Flexible Class Schedule

As I've already mentioned in my previous posts, The Rule of Reason is about being informed and then making decisions based on that information.  There are myriad ways to find and explore data and I'll talk about many of them in posts to come.  But the one I want to focus on now is one I have not ever used before. 

Remember that conference I went to last week? The EduRG conference in Phoenix?  Well, while I was there I had the pleasure of attending a workshop given by GlobalTel Media Inc on using SMS to communicate with faculty, staff and students.  To date Harrison College has used SMS (texting) for building relationships and staying in touch with prospective students.  And it has been very successful for us, especially for the High School audience.  And with 88% of all phones in the US enabled for SMS, the audience demographic is growing older and our Adult Learner prospect is very adept at texting too. 


During the workshop the CEO, Robert Sanchez, detailed the other ways SMS could be used by a college.  These included:

• functional texts like "Sale in the bookstore"
• or emergency texts like "Classes canceled tonight"
• or reminders such as "Lab exam tomorrow"

• What is one thing you'd change about Harrison College?
• What is one thing you'd never change?
• What could we do to improve your classroom experience?
• How are you liking your textbooks?
• Are you planning on continuing your education to get a Bachelor degree?
• Would you prefer this class in an online format?
• How could career development assistance better meet your needs?
• Do you believe we have a flexible class schedule? If not, how could we improve?

Oh, the possibilities are only limited by the threshold our students would tolerate!

In my last post I mentioned the conference I recently attended—EduRG.  I’m not sure how they pulled it off, but at 1:00 on Saturday the 27th, the 500 or so of us that were there got to listen Al Gore speak on the state of the educational system.  Think what you will of Al Gore, good or bad, that’s not what this post is about.  But he drew some interesting parallels between where we are now and where we stood back in 1436 when the printing press was developed. 

Go with me for a minute on this…

In in the 1400s very few people were literate, in large part because books and printed materials were simply just not available.  The process of transcribing literature was laboriously done by monks and the resulting pieces carefully guarded for the elite.  But the advent of the printing press destroyed those barriers and soon the numbers of literate citizens exploded.  And consequently new ideas flourished!  Science came to the forefront, and literature grew both in quantity and in the types of topics covered. 

Now, forward to present day and you can see a parallel with the education system.  What formerly was a privilege reserved for the upper classes is now accessible by people of all walks of life.  And we have the advent of the online classroom to thank for this largely.  In the days of Ivy League, and even inaccessible state universities, a majority of people did not go on to achieve a college degree. Over time that s-lo-w-l-y began to change.  Then via distance learning, in leaps and bounds, post-secondary education has been made available to people of all socio-economic backgrounds and the adult education program sector is among the fastest growing!

In our education system at large, there is a transformative shift occurring.  The fastest growing student population is 25 to 40 years of age and their expectations of a degree program with a flexible class schedule just simply cannot be met by the behemoth state universities.  Rather, the more nimble, quick to adapt career colleges are taking advantage of this sea-change.  And Harrison College is top among them.  With an distance learning program / online division that has grown 50% each year since its launch, new Bachelor degrees being launched, and 12 physical campus locations, Harrison College is prepared to provide what it is that Adult Learners need.  And we will be instrumental in this redefining of what “education” means to the world.

Ever wonder why colleges use advertising? Isn't it easy to pick the right college?

Find one you’ve heard about; go through admissions; and begin your collegiate career... Right?

Well it’s not that easy. It’s been reported that 1 in 4 college freshmen will drop-out of college before completing their freshman year. Why is this you might ask? Most of the time students drop out because they started off at the wrong institution in the first place. That’s why is so important that institutions like Harrison College advertise and inform prospective students about their benefits. 

So what are some of the benefits about Harrison College that we want to message out?

A Long History. In a world where many claim to be an expert, it’s comforting to know about a school that’s truly been a leader for more than 100 years.

Personal Support. We work with students one on one to help them reach their goals, from choosing a field of study to providing Career Development Assistance
 

Financial Aid. We’ll help devise the best plan to finance education – almost all

Harrison College students receive some form of college tuition assistance.

A Variety of Studies. We offer more than 30 programs in a wide variety of career fields in

business, criminal justice, health sciences, information technology and veterinary technology training.

Those interested in culinary arts or hospitality may learn at The Chef’s Academy.

Smart Choices. We develop our programs based on input from business leaders and research of industry growth trends to ensure that they offer strong career potential.

Career-Focused Degrees. Classes will center on selected areas of studies, period.

