Graduation. It’s a far off dream for some while for others the finish line approaches too quickly as they wonder “Who will I become?”, and truthfully it’s a hard question to answer. Some say you become what you practice while others feel a destiny has been lain out for them and all they have to do is reach out and grasp their trophy.
Either way, no matter if in this moment you feel overwhelmed or if the world is your oyster, you will keep learning for the rest of your life and you will either decide information presented to you is helpful or dismiss it as meaningless. That being said, it is our hope that this magazine will help you grasp your future with a more confident grip and that the messages laid out within its pages will sort themselves out, more or less, into many helpful messages that can help you find your next path.
Also within these pages teachers, financial analysts, current and former graduates and many more share their stories, tips and life lessons in the hope that you won’t feel as if you have been abandoned in a dark forest with no map.
Their words can help light your way as you take those first few steps and from there they know you will do the best you can. Because, hey, you graduated, right? That took drive, patience, deter mination, time-management, learning new social skills and generally growing as a human being.That’s something vastly more important than a piece of paper, and you’ve accomplished so much so quickly that you may not even realize it yet.
We see the potential in you and we all want to help. So even if you have it in the bag and you know your path and you’re set on your journey, use these articles as a reminder that you’re not alone, and if you reach out then someone will always be there to help light a new section of your path.
- Stephanie Cannon
Contributors
Editor-in-Chief
Cover photography courtesy of Rick Duet, Mass Media Instructor
Photo by Derek Richardson
Now comes the easy part...
Dylan McManis Three Ways to Simplify your Student Loan Debt
The average college graduate walks across the stage on graduation day full of excitement for the new possibilities ahead, readily anticipating newfound freedom from classes, books, late night studying and low budget meals. No more ramen noodles, right?
Not necessarily. Graduates should not go into relaxed mode too quickly bcause most walk away from graduation day with more than diploma in hand.
We’re here with some tips, so you can take a deep breath and feel confident about how to handle your debt and feel secure enough to save for your future.
1.
Study your loans!
Students should research everything they can about their student loans before leaving college. Knowledge brings power, they say, and this is especially true regarding finances. Finding out ahead of time how much you will owe, who your lenders are and when your grace period is may save you much stress and money in the long run.
2.
Read everything!
Open and read any correspondence you receive from them and if you move or change your email address let them know right away. Keeping in contact is one of the best ways to ensure you stay in the know about your loans and lets your lender see that you care.
“In general, students that borrowed Federal Staf-
ford Loans will begin repayment six months after graduation. Some students may have also received Federal Perkins Loans, which have a nine month grace period before repayment,” said Kandace Mars, associate director of financial aid at Washburn. “Fortunately, these grace periods allow time for students to secure a job and evaluate their options before their first payment is due. If students are unsure of the type of loans they borrowed, they can view their complete loan history online through the National Student Loan Database System (NSLDS) at https:// www.nslds.ed.gov.”
3.
Can’t afford to pay? Tell them!
There are programs such as forbearance and deferments which can help you during times of financial hardship. Ignoring loans will not make them go away!
“Defaulting on student loan repayments results in very serious ramifications, such as negative credit ratings, tax refund withholding, wage garnishment, loss of future federal student aid eligibility and increased loan debt, among other consequences. If, for any reason, borrowers have trouble making payments on their student loans, they should contact their loan servicer to discuss options that may be available,” Mars said.
Financial advisor George F. Scharff of Edward Jones, Topeka stresses budgeting as an essential part of everyone’s financial planning.
“One of the biggest things I talk to all my clients about, whether they are 18 years old or 90 years old, is building and developing a budget very early on,” Scharff said.
Scharff believes that students of all ages need to understand as they enter the ‘real world,’ they will have limitations, bills and expenses.
Preparing for the future will take a lot of attention and budgetting, but you can do it Ichabods!
Master of Criminal Justice Graduate Program Experience. Knowledge. Justice.
The Master of Criminal Justice (MCJ) Degree is designed to meet the needs of criminal justice professionals and pre-professionals who desire to enhance their knowledge, skills, and talents in the field of criminal justice administration. For the professional currently employed in the field, advanced knowledge and skills acquired in the program can enhance opportunities for career advancement The degree program can prepare the pre-professional graduate for a variety of criminal justice positions. The MCJ degree program can also prepare students for teaching positions in community colleges and training academies, and for admission to doctoral programs in criminal justice related fields. Courses are offered
College of Arts & Sciences
A Bright Future Abbie Stuart
First off, let me offer you my congratulations. You finally made it and we both know it was not easy. There were times you wanted to quit, but you didn’t and you’re here. Pause right now and enjoy this moment. Take a deep breath. You’re a college graduate.
