Did you know that March 18th will be the 14th Annual Absolutely Incredible Kid Day! Absolutely Incredible Kid Day is a held across the nation and was started by the organization Campfire USA. It is a simple campaign designed to recognize all the incredible children in the world. To participate adults are asked to write a letter of support, love and encouragement. It only takes a few minutes to jot a note that will be remembered and appreciated for a lifetime. The positive impact of these letters on kids is what it’s all about.
Positive reinforcement is important for people of all ages. Just ask Kathy England. Kathy is the Director of Financial Aid at Harrison College. She runs the Columbus Indiana college financial aid department and ensures that our 200+ local students get the federal funding and Indiana scholarships they qualify to receive. But this was not what Kathy always did.
Kathy worked for Greensburg Community High School for over six years. Not as a teacher in the classroom, but as a custodian. During that time Kathy always felt encouraged by Keith Hipskind, Dean of Students. With this encouragement, Kathy chose to enroll at Harrison College (formerly Indiana Business College) to pursue a degree in Business Administration. Mr. Hipskind believed in Kathy and would offer her words of praise every time he would find her working on her college homework assignments on her lunch break. In 2001 Kathy graduated with her degree and began working for Harrison College in the financial aid department.
On a recent visit back to Greensburg Community High School to promote the importance of completing the FAFSA; Kathy had the opportunity to catch up with Mr. Hipskind. Below is an excerpt from an email he sent out to all employees of Greensburg Community High School.
“Kathy continued to work and go to school and completed her Bachelor’s Degree in Management and just completed her Master’s Degree in Management and is currently working on her second Master’s Degree in Human Resources (HR) which she will complete in June of this year. She also is now teaching college courses and working with students on Financial Aid.
She is truly a success and feels great about her advancements professionally and scholastically. It is nice to see one of our students achieve and then return to help out other high school/college students. It is also nice to see her change her goals at the age of 29 and go back and get further schooling. Though Kathy is now 39, she feels young and alive and ready to contribute in big ways with students trying to find their way as she did…..And now the story continues…..We look forward to her making big contributions!
I just wanted to let all the teachers who have touched her life know that she appreciates her start at Greensburg Schools and is thankful to so many people who have encouraged her along the way.
Life is good!! Keep on keepin’ on with our kids…You never know what you might say and do to inspire someone like Kathy.”
The point I guess I am trying to make is that all of us need positive reinforcement—Young and Old alike! So let someone know you support their efforts to continue to improve themselves by participating in the Absolutely Incredible Kid Day or by letting a student of an adult education program know that you admire their dedication to a better future.
Did you know that Harrison College now offers Bachelor's Degrees in the following fields?
Accounting
Business Management
Criminal Justice
Health Care Management
Hospitality Restaurant Management
Human Resources
Information Technology
You may be tired of going to school or perhaps finances are tight, whatever the issue, pursuing an additional degree through Harrison College is bound to pay off in more ways than one.
According to research in 2002, over an adult's working life, high school graduates earn an average of $1.2 million, associate's degree holders earn about $1.6 million, and bachelor's degree holders earn $2.1 million. Not only is this a considerable amount of additional income but some also say that by obtaining your bachelor's degree you are more likely to:
have higher levels of savings
have increased personal mobility and career advancement
have improved quality of life for your children
have more hobbies and leisure activities
have better health and a lower mortality rate
be more open minded and cultured
be more rational and consistant
be less authoritarian
It's never too late to start! With our flexible class schedules and distance learning capabilities there's bound to be something that fits into your life. Click here to find out more about our Bachelor programs and how to apply.
Alumni, keep your eye out for an upcoming scholarship that will be awarded to a Harrison alumni who has chosen to return to continue their education. More information will be posted on www.harrisonalumni.org in the future.
Information taken from:
Day, J.C., & Newburger, E.C. (2002). The Big Payoff: Educational Attainment and Synthetic Estimates
of Work-Life Earnings. (Current Population Reports, Special Studies, P23-210). Washington,
Networking is a crucial part of job search and career development. However, many people are stuck on how to get started. In working with job seekers, I find that they get stuck on the word networking and have trouble breaking it down into smaller, actionable steps.
One great way to get started networking is to join a professional association. Professional associations bring together people who have a shared interest in a particular work function or industry. There are others that are for professionals who live in the same geographic area. Professional associations usually have meetings for members to attend and learn more about a relevant topic as well as to meet other members.
Once you identify an organization of interest, commit to a time-based, actionable goal that you are likely to follow through on, such as attending two meetings by yourself in the next two months. Attending by yourself makes it more likely that you will make an effort to talk to others at the meeting rather than sticking by the side of the person you came with.
