Career Spotlight: Crime Statistics Analyst

Posted on by Mary Kate Weaver

In-depth Guide to a Career as a Crime Statistics Analyst

If you consider yourself a data guru and enjoy the occasional “Law & Order” episode, a career as a crime statistics analyst might be for you. Check out this spotlight to start your career today.

What Is a Crime Statistics Analyst?

A crime statistics analyst studies crime statistics to solve criminal cases and support law enforcement. They work to identify trends and patterns in criminal behavior by analyzing data. Crime statistics analysts work with criminal investigative units at the state and federal levels. In some cases, crime statistics analysts can be police officers or detectives.

Start your career as a crime statistics analyst with Excelsior University’s AS in Criminal Justice.

What Does a Crime Statistics Analyst Do?

Crime statistics analysts are key to any law enforcement team. They study data to provide strategic, statistical, and investigative support to law enforcement by suggesting ways to reduce crime within specific areas. They use data and science to help find patterns in criminal activity by:

  • Reviewing large amounts of data from law enforcement sources. Crime statistics analysts use this to determine when and where to deploy law enforcement and other personnel. They also examine administrative data to sort leads and information about cases to provide accurate information to high-level officers.
  • Generating reports based on their findings. A large part of a crime statistics analyst’s job is to analyze information and create reports to present to leadership. This is important to keep data accurate but also to use in court and for future cases. High-level officers and leadership can also use these reports to make recommendations for combating crime and allocating police resources.
  • Presenting findings to leadership, police officers, supervisors, members of the public, and policymakers. Crime statistics analysts present their findings to certain groups to ensure the information is getting to the right people. They use this time to provide context behind the data and clarify any confusing or misleading parts of their reports.

What Skills Does a Crime Statistics Analyst Need?

While everyone comes with their own set of skills, successful crime statistics analysts generally have the following:

  • Analytical skills: Research and understanding data is at the core of the position. Being able to understand and process information is key to this job.
  • Problem-solving skills: Crime statistics analysts are always solving a puzzle. Being able to find solutions quickly and efficiently is needed in this role.
  • Technical skills: You must be proficient in computer programs, especially spreadsheet software, crime mapping, and statistics.
  • Communication skills: Crime statistics analysts need strong written and verbal communication skills to create accurate reports that anyone can understand. Attention to detail is critical, since some reporting can be used in court cases.

How to Become a Crime Statistics Analyst

Although paths can vary, the following steps constitute a reasonable road map for people looking to enter this career.

Step 1: Earn an Associate Degree in Criminal Justice

Crime statistics analysts require at least an associate degree in criminal justice, forensic psychology, or another related field to be considered for an entry-level position. An associate degree in criminal justice from Excelsior University will introduce you to law enforcement, corrections, and juvenile justice systems in the United States.

Step 2: Gain Relevant Experience

Successful candidates have some experience working in the law enforcement field. At Excelsior University, you can study while working full time or part time. Positions that involve working with data and different software will look very impressive on your resume.

Step 3: Complete a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice

Like other jobs, higher education levels can help you secure leadership roles or stand out from other candidates. A bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Excelsior University will prepare you to work in law enforcement, security analysis, crime scene investigation, and other areas. You will focus on U.S. constitutional law and amendments, criminal policies and procedures, and data analysis.

Crime Statistics Analyst Salary

According to Payscale.com, the average base salary for crime analysts was $54,018 in 2024, whereas Indeed reports the average as $66,813. The job market is projected by Zippia to grow 3% from 2018 to 2028. If this sounds like something you’re interested in, make sure to chat with an admissions counselor at Excelsior University to learn more today!

Career Spotlight: National Security Analyst

Posted on by Jenna Kerwin

In-Depth Guide to a Career as a National Security Analyst

Protecting the nation’s security is an important and patriotic duty. National security agencies protect and defend the nation from both foreign and domestic threats, such as to the public infrastructure, economy, and climate.

The professionals who carry out this duty are national security analysts, and according to ZipRecruiter, the average annual salary for this job is $107,334—with a likely range of $91,500 to $130,000. If you have a passion for defense and protecting the country, a career as a national security analyst might be for you.

Grow your career in defense with a Bachelor of Science in National Security from Excelsior University.

What Is a National Security Analyst?

National security analysts, also known as intelligence analysts, use a variety of resources and tools—like surveillance, databases, intelligence networks, geographic systems, and more—to monitor and prevent attacks from terrorists and protect the country from other threats.

Since technology is such a prevalent part of our society, national security analysts often have experience in cybersecurity so they can prevent and stop attacks on valuable data. They may also work in the field using equipment to intercept and record criminal activity.

