Thirty NYS STEM Teachers Invited to Attend GenCyber Camp in August

Posted on by Alicia Jacobs

Excelsior College, Capital Region BOCES, and Questar III BOCES recently were awarded a $98,624 grant from the National Security Agency (NSA) and National Science Foundation (NSF) to participate in the GenCyber program (www.gen-cyber.com).

This grant will fund a cybersecurity camp for a total of thirty 6th–12th grade STEM teachers from August 13–17, 2018, prior to their return to the classroom this fall. The camp will be held at the Capital Region BOCES in Albany, New York, and includes hands-on educational instruction and activities with Excelsior College cybersecurity faculty and industry experts.

“It’s with great pride Excelsior College was awarded this opportunity to work with BOCES and to provide much needed cybersecurity training for educators in the New York state Capital Region,” says Amelia Estwick, program manager of the National Cybersecurity Institute at Excelsior College. The National Cybersecurity Institute was established in 2014 as an academic, training, and research center dedicated to assisting government, industry, military, and academic sectors meet challenges in cybersecurity policy, technology, and education.

The GenCyber grant is significant since it funds the first cybersecurity camp for educators in New York’s Capital Region. The area was dubbed “Tech Valley” in the late 1990s in recognition of the growth of the technology industry and associated academic programs. There is a significant demand for cybersecurity expertise beyond STEM industries, to assure proper handling of information in state government, regional medical systems, and defense installations.

With this grant, Excelsior College, Capital Region BOCES, and Questar III BOCES can collectively leverage expertise in the region and provide much needed educational support services for educators. Combined these organizations serve over 45 school districts impacting hundreds of educators and thousands of students in the New York State Capital Region.

Participants selected for the GenCyber camp will earn 37.5 Continuing Teacher and Leader Education (CTLE) credits and receive a $800 stipend. They do not need prior background knowledge in cybersecurity to attend but must be available to attend all five days of the camp. Limited travel stipends may be offered to some participants. Applications for the 30 spots in the free camp are accepted now until May 25.

For more information, visit https://explore.excelsior.edu/LP_GenCyber.html or email gencybercamp@excelsior.edu.

Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Security Agency.

What are Some MPA Careers?

Posted on by dhennessey

There are many options for careers with an MPA.  If you have a passion for public service and the betterment of your community, then the MPA is worth consideration as a degree option. An Excelsior College Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree is an excellent vehicle to break into a new employment field or to advance in a career.  Let’s explore some careers for graduates of MPA programs.

Top 12 Careers with an MPA

1. Not-for-profits: Not-for-profits are agencies that range across the spectrum of government and community issues. There are “A-to-Z” association positions from agricultural groups to zoological parks. These agencies provide education, training, best-practices guidance, and other services that strengthen their memberships. Most not-for-profits specialize, so if you have a passion for a specific topic, this is a solid option.

2. Institutional interest groups are not-for-profit groups with private sector members. In this category, you will find associations that represent car dealerships, gun owners, mushroom growers, mortuary owners, propane gas distributors, K– 12 administrators, and a myriad of other interests. It is common for these organizations to advocate for their membership at state and federal agencies and with elected officials.

3. Lobbyists are people who specifically work to influence the political system for clients. Their activities include making or cutting regulations, getting government grants, and influencing various types of issue legislation.

4. An elected position is an option for a MPA graduate. Have you thought about running for your local school board, town council, county assembly, state legislature, or other elected position? A MPA degree will help you understand public sector budgets, human resource management, ethics, and other essential governmental functions.

Aspiring and current municipal, state, and federal government employees will find the MPA degree a credential for career advancement. If you are thinking about moving up the career ladder, then look at the requirements for positions above entry level or your current grade. These types of jobs depend on experience and education for promotions.

5. City and county managers and their staff positions are critical for local government. These managers work as facilitators of local elected government officials and local government agencies like the fire department, sheriff’s office, department of public works, office of parks and recreation, department of aging, and other public services.