Some good resources for identifying professional associations are the association directory on Weddles or doing a search for different positions on the Occupational Outlook Handbook on the Bureau of Labor Statistics (don't let the name scare you aware - it is a great job search resource).
Or you can check with others in your field. For example, if you are interested in Human Resource Careers and were to talk with a human resources professional, that person would likely point you in the direction of the Society of Human Resource Management or SHRM. Or, if you attend out Evansville college, you may be directed toward the Evansville Chamber of Commerce.
Another option is to join an affinity group, such as an alumni association. Harrison College's alumni association has over 400 members - if you are an alumni, please check out the Harrison College Alumni site for more information. .
You have been looking for an adult education program at a college for working adults in Human Resources (or any one of several other programs) and the big question on your mind is: Can I REALLY take classes in my PJ's?
The answer is YES! You will be able to experience the comforts of taking classes from your own home 24 hours a day...7 days a week in your pajamas or whatever else you feel comfortable in wearing. This may seem like an incredibly wonderful benefit to on-line classes.....and it is...but you can quickly find yourself being on-line all the time at all hours of the day and night if you let yourself get easily distracted.
I have found that students who actually make out a schedule as to exactly when they plan on doing their on-line coursework are the most successful. The lines between school and home can get blurred, but prioritizing your school related to-do list can make your studies at home more efficient so you are not feeling like you have to be on-line all the time and up at 2:00 a.m.! If you want to ask yourself more questions in regards to if Online Classes are right for you.. go here: http://www.harrison.edu/online-studies/are-online-studies-right-for-you.aspx
Have you been searching for a job in the Evansville, Indiana area?
Harrison College wants to help.
Harrison is an Evansville college, and known as a college for working adults. Education for employment is our specialty.
Harrison College will be holding a Career Fair that is open to the Evansville community. The career fair will be held Friday, February 12, 2010 from 11am to 2pm at the Evansville college campus located just off Green River Road at 4601 Theater Drive.
The following employers will be set up at the Indiana career college campus:
HR Connects LLC
Manpower
T-Mobile
Insight Communications
Casino Aztar
Deaconess Hospital
Fifth Third Bank
River Oaks Health Campus – Princeton
Evansville Police Department
American Red Cross
Evansville Teachers Federal Credit Union
Boresha International
Accent Marketing – Tell City
Shoe Carnival
Evansville Vanderburgh School Corp.
Max International
Northwestern Mutual
US Army
Work One – Evansville
Lowe’s
Harrison College is an Indiana career college specializing in career development assistance.
Click here more information about an adult education program OR about the Community Career Fair.
When you begin your program with Harrison, you should keep the end in mind - what do you want to do when you've finished your studies? Is there a specific company that you've always dreamed of working for? How will you move in the direction you are interested in?
Today, the Internet offers a multitude of different tools that you can use to create your personal brand that will allow you to share your background and career interest with others. For example, you could create a profile on LinkedIn that shares your plans to become a Medical Reimbursement Specialist or that you are pursuing an Online Business Finance Degree. Or look for a blog that is written by someone who is interested in Human Resources Careers and add a comment to an entry that you find relevant to your own interests.
Brainstorm on different websites that will help you to build the brand that you want to be know for. Your goal is to make sure that whatever keywords an employer would use to look for someone with your background are associated with your name. That way, when an employer uses Google or another tool to search for job candidates, you are increasingly the possibility that she will find you.
Do be careful that you Google (or use another search engine) your name on a regular basis so that you know what information is out there about you and are certain that it all reflects well on you and your capabilities. If you know that there is negative information out there about you, you can take steps to remove or minimize it, which I will talk about in a future post.
Although creating an online brand can be useful, it isn't for everyone. Be careful with the amount and type of information you share about yourself (never give anyone else your passwords or other personal information). Only share as much information as you are comfortable sharing.
If you are a current Harrison student and would like ideas on how to brand yourself online, contact the Career Services Staff at your campus.
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.
So over the weekend, I came across an article on interviewing tips for military spouses. As if trying to find a school wasn't hard enough! With deployments every couple years, it is hard to find an employer who will hire you on. The great thing about Harrison College is they do offer lifetime placement assistance and they have a site where you can upload your resume so, employers can look at your resume. I have to say Harrison College does help with Career Advancement. Not only with the programs but with the assistance they provide. Whether you want a System Administrator career or Human Resource careers, these tips will help you in any position.
In your quest for a new or a better career, you will ultimately find yourself scheduled for a job interview. The prospect can be a little scary. But keep in mind that the real purpose behind the interview is for you and your potential employer to learn more about each other. You both want to find a good fit and the interview is how that determination is made.
