Dr. Scott Dolan, executive dean, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and Dr. Leah Sciabarrasi, associate dean, School of Business, presented “Supporting the Adult Learner Through the Portability and Durability of Skills-Based Credentials” at the 2023 UPCEA Convergence Conference: Credential Innovation in Higher Education in October.
The Strength is in the Collective: How Followers Can Help Organizations Build a Thriving Future
Dr. Leah Sciabarrasi, associate dean, Excelsior University School of Business, presented at the 2023 International Leadership Association Conference in the Followership stream: “The Strength is in the Collective: How Followers Can Help Organizations Build a Thriving Future” in October.
Tips for Providing Career Services Remotely
In this blog post for the National Association of Colleges and Employers, Tammy Spenziero, director, Career Readiness Center at Excelsior University, offers guidance on providing career services remotely.
Physical Activity Surveillance in the United States for Work and Commuting: Understanding the Impact on Population Health and Well-being
Whitsel, L. P., Huneycutt, F., Anderson, D. R., Beck, A. M., Bryant, C., Bucklin, R. S., Carson, R. L., Escaron, A. L., Hopkins, J. M., Imboden, M. T., McDonough, C., Pronk, N. P., Wojcik, J. R., Zendell, A., & Ablah, E. (2021). Physical Activity Surveillance in the United States for Work and Commuting: Understanding the Impact on Population Health and Well-being. Journal of occupational and environmental medicine, 63(12), 1037–1051.
The article summarizes and describes the current US surveillance systems that assess physical activity for work and commuting. This article represents the initial work in developing best practices and resources for work settings of all sizes.
Caregivers in the Crossfire: When Natural Disasters and COVID-19 Collide
Zendell, A. (2021, October). Caregivers in the Crossfire: When Natural Disasters and COVID-19 Collide. Carework Network Responds.
Carework Network is a global group of policy advocates, researchers, and community organizers that work on various facets of paid and unpaid caregiving, also called carework.
Teaching Matters: Simulations and Games
Dr. Mary Berkery, department chair, Liberal Arts and Degree Completion, was featured on this episode of the NPR Teaching Matters podcast hosted by Dr. Scott Titsworth, Dean of the Scripps College of Communication at Ohio University. Berkery discussed the use of games and simulations in teaching historical thinking skills in HIS350: World War I. The description of the episode also includes links to play demos of all 3 games. Excelsior’s Dr. Anna Zendell was interviewed for part two of the series.
Listen to the podcast here (February 2, 2022)
Teaching Matters: Food Games
In the second part of this two-part podcast interview on NPR’s Teaching Matters, Dr. Anna Zendell, teaching faculty for Excelsior University’s College of Nursing and Health Sciences, discussed a game-based learning initiative integrating games into two courses – one in history and one in a nutrition course. Excelsior faculty created these games to address specific challenges in the courses and to promote empathy. Zendell and Excelsior Liberal Arts and Degree Completion department chair Dr. Mary Berkery each covered different facets of the evidence-base around game-based learning and simulations and talked about best practices for adult learners. Berkery was interviewed for part one of the series.
Listen to the podcast here (February 14, 2022)
The Guide to COIL Virtual Exchange: Implementing, Growing, and Sustaining Collaborative Online International Learning
Guth, S., & Rubin, J. (Eds.). (2022). The Guide to COIL Virtual Exchange: Implementing, Growing, and Sustaining Collaborative Online International Learning. New York: Routledge.
Carrie Prior, associate dean, School of Technology at Excelsior University, published chapter 20 in this work and played a role as contributing editor. This is the authoritative guide to implementing COIL Virtual Exchange, conceived, and co-edited by one of the originators of this innovative approach to internationalization, Jon Rubin. COIL, the acronym for Collaborative Online International Learning, is a central modality of what has come to be known as virtual exchange. Since its first iteration in 2002, it has gradually established itself as a mature pedagogy that is being increasingly implemented across the world and is validated by a growing body of research.
Ever Upward: Building an Ecosystem to Support and Validate Lifelong Learning
Dolan, S., Paludi, M., Sciabarrasi, L., Zendell, A. L., & Schmidt, G. (2022). Ever Upward: Building an Ecosystem to Support and Validate Lifelong Learning. In A. Brower, & R. Specht-Boardman (Ed.), New Models of Higher Education: Unbundled, Rebundled, Customized, and DIY (pp. 409-428). IGI Global. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-6684-3809-1.ch020
In a world where skilling, upskilling, reskilling, and career shifting are becoming the norm, and where lifelong learning is a requirement, models of higher education designed to best support the needs of learners and the workforce remain relatively limited. In the chapter, the authors discuss strategies used by Excelsior University’s School of Graduate Studies to respond with agility to the needs of students and employers, including structures and processes used to better connect with employers and their needs. They highlight the development of high-quality learning outcomes, the creation of industry-aligned curricular and co-curricular learning experiences, and the development of stackable credentials to demonstrate how they provide students with flexible on-and-off ramps to learning and skill development.