6. First responders are government employees for whom a MPA is an outstanding fit. Fire and law enforcement academies train individuals for specific work—essential (and potentially hazardous) community service. Academies, however, do not teach those first responders who aspire for leadership roles how and what to present to the town board, what it takes to create an agency budget, or how to handle personnel issues like recruitment and discipline.

7. Government vendors provide goods and services to all levels of government from construction, to food services, to the latest in defense acquisition. This is a particularly important consideration for active-duty military personnel thinking about a career transition into the civilian sector.

8. Journalists, like most professions, have various areas of expertise from sports to entertainment, to finances, to politics. Politics is particularly is important whether covering news stories about local government, state bureaucracies, or federal agencies. Media outlets and associations both need talented writers that understand the workings of government. The MPA provides the knowledge to cover those public agency activities.

9. Higher education is an area for consideration by MPAs. Not all the activities that happen on a college or university campus are related to professors and students. Colleges need administrators to track financial aid, stay in compliance with U.S. Department of Education regulations, and work in course registration, records, and a slew of other activities. A MPA provides the needed skill set to implement and sustain complex plans and activities.

10. Business intelligence is yet another field that fits a MPA degree. This job involves research and writing about trends in various industries. This involves important information for clients that seek potential partnerships, mergers and acquisitions, and / or information to influence government policies.

11. Economic development is a field that connects local and regional governments with the private sector through the promotion of job growth, tourism, and the attraction of new businesses. These agencies are represented by the local chamber of commerce, county and state agencies, and various educational institutions from vocational high schools to community colleges, to research universities.

The MPA is a versatile graduate degree option for people who seek entry into a new field, seek transition from a current job into a new one, or want to pursue career development. The common feature of all fields listed is the community-based nature of the work.

Statement by President Baldwin

Posted on by Mike Lesczinski

Statement

Since I assumed the presidency at the College, we have acted to make critical investments in support of our mission and our students, to fulfill the promise of our values. I intend for us to operate at the highest standards of integrity – because our most important obligation is to our students.

Over the past two years, we have made difficult, unpopular decisions – eliminating distractions that were draining our resources, all while making investments in our future and improving our policies, practices, and systems.  We are instilling a culture of accountability and responsiveness at every level of this institution.

Regarding the recent article about Excelsior, I was explaining to staff, in a private meeting, the importance of our ADN admission requirements and why those changes were necessary. Unquestionably, it was the right decision for our students and for the future of the institution. With the benefit of hindsight, the better approach would have been to impose the requirements sooner on a phased-in basis.

-Dr. James Baldwin, President, Excelsior College

Course Feature: NUR 108: Transition to the Professional Nurse Role

Posted on by Jenna Kerwin

When moving into the registered professional nurse (RN) role, it is important for students to have developed the knowledge and competencies necessary to succeed in this complex career. Topics affecting the everyday job of the RN include nursing history, nursing organizations, regulatory agencies, ethics, law, technology, health care delivery systems, and scope of practice. In NUR 108: Transition to the Professional Nurse Role, students learn how to transition to the RN role, by studying self-care behaviors, nursing competencies and core values, ethical principles and legal influences, regulatory frameworks, managing the care of patients using delegation and supervision, evidence-based practice, and nursing theories.

NUR 108 is a main requirement for the associate in nursing programs, and as Faculty Program Director Nicole Helstowski says, it allows students to bridge their current role in health care to the role of RN. Conveniently for students, it can be taken at any time during phase one of an Excelsior nursing education career; however, it’s most beneficial to take it as the first nursing course.

Students in Transition to the Professional Nurse Role come from varied backgrounds. Some are licensed practical nurses, paramedics, and military corpsmen; education provided in the course builds upon their current knowledge. “The foundational support for professional practice is essential to functioning as an RN. The most significant takeaway [of this course] is the pivotal role of the RN as coordinator of care, patient advocate, and interdisciplinary team member. The RN role is complex and requires knowledge of evidence-based practice and fuels the spirit of inquiry,” explains Helstowski. She adds that students also learn about the various roles RNs have within health care.