Now what?
Should you go to graduate school? Where can you find a job? Can you find a job? Likely you’ve had these conversations before and maybe you even have plans in place for what you should do now. Whether you do or don’t, let me just tell you right now that you’re going to be okay. Maybe you won’t end up living the life you’re picturing right now, but you’re going to be okay. The purpose of this part of the magazine is to prove to you that you are going to be okay.
Take a deep breath again. You can do this. You will do this. Congratulations, Ichabod!
Photo by Dylan McManis
Job Outlook
Graduates from the College of Arts and Sciences have a bright future ahead of them as several departments report that the majority of their graduates are able to find jobs post-graduation.
Danny Wade, associate professor in the English department, assures students that they can definitely find a job as an English major postgraduation.
“People majoring in English are ripe for the job market,” Wade said. “Employers want their employees to have strong reading, writing, collaborative and teaching skills. All of these skills are what English majors do well.”
Tom Prasch, chair of the history department, echoes Wade’s remarks.
program manager or the director of the department. It takes time.”
“Undergraduate liberal arts hopes to continue to educate the ‘whole’ person, developing critical skills in communication in speaking and listening, selfexpression and an ability to express in writing,” said
Paul Prece, chair of the theatre department.
There are several degree paths in the College of Arts and Sciences that allow graduates to earn a degree that is applicable to a wide range of jobs. For instance, Prasch said that there are graduates with history degrees who have gotten jobs in education, government and museums.
A lot of the shift in work force has shifted to providing a service to people.
“[Liberal arts degrees] prepare you for the job marketplace by giving you adaptable skills that can work in a multiplicity of situations: critical thinking, the ability to evaluate documents (to understand their context as well as their literal meaning), writing skills and skills in oral presentation,” Prasch said. “Beyond that, the historian understands the past, which can serve in a wide range of fields, from the military to government to banking.”
- Danny Wade associate professor in the English department “
“We are a service oriented society, so a lot of the shift in the work force has shifted to providing service to people and within that those skills are more important than actually what knowledge you bring to the table because they will teach you the job knowledge that you need,” Wade said.
English majors are encouraged to look for jobs in the big business industry and publication houses.
“No matter where a student graduates, they will have to pay [their] dues, meaning they will have to start at the bottom and work their way up,” said Kathleen Menzie, chair of the mass media and communication departments. “They may begin for an advertising agency as an accounting executive, which is one of the lower levels, but will eventually gain more experience and most likely move forward. Students will not walk in and suddenly become the
While history, mass media, and English are examples of degrees that have a wide range of possibilities, some degree paths in the College of Arts and Sciences are more specific, like getting a degree in physics.
“Generally speaking for the bachelor degrees, employees tend to assume that if you have a degree in physics then you’ve learned how to solve problems and think logically so you can get jobs in engineering or computer tech fields,” said Karen Camarda, an associate professor for the physics and astronomy department.
> > College of Arts and Sciences
Graduate School
As Prece points out, “Most liberal arts degrees are preparation for further study, unless you are in a course of study specifically preparing you for employment, e. g. nursing or education.” So who should go on to graduate school? The short answer is that it depends on what sort of job you want.
For example, the mass media department reports that the majority of their graduates are able to find jobs without going to graduate school. However, if a mass media graduate wishes to teach, then they will have to get their master’s or Ph.D.
“We have had students pursue advanced studies in a variety of venues: pursuing Ph.D.s in history, of course, but also graduate degrees in museum studies and in library science,” Prasch said. “We have had a few graduates head to seminary as well, and history is one of the favored BA degrees for those bound to law school.”
English students who wish to go to graduate school have several different options from Ph.D. programs in literature or creative writing to a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in fiction, nonfiction, poetry or a combination of disciplines.
“A major in theatre prepares for graduate study and for MFA, MA and Ph.D. programs where the graduate degree might lead to college and university teaching, regional theatre management, educational (high school, elementary and middle school fine art magnate programs) and summer stock and advocational (community and civic theatre),” Prece said.
This is not to say that everyone should go to graduate school.
“It must also be said that most graduating seniors probably will not, and really should not, go on to advanced degree programs,” Prasch said. “Those have also been intended for a relatively small proportion of students.”
“ [Liberal arts degrees] prepare you for the job marketplace by giving you adaptable skills that can work in a multiplicity of situations.