Intelligent.com honors Excelsior University with 15 top awards
ALBANY, N.Y. – Excelsior University is pleased to have received 15 rankings among the best institutions for 2024 from Intelligent.com, a trusted resource for program rankings and higher education planning.
Intelligent.com’s institutional rankings are deemed the benchmark of academic evaluations for online and hybrid programs. An exclusive methodology is used to rank each institution on a scale from zero to 100 across six categories. Evaluations are based on quantitative measures such as academic quality, graduation rate, cost and ROI, and student resources. Intelligent.com’s top picks are highly-regarded, affordable, and offer the tools and resources students need to successfully graduate and excel in their fields.
“Excelsior University is proud to be recognized among numerous categories in this year’s Intelligent.com awards,” said David Schejbal, president, Excelsior University. “These rankings demonstrate the breadth and depth of high-quality educational opportunities available to students at Excelsior University, and stand as a testament to the excellent work of faculty and staff across our institution.”
Excelsior University has been recognized among the rankings for the following awards:
- The Best Accredited Online Colleges, Universities, and Schools of 2024
- Best Colleges in New York
- Best Online Associate in Health Science Degree Programs of 2024
- Best Online Associate in Liberal Arts Degree Programs of 2024
- Best Online Bachelor’s in Biology Degree Programs
- Best Online Bachelor’s in Business Administration Degree Programs of 2024
- Best Online Bachelor’s in Computer Forensics Degree Programs
- Best Online Bachelor’s in Network Administration Degree Programs
- Best Online Bachelor’s in Public Health Degree Programs
- Best Online Colleges in New York
- Best Online Criminal Justice Degree Programs of 2024
- Best Online Electrical Engineering Degree Programs
- Best Online Homeland Security Degree Programs
- Best Online Master’s in Health Science Degree Programs of 2024
- Cheapest Accelerated Bachelor’s Degree Online
Recent studies cited by Intelligent.com show that bachelor’s degree holders earn 75% more than those with just a high school diploma. Moreover, the trajectory of earnings ascends with the level of educational attainment, showcasing a progressively larger payoff. The numbers are compelling: completing college allows individuals to earn a median lifetime income of $2.8 million, a significant leap from the $1.6 million median for those limited to a high school diploma.
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Media Contact Excelsior University:
Jason Bonafide, jbonafide@excelsior.edu, 518-608-8446
ABOUT EXCELSIOR UNIVERSITY
Excelsior University is an accredited, not-for-profit online institution focused on helping adults complete their degrees and advance their careers. Excelsior contributes to the development of a diverse, educated, and career-ready society by valuing lifelong learning with an emphasis on serving individuals historically underrepresented in higher education. Founded in 1971, Excelsior meets students where they are — academically and geographically — removing obstacles to the educational goals of adults pursuing continuing education and degree completion. Our pillars include innovation, flexibility, academic excellence, and integrity.
ABOUT INTELLIGENT.COM
Intelligent.com provides unbiased research to help students make informed decisions about higher education programs. The website offers curated guides that include the best degree programs and information about financial aid, internships, and even study strategies. Intelligent.com is a trusted source among students and prospective students with comprehensive, user-friendly guides and hundreds of program rankings. To learn more, please visit www.intelligent.com.
Excelsior University ranked among Military Times 2023 Best for Vets Colleges
Arlington, VA – Today Excelsior University announced its recognition in Military Times’ 2023 Best for Vets: Colleges rankings. Military Times Best for Vets: Colleges is the largest and most comprehensive annual ranking of schools for military service members and veterans.
Each year, Military Times sends a survey to colleges and universities across the nation asking about their programs for veterans. The survey results are then analyzed, along with public data about colleges and universities obtained from the Department of Education and Department of Veterans Affairs and turned into an official ranking. Schools were asked to complete the survey earlier this year and the responses were then analyzed by the Military Times data team, producing the highly anticipated, respected, and unbiased annual ranking.
“Excelsior University is proud to be recognized once again as a Military Times Best for Vets College. For more than 50 years, Excelsior has remained committed to preparing veterans for the next phases of their careers through accessible, innovative education,” said David Schejbal, president of Excelsior University. “With flexible degree programs that meet vets where they are, Excelsior is honored to count tens of thousands of military graduates among our alumni.”