Nursing students have enjoyed the course. Satisfied comments include: “I would recommend this nursing course because it really has made me think about the communication with patients on a daily basis” to “this should be the first course that we take when we start the nursing program classes” and “I loved the effective use of critical thinking throughout this class.”

Faculty have also praised the curriculum of NUR 108, saying “all activities have value as they reach students with different learning styles and offer the content necessary for success” and “The discussions that included scenarios; these were good tools for developing critical thinking skills.”

To make sure you get on track to become a well-rounded professional nurse, be sure to register for NUR 108: Transition to the Professional Nurse Role for next term.

Dean Mary Lee Pollard Gives Speech at Salute to Nurses Luncheon

Posted on by Excelsior Staff

Mary Lee Pollard, Dean of the School of Nursing gave a speech to the attendees at the Times Union’s Salute to Nurses luncheon in celebration of National Nurses Week.  You can now read the full speech here on Life at Excelsior College.

 

Good afternoon, I want to thank the Times Union and St. Peter’s Health Partners for hosting and supporting this wonderful luncheon. I also want to extend my deepest appreciation to the nurses in this room.

I can’t emphasize enough the importance of an event such as this, that recognizes the additional efforts and personal sacrifices all nurses in all professional settings make on a daily basis without the expectation of acknowledgment or an award.

Nurses have a long history of promoting social change from our place at the patient bedside.  Our professional history is rich with social activists such as Florence Nightingale, Margaret Sanger, Dorthea Dix, Lillian Wald and Mary Breckinridge- individual leaders who sought to transform the social determinants of health while providing care to the most vulnerable and marginalized populations.

We have similar leaders in our profession today- nurses are involved with the fight for clean water for our communities.  Nurses are fighting to preserve access to health care for all citizens, to end sexual violence against women and to end gun violence.

Very few appreciate just how physically and mentally draining the profession of nursing can be.  The late nights and long days, the emotional challenges, the bureaucratic pressures – or to the extent that nurses often, sadly, sacrifice their own health for the sake of their patients.

Research by the American Nurses Association shows that nurses are actually more unhealthy than the average American.  Nurses are more likely to be overweight, have higher levels of stress and get less than the recommended hours of sleep.

Hazards such as workplace violence and musculoskeletal injuries are commonplace in nursing practice.  In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics has reported RNs have the fourth highest rate of injuries and illnesses that result in days away from work when compared to other occupations.  We all know if we didn’t report to work ill and injured, we would actually rank first.

I haven’t said anything none of you don’t already know. Sadly, for most of us, unhealthy nurses is our reality.  Today, I am inviting all of you to join the Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation Challenge.  It is a social movement developed by the American Nurses Association to transform the health of the nation by supporting nurses to take positive action to improve health.

If all 3.6 million registered nurses increase their personal wellness and support some of their family, community, co-workers, and patients to do the same, we would improve the health of our nation in ways no health plan or federal program could ever imagine.

The ANA has adopted a new definition of a healthy nurse- “One who actively focuses on creating and maintaining a balance and synergy of physical, intellectual, emotional, social, spiritual, personal and professional wellbeing.”  Perhaps, with time, this will become the way we define our profession.

I urge you to visit the American Nurses Association website and learn more about the Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation challenge.  You can join this social movement with other nurses just like yourself and improve your health and the health of our nation.

Another way nurses are changing our profession is with the adoption of the ‘BSN in 10’ bill, signed into law by Governor Cuomo in December.  The genesis of this bill came from nursing- the lobbying effort was completed by nursing.  Nurses wrote the letters and met with legislators and stakeholders.

Although controversial- the bill is a significant if not a long overdue step toward improving patient outcomes and our status as a profession.  As an innovator and pioneer in nursing education for more than 40 years, Excelsior has been a strong and vocal advocate for the BSN in 10 national movement and we are proud to see New York leading the way and becoming the first state to adopt the new requirement.

As this law is anticipated to create significant demand for advanced nursing credentials, New York must continue to recognize the contribution of nonprofit online nursing colleges such as Excelsior. Over the past four decades, more than 50,000 nurses have successfully earned a degree through us on their way to successful practice.