- Tom Prasch chair of the history department
Notable Alumni
Wade shared a story about a small business owner who wanted “your best English major” because he needed someone who could read and write well and who could teach those skills to others. Joshua Falleaf, who received his bachelor’s in English from Washburn, is now dean of Humanities and General Education at Haskell University in Lawrence. Carla Walker, who also graduated from Washburn, now works as an editor and director of publications for the Oklahoma Humanities Magazine.
A Washburn alum from the physics and astronomy department that has done well for himself is Darrel Parnell. Parnell, who graduated from Washburn in 1956 with a bachelor of science in physics, taught at Washburn for 43 years. Twenty of those years he spent as chair of the physics and astronomy department. Parnell, who had an asteroid named after him, was awarded the Col. John Ritchie award in 2014. He is remembered for his wit and his ability to make things easy to understand.
For articles about your specific major, please visit www.washburnreview.org.
Interview Skills
Troy Russell
Interviewing is not a regularly experienced situation. Just like other tasks, it takes practice and the proper resources to be good at it.
Washburn Career Services is a great starting point for cultivating successful interview skills.
On the MyWashburn website, there is a number of resources available. Once there you will find links to PDFs and a concise list of useful do’s such as: arrive 10 minutes early, be polite to the receptionist and wear a minimal amount of jewelry. Some don’ts include: using the interviewer’s first name (unless asked to), showing anxiety or lack of interest, and mumbling or being dishonest.
The broad parts of the interview process include: preparation, the interview and the follow-up.
Prepare by conducting research on the potential employeer. Research can include “informational interviews” also known as “career development research” where you find a source in the profession you are interested in and get familiar with the job prior to applying and going to an interview.
Remember your primary purpose in conducting an informational interview: to gather information to make an informed career choice, to make valuable contacts in
your field of interest for future opportunities and to be remembered and referred on later.
To do well in the interview, you must understand yourself and communicate this. More common interview questions used now are called “behavioral questions” otherwise known as “tell me a story” questions.
“If you’re unfamiliar with those types of questions, that’s going to be a tough interview,” Williams said.
The thing to remember is that they are asking for an answer that follows the linear structure of talking about a situation, then describing an action that was taken and finally relaying the result of said action. Williams said if you want to impress a recruiter, tell them what you learned from the experience.
After you have answered questions you will be given the opportunity to ask questions of your own. You should be prepared for this as well in order to take full advantage of the potential information to be gained.
A follow-up is important as well. Send a follow-up email thanking the interviewer(s) immediately and a thank you letter by the next day. Also allow the employer some time to get back in touch with you.
S till need that R e S umé ?
Career Services offers almost all the same services for current students and alumni with three exceptions:
1. There is a $30 annual fee for alumni starting six months after graduation.
2. Because Optimal Resume is a contracted service, there is a $19.95 annual fee for alumni, payable to Optimal Resume.
3. B-Level career assessments is limited for alumni. FOCUS2 is free for all. If a Washburn career counselor recommends the MBTI or Strong, there is a $15 fee for either or $25 for both. MBTI and Strong are only offered through Career Services to alumni when recommended by a member of the Career Services counseling staff.
$chool of Business
Bods in Business
Mark Feuerborn
For years, Washburn University’s School of Business has cultivated some of the finest business students in the Midwest, and with the addition of two new bachelor of business administration programs last fall, the opportunities available for students graduating just keep on coming.
“
Entrepreneurship is the fastest growing major
in universities in the United States, and students are understanding the
value in the degree.
- David Price assistant professor of marketing
The Business School, as described by their mission statement, aims to “provide high quality business education, supported by research and service activities, that enhances the economic vitality of the region.”
Photo by Stephanie Cannon
Success
Students that have pursued a bachelor of business administration degree have gotten the chance to study economics, finance, general business, management and marketing. With the introduction of the small business and entrepreneurship and international business concentrations this past fall, the possibilities for study also widened, as the Business School moves to provide its students with new skills in an ever-changing business workplace. David Price, assistant professor of marketing, has high hopes for the new concentrations.
“The new Entrepreneurship and Innovation major in the School of Business has been very successful in its first year,” Price said. “It is one of the first new majors in the school in 30 years and it now boasts over 30 students that have declared in the major. Entrepreneurship is the fastest growing major in universities in the United States, and students are understanding the value in the degree not only from the perspective of starting a business, but also from potential employers who look for the skill sets taught in the program. These skills include seeking and exploiting opportunities, problem-solving, proactiveness and an outlook for business from a CEO perspective. These skills are valuable in starting and growing a new venture, in a large business or for a non-profit venture.”
