education STEPPING FORWARD TO A BETTER FUTURE
Student finds her passion at UNT FRIENDLY PROFESSORS, FINANCIAL SUPPORT AND ONE WILD INTERNSHIP ADD UP TO SUCCESS FOR UNT STUDENT BY JESSICA DELEÓN UNT
“Most of the friends I’ve made in the biology program are just like me in that they take their classes seriously. It’s been nice having a study group that will help make sure you’re keeping your nose in the books.”
DENTON (UNT), Texas — Allison Duquaine didn’t know what career to pursue until she became a student at the University of North Texas. She transferred to UNT after studying at Collin College in Plano. She tried different courses, but she didn’t decide on a major among UNT”s 97 bachelor’s degree programs until a member of the UNT Pre-Veterinary Club encouraged her to visit a local animal clinic to observe surgeries being performed. Duquaine was so fascinated that – ALLISON DUQUAINE she decided to major in biology and pursue a career as a veterinarian. Biology is just one of 39 UNT programs in sciences, technology, are very open to answering quesengineering and mathematics. tions and meeting with you if you “I loved watching the surgery,” don’t understand the material,” she said. “I had to do it. It just she said. grabbed me.” She says the students are just as She became involved with the committed and friendly. club, which is one of UNT’s more “Most of the friends I’ve made in than 400 student organthe biology program izations, and also is a are just like me in that member of the UNT Campus they take their classes Feral Cat Rescue Group Tours seriously,” she said. and Beta Beta Beta Na“It’s been nice having a Call 940-565tional Biological Honor 4104 to schedule study group that will Society.To prepare for a campus tour and help make sure you’re veterinarian school, see how UNT can keeping your nose in she’s taken numerous help you turn your the books.” science courses at UNT. dream into reality. Other support serv“The biology departices at UNT also have ment has fabulous professors who helped her succeed. Duquaine re-
Allison Duquaine, a UNT student, was able to network her way into a year-long volunteer position at the Dallas Zoo, shadowing a veterinarian at the zoo’s hospital.
Money 101 COLLEGE FUNDING ADVICE
(ARA) - Back-to-school shopping season means big sales for retailers selling pencils, backpacks, clothes and tech gadgets. Young parents know that as children get older, their back-to-school list grows with them. Eventually for many, that list will grow to include dorm necessities, textbooks and yes, college tuition. Parents, if blunt scissors and crayons are still on your child’s school supply list, now could be the right time to start planning your college funding strategy. Patrick Egan, national retirement spokesperson for Thrivent Financial for Lutherans offers this list of school supplies to help you and your student, prepare for college.
529 plan ceived financial assistance with a scholarship from the UNT Parent Association. UNT annually awards more than $27 million in scholarships. And, because UNT provides flexibility with credits, she’s been able to take 16 and 18 hours a semester in conjunction with a correspondence class. Most importantly, thanks to UNT’s proximity to Dallas and Fort Worth, she’s been able to pursue hands-on opportunities to prepare her for a job after graduation. UNT has more than 216,000 alumni working or living in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. As a UNT student, she was able to network her way into a year-long volunteer position at the Dallas Zoo, shadowing a veterinarian at the zoo’s hospital. She learned how to do procedures and basic technical work at the zoo, which earned her an internship credit at UNT.
UNT’s Internship and Cooperative Education program provides many students with paid, supervised positions related to their field of study. Duquaine, who plans to work at a zoo or wildlife sanctuary, worked mostly with elephants, cheetahs, lions, tigers, camels and naked mole rats. She wasn’t afraid of any of them — except for the camels. “They are masters of finding a way to kick you,” she said. Duquaine plans to enroll in veterinary school after graduation. She’s prepared thanks to the hands-on experience and coursework at UNT. “It’s been very demanding,” she said. “The level of intensity the UNT program is providing has really helped me prepare for vet school.” It’s a dream she didn’t realize she had until she found her passion at UNT.
529 plans are a tax-deferred way for anyone to invest in a child’s education. These accounts are controlled by your state or by a manager your state has appointed. Anyone can establish a 529 savings plan naming anyone as a beneficiary. Investments may be used at any approved private or public school. Earnings in this account are tax-deferred until withdrawn, and distributions to pay for qualified higher education expenses are exempt from federal and sometimes state income taxes. Check with a financial professional in your area to find out how a 529 plan in your state could be helpful to your college funding strategy.