Together, Excelsior, traditional brick and mortar schools, hospitals and health care facilities, can work together as partners to maintain New York’s education capacity, improve overall nursing care and quality, and ensuring every New Yorker, including our most vulnerable have access to the high-quality health care they deserve – that is their right.

Today, we will hear many personal, highly emotional stories of nurses who have made a profound difference in the lives of their patients.

I hope you take these stories to heart – these are incredible individuals, who deserve to be recognized. But they aren’t unique, but rather a reflection of a profession devoted to self-sacrifice and social justice. These types of stories are playing out in every hospital and health care facility across the country…today, we are not just recognizing the great deeds of the nurses in this room, but saluting – and saying thank you – to nurses everywhere.

 

 

 

 

Degrees at Work: Joseph Davern Cleans Up the Streets

Posted on by Excelsior Staff

When Joseph Davern was working as an electrician studying nuclear engineering technology at Excelsior College in 2010, he didn’t ever picture himself behind a dumpster performing CPR to save a heroin addict’s life.

All he knew as he was continuing a college career that started two years prior at the Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee Telecommunications School was that he wanted more.

“After one year in the program, I just knew it wasn’t for me,” says the 29-year-old Nantasket Beach, Mass., native. “I was missing something. I realized I had a passion to help people and desired to make an impact in the community. I had a calling to clean up the streets.”

Eyeing a career in law enforcement, he chose criminal justice, and says that Excelsior made the transition an easy one. Davern started classes and immediately knew he was on the right path.

“My criminology instructor was a retired chief of police and he was simply fantastic,” Davern says. “Having an instructor that’s been in the field and who’s able to share first-hand knowledge and experiences was a great advantage. The amount of papers that we wrote was extensive, but it was a great learning opportunity and it prepared me very well.”

As he was working toward his criminal justice degree at Excelsior, Davern tested his luck and applied to the Abington (Mass.) Police Department, knowing it can be a long acceptance process. In 2013, exactly two years after Davern dropped everything to pursue a career in law enforcement, he was offered a job at the Abington Police Department.

The key to balancing all of this – which includes his 5-month-old daughter Olivia – is determination and having an unbreakable support system. “Even though this job has the ability to flip your life upside-down at any moment,” he says. “I had amazing support from my wife Brianna and I still do.”

In 2014, Joseph attended the Boylston Police Academy and in his final year at Excelsior, Davern was honored with the 2016 Dwayn Hanford Award that recognizes the academic excellence and community service of a student who completed an undergraduate degree in the School of Public Service. That same year he graduated from Excelsior with his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.

Switching gears from nuclear engineering to criminal justice was a big leap of faith, but Davern has no regrets.

“Somedays I deal with overdoses, accidents, and domestic calls and other days I don’t have to handle anything serious at all,” he says. “Each day on the job is very different, which can be stressful because you really don’t know what’s going to happen, but I find peace in knowing that I’m making a difference in people’s lives every day.”

And that unfortunately includes situations like the one when Davern found two older gentlemen behind a dumpster in a parking lot. One had overdosed on heroin, and the Narcan that Davern administered didn’t work.

“For the first time in my experience, it failed,” he says. “I had to perform CPR on a living human being for the first time behind that dumpster. For what felt like an eternity, 30 seconds of breaking this guy’s ribs, he came back to life. Even though this was an extremely traumatic experience, it affected me in a very positive way, because without me, he would’ve lost his life that day.”

He was also recently involved in a high-speed car chase that thankfully ended without any serious injuries.

“Another incident that will stick with me forever was being involved in a very dangerous car chase,” he says. “I was chasing a middle-aged man, and he was driving erratically at a very high speed. He went to the extreme of attempting to hit me in my car as well as coming very close to crashing into school buses full of children. I had to smash into him in order to stop him and put my own life at risk. Having the ability to respond well under high-stress situations is key in law enforcement.”

When it came time to start college, being a police officer never crossed Davern’s mind, but he realized quickly that he had a different calling, and was able to successfully transfer majors within Excelsior and quickly pivot to a successful career in law enforcement.