Average salary of a business major
$53,901
The world after college is looking good for these graduates, too. The National Association of Colleges and Employers conducted a 2014 Salary Survey that found the average salary of a business major is $53,901.
Price provided statistics for Washburn’s business school graduates’ success rates.
“Through Career Services, Washburn students complete a survey at graduation that documents their job acceptance rate and other relevant post-graduate outcomes,” Price said. “At undergraduate business programs, placement rates for business students tend to be much higher than they are for liberal arts.”
This survey found that 66 percent of students with a BBA from the class of 2014 were successful in finding jobs relevant to their majors. This year’s graduates can rest assured that a healthy job market awaits them.
Entrepreneurship major Austen Witte showcases his idea in the Elevator Pitch Competition.
Photo by Mark Feuerborn
Nuturing Ideas
The opportunities for assistance for Business School graduates also don’t stop after they graduate. The Business School has created new competitions, partnerships and grants for the benefit of its students, especially those pursuing the new Entrepreneurship and Innovation concentration. A new Business Plan Competition is in the works, and offers critique of business plans and funding for business ventures in the form cash prizes.
Those students obtaining an accounting degree also have the opportunity to attend a Regional Student Leadership Conference hosted by the Heartland Council of the Institute of Management Accountants.
“With this competition, students can research and detail their business goals, and plan how to reach them in each stage of a proposed business, ultimately helping them move to commercialization,” Price said. “Additionally, the winners will have the opportunity of representing Washburn University in a global business plan competition organized by the Network of International Business Schools. Washburn students will compete against student teams from around the world in trying to win this prestigious event in the process further refining their business plans.”
Students in the School of Business
Undergraduates: 606
Accounting: 382
Entreprenutureship: 30
Economics: 53
Finance: 221
General Business: 247 Management: 260
“This is the third annual meeting and Business School students have attended in the past two years,” said Barbara Scofield, professor of accounting. “It is targeted at accounting and finance students, but students from every major have attended and are welcome. The agenda is planned by professionals in the Institute of Management Accountants chapters in Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas and Oklahoma, and its theme is ‘What You Didn’t Learn in College Transition from Classroom to Office.’”
International Business: 31 Marketing: 185
BA in Economics: 34
Masters of Accounting: 31
Masters of Business: 179
Price also mentioned the launch of a new Student Business Accelerator Fund.
“Through generous gifts from alumni, students with strong proposals can receive seed funding for their new ventures in order to launch or bring their business ideas closer to reality,” Price said. “Approved student ventures will not only receive funding to start their businesses, but also mentorship through the early stages of development.”
David Sollars, dean of the School of Business, highlighted the importance of these kinds of opportunities, mainly because
they allow students who are still studying to develop connections in the business world for when they graduate.
The Business School also has entered into a partnership with 712 Innovations, a local makerspace that provides resources for inventors and entrepreneurs.
“712 Innovations aims to help our graduates and other entrepreneurs follow their dreams of starting their own ventures,” Price said. “The facility offers tools to create and develop prototypes and conduct business by offering an environment that offers support and networking opportunities.”
Graduate School Counts
Opportunity is even greater for those that pursue a Master’s of Business Administration or Master’s of Accountancy in graduate school. A similar Washburn survey found that 78.6 percent of students who obtained their master’s were successful in landing jobs.
“The percentage of employment, and wages, is higher with a graduate degree,” Price said.
The advantage graduate school also offers lies in allowing students focusing on accounting to knock out coursework required to take the CPA exam, which is required to be certified to practice acounting in the public sector. Most students who don’t go to graduate school are generally seen as less desirable to accounting firms, due to firm now being required to assist them in preparing for the exam.
Scofield also provided insight into the benefits of a Master’s of Accountancy degree for both graduated accounting and business students in other focuses.
“The Washburn program is a 30 credit hour program that provides students with an undergraduate accounting major with the qualifications needed to be eligible to sit for the CPA exam,” Scofield said. “Accounting
“
Hardworking, successful, unpretentious and generous.
- David Sollars dean of the school of business
firms are interested in hiring students who are already eligible to sit for the CPA exam, rather than supporting students in taking academic coursework during their initial years of working. Students who have a background in other business areas can also transition into an accounting career or into a promotion that requires a CPA by taking foundation courses in accounting and then completing the MAcc.”
Sollars also shared the four traits he has seen in truly great graduate students.
“The common characteristics of a Washburn School of Business alumni [I have seen]: hardworking, successful, unpretentious, and generous,” Sollars said.
School law of
Get the right fit...
