Ottawa University announced that the universitys Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program has been granted accreditation by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). CCNE accreditation is a nongovernmental, peer-review process that operates in accordance with nationally recognized standards established for the practice of nursing.

We are extremely pleased at this affirmation of our outstanding nursing program, Ottawa University Chancellor Kevin Eichner said. Many of our bachelors graduates have been anxious for this added approval, as has been the case for all of us at Ottawa. We are very proud of this program, and appreciative of the CCNE designation. This is a major milestone in our continued efforts to expand our health care offerings at a time when our nation and the world needs more of the type of values-centered education Ottawa University provides.

The initial five-year accreditation, usually the maximum accreditation duration new programs can receive, comes following a rigorous process that included submission of a comprehensive self-study, a site visit by the CCNE accrediting team, and a thorough review of the MSN curriculum and processes. CCNE ensures the quality and integrity of academic nursing programs through its robust accreditation process, serving the public interest by assessing and identifying programs that engage in effective educational practices. The accreditation process is self-regulatory, and supports and encourages continuing self-assessment by nursing programs.

We are extremely pleased and proud to announce that our MSN program has earned CCNE accreditation, Dr. Kathy Kump, OUs director of nursing, said. Accreditation from the CCNE means Ottawa University is poised to help the national effort to address the critical shortage of nursing as well as continue to prepare nursing professionals for leadership positions. We are grateful for the commitment and contributions of our university leadership, experienced faculty and the nursing advisory board in this effort to earn CCNE accreditation, Kump said. We are proud of the role our nursing graduates will play in helping improve the access to health care nationwide.

In addition to the MSN, OUs nursing program offers the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN-BSN) and a BSN through a Concurrent Enrollment Program (CEP) with partner institutions, including Maricopa Community College nursing programs in Arizona and Ivy Tech Community College nursing programs in Indiana. These nursing students complete coursework for an Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in Nursing degree and a Bachelor of Science (BSN) in Nursing degree at the same time.

Furthermore, OU partners with Fort Scott (Kan.) Community College and Neosho County (Kan.) Community College with its Transfer Advantage program to provide opportunities for students who are pursuing an associates degree in nursing or a related health-care field.

Visit http://www.ottawa.edu/nursing to learn more about the newly accredited MSN program, and all of OUs nursing degree options.

Read more:
Ottawa University earns accreditation for online masters in nursing program - AZ Big Media

Opinion Nov 7, 2019 Opinion

By Taylor Johnston, Contributor

We are currently within one of the greatest eras for technology. Many jobs are becoming automated, there are online-only industries and our cell phones are so multiuse that they can act as a small computer. The appeal of online education and the concept of going paperless has been rising based on its flexibility and cheaper costs. Some universities are even introducing online degrees. However, is it all as amazing as it seems?

There are two types of online education: self-paced and structured. Self-paced gives all the course content to the student at once, but it must be completed within a certain number of months. Therefore, the student can work as quickly or leisurely as they like. There are ministry high school programs such as those taken through the Independent Learning Centre that have adopted this self-paced format and have been proven to be very efficient, which has been attributed to allowing students can learn at their own pace.

While structured education is also a common method of online teaching, it can also present more flaws. A structured online course attempts to mimic in-class courses by giving students access to content material on a week by week basis. While some students may like structured learning to help them stay on track of class, it can also be less beneficial for many students, as it doesnt give the student the freedom of learning at their own pace. As a result, structured learning can add stress for students who like to learn at a different pace than the one that the course is providing.

Many Ontario universities offer select elective courses in the online-structured format, which hold many attractive qualities in terms of flexibility and the opportunity for another in-class course to be added to a students schedule. However, do the pros of online education outweigh the cons?

One apparent difference between online education and in-person education is the amount of interaction you have with your instructors. This may have you thinking, In non-online classes I am just one student in a lecture hall with hundreds of others, and there is not that much opportunity for a one-on-one relationship anyways. Wouldnt online courses be the same? However, even the experience of going to lectures holds an added level of value as you get to hear the in the moment thoughts and opinions of your professor that are otherwise non-existent in most online courses and degrees.

One apparent difference between online education and in-person education is the amount of interaction you have with your instructors.

Furthermore, in-person education usually gives more opportunities for office hours where students questions can be asked and answered. The main method of communication for students that want to talk to professors and teaching assistants throughout an online course is strictly email, where communication can often be misunderstood and unclear compared to in-person conversations. Although some people may find office hours to be a waste of time, other students find them very beneficial to their education and learning and unfortunately, you cannot get that from online education.

The main method of communication for students that want to talk to professors and teaching assistants throughout an online course is strictly email, where communication can often be misunderstood and unclear compared to in-person conversations.

Online education provides the opportunity to access education regardless of how far away you live from university. However, the benefits of in-person schooling still outweighs the online system due to the added benefits of being able to physically interact with your professors. With in-person courses, you are able to talk to classmates and meet others, which can be a huge benefit to your learning. Still, it is important to recognize that as students, we can still reap the benefits of online education as it provides a bridge for those who are unable to physically attend lectures.