“Looking back, the criminal justice classes I took mirrored my job very well,” he says. “Within the next couple of months, I am going back for my master’s degree. I’ve decided to go back to Excelsior not only because of my excellent experience the first time around, but also because its nationally accredited. My goal is to become chief of police with a Master of Public Administration. I believe you can always better yourself with another degree!”

Professional Advice from Joseph Davern:

On time management:

“I trained in martial arts, was going to school full-time to become a police officer, and taking care of a family. My advice is get all of the work you can done at the beginning of the week and don’t put anything off.”

>On networking:

“A lot of people feel uncomfortable talking to strangers, but I like talking to everybody. I think talking to as many people as possible is so important. Throwing your name out there is key to networking. You shouldn’t be intimidated to talk to someone just because of their position.”

On the book to read for this industry:

“In the police academy, we read Emotion Survival for Law Enforcement and Their Families. This job changes you and your life, and this book describes how to deal with that and what things you should look out for.”

On being a police officer:

“Never lie. Cliché, but this is the best advice I’ve received so far in this business. Integrity is the most important trait to stand by. If you don’t have integrity, then you are useless as a police officer.”

Army University Partnership Provides Pathways for Soldiers to Earn Their Degree

Posted on by Excelsior Staff

Excelsior College was recently chosen as one of Army University’s official partners to provide degree pathways to soldiers based on military training. The partnership is part of the Army University Continuing Education Degree Program (CEDP), which matches Army schoolhouses with civilian colleges.

Army University aligns many of the Army’s education programs under a unified academic structure. It was first established in 2015 and became fully operational in November 2017. This new concept provides accelerated roadmaps to college degrees for Army soldiers, giving enlisted members the opportunity to obtain a college education while simultaneously serving our country.

The Army University-Excelsior College partnership will provide the following degree options to active-duty service members:

Each of the offered programs is intended to match military career fields to degree programs and ensure students receive maximum credit for Army training.

“The leadership skills gained through military experience are second-to-none,” said Sue Dewan, executive director of the Excelsior’s Center for Military and Veteran Education. “By aligning Army training with Excelsior College degree programs, soldiers will be well-prepared to advance their college educations and accelerate their military careers or successfully transition into civilian careers.”

Excelsior is one of just two initial colleges selected to partner with the U.S. Army Ordnance School and CBRN School, and one of six initially selected to help Army soldiers develop their leadership and problem-solving skills through the Army-wide CEDP Leadership Initiative.

While the Army University partnership is new, Excelsior College has had a longstanding relationship with the military and military families since the early 1970s. Excelsior was recently named to Military Times Best Colleges 2018 list, coming in at No. 4 on the top 20 list of online and nontraditional schools, which evaluates colleges based on survey responses and data from the federal Education, Defense and Veterans Affairs departments.

Over the past four decades, Excelsior has assisted more than 68,000 military service members in advancing their educations and earning their degrees. To learn more about Excelsior’s programs for members of the Army, visit http://cme.excelsior.edu/army/.

 

 

In one word I would describe my experience with Excelsior College as _________.

Posted on by Excelsior Staff

Our Excelsior College students come from all sorts of different backgrounds and experience levels, juggling a host of work, family and personal commitments while earning their degrees online.

Some students are changing careers, while others are looking to step up to the next level in their current industries. Some are getting additional degrees, while others are working on their first collegiate diplomas. Some transfer in credits from other institutions or receive credit for workplace training while others start from scratch at Excelsior.

It’s a true melting pot of talent, so we thought we’d ask our dedicated Facebook followers to describe their Excelsior College experiences in one word. We were blown away by the volume and diversity in responses, so a sincere thank you to everyone who contributed. Here is a recap of the conversation.

Question: “In one word I would describe my experience with Excelsior College as ________.

Comments:

Jason Garmendiz Challenging! I got my degree in December 2017 and in March 2018 got a promotion! A college degree really makes a difference in the job market!