The pros and cons of an
independent lifestyle
Brenden Williams pros and cons
At the Washburn University School of Law, students gain valuable education in the study of law, then move on to gain experience in the Washburn Law Clinic, a licensed firm run by law professors, where they practice law in the real world. Although this experience is valuable and can be used in many different careers regarding law, some students don’t know exactly what to do when graduating the program. The most prominent question when leaving law school is “Where do I go now?”
Some students believe joining an established firm is a good idea, but that choice doesn’t suit everyone. The perks of joining a firm are plentiful, but so are the downsides. Some lawyers have successful careers following firms and some feel it would be easier to become a county attorney. These are the differences between a big firm and an independent lawyer from R. Johnson Legal Recruiting.
The perks of joining a firm, especially a large one, are plentiful. Lawyers can specialize more, meaning they don’t have to be as well-rounded as they would if they were a county attorney, who may have to be prepared to practice in a more diverse field. Those working in larger firms can find joy in the fact that they can specialize more, working with the same general case, knowing what to do since most cases would be similar regarding details.
Larger firms also can provide mentors to new lawyers and can
provide the best continuing education because of their large amounts of resources and availability. Some firms provide a mentor when an associate selects a specialization.
Available positions at a firm may be things such as a summer clerk, which is like an intern. Positions such as that can make from $20,000 to $40,000 in a single summer. Junior associates can often make six figure salaries while salaries for senior associates are often upwards of $200,000 to $300,000 according to Forbes.com.
Advantages of a small firm or independently working includes allowing one to have more choice in the cases he or she works. Larger firms have senior members who have been working at the firm for a very long time, and they get first choice on cases, so new lawyers may be stuck with minor cases.
Independently working or a small firm can also provide you with a better sense of involvement. You may know all co-workers and become better acquainted with those in the community.
The market for a firm has changed drastically in the past 15 years. The graduating class of 2000, when looking at law students across the country, had nearly 60 percent of graduates working in a firm after three years. As of 2010, only 40 percent of graduates find jobs in a firm according to a study done by the Washington Post.
The competition is tough, but many law students have found that independent jobs are easier to find. Some even find jobs that aren’t the usual job for a law student, namely practicing, but rather advising. Today, many different jobs exist for law students. You must go find all available options and figure out which best suits you.
Deciding whether you want to work for a small firm, large firm or independently is a tough choice, but you must choose the one that best suits you.
> > > School of Law
Interview Tips for Law Grads
Brenden Williams
The principles of interviews are universal, but they might be slightly different depending on the position you’re applying for. Applying to a law firm may be one of the most difficult positions to grasp when graduating law school.
Your preparation must start before your interview ever takes place. In fact, to even get the interview, you must have a “grade A” resume. You may feel as though you shouldn’t be egocentric or come off as cocky, but a resume is your chance to brag about yourself. They’re looking for accomplishments that stick out. You can’t overdo a resume as long as everything you say is true. Be confident, be up-to-date and be accurate on your resume.
Like most interviews, dress to impress. Dress like you’ve already been given the job.
Next, know the firm you’re applying to. Research any senior associates or partners that will be interviewing you. Know their most notable cases, they’re specialization if they have one, where they went to school and graduating year. They know everything about you; impress them by showing them you know of them as well.
The most important part is knowing your role in the firm. If they offer you junior associate or clerk position, know what you will be doing. They want to train you as little as possible. You need to be prepared to jump straight into the firm and help. Their thoughts could be that a prepared person is someone ready to work as soon as they say the word “hired”. Know your duties, your bosses and your responsibilities that are
stated and implied in the firm.
Photo by Dylan McManis
The most important thing is to show you know what you will be doing, and that you know how to do it well.
The next thing they will be looking for is whether you fit in. They worked hard to get where they are today; they want to see the same in you. Do you have negotiating skills? Conversational skills? Can you manage your time well? Do you do your homework? And do you break under pressure? They’re looking into your personality they’re looking at the person, not the achievements or the sparkly suit. They want to see what’s underneath.
They’re going to ask questions, a lot of them, but you have to know yourself inside and out to do well. What are you strengths? Weaknesses? Be confident but also know your flaws. They’re going to question your knowledge of the legal system, which is what you went to school for. The most important question they’re going to ask is “Why should we pick you over other candidates?” What advantages can you give them compared to other candidates? Everyone has something special to offer a firm, whether it be their work ethic or their relationship with co-workers, pushing them to succeed. You have to show them why you’re special.
Lastly, you need to ask questions. Show them you were paying attention as well. You weren’t going through the motions, you were there, listening to every word they said. Prove that their words are important to you.
No interview is easy, but remember a few simple things and be prepared and your interview will go better than you think. The most important thing is being ready for anything they will throw your way.