In today’s highly competitive job market, you can be sure that you won’t be the only one trying to land the job. These tips will help you stand out over the other candidates:
Before the interview
Learn what you can about the company and the position. Do your research online and off. If you know others who work there and can speak with them discreetly about the organization, do so.
Review your resume and mentally prepare answers to the most common interview questions.
Think about questions that you will want to ask the employer. Your questions will help you determine if the company and the position are right for you.
Decide what you are going to wear at the interview.
Gather together your reference letters, your portfolio, and any other items you will need for the interview.
Make sure you know how soon in advance to leave your house to get there on time. Drive the route ahead of time, taking into consideration potential traffic. Build in time for “friction,” like road construction.
Make arrangements for child care, if necessary. Plan to go to the interview alone.
To read more on what to do during and after the interview please see military one source
Harrison College is proud to announce the addition of the Human Resources Degree program at the Columbus Indiana college campus. Enrollments are being accepted now for the September 28, 2009 quarter start. This Associate Degree program is designed to train students in various key processes and services for careers in Human Resources departments.
Although new to the Columbus, IN campus, the Human Resources Associate Degree program has experienced success at six campuses across the state and nationally via Harrison College Online, a distance learning college.
As with all degree programs at Harrison College, graduates of the Human Resources Program will be provided with career placement assistance and will also qualify for our tuition freeze program which allows for a student’s tuition to remain the same throughout the completion of their degree with Harrison College. Financial aid is available to those who qualify.
The goal of Harrison College is to train students in preparation for today’s jobs. This means making efficient use of student’s valuable time by training on state-of-the-art equipment as well as receiving quality education from instructors with experience in the field. It also means students receive the proper training to secure employment in the shortest time possible.
Harrison College is a nationally accredited institution dedicated to excellence in higher learning. With a concentration on career-focused education, the college grants Associate and Bachelor Degrees. Students may earn a degree by attending one of 12 campuses throughout Indiana, or the newest campus located in Columbus, Ohio, by taking classes 100% online, or a combination of classroom and online learning. Students may choose degrees from the Schools of Business, Criminal Justice, Health Sciences, Information Technology, and Veterinary Technology as well as the college’s culinary division, The Chef’s Academy. Harrison College, formerly Indiana Business College was founded in 1902.
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..
Every single day of my life, I have known I was loved. I call myself "the princess in the middle," partly because I was the only girl sandwiched between an older and younger brother and partly because my parents treated me as if I were special. Throughout my youth this self-image was reinforced by my immediate family, extended family, and numerous close family friends. You might think that with all the positive reinforcement I'd be a "good" girl and never give my parents a moment of concern. Instead, my youth was filled with some events that made my parents very proud and others that filled them with sadness and disappointment. No parent deserves this....and yet most parents receive it.
I believe the time I disappointed them most was when I quit college. The truth is, they're the main reason I eventually returned and successfully graduated. When college got tough, I'd picture disappointing them again, and I'd stick it out.
Dr. Tony Campolo stated, "Your past is important because it brought you to where you are, but as important as your past is, it is not nearly as important as the way you see your future."
There are several reasons why people decide to get an education. Among them, I often hear reasons such as to better yourself and continue your education, to make more money and for career advancement. At Harrison College, we want to make sure you receive the very best career development assistance.
Here's the best part about our career services - it is lifetime assistance! Throughout your career, you can come back to any Harrison campus for assistance. Whether you are looking for careers in medical assisting, to human resource careers, or help desk careers, we are here to help!
Hello Everyone. We are gearing up for the Indiana Black Expo which starts tomorrow with the career and education fair. Later today we will be heading out to set up our booth at the Convention Center in Downtown Indianapolis.
Harrison College is very excited to offer those at the Indiana Black Expo Career and Education Fair so many diverse programs. We have over 30 degree programs within our 5 schools of study: Health Sciences, Business, Veterinary Technology, Information Technology, and Criminal Justice.
Harrison is proud to offer its students college tuition assistance, the opportunity to receive an online college scholarship, career development assistance, and one on one, personalized attention. For working adults we also offer a flexible class schedule.
If you are interested in a business marketing career, a network administration career, surgical technology careers, or human resources careers come check out the Harrison College booth tomorrow at the Indiana Black Expo Career and Education Fair.
Remember the best way to career advancement is through higher education.
Networking can be an excellent way for college students to get ahead in the post-graduation rush for employment. When I mention this to students I often get a long drawn out “eeewwww” because they assume that networking must involve attending dull activities with people you don’t know. Well, I am here to tell you that networking can be FUN.