It’s all students need – and only what they need – to get the job they want.

Day, Evening & Online Classes. Students can enjoy flexible class schedule, including the ability to combine a distance learning college with varying levels of face-to-face, in-class instruction. Part-time and full-time study options offer even more convenience.

Multiple Campuses. We’ve strategically located our campuses to make it a reasonable commute for most anyone.

Lifetime Employment Assistance. We’re with our students every step of the way, providing guidance on writing cover letters, building resumes, interviewing, and starting great careers.

 
These attributes just name a few reasons why we advertise about the great opportunities that come with being a part of Harrison College.

 

Check out one of our commercials to see how we advertised our Long History attribute!

came into the Learning Resource Center (what we call our Library at Harrison College) desperate for help with his final research paper. He had to pass this class in order to graduate. Since Harrison has a flexible class schedule and is a popular choice as a college for working adults, he faced many of the pressures other adult students do and had gotten a little behind on his work. He needed an A on this final project. 

The problem was that he had no idea how to really conduct research, evaluate resources, or properly quote, paraphrase and cite the sources as required by his instructor. I told him I would be willing to help but he would really have to put in some hard work and long days to make it happen.

To my surprise, the student came back that night and stayed for several hours, working with me on how to find information in our databases (as opposed to on Google), and how to evaluate the information he had found. He learned how to paraphrase and cite properly. He brought in a rough draft of his paper the next day so that we could go over revisions and stayed for several hours performing edits and conducting more research to fine-tune his paper. In the end, he was turned in a product he was proud of and managed to pass the class.

A few months later, the student came in to thank me and tell me that he wouldn't have graduated without my help. I told him that it was because of his willingness to ask for help and put in the hard work that he was able to succeed and earn his degree in Business Marketing. He even told me that he was thinking of going on to get his bachelor’s degree! I have since seem him in the LRC at least three times a week diligently conducting his job search with as much energy as he put in to that final paper. I know he will succeed in that as well and begin his Business Marketing Career. 

And THAT is why I do what I do. We all just need a little reminder now and then, especially when someone takes the last cup of coffee in the pot!

It is not unusual that Harrison College Columbus Indiana college campus students are the best allies we could have. Each quarter we have many students who hear about us and enroll based on the experience of a friend or family member already enrolled in a Harrison College adult education program.
 

To show that our students really do have a high opinion of the college and the education we provide, I am sharing an essay written by Kayla Brewer. Kayla is a Columbus, Indiana college student pursuing her Medical Assistant degree. She is looking forward to a medical assisting career where she can experience career advancement while helping others.

Thanks for Choosing Harrison College

By Kayla Brewer
 

“We change lives, one student at a time.”  That is Harrison College’s motto and they stick to that statement.  Harrison is a small college, and it is becoming more and more popular.  Harrison College is a great college to attend because of the small class sizes, the help that is available if needed, and the benefits of choosing Harrison.
 
First, a good reason for choosing Harrison College is because of the small class sizes.  Small class sizes give the students a more personal atmosphere and more one-on-one time with the instructor.  The instructors are always available if needed.  Because of the small class, the students get to know each other on a more personal note and soon become friends.  Everyone at this college is so nice and if someone ever needed something, all that is needed is to ask someone and soon it is there.
 
Another reason for choosing Harrison is the help that is available anytime.  Whether it is tutoring or financial help, someone is always here if and when needed.  On every door in the building there is a piece of paper that lists all the instructors and the times they are available for tutoring.  If that time in particular does not fit one’s schedule, contact the instructor and he/she will find a time that will work for both parties involved.  Another kind of help available is financial aid.  Kathy and Megan are the local financial aid analysts and are always there if needed.  They are always encouraging students to apply for scholarships and grants to help pay for tuition.  The students can make an appointment any time if they need to see Kathy or Megan about their financial issues. 
 
Finally, the third reason for choosing Harrison College is the benefits.  One benefit of choosing Harrison is the flexible class schedules.  If the student is working during the day and is unable to take day classes, night classes are available.  Online classes are also available if the student has a job, children, and other things to do and cannot handle the pressure of also going to class.  Another benefit of Harrison is that they offer many types of degrees.  Here at the local Columbus campus not as many degrees are offered as the main college in Indianapolis, but there are still quite a lot to choose from.  Degrees offered in Columbus range from business degrees to medical degrees.  Some of the business degrees offered are accounting, business finance, business management, and human resources.  The medical degrees offered are medical assisting and medical reimbursement technology.
 