Takeah Fancy I’ll soon find out…

Christopher Williams Phenomenal

Janet Huizenga Amazing!!!!

Tom Galliher Life-changing

Shannon Callaghan Chobert Empowering!! ❤

Joke Asubiaro Rewarding

Tracey Perez Rewarding!

Michael C. Antinucci Focused.

Tom Hoeg Enlightening

Helaine Goldenberg Berl Worthwhile

Dan McDonald Great !!

David Ward Rewarding

Tara Triassi Life-changing!

Clint Bailly Decisive??

Sterling Brown Amazing!

Dawid Catorce Fun

Silvia Gula For me over 25 years ago was an excellent way for me to complete my bachelor degree.

John Skid Markley Extremelyhelpfulforasuccesfulmilitarycareer!

Eric L Stockard Finally (a degree with 5 schools worth of credits and no degree)

Ermenita Zyka Kaçani Life-changing

Cheryl Natale Vitale Challenging!

Michelle M. Peters Low-stress

Scott Morton Outstanding

Jeff Gleason Convenient

Oscar Turner RN Profitable

Bry-Ant Harry Awesome

James Thompson Discombobulating. A little chaos and change is a good thing now and again.

Tory Robinson Deft.

Gary Vincent Relieving! Not a student here, but needed one more class in ethics to graduate on time with my college, so I took advantage of the Business Ethics excel exam, and now I’m graduating on time!

“If I could give any advice to new students it would be…”

Posted on by Excelsior Staff

If you could give any advice to new students entering college, what would you say? It seems like such a simple question with such a simple answer. Yet, how do you put years of advice, lessons and experiences into one answer?

At Excelsior College, we believe it’s important that our students not only feel connected with their peers, but also let them know that we’re here for them as well. Our Facebook #FillInTheBlankFriday posts were created to do exactly that. We understand the challenges, time and effort it takes to finally cross the finish line and receive that diploma — while juggling other family and professional commitments. We’ve been there ourselves.

We truly value the Excelsior community, and are sincerely thankful for the great insight our alums and current students doled out on this post.

Question: If I could give any advice to new students it would be…

Comments:

Shannon Callaghan Chobert – “Write out your reasons for doing this. Write down your goals. Write down that you believe in yourself. Put it on an index card and keep it with your study materials and read it every single day and when you feel discouraged. You will succeed. It works.”

Shaintell Green-Alexander – “Tell your family and friends what you’re doing and that there may be a few things that you’re going to have to say no to, but it will all be worth it when you’re done and they witness you dance across the stage at commencement.”

Patrick Jones – “First, if you encounter challenges in your classes, ask for assistance from your instructors. Their sole goal is to promote student success. Second, keep on pace with your assignments. Successive module learning outcomes build on those earlier in the course. If you fall behind, it can be very difficult to get back on track.”

Cheryl Natale Vitale – “Be organized and stay on top of all your required work. Be determined and never give up. It will all be worth it when you see your diploma!”

John Harold – “Do the work. Put in the effort. Stay focused. Don’t make excuses.”

Nichole Koren Smith – “Honestly, it’s far more work than I ever did in classroom-based classes.”

Shannon Callaghan Chobert – “I did the LPN to RN bridge. Failed first CPNE, passed on the second attempt. Worth every minute of anxiety, hard-work, patience: every penny. Loved Chambersburg twice.”

Todd Willbur – “Trust the process. Put the time in.”

Todd Ginapp – “Develop time management right away.”

Cesar Munguia – “Time management. For a while, I did three courses at a time. Time management was critical to get three papers turned in every week and maintaining my GPA.”

Doris D Preslar Leveque – “Keep moving forward. Work through any setbacks. Keep your eye on the prize.”

Adrianne Boyd – “Don’t give up! You can do it!”

Julie Kovach Nestor – “Have discipline.”

Raymond Farparan – “Shut yourself off from the rest of the world and put in hard work.”

Melanie Frees – “Don’t procrastinate. If the DB is due Thursday, turn it in a day or two earlier!”

Ron Freeman – “Save all your work; you’ll need it for your capstone.”

