conferences and outreach.

But it also means that some of that funding will be used to award more generous graduate fellowships to study any of the more than 50 foreign languages offered at IU.

Want to find out more? Check out the article here:

technorati tags:doctoral, degree, programs, fellowship, funding

Is Singapore Really America's Next "College Town?"

I found this really interesting article about MIT and the National Research Foundation of Singapore - they're opening a brand new major research center that is the first of its kind. The article, written by By Michael Kanellos - Staff Writer, CNET News.com, says that the Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART) Centerwill be MIT's first such research center of its kind outside ofCambridge, Mass.

Mr. Kanellos goes on to say "The center will let MIT faculty and graduate students conduct researchwith their counterparts in Singaporean universities and companies.Scientists at the center will primarily concentrate on biomedicalscience, water and environmental technology, and digital media.Cooperation between MIT and Singapore first began in 1998.

MIT won't be the lone export in the island nation. Duke University ishelping Singapore set up a medical school, while several companies andacademics are participating in Biopolis, a multimillion-dollar program to establish the nation as a biotech hub." To find out more, click here:

There are actually many really good graduate and doctoral programs available overseas, including in Europe and Asia. If you're looking for a program, you might want to consider looking in "American" Campuses overseas!

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Welcome to Doctoral Degrees Information - Where you can find the latest information, resources and news about getting your doctoral degree.

If you need information about getting a doctoral degree - whether through an online program, continuing your education abroad, or going to your local university, you'll find all the latest news here.

Sincerely,

Cheryl