There are many reasons to choose Harrison College, but the small class sizes, the help that is available, and the benefits of Harrison are just a few.  So when starting at Harrison, remember, if anything is needed, help is always available from anybody.
 

• Active
• Reserve
• Guardsmen
• Retirees
• Veterans
• Dependents of miltary personnel

• Flexible schedules
• A belief in and daily practice of personal attention
• A career-focused approach to education
• Excellence in education

I am not sure if I have ever really shared this with anyone, but I truly do feel like Harrison College is a second home for me and the people who work here are my family.  I have been a student, a student worker, and an employee at the Columbus Indiana college campus. I have worked in collaboration with many of the other employees from our campus locations around the state and within our distance learning college.  It was no surprise to me that Harrison College, formerly Indiana Business College, was listed on the Indiana Best Places to Work list two years in a row!

Today I want to give a big shout out to the Harrison College Muncie Indiana college campus.  Our Muncie campus offers degree programs through our schools of Business, Health Sciences, and Criminal Justice. With a student body 230 people strong, the focus of the Muncie campus is just like that of my own campus—STUDENT-CENTERED EDUCATION AND SERVICE.
 

Muncie also offers flexible class schedules, day and evening classes, and even online course options. Students at the Muncie Indiana college campus enroll in the adult education programs in search of career development assistance and career advancement that often comes along with a college degree.
 

As an Indiana accredited college, Harrison College (all 14 ground locations and our distance learning college) takes pride in providing students with the education and hands-on training they need to succeed in the job market today.
 

I feel safe to say that even though it is 103 miles away from where I sit right now, if you stop by the Harrison College Muncie Indiana college campus, you will greeted with a smile, given useful information, and treated with respect—not because I sent you there, but because that is just the way we do it!
 

Every day on my way to the Harrison College Columbus Indiana college campus I drive by a house that is under construction.  Some days I look at that house and think WOW, how exciting it would be to build a house from scratch. Picking out all the finishes—wood floors, tile or carpet—selecting the paint colors—well, the list goes on and on.  Building is just the art of taking an idea, even a dream, and making it into something real.
 

Well, enrolling in an adult education program is a lot like building a house from scratch.  The first thing to consider is the blueprint. What do you want it to look like when you are done? Finding the right career path is a big part of this step. Are you looking for a career as a medical assistant or would a career as a systems administrator be the right path for you? Both are very stable career choices, but which one works for you? What do you want out of the college you attend? A quality education? Career development assistance? Employment assistance during college and for the rest of your life? Financial aid assistance from trained professionals? Maybe even just something as simple as service and a friendly atmosphere?  The simple fact is that many people would shop longer and give more thought to the choice of a contractor than they do the college they choose to attend.
 

Once you have determined your blueprint, the next thing to consider is the foundation. A strong foundation is the key to having lasting value in your investment—be it a house or a college degree. Look at the various types of options available in adult education programs like distance learning college degrees to attending a local ground campus. Finding the atmosphere and the flexible class schedules that will work for you will increase your probability for success.  Keep in mind that this is a foundation—the base on which so much more will stand, so look for an Indiana accredited college for the best value.
 

Be mindful of your timeline. It is easy to get started on something and lose track of the goal of completing it. If you are entering a college for working adults or if you have attended college before, find out what you need to do as the student to ensure that your previously earned credits will be reviewed and applied if possible. Keep your eye on prerequisite courses that may not be offered ever semester or quarter as missing one of these could bring your education to an abrupt halt.  Another option is to look for a college with an atmosphere much like Harrison College where the Dean provides scheduling options based on the individual student. After all, the goal is to educate and graduate students in a timely manner and with the least amount of confusion to the process.
 

What about budget? Of course budget is always a consideration. Make sure you complete your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on time (prior to March 10th each year) to qualify for Indiana scholarships and grants. The process can be confusing, so don’t be afraid to ask questions of the professionals in the Financial Aid department at your school.
 

If you are considering taking that first step to building a strong and successful future, consider Harrison College. With campus locations in Indiana and Ohio and distance learning opportunities globally, Harrison College may be the right college to provide you with the tools you need to get started.

What would you consider the most difficult part of enrolling in an adult education program? Some students would say selecting a school—after all, finding a flexible class schedule is important and deciding on attending class at the local campus or to take distance learning college courses.
 

But once those decisions have been made, the number one difficult part of deciding to go to college is often HOW AM I GOING TO PAY FOR MY EDUCATION?
 