Custodial account This type of savings account allows you to build savings for any child. This means grandparents, relatives and friends could also set this up. While the child’s name is on the account, the adult custoSee MONEY , Page 2
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Good location for adult education CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY
Money: FINANCING YOUR COLLEGE From PAGE ONE
dian is responsible for overseeing it until the child turns the age of majority, usually 18 or 21. Once the child assumes control of the custodial account it can be used for any reason, meaning that if your savings exceeds the amount needed for tuition, your child could use it for living expenses or save it for something else.
Coverdell accounts The savings accrued in a Coverdell account can be used for approved expenses before your child goes to college, on K-12 expenses for students in private or public schools, as well as eligible post-secondary education expenses. A child can receive up to $2,000 in annual contributions to a Coverdell account until age 18. OTHER TYPES OF ACCOUNTS:
Trusts
Contact an attorney to see if a trust could be right for you. Trusts can be used for education and other purposes and contributions to a trust have no minimum or maximum amount so saving can be done in many different ways.
IRAs
While traditionally used for retirement savings, traditional and Roth IRAs allow you to withdraw funds penalty-free if used for quali-
fied education expenses. Your contributions may be tax-deductible and grow tax-deferred until withdrawal. Contact a financial representative about using IRAs for college funding, as this could affect your retirement strategy and financial aid eligibility.
Permanent life insurance If something should happen to you, a permanent life insurance contract can help ensure that goals like education can be met, even if the unthinkable happens. In addition, permanent life insurance contracts accumulate cash value that can be used during your lifetime and also provide additional flexibility for other funding avenues as well. Visit Thrivent.com for more information on types of life insurance to help you pay for college. With so many options for college funding to choose from, selecting the best set of tools for your child can be difficult. A financial representative can help you decide which options are best for you to meet your family’s needs. Visit Thrivent.com to contact a financial representative, learn more about college funding options and even estimate your needs with a College Savings Calculator. College funding strategies, like back-to-school shopping, are all about preparation. Hop on the bus to financial preparation by starting or building your college funding strategy today.
Concordia University Texas is proud to have opened a new location in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. With its new center on Highway 360 at Carrier Parkway, it’s a great central location for adults looking to complete a degree or advance their careers with a master’s degree. Dedicated to the development and advancement of Christian leaders, Concordia’s programs appeal to students who want to make an impact in their chosen profession and in the lives of the people around them. The DFW Center offers a Master and the Accelerated Degree Proof Education, Master of Business gram (ADP) give students an opAdministration and an Accelerated portunity to take courses just one Degree Program for adult students. night a week. This provides flexiThe new center features four spability for the cious classrooms, working proa computer lab, fessional and testing center those with and an inviting Its largest families to commons area. majors are in continue It’s convenient their educathe to the entire DFW tion without professional metroplex, with compromisviews of the both areas ing their the Dallas and of business, other profesFort Worth skysional and education lines from classpersonal and nursing. room windows. commit-
Class structure
[ ]
Faculty members at Concordia foster a personalized educational experience. Class sizes are small and the cohort learning community for master’s programs promotes personal and professional transformation.
Length of program The Master of Education, Master of Business Administration
ments. The master’s program cohorts begin at the start of each semester - fall, spring, summer - and are designed to complete in two years. Enrollment for ADP classes is ongoing and the program is designed for completion in four years.
The value of continuing your education The University’s mission to develop Christian leaders is more
than just a statement. Concordia graduates are not only prepared to excel in the work force but are equipped with the skills needed to be successful leaders in their profession and community.
About the University
Concordia University Texas offers undergraduate and graduate programs as well as an Accelerated Degree Program for adult students. Its largest majors are in the professional areas of business, education and nursing. The main campus is located on 389 acres in northwest Austin with four university centers in central Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio. As the proud steward of a 225acre nature preserve in Austin, it is host to some of the most spectacular flora and fauna in Texas as well as the Friesenhahn Cave in San Antonio, thought to be one of the most fossil-rich areas in the United States for ice-age era mammals, reptiles and birds. It is a member of the highly respected Concordia University System in which more than 28,000 students are enrolled nationwide.