Types of National Security Analyst Positions

Depending on their job duties and area of expertise, national security analysts may have a variety of positions. Some roles and what they do are below:

  • Analytic methodologists: Use math, statistics, and other new methods of analysis to help detect threats.
  • Economics intelligence analysts: Focus on a nation’s economic ability to support its military operations.
  • Geospatial (GEOINT) analysts: Create information and discover novel trends and data using geographic science and technology.
  • Cryptologic cyber planners: Leverage knowledge in cryptology and technology to help with cyber operations.
  • Counterintelligence threat analysts: Review foreign intelligence reports to see whether they might threaten the country and/or government.
  • Medical and health analysts: Study and assess global health issues like disease outbreaks and pandemics.
  • Foreign media analysts: Monitor foreign websites, social media, and other press sources to identity any threats or issues.
  • Science and technology analysts: Analyze weapons systems, information warfare, and technology

What Does a National Security Analyst Do?

A national security analyst is responsible for gathering and analyzing information and providing recommendations. Some of their duties include:

  • Analyzing collected data
  • Identifying threats and providing recommendations
  • Developing assessments using available information
  • Performing interviews
  • Collaborating with international, national, state, and local law enforcement
  • Examining information from foreign sources
  • Providing written presentations, reports, maps, etc.
  • Studying activities related to narcotics, terrorism, or other national security threats
  • Collaborating with government representatives and intelligence organizations
  • Building teams of professionals to analyze and interpret data
  • Following all security protocols

National security analysts are also well educated in technology and help protect networks and operating systems with firewalls, antimalware software, and other cybersecurity tools.

Requirements to Be a National Security Analyst

To be a successful national security analyst, you must first have excellent analytical skills because of the amount of information you will review. You should also have good communication skills, critical thinking skills, and a working knowledge of different cultures and regions.

Where Do National Security Analysts Work?

The government and military, which includes the FBI, CIA, and the NSA, is the most well-known employer of national security agents. Private businesses like consulting firms and financial companies will also hire these professionals to provide public intelligence information. Other organizations, like the National Atlantic Treaty Organization and the International Atomic Energy Agency, hire national security analysts, as well, to study and monitor foreign trends and information.

Education Requirements for National Security Analysts

Becoming a national security analyst requires a bachelor’s or advanced degree. Degree areas that are typical of this career path include international affairs, national security, international relations, political science, terrorism studies, or other related fields. It’s also a good idea to be fluent in at least one foreign language.

Excelsior University’s Bachelor of Science in National Security program can prepare you for a career in homeland security, intelligence analysis, international logistics, diplomacy, or foreign relations. It can help you enter this dynamic field by giving you a sound academic foundation in national security issues and operations, as well as by instructing you in how nation states leverage power to gain strategic advantage on the global stage. This program is an excellent choice if you want to pursue a career as a national security analyst.

Excelsior University President Advocates for Enhanced Military Student Support

Posted on by David Schejbal

In a recent interview with the Presidents Forum, Excelsior University president David Schejbal shared valuable insights on how higher education institutions can better serve active duty military students and veterans. With 42% of Excelsior’s student body comprised of active or former military members, Schejbal highlighted the unique challenges these students face and the innovative approaches Excelsior has implemented to support them.

Watch the full interview here.

Career Spotlight: IT Security Coordinator

Posted on by Excelsior Staff

Cybersecurity and the role of the IT security coordinator routinely makes headlines and continues to grow in importance. Protecting computer systems and networks, connected devices, and the data that flows among them is of vital importance to organizations of all types. With nearly every endeavor relying on digital capabilities, from the running of our smart home appliances to keeping planes in the air to accessing our money, IT security is paramount.

Career options for someone with a security coordinator background are expanding. But what does an IT security coordinator do, and what is your potential in jobs involving cybersecurity program management? Here, we’ll examine job duties, salary information, and education and certification that can make you competitive in the market.

What Does an IT Security Coordinator Do?

Security coordinators can take on many responsibilities, depending on the size and breadth of an organization’s IT footprint. The typical IT security coordinator oversees and manages security policies and frameworks, procedures and reports, and systems that ensure that data and infrastructure are protected from mistakes and crimes. They also manage the work involved in responding to any breach or breakdown.

Duties include:

  • Developing the policies and procedures for securing systems, as well as creating the documentation needed, from incident response processes to disaster recovery
  • Assessing and managing risks to uncover vulnerabilities, threats, and mitigation strategies
  • Monitoring systems and responding to incidents to keep an eye out for data breaches, malware infections, unauthorized access, and mistakes, like uploading error-filled updates or opening a phishing email
  • Training and conducting awareness campaigns to create a culture of security
  • Complying with various cybersecurity frameworks, preparing for audits, and providing required documentation
  • Managing security tools, technologies, and vendors
  • Providing firewalls, detection systems, antivirus software, and more
  • Managing access by various levels and types of employees and contractors, as well as managing third-party vendors, partners, and service providers
Advance your career with a BS in Information Technology from Excelsior University.

How Much Does an IT Security Coordinator Make?

Salary.com reports that the average salary for an IT coordinator in the United States is $85,404, with likely range from $77,084 to $94,312. Information security analysts saw a median salary of $120,360 in 2023, according to U.S. government data.