Last year a group of employees from Indiana Business College (now known as Harrison College) Columbus, Indiana college campus decided to participate in the Columbus Young Professionals (CYP) second annual Amazing Race. Not only was this a FUN activity for us as a team, but it gave us a good reason to get out in the community and get to know a lot of young professionals. Here are just a few reasons we like to network through groups like the CYP.
We met professionals currently working in the medical reimbursement specialist field locally. This is especially valuable to us since we have Medical Reimbursement Technology students preparing for externships every quarter.
We met professionals who work in various fields that involve marketing. These people were great to get to know because they will employ our graduates AND we can invite these same professionals to be a part of our Advisory Board. You see, our advisory board is a vital part of what we do for our students. At Harrison College we make a conscience effort to offer degrees that LOCAL business owners find value in—that increases the odds that our graduates will find career-quality position LOCALLY upon graduation.
We met professionals who held degrees in Human Resources, degrees in Heath Care Management and various other professions that involved degrees in Information Technology. Because these are educated, working professionals, any one of them could be the next great instructor we hire here at the Columbus, Indiana college campus. That is because we hire only those professionals who have the right educational background AND real-life, working experience in their field.
Networking and getting to know the many great people associated with the CYP also allowed us to develop relationships with people who are looking for further career development assistance and people who may play a role in any of our own career advancement along the way.
All photos shown are of Team IBC as we completed various challenges throughout the CYP Amazing Race in Columbus, Indiana. Team IBC members were Angie Rentmeesters, Charlotte Moss, Aimee Aufdermauer, and Jeanni Urbahns. Events from top to bottom: Bad Hair Day, 1920's Day at the Columbus Heritage Fund, counting the steps of the observation tower in Millrace Park and taking on the Spudzilla at a local BBQ joint!
Today is Week 2 - Wednesday - 2 minutes. I remember hearing a philosophy on teaching that said this: You may as well learn how to teach in 10:2 increments because that's how students learn. This meant teach for 10 minutes and break for 2. Many teachers drone on and on...like the teacher in Charlie Brown.
I break my class into 10-15 minute chunks...keeps things moving...keeps my adult learners interested and involved and, most of the time, awake. Even longer activities can be broken down into smaller bites.
For example, our first-day activity is thirty minutes, but is broken up like this:
* Break into groups - 2 min * Make a group plan - 3 min * Interview classmates - 10 min * Compile information - 5 min * Draw or graph findings - 5 min * Present info - 5 min
Everyone can be successful! College for working adults doesn't need to feel impossible! In the span of half an hour, we have performed so many different activities that everyone has performed something they're good at whether it's listening, organizing, writing, drawing talking, planning, or just having fun!
In fact, if you're pursuing Nursing, Human Resources Careers, Surgical Technology, or even Fashion Merchandising Courses, and you're NOT having fun...you might want to try Harrison College!
The unfortunate thing that happens with high schoolers is sometimes their support system in schools, like high school counselors and teachers, don't often take the time to find out who they are so they can guide them with relevant resources to find the best eduational path for them.
Are they suited for a career as a doctor? Well, not every student should pursue med school. Perhaps they are better suited for Surgical technology careers? Or Human resources careers? Some should seek a degree in Medical Assistant. Believe it or not, we do need people to fill fashion merchandising jobs so we can learn about the products we want and easily shop for them online, all facilitated by the fashion biz heads.
My hope is more and more high school staff and faculty view the various types of colleges as viable avenues for the various identities they shape every day. Bachelor degrees are for some, but certificate degrees are a valid form of education as well. An online business finance degree should be considered just as viable as a traditional degree at a state university. And the education needed to eventually become a NASA scientist isn't that much different than the education needed for massage careers if you put the student's needs first.
And I do think with career colleges redefiing themselves more like traditional colleges, the perceived hierarchy of traditional over career colleges will vanish. Depending on the school, a major in business marketing may be as valuable from a Terre Haute college as an East coast college. Or an Indiana career college could be a leader in one particular area over a Harvard or Yale, again, if you put the student first, and find the best path for them.
Advice: think about who the student is first, and reputation of the college second.
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Did you know that March 18th will be the 14th Annual Absolutely Incredible Kid Day! Absolutely Incredible Kid Day is a held across the nation and was started by the organization Campfire USA. It is a simple campaign designed to recognize all the incredible children in the world. To participate adults are asked to write a letter of support, love and encouragement. It only takes a few minutes to jot a note that will be remembered and appreciated for a lifetime. The positive impact of these letters on kids is what it’s all about.
Have you been searching for a job in the Evansville, Indiana area? 
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. 
Harrison College is proud to announce the addition of the Human Resources Degree program at the Columbus Indiana college campus. Enrollments are being accepted now for the September 28, 2009 quarter start. This Associate Degree program is designed to train students in various key processes and services for careers in Human Resources departments.
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