October 2012 — Star Community Newspapers — Page
Collin College A COLLEGE OF FIRSTS On April 6, 1985 Collin County voters overwhelmingly voted Collin College into existence. The college held its first classes at night on September 3, 1985 at area high schools. The first campus, Central Park Campus, opened in McKinney in January 1986. The first graduation ceremony was held May 16, 1987 and was comprised of 12 students. Collin College now offers more than 100 degree and certificate programs and serves nearly 53,000 credit and continuing education students annually. The district has seven locations in Allen, Frisco, Plano, McKinney and Rockwall. Historically, Collin College is known as a college with preeminent faculty who are noted authors, scholars, patent holders and scientists. Three Collin College professors were named U.S. Professor of the Year within nine years, a highly coveted distinction presented by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. The college also boasts a Texas Professor of the Year, five Minnie Stevens Piper Professors and two Fulbright scholars. Collin College has always been a college of firsts. The only public college in the county, Collin College was the first community college
Did you know • Collin College’s nursing program is the first and only Center of Excellence named by the national league of nursing? Only 19 programs around the nation received the prestigious designation.
in the nation to offer alternative teacher certification and was one of 10 in the nation to receive a “Teaching By Choice” award from the American Association of Community Colleges. Collin College was the first Texas community college to offer a pre-admission program, which allows students to earn credit at Collin College and 10 major universities simultaneously. The college houses a first-of-its-kind Convergence Technology Center and was named one of 16 institutions across the nation to watch for civic endeavors by the Case Foundation. Collin College was one of 12 community colleges nationwide to be honored with the Community Engagement Classification by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and is the recipient of the national Bellwether Award for innovative practices. For more than 25 years, area residents have benefitted from Collin College’s offerings. The college set a new standard of collaboration when it opened the Collin Higher Education Center in 2010. The campus is a university center which offers residents the opportunity to pursue bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degeres from top area universities. Collin College will continue to transform See COLLIN, Page 4
nerships with 10 local and regional colleges and universities? Participating students can take advantage of a number of perks including guaranteed admission, scholarship opportunities, advising and more.
•Three Collin College faculty have been named the U.S. Professor of the Year by • Collin College has the lowest tuition of the 125 public and private colleges and uni- the Council for Advancement and Support of Education? Collin College is the only versities in the State of Texas? two-year institution with three winners and • Three Collin College students discovered matches Williams College and Kansas State University for the most in the Nation. a new asteroid? Competing with students from nine countries on four continents, the • That the Collin Higher Education Censtudents discovered a main belt asteroid, ter in McKinney is the county’s first unilocated in the region between Mars and versity center offering junior and senior Jupiter. level undergraduate classes as well as masters and doctoral programs? • Collin College has pre-admission part-
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Collin: VARIETY OFFERED From PAGE THREE
the collegiate experience through programs such as Weekend College, which offers students the opportunity to earn a degree by taking classes exclusively on the weekends. Collin College offers a Student Leadership Academy, an Honors Institute, eCollin with hundreds of online classes, and a dual credit program, which annually enables hundreds of high school students to earn college credit. Collin College students flourish in the Center for Scholarly and Civic Engagement and the Center for Advanced Studies in Mathematics and Natural Sciences, which offers hands-on undergraduate research experience. At Collin College, it is commonplace for students to have the opportunity to learn from nationally renowned speakers, such as the late Peter Jennings, anchor of ABC’s World News Tonight, ambassador of the Fulbright Scholars Program Harriet Fulbright and Norman Borlaug, the late Nobel Peace Prize winner. The heart of Collin College is its students who win national awards, publish their work in national gene banks and international journals and discover asteroids while they earn associate degrees. Within a six year period, three Collin College students were named to the All-USA Phi Theta Kappa Academic Team. In addition, numerous student organizations have garnered national awards. Collin College graduates and former students have attended Ivy League and nationally renowned universities such as Yale, Columbia, Cornell, Harvard, Juilliard and MIT. Their work can be viewed on Broadway, in TIME, Newsweek and Forbes. Collin College alumni are currently working on cures for cancer, Alzheimer’s and numerous diseases plaguing the world. They are nationally acclaimed scientists, actors and artists. The legacy of Collin College—its students—will continue to provide a significant impact, carrying this institution’s mission and core values throughout the world.