This is a career area where demand for qualified people exceeds the supply. The government expects information security analyst jobs to grow a whopping 33% between 2023 and 2033. Top industries include computing, finance and insurance, information technology, consulting services, and overall management of companies and enterprises.

What Certificates Can Help You Stand Out?

The first step in starting a security coordinator career is earning your degree in a tech-related field, like a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology. It’s a highly sought-after and flexible degree. Aside from security and program management, such a degree prepares you for myriad jobs in a wide array of industries.

To further stand out in the job market and command a higher salary, you can add a certification to your IT degree, such as:

What Is the Difference Between Information Security and Cybersecurity?

Working as an information security coordinator and working in cybersecurity are separate but overlapping career areas.

In information security, you primarily protect information systems and the data they contain. The focus is on confidentiality. That means keeping things secret. Integrity—keeping things complete, accurate, and up to date—is the second element. Lastly, you need to make sure that data is accessible when needed. Information security covers all data, even data that is not in digital form. Think of paper files and images, and potentially physical artifacts.

Cybersecurity is focused on digital data, along with electronic communications services and systems. It’s an area of specialization that includes onsite servers, cloud platforms, networks, and endpoints, as well as the infrastructure that makes it all work. Think of cybersecurity as a specialized subset of information security.

A career as a security coordinator is a rewarding one, working at the forefront of a highly needed area of expertise. When you earn an IT degree at Excelsior University, you’re giving yourself the credentials you need to prosper in this field.

Career Spotlight: Nuclear Technician

Posted on by Excelsior Staff

Working as a nuclear technician in a nuclear power plant puts you in a critical role.

As our power grid transitions off fossil fuels and demand grows, we need alternative sources of energy. Goldman Sachs predicts that power demand for AI will grow by 160% by 2030, with quantum computing technology driving demand for electricity even higher.

Renewable energy sources cannot begin to keep up with demand, which has led to the resurgence of nuclear power as the go-to clean-power alternative. And every existing and new nuclear power plant needs skilled nuclear technicians.

What Do They Do?

As a nuclear technician, you will most likely be working at the site of a nuclear reactor at a power plant.

However, civilian and military nuclear laboratories also offer interesting positions involving next-generation reactors, radioactive waste management, and emergent technology of nuclear propulsion systems. Additional workplaces can include medical facilities that use radiation equipment for treatment and diagnostics.

The key tasks of the nuclear power technician include:

  • Operating nuclear power plant equipment, including the nuclear reactor. Central to this work will be adjusting the control systems to maintain the right conditions in the reactor core. You will also be responsible for radiation monitoring and the overall safe operation of the facility.
  • Maintaining and repairing all reactor equipment. You inspect and make sure that the reactor core, cooling systems, turbines, and other related equipment are working properly, initiating repairs and replacements as needed.
  • Ensuring safety compliance. Nuclear power plants must adhere to strict federal, state, and local regulations. Preventing exposure to radiation is a major focus of radiation protocols. Your role is to ensure that everyone stays safe and that the nuclear reactor is operating within regulatory limits.
  • Collecting and analyzing data is part of the safe and efficient operation of the power plant. Radiation monitoring can take the form of collecting air, water, and soil samples to test for potential contamination. You will also collect data about the operation of the reactor core and controls, analyzing them for trends and potential early warning signs of serious issues.
  • Preparing for an emergency response. You will create plans for responding to leaks, uncontrolled reactions, and any threats to plant and public safety.

In research, development, and design facilities in the field of nuclear power and in medical settings, your role may expand to take on a variety of additional tasks. There are many exciting career paths in nuclear engineering technology.

Help power the future with a BS in Nuclear Engineering Technology from Excelsior University.

How Much Does a Nuclear Technician Make?

Given the high demand for nuclear technicians, it’s not a surprise to learn that they are well paid. The median income for a nuclear technician is $101,740 a year, or $48.92 per hour, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Workers with more experience or specialized skills can earn even more. Since power plants run around the clock, they need workers at all hours. Working nights and weekends can often give you a bump in pay.

What Skills Do You Need?

To succeed in nuclear technician roles, you’ll need strong skills in the fields of mechanical and electrical systems. Because you’ll be collecting, analyzing, and making critical decisions based on data, you need to be good with numbers and statistics to glean insights from complex data sets. In addition, you must have the ability to focus on what matters, pay attention to details, and monitor systems and compliance with absolute precision. Lastly, you’ll need strong interpersonal, communications, and management soft skills.

Career Outlook

The current job outlook shows a steady state, primarily driven by the needs of nuclear power plants. Current employment in these workplaces has been limited primarily to replacing existing workers. It has been decades since new nuclear power plants have been built.