Rebecca Price – “Have a blast, check references and give good ones.”

Dakotah Rae – “Don’t take out student loans for your education.”

 Be sure to follow us on Facebook for more news and insight from the Excelsior community.

 

 

Concussion Safety for Spring Activities

Posted on by Audrey Paslow

As the weather warms and we get a reprieve from cabin fever, it’s important to stay safe as we take our physical fitness outdoors. One common and preventable injury is concussion, which is a traumatic brain injury (TBI) that results from a direct or indirect force sustained to the head or body. Depending on the area of the brain affected, individuals may experience symptoms of headaches, dizziness, blurred vision, sleep issues, and increased symptoms while exercising. While this topic is often discussed in terms of sports-related injuries, it is important to keep in mind all areas where concussions can occur. As you gear up to exercise outdoors, keep in mind some of these safety reminders:

  • Wear your helmet! Whether riding your bicycle to work or taking your motorcycle out to enjoy a spring ride, remember that helmets play an important role in the reduction of head injuries. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 26,000 brain injuries related to bike accidents are annually treated in children and adolescents in the emergency department. Also, wear reflective clothing when riding in low light and follow appropriate traffic laws.
  • Inspect playground equipment each spring. About 10 percent of emergency department visits for playground-related injuries in children are for concussions or TBI. Seventy-five percent of these injuries occur on public playgrounds, most often on the monkey bars or other climbing equipment. Injury rates are among the highest in April and May. When looking for ways to keep your child safe, be sure to inspect the equipment, check that there is soft ground (mulch or sand) underneath, safety rails are in place where appropriate, and that your child is using equipment that is appropriate for their age.
  • Reduce your risk of falls. The CDC reports falls are the most common cause of TBI in young children and older adults. For adults over the age of 65 especially, 1 in 4 will fall each year. These falls can unfortunately lead to a variety of health issues, including concussions. If you enjoy hiking or walking outdoors, be sure to wear appropriate footwear and scan for obstacles that may be in your path (such as potholes or tree stumps).
  • Don’t forget about spring sports. While not the most common cause of brain injury amongst any age group, sports often make the news because of head injuries. While many of us commonly think of concussions as only occurring in football (think of the recent articles on the NFL or the movies “Concussion” or “League of Denial”), a study in USA Today shows girls’ soccer now eclipses boys’ football for the number of concussions. Use a helmet and other safety equipment, follow the rules of the game, and practice good sportsmanship.

If you suspect a concussion in yourself or a family member, find a health professional who can evaluate and provide treatment. A great training resource for brain injury for children is the CDC’s Heads Up Program. 

Have a safe and healthy spring!

 

Disclaimer: The views expressed here are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of Excelsior College, its trustees, officers, or employees.

Course Feature: GENE 350: Advanced Genealogical Research

Posted on by Jenna Kerwin

Genealogical professionals approach and solve difficult identity inquiries by thoroughly dissecting, analyzing, and reassembling complex genealogical problems. In GENE 350: Advanced Genealogical Research, students examine how to apply best practices and strategies to solve identity cases that are similar to the cases professionals would work on. Students work together, discussing ethical considerations, investigating difficult genealogical questions, and practicing peer review. The course prepares students for careers and/or further professional study in the practice of genealogy.

Instructor Melinde Byrne explains, “We discuss current cases and their ethics, like finding birth parents or children, the settlement of Prince’s estate, the government’s use of the 1940 census to send Americans of Japanese descent to concentration camps during World War II, or a woman claiming to be Salvador Dali’s daughter suing the Spanish government for the return of Dali’s paintings.” Students also study a case involving locating Alyce Hall, an African-American “Top Secret Rosie” who created long-range bombing algorithms for the U.S. Army during World War II.