Harrison College has an answer for that—Financial Aid. You might be thinking that EVERY college can offer financial aid so what makes it so special at Harrison College? Well, it’s our approach. Every campus employs trained, professional, caring financial aid analysts to provide answers about financial aid to our students. Why? The answer is simple, education leads to a higher success rate. If our students are educated about the options available to them, they are more likely to spend less time worrying about how they are going to pay for their college and concentrate more on learning the skills they need to be successful after graduation.
 

Click on the video to hear what Wayne Vice, Columbus Indiana college student now enrolled in both the Medical Assistant and Medical Reimbursement Technology programs has to say about the service he has received as a student at Harrison College.

 

I have a couple of confessions to make; I was never expected to succeed AND the events that led to my ultimate successes were the results of situations I did not choose.


I worked in factories for about ten years after my high school graduation. It was hard but honest work, and it allowed me to support, but not spend much time with, my family. In my mind, that was how I was going to spend the rest of my adult life—I made peace with it although deep down I knew I could do more. And then the unthinkable thing happened—the factory was sold and I was out of work! I was a displaced worker.


The answer to my employment problem came in the form of a college degree from Indiana Business College.


Gina Pate, Director of Admissions at the Columbus campus, has met with many people who never imagined they would be out of work and thinking about education as the answer to their employment problems. Every day she meets with people not sure of what their future holds, and by providing insight and information, Gina is able to assist them in mapping out a way to reach their goals.


More and more students are choosing adult education programs with flexible class schedules and distance learning options that make attending college easier for working adults with families and outside responsibilities. If you find yourself facing unemployment and you know that an education is the only way to improve your career options, don't hesitate to contact the Harrison College campus nearest you or contact us online to learn more about our distance learning college.
 

Has the economy got you down? Have you been laid off? Are you tired of no job security?


If you answered yes to any one of these questions then I encourage you to contact Harrison College to discuss the advantages of a college education or an updated degree. 
 

According to the United States Department of Labor (http://www.bls.gov/emp/emptab7.htm):

 
Education pays in higher earnings and lower unemployment rates!


Harrison College (formerly known as Indiana Business College) is here to help you. As always, we offer small classrooms, one-on-one attention, and exceptional customer service. 


Now we have even more flexible class schedule options than before, additional online distance learning college opportunities, and Student Resources Services (free to Harrison College students) just to name a few of the benefits our adult education programs offer.  AND, did you know that Harrison College will happily review previously earned college credits you may have? It is our goal for you to graduate and begin working in your chosen field—NOT FOR YOU TO REPEAT COURSES YOU HAVE ALREADY COMPLETED!
 

If you have attended college in the past, you may not know that your student loans can be deferred if you choose to return to school. So if you’re currently paying on your student loans, starting classes again can put those payments off until you complete your education.
 

If you’re tired of that “dead-end job” and are ready for a career that allows you to provide better for your family, please pick up the phone and call the nearest Harrison College campus or visit us on the web at www.harrison.edu.


The admissions team at Harrison College is excited and eager to assist you with learning more about expanding your employment options through education.




Thank you for your input on this topic Kathy England, Director of Financial Aid at the Harrison College Columbus, IN campus.

Choosing a career is difficult. After all many of us spend just as much if not more time at our jobs then we do with our families (although I don’t recommend doing that). Jobs many times choose us, we get busy paying the bills, keeping food on the table for ourselves and in many cases our children, when do any of us have time to find our calling?

The good news is Harrison College realizes that our students need flexible class schedules. Harrison College offers medical certificates, diploma, associates and bachelor degrees during the day, evenings and online.  Take a look and see how easy career advancement can be for you; even if you are a working adult..

College of Health Sciences

 Medical Assistant - A.A.S.

 Medical Office Assistant - Cert.

Medical Reimbursement Technology - A.A.S.

Health Care Management – B.S.

College of Criminal Justice

Criminal Justice - A.A.S

Criminal Justice - B.S.

College of Business

       Accounting - A.A.S.

       Accounting Assistant - Diploma

       Accounting - B.S.

       Administrative Professional - A.A.S.

       Business Finance - A.A.S.

       Business Management - A.A.S.

       Business Management - B.S.

       Business Marketing - A.A.S.

       Human Resources - A.A.S.

Make the time to invest in your future you may be surprised just how easily college fits into your life. Classes are forming now. Harrison College will also answer any questions you may have about college tuition assistance and financial aid.
Please contact Lucas Mahoney for more information on any of Harrison's programs.