That is changing fast as the need for clean and safe electricity is booming. The U.S. Department of Energy touts “big wins” for nuclear energy in 2023, including the first new reactor in nearly 10 years, the licensing of new plants, the vital role of nuclear power in the production of clean hydrogen, and more. New federal legislation signed in July of 2024 will advance the building of new reactors.

After years of no movement, the field is at the start of rapid growth as part of the transition to net-zero emissions of the power grid.

How to Become a Nuclear Technician

In many cases, an associate degree is enough to start your career as a nuclear technician. However, many positions do require a more advanced degree, and certainly, a bachelor’s degree in nuclear engineering technology makes progressing into higher-paying positions possible within the field.

Most workplaces require significant on-the-job training. It typically involves practical, hands-on experiences along with formal instruction by the facility hiring you.

Earning a certification, such as the Nuclear Uniform Curriculum Program certificate, is required for some roles. The Industrial Radiography and Radiation Safety Personnel certification and the Registered Radiation Protection Technologists certification are additional credentials that can improve your job prospects.

Nuclear power is the key to many green technologies and advancements in computing capabilities. After years of being at a standstill, opportunities in this field are set to expand in scope and variety. Earning a bachelor’s in nuclear engineering technology is an ideal way to start on your own career adventure in this future-forward industry.

Building Smart Homes with Electrical Engineering

Posted on by Excelsior Staff

The growing integration of technology into smart homes is driving demand for people with an electrical engineering background. Smart technologies are becoming commonplace in nearly every home system. With an electrical engineering or electrical engineering technology degree, you can contribute to the design, integration, and smooth operation of smart home systems and components.

What Is a Smart Home?

Smart homes are residences that use connected technologies to automate and control home systems, features, and appliances. The benefits that smart technologies promise are greater comfort and conveniences, enhanced security, and greater energy efficiency.

What makes a home smart? It is composed of smart devices linked to a central hub that have some or all of these elements:

  • Sensors to detect movement, sound, light, heat, or cold
  • Connectivity through wireless technology
  • Control through the central hub or remotely via a phone app
  • An actuator that performs the task (for example, locking a door)

Electrical engineers can design individual components and devices or entire systems.

Charge up your career with a BS in Electrical Engineering Technology from Excelsior University.

What Smart Technologies Make a Smart Home?

New smart home technologies are being developed all the time, and existing applications are rapidly evolving. Here are some of the most common applications:

Home Security

Smart locks can be opened at specific times, operated by people with a specific and potentially time-limited key, or remotely controlled. Cameras can stream, record, and send alerts. Alarms for intruders, smoke, or carbon monoxide can be integrated into these systems.

Smart Thermostats

A combination of computing capabilities and sensors give these systems the ability to adjust automatically to changes caused by occupancy, sunlight, and weather. They can also be programmed or remotely controlled. These systems can open and close window treatments and turn on fans to optimize comfort and energy use.

Smart Appliances

Devices such as refrigerators, ovens, and washing machines can be remotely controlled, send out notifications, and be programmed to operate in ways that optimize energy use. Lights can be programmed to turn on at specific times or can be remotely controlled via an app.

What Role Does Electrical Engineering Technology Play in Making Smart Homes?

Smart home technologies are opening new opportunities when it comes to what you can do with an EET degree. Some of the areas where this kind of background are valued include:

  • Designing the layout of a home’s electrical system and implementing advanced wiring and circuit designs so that they can accommodate smart devices.
  • Developing and integrating smart home automation systems that might include entertainment systems, HVAC, home security, and lighting. Part of this work may also include designing the interfaces for programming, managing, monitoring, and controlling these systems.
  • Configuring a home network using technologies like Wi-Fi, Zigbee, Z-Wave, Bluetooth, and others that provide the connections and communications across devices.
  • Integrating systems for energy monitoring and management, from smart meters to smart thermostats to the smart devices that connect to them.
  • Planning advanced home security systems and components, including sensors, locks, cameras, and alarms.
  • Developing smart lighting, control components, and smart devices of all kinds.
  • Collaborating with architects, designers, engineers, and tradespeople to implement, test, and troubleshoot systems to ensure that everything works together flawlessly.

Earning a BS in Electrical Engineering Technology from Excelsior University prepares you for work in this field, whether implementing, integrating, or designing smart home systems or their various components. Because of rapid innovation, you may find the work to be truly engaging, with the opportunity to make substantive contributions and even breakthroughs.

Blockchain: The Next Step in Cybersecurity

Posted on by Excelsior Staff

Most people associate the term “blockchain” with bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, or maybe with nonfungible tokens, also known as NFTs. But blockchain technology is used in a vast number of different applications, one of the most notable being in the field of cybersecurity. The fact that blockchain is trustless, works through decentralization, and is consensus-driven, makes it potentially useful in fighting cybercrime.

That said, blockchain is also a potential tool for cybercriminals.

It’s no wonder that the cybersecurity field, especially in relation to blockchain technology, is exploding.

What Is a Blockchain?