Washburn’s Finest
Brenden Williams
Arguably the most notable alum of the Washburn School of Law is former senator Bob Dole, a prominent figure in politics as well as a former presidential candidate.
Born in 1923 and raised in Russell, Kansas, Dole and his family worked hard to earn a steady living. Living through the Great Depression, they rented out the upper floors of their house to bring in revenue.
In 1941, Dole graduated high school and was accepted to the University of Kansas, studying pre-med and playing for KU’s basketball and football teams.
His study at the University of Kansas was interrupted by World War II, during which he joined the army and fought with the 10th Mountain Division.
In a battle in Italy, he was badly wounded by machine gun fire, which tore through his arm and shoulder. He was sent back to the United States and made a slow recovery because of infections.
Dole was awarded two Purple Hearts, a Bronze Star and a combat “V”, for valor, after trying to assist a downed radioman.
After the war, Dole attended the University of Arizona in 1948 until 1951, when he came to Topeka to attend Washburn School of Law. While in college, Dole was a member of the Kappa Sigma fraternity and earned the Kappa Sigma “Man of the Year” award in 1970. Dole received his BA and LLB degrees from Washburn in 1952. Dole ran for Kansas House of Representatives in 1950 and served a two-year term, then moved back to Russell and worked as county attorney until 1960.
He was then elected to the United States House of Representatives, serving in Kansas’ First Congressional District, for which he served three terms.
Dole was elected to the United States Senate in 1969, then re-elected in 1974, 1980, 1986 and 1992, and resigned in 1996 to focus on his presidential campaign. He served as both Senate Minority and Majority leader during his time in the Senate.
Dole was Washburn’s Grand Homecoming Grand Marshal in 2015, commemorating the university’s 150th anniversary.
Dole reminisced about his life and his many achievements and gave advice to students on how to achieve such feats.
“Study hard,” Dole said. “Sometimes that’s not so easy with so many activities going on, but one thing I learned in law school was that if I didn’t apply myself and get good grades, it’ll make it much more difficult finding a good position at graduation.”
He also talked about getting into politics, how students should approach diving into the world of running for office and the political spectrum.
“These are very sophisticated students graduating from law school, so they may know a lot about politic,” Dole said. “If you’re not going to run for office, you should get involved in a campaign, so if you’re interested you can learn a little more about it, whether it’s for you or for someone else or if you want to run for county attorney, House of Representatives or Senate or even join the presidential race.”
President Farley, Bob Dole and Susan Farley all sit together for a ride in the 150th Homecoming Parade.
Photo courtesy of Peggy Clark, University Relations
School of Nursing
Dr. Jane Brown
Dr. Jane Carpenter
Jeanne Catanzaro
Dr. Annie Collins
Caren Dick
Dr. Shirley Dinkel
Lori Edwards
Dr. Mary Beth Fund
Anne Fredrickson
Dr. Cindy Hornberger
Susan Maendale
Dr. Marilyn Masterson
Dr. Maryellen McBride
Dr. Mary Menninger-Corder
Dr. Linda Merillat
Dr. Brenda Patzel
Lara Rivera
Jane Robinson
Dennis Schafers
Shirley Waugh Amy White
Dr. Monica Scheibmier, Dean School of Nursing
Crystal Stevens
D. Marian Jamison
r Dr. Debbie Isaacson
Associate Dean
Patricia Joyce
Barb Stevenson
Sue Unruh
Kathy Ure
Sue Washburn
Hearts, Saving Lives Lisa
Herdman
Currently in the Topeka community, there are at least 40-60 open nursing positions.
Statewide there is a nursing shortage. Many hospitals and clinics in smaller communities are having a difficult time recruiting and retaining bachelor’s-prepared nurses to work in those facilities. For example, as of last May, the Salina Regional Hospital alone had 30 open positions. The hospital at Emporia had 15 open positions for a much smaller hospital.
Nationwide, there are many opportunities for work across the nation. California is one of the few states that doesn’t have a lot of vacancies because they have so many nursing programs.
For nursing graduates there will be multiple opportunities in critical care areas for those interested in that area. For others who are somewhat uncertain, there are multiple opportunities in the ambulatory side, or outpatient side.
There will be multiple opportunities in a student’s lifetime for job change. Students may find that they are quite satisfied with their nursing role, but about 50 percent do choose to go on to graduate school as found by graduate surveys.
Going on to graduate school leaves multiple options for nursing students. At Washburn alone, a Clinical Nurse Leader program is prepared for those without any particular specialization, but is good for care at the bedside of patients, as well as managing clinical populations and communities.