Information To learn more about the survey and successful strategies to transition from college to career visit: CareerAdvisoryBoard.org
In the job market HOW TO MAKE THE SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION FROM COLLEGE TO CAREER (ARA) - Many recent college graduates continue to face a challenging job market, but do they know how to effectively locate and acquire a job? With 53.6 percent of bachelor’s degree-holders under the age of 25 underemployed or unemployed, the nation’s young people are unfortunately less prepared than they think. According to a new national survey, 48 percent of college career center directors felt students were not well prepared for the career landscape - noting a lack of motivation and understanding about the job search process as major barriers to successfully landing a job. The survey, Effectively Counseling Graduating Students, was conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) on behalf of the Career Advisory
Board, established by DeVry University. Career center directors cited that, overall, students have a poor understanding of the effort required to search for and secure employment. More than 77 percent of college career center directors felt the greatest obstacle in counseling students to enter the job market was getting them to understand the effort required to successfully search and compete for a job. These factors contribute to students not utilizing their school’s career center or skipping this resource altogether, which could prolong the job search process. Fifty-six percent of career center directors felt students did not have resumes ready to show employers. “The survey reveals recent graduates may be prepared to perform on the job, but not prepared to find
the job,” says Alexandra Levit, business and workplace consultant and Career Advisory Board member. “Students need to seek out the career center early in their college experience to take advantage of resume review, coaching and career counseling to prepare for the job hunt.” Eighty percent of the career center directors surveyed believe individual student career coaching is the most effective resource available for students. Additionally, the Career Advisory Board recommends the following advice for students and recent graduates to become marketplace ready:
Tailor your resume Do your homework. Ensure your resume fits the target position’s job
description, including keywords before submitting. Craft your resume in a way that will interest an employer immediately.
Build on your skill set
Continually improve your skills. In order to succeed in the workplace, you need to be able to master new information, write coherently and contribute meaningfully in a group setting.
Practice makes perfect
One-on-one coaching sessions or mock interviews with career service professionals are the best forms of rehearsal and a good way to learn the dos and don’ts.
October 2012 — Star Community Newspapers — Page
Building workers DUAL-ENROLLMENT PROGRAMS JUMP-START STUDENTS’ CAREERS (ARA) - In today’s globally competitive economy, a college degree is increasingly becoming a critical factor in attaining career success. Yet, as of October 2011, only 68 percent of the year’s high school graduates had enrolled in a college or university, even though the national unemployment rate of high school graduates is nearly twice as high as that of college graduates - 7.9 percent and 4 percent, respectively. Addressing the need for more college- and employment-ready high school graduates, many policymakers, educators and researchers promote dual-enrollment programs as an effective vehicle for building a workforce with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in a 21st century economy. Dual-enrollment programs allow high school students to jump-start their postsecondary education and career by enrolling in college courses before they graduate, earning both high school and college credits in the process. DeVry University, for example, launched its Advantage Academy in 2004 to improve college access for high school students with limited financial resources. In two academic years and one summer session, students can earn an associate degree in a high-growth career field while they finish high school. Eligible high school students in the public school systems in Chicago, Atlanta and Columbus, Ohio may enroll to earn their associate degree in health information technology, network system administration or Web graphic design. Graduates of the program can either enter the workforce or enroll in a bachelor’s degree program at DeVry University or another institution. Dual-enrollment programs help meet a
growing need for more academically and professionally prepared high school students, arming them with tools and resources that can improve their college and career decisions, says Steve Pappageorge, dean of the College of Continuing Education, New Programs and Outreach at DeVry University. Programs like DeVry University’s Advantage Academy can help remove barriers to college access while introducing students to career opportunities in high-demand fields. Triplets Simeon, Sydney and Shea Spivey can attest to the value of dual-enrollment programs. Each of the incoming high school seniors is deep in college planning mode and currently enrolled in Advantage Academy. Columbus City Schools (CCS) and DeVry University cover their tuition costs, so they can graduate from high school with two years of higher education to put toward four-year degree programs without incurring student debt. Advantage Academy has helped me become more familiar with the college experience and realize all of the benefits it offers, says Simeon Spivey. “My siblings and I hope to attend colleges on the East Coast, and we feel more confident knowing we’ll be applying with associate degrees under our belts.” When they graduate in June 2013, the Spivey triplets will be two years ahead of their peers academically. By 2018, approximately 63 percent of the 47 million U.S. jobs will require workers with some postsecondary education. Dual-enrollment programs provide high school students with an effective on-ramp to college and career success, helping to close the gap between students’ knowledge and the skills needed to achieve professional success in a globally competitive economy.