To understand the promise and the threat, it’s necessary to understand what a blockchain is. It’s basically a list of interactions or transactions shared between and across many users. Each interaction or transaction is a block on that list, or chain, of interactions—hence the name “blockchain.”

Imagine hundreds or thousands of people having that same list or ledger. That is the decentralized element. When someone makes a new transaction, everyone sees it, providing transparency. Everyone then must agree and record this entry on their list or digital ledger, making it resistant to fraud or manipulation. When thousands of people record and agree the transaction took place, that transaction and its details have a high degree of trust.

The decentralized list, or ledger, that is transparently shared by thousands for trust is the essence of the blockchain.

Prepare for your next big career move with Excelsior University’s BS in Cybersecurity.

How Does Blockchain Technology Work with Cybersecurity?

The ability to resist manipulation and maintain trust is what makes blockchain technology so useful in cybersecurity. Here are six ways cybersecurity experts use blockchain today:

  1. Protecting data integrity. When data is recorded in a blockchain, any attempt to alter or delete it would be highly challenging and would leave a clear audit trail of that effort.
  2. Identity management. Creating a secure and decentralized identity makes identity theft and identity fraud much more challenging. Individuals are in control of their own identity management without having to go through a centralized, possibly untrustworthy authority or company.
  3. Securing transactions. Secure and automated transactions that don’t go through intermediaries are highly resistant to hacking or access that isn’t authorized.
  4. Network security. Distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks are harder to mount when data is decentralized. Decentralization makes it harder for attackers to affect or control the entire network of the blockchain.
  5. Securing devices. The Internet of Things (IoT) opportunity has been slowed by the inherent security risk of these devices. Decentralization of device communication on the blockchain will reduce the risk of being hacked.
  6. Securing supply chains. You can imagine the lure that moving goods from manufacturer to consumer presents. Things can fall off the back of digital trucks with ease. Creating a record of each item and each step of custody in the supply chain keeps valuables safe from hackers and also ensures that counterfeit goods don’t enter it.

Blockchain-Related Threats

As with any technology, blockchain has attracted criminals who are intent on using it, abusing it, and breaking it. Other threats are inherent to blockchain technology and cybersecurity. Some examples include:

  • 51% attacks. If a group of blockchain participants, called miners, conspires to take over enough of the blockchain, they can control it, preventing transactions, reversing transactions, or stealing data and valuables.
  • Cryptojacking. If a criminal can gain control of mining machines, they can create bogus cryptocurrency.
  • Rug pulls. A criminal creates a cryptocurrency and hypes it, only to run off with investor funds in a new twist on the old pump-and-dump ploy.
  • Social engineering. Another tried-and-true hacker technique is to use phishing and other exploits to get users to reveal usernames, passwords, private keys, etc. to access a blockchain.
  • Lack of regulation. The global and decentralized nature of the technology makes it difficult to regulate, creating an environment ideal for criminal enterprise.
  • Cybersecurity talent crisis. The digital industry suffers from a severe talent shortage of people with cybersecurity skills—particularly in the blockchain space. Staying ahead of cybercriminals when decentralization is rapidly becoming the norm will require trained professionals.

If you’re interested in a challenging and rewarding career working with blockchain and other state-of-the-art technologies protecting organizations and the government from cyberattacks, a great first step is earning a Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity. This degree, among other technology degrees, will not only give you deep relevant knowledge but also ensure that you are up to date on the constantly changing cybersecurity landscape. Armed with the right education and skills, you can do your part to keep our digital systems safe.

Institutional Recognition for Preprints: Recommendations for Policies and Practices

Posted on by Melissa Chim

As part of her Fellowship with Accelerating Science and Publication in Biology (ASAPbio), Scholarly Communications Librarian Melissa Chim co-authored a white paper entitled Institutional recognition for preprints: Recommendations for policies and practices. This paper explores how universities can encourage open science practices by recognizing preprints in their graduation, hiring, and promotion guidelines.

5 Ways to Build a Strong Organizational Culture

Posted on by Jenna Kerwin

A strong organizational culture is critical to the success of any business. A robust culture fosters employee engagement, enhances productivity, and attracts top talent. Moreover, it promotes innovation, collaboration, and resilience, enabling the company to navigate challenges effectively. The right culture can boost morale and satisfaction and drives performance and growth.

Read on to learn more about what makes a strong organizational culture and how you can foster one in your workplace.

What Is Organizational Culture?

Organizational culture is the combination of core values, beliefs, attitudes, systems, and rules that outline and influence employee behavior. It is created through consistent and authentic behaviors, such as how a CEO responds to a crisis, a team adapts to new customer demands, or a manager handles an employee who makes a mistake. Additionally, the industry, benefits packages, politics, local culture, and community involvement all significantly shape organizational culture. When workplace culture aligns with employees’ values, they feel more comfortable, supported, and valued, enabling the organization to successfully weather difficult times and changes in the business environment. There are several different ways employees can feel valued in their workplaces. Let’s explore a few of them.