“ America’s nurses are the beating heart of our medical system.
- Barack Obama, president of the United States
Many clinics give many opportunities for employment. It’s more so what the student’s interest is in health care relative to the positions.
Washburn offers graduate degrees, including a master’s in organizational nursing called clinical nurse leader, the doctorate programs that include becoming a family nurse practitioner, an adult geriatric nurse practitioner or a psychiatric health nurse practitioner. At Washburn, the master’s program for nurse practitioners is being combined with an emphasis to go on to the doctorate program. This is to encourage nursing students to further invest their time in their occupation.
For those looking for more specialized areas, there are degrees like a Doctor of Nursing Practice, which offers a strong focus on entrepeneurship. Washburn happens to host the first DNP program in the United States to offer students enrollment in the Master of Business Administration program as part of the DNP curriculum. The program blends practical knowledge with business skills.
These doctorate programs give specialties for those wishing to be a family nurse practitioner, a gerontology nurse pratitioner or a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner.
The programs are mostly online and are aimed at allowing students to work their nursing jobs out in the field, obtaining clinical hours while finishing their class hours at home. With the learning opportunities and the further certifications, working toward a graduate degree is something that all students graduating with their BSN should consider.
Reaching new heights in nursing
Abbie Stuart
Washburn senior nursing major Blaire Landon accepted a post-graduation job at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota after her 2015 summer externship.
Students are encouraged to take internships or externships to gain real world experience, especially since there is a possibility of getting a job after the internship or externship is over. Landon, who was participating in the Summer III Nursing Externship program, was offered a job at the Rochester clinic after she graduates in the spring of 2016.
“I spent my summer on their orthopedic trauma post-surgical unit and I mostly shadowed four different nurses who were my clinical coaches,” Landon said. “I just assisted them and followed their steps.”
“I got to go see a pediatrics surgery one day,” Landon said, “I got to spend a day in the ICU and I got to see a couple of things like that as well.”
Landon said there were some legal limits, such as not being able to give medications, but she was able to help her clinical coaches and learn from them.
“Blaire is a really fast learner,” said Patricia Joyce, assistant professor of nursing. “She’s very assertive and patient ... her critical thinking skills are very well developed.”
Landon said more than 700 students applied for the externship, but only 57 were accepted. She went on to explain that several of the externs were offered jobs based on their performances during the summer.
Landon read about the externship from a
poster in the hall at Washburn.
“I kind of applied on a whim,” Landon said. “I saw a poster about it in the hallway at school and thought, ‘Oh, might as well; it’s kind of a long shot.’ Then I got the acceptance email and I pretty much ran around the house screaming for the rest of the day.”
Landon said that the application process was much simpler than she anticipated. All she had to do was submit her resume, which included an internship she had done the previous summer for the Governor’s Internship program, her transcript, and her answers to a few essay questions about meaningful patient experiences and how Landon had put the patient first in those experiences.
“They told us later, after we were all in the program, that that’s where they really put the emphasis on,” Landon said in reference to the essays. She applied in November 2014 and heard back about her acceptance around Valentine’s Day.
Landon became interested in nursing as an 11-year-old girl by watching how the nurses interacted
Photo courtesy of Blaire Landon
> > > School of Nursing with her grandfather who had cancer.
“I just remember being really impressed with just the way the nurses were able to comfort him and our family and how much time they were able to spend with him,” Landon said. “I just remember thinking, ‘Oh, I could do that.’”
“Then as a freshman, I helped out Kathy Ure in a COACH Mobile Health Clinic in Harveyville and I gained some experience in community health care nursing,” Landon said. “It came together, I guess, and it’s been really good.”
“She’s always looking for ways, or exploring ways, to improve her advocacy for her patients and family, and that’s one of the things that really stands out about Blaire: she’s a patient advocate,” Joyce said.
“Mayo has been nice because here the patient really does come first,” Landon said. “The system is built in such a way that nurses can spend the kind of time with patients that I always wanted to.”
taking care of my family member because I know that she’s going to advocate,” Joyce said. “She can do what is best for the patient and family.”
Landon said that being in a setting where she was with the patients more than once a week really helped solidify everything that she had learned the previous year.
“[It] gives me an opportunity to practice it and get into a daily routine, whereas with clinicals you’re only there once a week or something,” Landon said. “Now I really know what an RN’s day looks like.”
Nursing Facts:
Jan. 27 is School Nurse Day.
Nursing is one of the fastest growing occupations in the U.S.
The demand for registered nurses is expected to rise 21 to 35 percent through the first decade of the 21st Century.