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The University of Alabama A TOP 50 PUBLIC UNIVERSITY Tradition For nearly a century, The University of Alabama has provided opportunities for adult and nontraditional students to pursue educational dreams through technology-based learning formats. And it’s not just any degree, but a degree from one of the bestknown universities in the country. We have an entire staff ready to help you achieve those dreams by selecting from undergraduate and graduate degrees in various disciplines. Thousands of people just like you have earned their degree
through distance learning from UA. And, when you become a distance learner with The University of Alabama, you become part of a winning tradition that dates back to 1831. Whether it’s in the classroom, on the football field, or in the boardroom, our students and graduates are known for their commitment to excellence.
Excellence Rankings and accreditation matter. The University of Alabama has ranked among the top 50 public universities in the nation in U.S.
News and World Reports’s annual college rankings for more than a decade. UA is ranked 32nd in the 2013 rankings. Did you know The University of Alabama also has many colleges and programs ranked in the top 30 nationally including our undergraduate business program, our law school, and our College of Communications and Information Sciences? That’s why the highest number of USA Today All-Americans of any school nationally have chosen to become part of the Crimson Tide! Maybe you should, too!
ĴŽ—Â?ȹŠ—ȹMBA ȹ’—Â?˜›–ŠÂ?Â’Â˜Â—ČąÂœÂŽÂœÂœÂ’Â˜Â—Çˇ October 16 or November 13 6:00 PM RSVP today! concordia.edu/MBAnow or 972-854-5610 Concordia University Texas DFW Center 2080 North Highway 360 Grand Prairie, TX 75050 (corner of Hwy 360 and Carrier Parkway)
’œŒ˜Â&#x;Ž›.ȹȹ –™ŠŒÂ?.ȹȹ ŽŠÂ?. DEVELOPING CHRISTIAN LEADERS
October 2012 — Star Community Newspapers — Page At The University of Alabama, you’ll find online delivery offers you the same high-quality instruction found in our campus-based classrooms via the convenience of learning on your own time from wherever you are. Although our online courses demand a high level of commitment, this option gives you the maximum flexibility to fit earning your degree into your life.
Value Looking for top-notch education at an affordable price? Don’t ask us if we’re a good value – ask the Center for College Affordability and Productivity. You might also ask Kiplinger’s, who regularly ranks UA among the top 100 public universities that combine “great academics and affordable tuition.” That affordable tuition extends to our Distance Learning
Information
Reputation
For more information please call Academic Outreach Student Services at 205-3480089 or toll-free 1-800-467-0227, e-mail at AOinfo@ccs.ua.edu or visit our website at BamaByDistance.ua.edu
As a University of Alabama graduate, you will feel confident that your reputation precedes you. No matter which degree you earn, your alma mater will be recognized and respected instantly by your friends, family, and employers.
(DL) students who pay a DL rate which is different from out-of-state tuition.
Convenience Online courses allow you to earn an undergraduate or graduate degree around your busy schedule.
Contact us Now that you know who we are, we want to know you. Contact us in the manner that works best for you and let us know your needs, ask us questions and let us help you make educated decisions about your education.
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GREATNESS is... GREATNESS PRESERVING EXOTIC WILDLIFE WITH VETERINARY MEDICINE.
Combining my undergraduate biology research with a chance to observe medical procedures at the local zoo has fueled my passion for veterinary medicine. UNT is preparing me for the challenges of vet school and a career preserving exotic species for future generations.
— TRANSFER ALLISON DUQUAINE, STUDENT MAJORING IN BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
YOU’RE INVITED TO TAKE A TOUR unt.edu/begreat | 940-565-4104 unt.edu/begreat 940-565-4104