Foster a strong organizational culture in your workplace with a management degree from Excelsior.

Positive Work Environment

Employees’ work environment directly impacts job satisfaction, productivity, and retention. Natural lighting, comfortable furniture, recreational activities, and a supportive atmosphere contribute to a positive environment. Recognizing and rewarding employees, offering constructive feedback, and maintaining strong relationships are essential for sustaining a healthy organizational culture. These factors make employees feel valued, motivated, and willing to help one another, ultimately driving the company’s success.

Communication

Effective communication in the workplace significantly impacts employees’ experience, motivation, and engagement. Organizations with open, honest, and transparent communication enjoy the benefits of happy and satisfied employees. Utilizing modern communication tools, segmenting internal audiences, providing personalized content, driving engagement, ensuring two-way communication, involving leadership, consolidating communication channels, and measuring the impact on business results can help improve communication.

Unified Purpose

A unified purpose significantly affects a company’s culture and success by fostering shared core values, beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors among employees. When employees feel a sense of purpose and belonging, their engagement and satisfaction increase, leading to enhanced collaboration and agility within the organization. Additionally, an inspiring purpose attracts talent aligned with the company’s cause and forms the foundation for high-performing teams, ensuring clarity and alignment in meeting goals.

Leadership

Leadership plays a crucial role in shaping and cultivating an organization’s culture. Leaders set the tone for the workplace through their values, behaviors, and decisions, helping employees understand the company’s mission and their roles in contributing to success. Influential leaders communicate, especially during challenges, to maintain confidence and morale. They also foster an innovative culture by encouraging experimentation and learning from mistakes. Leaders influence team culture by prioritizing employee well-being, demonstrating transparency, and maintaining a positive and inclusive environment.

Diversity and Inclusion

When a workplace is inclusive and diverse, everyone feels equally supported and involved in all facets of the organization, regardless of their identity or role. Inclusion is critical for retaining talent because employees are more likely to stay with a company where they feel valued and are treated fairly. Diverse teams bring unique perspectives that drive creativity, which gives companies a competitive edge in attracting talent and relating to diverse customer bases. Research indicates that diversity and inclusion in the workplace can lead to higher revenue growth and improved employee retention.

How Can You Promote a Strong Organizational Culture?

Creating a sound workplace culture requires a clear plan. Here are some steps to follow if you want to help your organization benefit:

  • Recognize employees. Frequent, specific recognition of employees enhances engagement, retention, and productivity. Leadership should actively participate in recognition efforts.
  • Listen to employees. A culture that values feedback and encourages the employee’s voice is crucial. Use pulse surveys and chatbots to collect feedback, analyze the results, and take timely action.
  • Make your leaders advocates. Leaders should exemplify the company’s core values and incorporate employee feedback into their cultural advocacy efforts.
  • Focus on learning and development. Invest in employee development through training, coaching, and new responsibilities to demonstrate a commitment to their success.
  • Keep culture in mind. Ask cultural fit questions during interviews and focus on building social relationships early to ensure that new hires align with company values and culture.

A strong organizational culture is fundamental to achieving long-term success, as it drives employee engagement, retention, and overall productivity. Organizations can create a vibrant and cohesive workplace environment by following strategic steps to recognize contributions, value employee feedback, advocate for company values, and promote continuous learning.

Earning a degree in administration and management equips you with the essential skills and knowledge to effectively implement these strategies. This educational background empowers you to develop leadership capabilities, understand organizational dynamics, and apply best practices to support a culture that attracts the right talent and ensures their long-term satisfaction and commitment.

What’s the Difference Between Health Care Management and Health Care Administration?

Posted on by Excelsior Staff

To the layperson, health care management and health care administration may sound interchangeable, but these career paths differ in focus. Whether you seek a broader role in organizational leadership or want to manage the day-to-day operations of a department or unit, both tracks offer exciting work opportunities.

What Is Health Care Management?

Health care management includes roles in which you’ll be responsible for overseeing the activities of an entire health care organization or a company that runs multiple health care organizations. Success in this area of health care depends on many factors:

  • Strong organizational leadership and business skills are key to these roles.
  • You’ll need to gather information; plan strategies; manage finances, people, equipment, and facilities; and make decisions that affect the organization as a whole.
  • You’ll need specific business strategy skills to analyze information, develop a strategic response, and then work with various teams to implement the strategies.
  • Planning how you’ll use financial resources, setting up and managing budgets, allocating resources, and measuring return on investment will be key to your success.
  • In some cases, you’ll both develop organizational policies and see that your organization is adhering to health care laws and regulations.
  • In providing operational oversight, you’ll need to care about a diverse array of functions, from procurement to human resources to marketing, food services, maintenance, scheduling, and more.
  • Value-based care may drive much of your top-level decision-making, as will managing patient outcomes, equity of access, and cost of care.
Advance your career in health care with a health sciences degree from Excelsior University.