 Click here

In April of 2009 Indiana Business College made their biggest announcement since opening the distance learning college division. We announced that we were changing our name. Indiana Business College had become Harrison College.

WOW, was about the only thought that came to my mind as all the employees listened to Ken Konesco make the announcement via conference call across the state. I am an Indiana Business College graduate and I wasn’t sure how I felt about the new name. Sure, it sounded good, but what did it mean to who we are and what we do? I understood that the word “Business “ did not accurately depict who we had become—after all, over half of the students at the Columbus Indiana college campus were pursuing degrees in Medical Assistant or Medical Reimbursement Technology. And “Indiana” wasn’t really representative to us with the addition of our Online division and the addition of a Columbus Ohio ground campus scheduled to open in the fall of 2009. But there were things about Indiana Business College that I hoped would not change with our name.

Career-Focused Education—Our history shows that many people desire an education focused on specific career skills. More now than ever before, people find value in cutting to the chase so to speak. With access to the world at our fingertips, fewer people feel the need to complete as many general education courses and just get to the heart of the matter. As a student I valued that my time was not spent taking courses I didn’t really need to function as a professional in an office setting.

Student-Centered Education—I chose Indiana Business College specifically because I was recognized as an individual and a CUSTOMER. I value customer service regardless of where I am, and college was no exception. There were many aspects of attending college that were new to me—Financial Aid and class schedules were just two that came to mind. At a large community college I didn’t receive any service and left feeling very discouraged. From the moment I entered the Columbus college campus I knew Indiana Business College was different. The service I received gave me just enough confidence to get started. As an employee, I have always taken pride in continuing to provide that service to students every day.

Career Services—Well, this is a no-brainer! What a HUGE bonus this was to me as a student. Not only did I feel confident that I would receive a quality education and a degree that would take me places, but I was promised assistance in finding a career position when I graduated. On top of that, that promise carries over for my lifetime.  I found no other local college able to say that they had such documented success with graduate career placement.

These are just a few of the things that I KNOW set Indiana Business College apart from the other colleges in our area. Would they continue to be a part of our culture as we became Harrison College?

Well, almost three months later I am happy to say that Harrison College is living up to the expectations I had as a graduate. I am proud to be an employee of the only college to make it onto the Indiana Best Places to Work list for 2009.

Would you like to experience an education built around the skills you need and the fact that you are an individual? Would you like to work for a company that values education and service? If you answered yes, please visit our web site at www.harrison.edu .

• What is your career goal?
• Do you have the education, training, and/or certification to reach your career goal?
• What are your personal goals?
• What new opportunities does a higher education provide?
• What is the job market in your chosen field?
• Is this the best time to go back to school?

The job market is tough—maybe the worst I can recall in the many years I have been employed. I can recall many times I have applied for a job and been hired within 48 hours to a week. Those days are gone with higher unemployment rates and pools of qualified applicants willing to do whatever it takes to earn a living. Employers have their pick of the cream of the crop and don’t hesitate to replace employees who aren’t working out. To succeed in today’s job market you have to be willing to stand out in the crowd.

So what can an adult education program student do to set themselves apart? For one, you can make perfect attendance a priority!

Was perfect attendance not the first thought that came to your mind? Maybe you were thinking a high GPA (grade point average) would be the answer. Although a great GPA is always a big plus, employers know that hiring the smartest person in the field only does any good if that person SHOWS UP TO WORK. Maybe you thought that enrolling in a program for the current HOT JOB would be the answer. Well, the hottest jobs today may easily be saturated before you graduate with your degree.

Here are three simple reasons Harrison College makes attendance a priority for our students.

1.  Employers like perfect attendance! The number one question we hear when an employer calls for a reference is “Was this person in class all the time?” That may surprise you, but employers know that if you came to class every day, you will probably come to work every day. And when competition is tough your attendance and commitment to your education can say a lot about you to a prospective employer.

2. Get your monies worth! You are paying for your education and a high-quality education is not cheap! When you are in class, you are receiving the knowledge and attention you need to graduate with the skills employers need.

3. Attendance can help you build relationships with those people who can be valuable references to your intelligence and professionalism when you begin your career search. The students at the Harrison College Columbus Indiana college campus often use instructors and staff members as references because these people can attest to professionalism, attendance and skills.

Given the options available for flexible class schedules and online or distance learning opportunities, every person desiring a degree should be able to obtain one and achieve perfect attendance in the process. If you want more information regarding college courses and degrees to assist in your plans for career advancement, contact your nearest Harrison College or visit us at www.harrison.edu.