For 10 years, Military Times Best for Vets: Colleges has continued to serve and support the military community through its trusted ranking and reporting on the top schools for veterans. “Our comprehensive survey and thoughtful methodology make our rankings best in class,” said Mike Gruss, editor-in-chief at Sightline Media Group, parent company of Military Times.
The rankings have become a go-to resource for schools to spread the word about their veteran programs and help veterans make important decisions about their educational planning and how to use the education benefits they earned through military service.
For more information about Excelsior University’s student veteran programs, visit Excelsior University’s website at www.excelsior.edu/military-and-veterans.
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Media Contact Excelsior University:
Jason Bonafide, jbonafide@excelsior.edu, 518-608-8446
ABOUT EXCELSIOR UNIVERSITY
Excelsior University is an accredited, not-for-profit online institution focused on helping adults complete their degrees and advance their careers. Excelsior contributes to the development of a diverse, educated, and career-ready society by valuing lifelong learning with an emphasis on serving individuals historically underrepresented in higher education. Founded in 1971, Excelsior meets students where they are — academically and geographically — removing obstacles to the educational goals of adults pursuing continuing education and degree completion. Our pillars include innovation, flexibility, academic excellence, and integrity.
What Does a Compensation Manager Do?
Compensation managers work in nearly every industry, making sure employees are paid correctly and appropriately. Since they spend a lot of time working with numbers, it’s important these human resource professionals are good at math and basic computer skills. They should also understand budgets and business finances.
If you have an interest in finances and human resources, a career as a compensation manager might be for you. Read more of this article to find out if it aligns with your career goals.
What Is a Compensation Manager?
Compensation managers develop a company’s payment system and ensure all employees are well compensated.
What Does a Compensation Manager Do?
Compensation managers are the main employees who monitor a company’s budget. They monitor market conditions, government regulations, and cultural statistics to make sure an organization’s pay rate is current, appropriate, and competitive. They have a variety of duties, from analyzing data about wages and salaries to evaluating and adjusting pay structures. Some compensation managers also help develop and monitor a company’s benefits.
The role of a compensation manager ranges from business to business, but for the most part, all compensation managers are responsible for the following duties:
- Develop a budget and keep within that budget
- Develop an organization’s pay scale and structure
- Oversee the distribution of pay to employees
- Develop a benefits packages including retirement plans and health insurance
- Evaluate cost-of-living adjustments
- Ensure the company’s pay scale complies with state and federal laws and regulations
- Propose fair and competitive compensation for positions
- Monitor wage rates to develop or modify compensation plans
- Prepare annual financial statements and summaries
- Assist managers in answering questions from employees
- Oversee compensation and payroll support team
How to Become a Compensation Manager
Compensation managers usually have a bachelor’s degree in human resources, finance, business, or a related field. A master’s degree is usually not required for entry-level positions, but earning one can help you rise above your competitors. Earning certification is also a good idea if you want to showcase your knowledge and set yourself apart on your resume. WorldatWork offers the Certified Compensation Professional for U.S.-based professionals and the Global Remuneration Professional. The International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans also offers the Certified Employee Benefits Specialist certification.
What Degree Do You Need to Become a Compensation Manager?
As mentioned, a bachelor’s degree is required for entry-level positions as a compensation manager. Many people go on to earn master’s degree, though.
Excelsior University’s Bachelor of Science in Business program is designed for working adults. Gain skills you can use on the job in areas including accounting, business strategy, communication, computer skills, economics, business ethics, finance, global business, leadership, management, marketing, data analysis, and teamwork and cultural diversity. The bachelor’s in business curriculum gives you a broad foundation in liberal arts and sciences and the knowledge you need to create effective business strategies and achieve measurable results for your employer.
Excelsior’s Master of Science in Human Resource Management with an Emphasis in Diversity and Technology program gives you specialized knowledge to lead organizations through complex challenges associated with all functions of human resources, including recruitment and selection, training and development, performance appraisals, health and safety, labor relations, and communications, especially with a distributed workforce. Either is a good choice if you’d like to enter the world of compensation management.
How Much Do Compensation Managers Make?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for compensation managers was $127,530 as of May 2021 and the occupation was projected to grow 2 percent from 2021 to 2031, which is slower than average for all other occupations. Despite this limited growth rate, about 1,200 openings are expected to occur each year, on average, over the next decade.
If becoming a compensation manager sounds like something you’d like to pursue, consider starting on your degree today!