How Is Health Care Administration Different?

A role in health care administration is still highly focused on management. Yet instead of managing a large organization like a hospital or a group of hospitals, you’ll focus on the details of a specific unit or department.

In this role, you’ll interface with human resources, finance, patient services, facilities management, and more. You’ll need the input of various parts of the organization to effectively manage your department or unit. You’ll serve many constituencies, including upper management, patients and families, doctors and nurses, and operational staff. Your job will be to make sure everything runs smoothly for optimal results.

Typical health care administration responsibilities include:

  • Managing staff, including creating a staffing plan, organizational chart, and job descriptions.
  • Leading the functions around hiring, training, supervising, and staff development.
  • Working within your department and the rest of the organization to ensure that operations are smooth and efficient.
  • Staying on top of equipment, facilities, and supplies specific to your department. In addition to capital expenditure planning, maintenance, and obsolescence, you’ll need to monitor everything, plan, and make decisions.
  • Providing quality care that leads to superior outcomes, managing patient records, scheduling care, and coordinating tests and procedures, all as part of end-to-end patient experience management. Again, value-based care is now part of the role.
  • Leading in regulatory compliance may also be required, tracking requirements and documenting actions, along with maintaining records to prove your department’s adherence to rules and standards.

Which Health Care Path Is Right for You?

Deciding whether you want a career in health care management versus health care administration is a highly personal decision. Here are some key considerations:

What drives your sense of accomplishment? If you like having a broad impact, you may enjoy managing a facility or larger holding company that manages many facilities. If you enjoy making a difference in a specific area and with people you interact with directly, becoming an administrator may be more appealing.

What are your interests? If you enjoy business, health care management will be satisfying. If you have a specific area of interest, such as improving the trauma experience, advancing cancer care, or working in specific treatment areas, like joint health or pediatric care, administering these departments will be rewarding.

How important is money and advancement? It is a fact that health care management positions more directly lead to upper management roles and higher salaries. You certainly can make good money in administration, too, but you’ll have to move out of a departmental role if you’re seeking a bigger title and more money.

Whichever path you choose, your career will benefit from earning a master’s degree in health care administration. And to get started on either track, it helps to earn your bachelor’s degree in health care management. You may also pursue this field with other health sciences undergraduate degrees. The right undergraduate degree will give you a solid foundation for further study and professional development.

What Is a Technical Studies Degree?

Posted on by Excelsior Staff

A technical studies degree covers a wide field—and one that is also incredibly interesting. Acquiring technical skills and earning a degree in the concentration that interests you is an ideal path to a well-paying and secure career, without having to devote four years of spending many thousands of dollars for your education. An associate degree in technical studies also provides you with a solid foundation if you later want to pursue advanced degrees.

Technical Studies: A Definition

An associate degree in technical studies, among other technology degrees, can take you in many fascinating directions. These include working in technology, manufacturing, construction, engineering, and applied sciences. You might work in computer and digital technology, electromechanical technology, manufacturing, and nuclear technologies, to name a few.

Employers in many fields are hungry for workers with practical technical know-how. A typical technical studies program will include general education courses, particularly in problem-solving, critical thinking, and communication. You will need mathematics and science. These programs round out with core technical courses in your area of concentration. Several elective options allow you to pursue your personal interests.

Advance your career with an AAS in Technical Studies from Excelsior University.

What Concentrations Are Available?

Given the breadth of the technical studies field, you have your choice of concentrations. Graduating from Excelsior’s Associate in Applied Science in Technical Studies program with one of the following concentrations can open myriad career opportunities.

Computer Technologies

This concentration gives you technical skills for building, testing, operating, and maintaining computer networks, as well as installing, configuring, and updating software applications. Your classes will include programming fundamentals and IT hardware and software essentials. You’ll learn about business data, cloud computing, and innovation in virtualization.

With this degree concentration, you can work as a systems support technician, a software technical support specialist, an IT field technician, and more.

Electromechanical Technologies

If you’re fascinated by how things work, this degree concentration is for you. You’ll learn about various types of mechanical technology, including electrical and electronic circuits, and also automated, servomechanical, or electromechanical tools, equipment, and processes. The design, assembly, testing, system maintenance, and troubleshooting of mechanical components and instruments are key areas of study.

Jobs include work as a machine operator, an equipment and electronics sales associate, a maintenance manager, a generator technician, a facilities manager, a service technician, and more.

Electronic/Instrumentation Technologies

If circuits, microprocessors, programmable controllers, and electronic components are your thing, this concentration will intrigue you. You will learn about electronic systems and how to assemble, test, maintain, repair, and upgrade their various parts.

Find work as an instrumentation specialist, electrical maintenance technician, automation specialist, electrical and instrumentation troubleshooter, and other roles in a wide variety of industries and sites.