Landon said Mayo nurses only have two or three patients at a time, instead of six, so they can spend time with them. She said she’s always been looking for that in her clinicals.
“If I had a family member that was ill, I would want Blaire to be a part of that health care team that’s
“Part of me was pretty sure that Washburn had prepared me and the other part of me was ‘I hope I’m prepared,’” Landon said. “I would say that Washburn definitely had me prepared for this externship.” Landon said that it wasn’t just the book learning that prepared her for her externship at Mayo. She said the instructors are really good about teaching leadership, professionalism and how to ask questions.
“So I felt like I was prepared to use the opportunity for everything it was worth,” Landon said, “I knew what kind of questions to ask, what kind of things to be looking out for, so it’s kind of a mix of the natural book, patient, clinical experiences I’ve had at Washburn and the professionalism and leadership skills they taught us as well.”
Photo by Ian Johnson
School of Applied Studies Welcome to the Field Michael Anschutz
The office of Washburn’s School of Applied Studies can be found in room 306 of Benton Hall. For more than two years Pat Munzer has been dean of this school that requires instructors and students to perform what they have learned.
Four academic departments currently exist within the school. Allied health, human services and social work all deal with various aspects of health care from acute care to preventative practices. Criminal justice legal studies, which deals with the law and public safety is also a part
of this school. Though not as explicitly tied to health care, this field often intersects with it.
“When you look at who first responders are … those people have to be able to know and understand not only the law but also those disease entities to be able to deal with the public,” Munzer said.
Munzer herself teaches an online course in allied health during the summer session. Before becoming dean she was program director for respiratory therapy for 28 years and chaired the allied health department.
“From the ground up you support your faculty and staff,” Munzer said. “They have a lot of great creative ideas and you help promote those ideas and give them guidance.”
The faculty has requirements a bit different than other departments.
You can’t teach in our school without having a background in your professional area.
- Pat Munzer dean of the school of applied studies “
“When we hire faculty, they have had to work out in the workforce first to be able to bring that knowledgebase in … You can’t teach in our school without having a background in your professional area,” Munzer said.
Being dean also entails representing
the school to various people, meeting with students and planning for the future using input from the departments.
Several minors are offered through Applied Studies including one that was offered just this last year. A health service administration minor is offered in connection to the School of Business. Gerontology is interdisciplinary and is the most recently added minor to the school.
“It involves many programs across the university … because of the aging population, the having a better understanding it is better for any area,” Munzer said. “I think for the Topeka/Shawnee County area we are around 25 percent are over sixty years old.”
Graduate programs also are offered by each department in the school. Some Applied Studies graduates may benefit or find graduate degrees are required for their career path more than others.
““Right now what we have meets the needs,” Munzer said. “But we have advisory boards for the different programs … they help guide us toward curricular changes.”
The four departments all produce graduates who go into various professions, ranging from human service graduates who become addiction councilors to criminal justice going into police forces. There also are job opportunities within Topeka as well as across state lines.
“Our job placement is very good, about 95 percent-plus for each department,” Munzer said. “A lot of our jobs our movable … we’re in that field that the bureau of labor stats will grow faster than the norm.”
For most people in our school, associate and bachelor’s degree[s] gets you in the door, but if you want to move up, bachelor or master’s degrees are what is needed.
“In our area if you want to move into higher education or to move up into administrative roles that’s where you’ll want to look into graduate work,” Munzer said. “For most people in our school, associate and bachelor’s degree gets you in the door, but if you want to move up, bachelor or master’s degrees are what is needed.”
- Pat Munzer dean of the School of Applied Studies
In the allied health sector a master’s degree is typically required to become a physician’s assistant; a high paying occupation in the field and whose growth is expected to be 30 percent. Criminal justice majors of graduate degree programs range of occupations are available, including forensic examiner, police and detective supervisor, and jobs in security management, according to criminaljusticedegreeschools.com.
Though Munzer has been dean for less than three years, she still could tell about a few notable alumni of the school.
“Kurt Thompson, he was very instrumental in working with the KBI and getting our program over there,” Munzer said, “as well as Sue Parks … she went through our radiation therapy program … she was a big proponent of Washburn wanting other radiation therapists to get educated.”
Of recent developments in the school Munzer notes the new graduate programs.
“The two recent graduate degrees … took a lot of work and planning and they met a need,” Munzer said. “I think that’s our goal. To see what the need is of the community and the job market and allowing our students to get trained and go out to get a job. It’s not really a well-known school, but we do a lot. We welcome any students and faculty to visit.”