After discussing case studies like these, the students discuss the methods and techniques for solving them, including using syllogism (a logical argument using deductive reasoning), identifying bias, gaps, negative evidence, and applying standards to proof, to solve a case from their own experiences. Students have enjoyed the hands-on learning experience. Jennifer Armstrong Zinck says, “I was able to answer a challenging research question that I had been working on for 15 years. The methodologies taught in the course increased my ability to think outside of the box and solve complex genealogical problems.” Allison Ryall adds, “This course was hands-down the one thing that expanded my mind and analytical skills regarding problem solving and genealogical problems. The assignments are unique and creative and taught me how to look at things in an entirely different way.”

“Students who love a challenge and hope to make a difference with cutting-edge methods embrace this class,” says Byrne. She adds that there is a lot to learn in such a fast-moving field. The area of genealogical research is always growing. Byrne says, “People who have been doing research for years—whether it be identifying missing heirs, naming John or Jane Does, helping to identify relatives of MIA or KIA soldiers for proactive DNA testing, tracking a susceptibility to illness, or finding birth parents or children—all can benefit from using standards and learning from fascinating casework.”

Consider signing up for GENE 350: Advanced Genealogical Research if you would like to learn the strategies and techniques genealogy professionals use to solve complex identity problems.

Healthy Eating for Busy People

Posted on by Kelly Hunger

I often hear from my clients and Health Sciences students that staying on a healthy path is difficult with the fast-paced world in which we live. As a busy working mom of three children under 3 years old (a 3.5-year-old and twin 16-month-olds), I would have to say that time is literally of the essence to get a healthy meal on the table. I could not accomplish this feat without meal planning, prep, inspiration, tools, and a little help from Sesame Street.

Planning is key. Meal planning is the new buzz word for a fast-paced life. According to the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition & Physical Activity, “Individuals planning their meals were more likely to have a better dietary quality, including a higher adherence with nutritional guidelines as well as an increased food variety. Additionally, meal planning was associated with lower odds of being obese in men and women and overweight in women only.”

Each week I sit down and write a Monday–Sunday list of dinners that I know are quick, healthy, and delicious. No one wants to eat boring food, so I attempt to give each day a consistent main theme that helps with the busy week and provides overall balance. Not much of a planner? There is an app for that, literally down to the list! Digital Trends and Real Simple  have lists of apps to choose from. Many of the apps also have creative meal inspiration. There’s something for nearly everyone!

Here are some tips that might work for you:

  • Plan “theme of the day” dinners. Big Meal Sundays (double batch meals for leftovers or lunch), Meatless Mondays (bean burger, frittatas, or join the veggie noodle craze), Taco Tuesday (lighten up with ground bison or turkey, 1/2 pack of low-sodium taco seasoning mix), Boneless Chicken Thigh Wednesdays (ok, it doesn’t flow, but you get the idea and they are easy to cook), Take Out at Home Thursday (veggie pizza, tofu stir-fry, Indian spiced cauliflower), and Fish
  • Prep & Pair: I then pair each main course with a fitting vegetable and potential There are some great vegetables out there that come pre-packed (think Mexican slaw for Taco Tuesday) that can easily be mixed, microwaved, or roasted in under 20 minutes. If you can’t purchase pre-cut veggies, just add some time to your prep list on the day off and store appropriately. My fast and healthy go-to grains include brown rice (instant or not), polenta, faro, and quinoa.
  • Add a dose of inspiration: There are a lot of good resources out there these One of my favorites is the Real Simple magazine website. They give you at least five recipes each month with the time needed for preparation and cooking and a nutritional breakdown.
  • Have the right tools on hand: Anything that can decrease your time preparing and cooking is worth the money spent: Instant Pots, crockpots, grills, air tight containers, blenders, hand choppers, and the list goes

Other meal planning tips:

  • A faster, better breakfast: Some go-tos are oats (cold, hot, slightly sweet, or savory) and smoothies (low-fat Greek yogurt, frozen vegetable, and fruit).
  • Quick-pack lunch: Leftovers make great lunches, especially on top of greens or in a quesadilla. Really on the run? I love portion-packed nuts, apples, other quick-eat fruit, and Greek Yogurt

I know meal planning can be painful but based on my experiences with clients, it will help you optimize your dietary options and meet your long-term health plans. Remember it’s a lifestyle change, but it is a change worth making.