Nuclear Technologies/Power Plant Technologies

This fast-growing area of clean energy is driving demand for people with nuclear technology skills. Learning how to manage radiation shielding, about radiation detection instrumentation, and how to plan and implement radiation protection procedures are the key to safe nuclear power facilities. The concentration also includes renewable energy technologies, including solar, geothermal, wind, and water, along with the basic operation of electrical generation equipment.

Examples of jobs with this degree and these technical skills include field testing technician, calibration technician, radiation protection monitor, instrumentation and control specialist, control room operations team member, and nuclear equipment operator.

How Can You Get Started in a Technology Career?

The Excelsior Associate in Applied Science in Technical Studies program combines classroom and hands-on learning opportunities that prepare you for your career. And as you progress and need further credentials, you are on the right path for other technology degrees at Excelsior University.

The Role of Forensics in Crime Solving

Posted on by Caitlin Abram

It’s 3 o’clock in the morning and an alarm starts ringing in the art museum. By the time the police arrive, a priceless painting has been stolen. The gallery is a mess. Shards of glass, dirty footprints, fabric scraps, and a few strands of hair are the only clues that remain. The art world despairs—but detectives on the case don’t because they know that even this bloodless crime scene contains all the evidence they need to track down the thief.

As long as crimes have been committed, people have been using crime scene evidence to help solve them. Today, with increasingly detailed analysis tools at scientists’ disposal, forensics is a powerful asset in not only catching criminals but also providing insight into the motives and methods behind the crime.

What Is Forensic Science?

Forensic science uses scientific analysis to examine criminal evidence and support decision-making in a court of law. Because “evidence” can range from the biological, like hair and blood, to the digital, such as financial records and online search histories, to the physical, like tire tracks and handwriting, forensic science employs a variety of disciplines that include toxicology, molecular biology, chemistry, and even information technology.

During an investigation, forensic specialists carefully collect and preserve crime scene evidence for testing. After an investigation, they are also frequently called upon to present their findings in court.

Start your forensics career with Excelsior University’s Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice.

How Can Using Forensics Help Solve a Crime?

Forensics can help solve a crime by finding and analyzing everything a culprit leaves behind. This trail of impact creates a wealth of evidence, large and small, that can be invaluable in an investigation.

For centuries, crime scene investigations were limited to the senses. This meant that only immediately observable clues, like footprints and murder weapons, were solely what we had to go on. Lacking ways to accurately capture or analyze evidence, crime scene hygiene was an afterthought, with members of the public and careless investigators trampling over what today would be valuable evidence.

Modern forensic scientists still rely on the observable clues, but the invisible is what often ultimately breaks a case. Three of the most commonly used forensic techniques are DNA analysis, fingerprint matching, and forensic psychology. In the example of our art heist, investigators could look at the damage in the gallery to figure out what tools the thieves used to break in. Hair and fingerprints could be collected for DNA evidence to test against any potential suspects. Footprints and fibers found at the scene could also be potentially matched to what the criminals were wearing.

DNA Analysis

Of these three forensic methods, DNA analysis is the most recently developed, though, and thanks to television shows like “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” it’s probably the technique most people think of first. DNA was only able to be fully sequenced in 1977, which was the first step in being able to identify individual people by their genetic material. This eventually led to the pioneering use of DNA in a successful U.S criminal conviction in 1987.

Usable DNA can be collected from a sample as small as the trace amounts of saliva on the rim of a glass, and some forms of DNA can be viably stored for years. Famously, the Golden State Killer was caught more than 40 years after his first known murder by matching DNA from a distant family member.

Fingerprint Matching

People have long recognized that our fingerprints are unique. There is even evidence of fingerprints being used to sign clay tablets in ancient Mesopotamia. The first person to be found guilty of a crime using fingerprint evidence is believed to be Francisca Rojas of Buenos Aries in 1892. Fingerprints are left on smooth surfaces by the natural oils on our skin, and they can be captured by “dusting” with fine powder, a technique developed in the 19th century that forensics experts still use today.

Forensic Psychology

Forensic psychologists try to answer the eternal question of why people act the way they do and assess the unseeable clues within a person’s mind during the time surrounding a crime. Forensic psychologists bridge the gap between mental health and legal procedures, often serving as expert witnesses in court proceedings. They interview witnesses, defendants, and victims to analyze behavior, assess mental states, and provide insights to inform legal decisions like sentencing and treatment recommendations.

What Is Cyber Forensics?

Was the museum guard searching “how to disable a security camera” just days before the theft? Did one of the suspects receive a large bank transfer from an unscrupulous art collector? Did a suspected getaway car’s GPS place it near the museum the night the painting was stolen? These are all questions we can answer today with cyber forensics.

As more crime moves online, digital evidence is an increasingly important part of criminal investigations. Cyber forensic specialists extract data from computers, cellphones, and other electronic devices, as well as monitor network traffic and potentially malicious code.

Are you interested in starting a crime-fighting career of your own? Excelsior has degree programs in criminal justice and cybersecurity perfect for future forensics pros.