See original here:
OPINION: Online education isn't always more effective - The Silhouette

We are living in a world where everyone is surrounded by digital technology and the digital revolution is reaching new heights. Rightly said by Mr Nirmal Gehlot, In the era of smart gadgets and evolution of digital innovation, technology will play the most important role towards betterment of the educational process. He is the man behind Utkarsh classes group in Jodhpur, Rajasthan. He is bridging the education and technology together and has put in his best efforts to bring smart education in the country. However, the government is already working on smart education policy in India, which will bring in a lot of edutech companies in India.

Founded by Gehlot and his family in 2002 in Rajasthan, Utkarsh classes was an offline education destination where students got educated to prepare for competitive exams and other major government exams. The classes helped and succeeded in bringing out many private jobs aspirants thus establishing its goodwill of more than 17 years of proven tutorials. Utkarsh group commands the biggest market share of approx 68% in competitive exam aspirants in Rajasthan. Nirmal Gehlot has always gone his way out for the betterment of students by providing them with expert faculties, observation mechanism and latest technology in the edutech segment.

The past 4 years Utkarsh classes have set a benchmark for itself. In 2015, they started using the smart classroom technology which was followed by online education with smart practice sessions in 2016. The next year in 2017 saw the birth of Utkarsh Studios and in the year 2018, Gehlot came up with innovation and brought a mobile app education system of Utkarsh classes for its registered students. Besides this, they also launched a video streaming mobile app with more than 20,000 lectures library available for its registered users. The mobile app has been downloaded by more than 5 lakh users and has awarded more than 20,000 paid registered users all over India. Having its presence on YouTube as well, Utkarsh Classes Jodhpur has more than 2.45 million subscribers which have recorded with an average of 6.92 lakh views for many of its trendsetter video lessons.

Moreover, Utkarsh classes group has not diluted stake to outsiders or investors and is completely funded by the founders as a positive revenue business model. Mr Gehlot is running the education institute for about two decades with more than 300 online faculties, dedicated IT team, ultramodern classrooms, live session stations with pan India presence. The edutech market in India was rightly discovered by the advisors of Utkarsh advisory board with the introduction of a mobile app, online streaming classes and live education sessions. Nirmal Gehlots classes are now considered as the one-stop destination where students prepare themselves for competitive exams, civil services exams and other competitive exams. Theres no doubt in saying that Utkarsh classes is building a better tomorrow by training todays young generation in the best possible ways.

Originally posted here:
Nirmal Gehlot's Utkarsh Classes In Jodhpur Brings Innovation And Is Changing The Scenario Of Online Education - CloutNews

The NIU team at Illinois Interactive Report Cards released a new website on Thursday, Oct. 10 Illinois Postsecondary Profiles (IPP). The website provides a wealth of information about postsecondary schools, which include community colleges, universities and a variety of professional training schools in our state. Users can search schools by criteria and explore enrollment, affordability, progress and completion data. The site has been produced with funding from the Illinois Board of Higher Education and the Illinois Community College Board.

In the spring of 2018, NIU tapped Alan Clemens, a long-time instructor in the College of Education and a researcher in the P-20 Center of the Division of Outreach, Engagement and Regional Development, to direct the team and develop the new IPP site.

Clemens describes the current version of the IPP as the first step in a new approach to present information about postsecondary education in Illinois. He continues, While the IPP site bears some resemblance to similar websites, the design is distinctive and lays the foundation for future innovation.

Because the IPP is getting richer data in many cases than is reported at the federal level, the site includes a unique combination of features: longitudinal data for many data points and the ability to break down results by subgroup. The IPP has quickly evolved from pilot project to published site with explosive potential, according to Clemens.

Our focus-group work suggests that public policy makers and researchers will be interested in looking at the data. Were also getting a lot of feedback that users of the site will likely be high school counselors, students and families. Were excited to be working on a tool that could have an impact in such diverse communities across the state.

Clemens says one of the goals of the Illinois Interactive Report Cards is to cement the state of Illinois position as a leader in online data initiatives as he and his team continue to expand both the Illinois Report Card and the Illinois Postsecondary Profiles.

Aspirationally, wed like to offer fully linked data across pre-K through 12th grade institutions, postsecondary institutions and early job placements, Clemens says. Its one thing for a high school counselor to look at demographic breakdowns of specific postsecondary institutions, but how much more powerful is it to be able to look at your data and say, Where have our students gone? What has been their persistence and graduation rate? Having that data related to the actual performance in aggregate of your own students is such a powerful decision-making tool.

To make the site accessible for a wide variety of users, the IPP team is organizing the data to tell a story.

Data is often presented flea-market style, where its laid out in tables and you hunt and peck, table by table, until you find something thats meaningful to you and then you grab it and hold on, he says. Were being extremely careful to find a balance between describing the data to make it understandable and over-editing in a way that favors one set of institutions or outcomes over another.

Clemens emphasizes that, as much as he enjoys working with data, the people who will benefit from it are the most important factor.

If we do everything we can to facilitate the provision of accurate and timely data, people will make better informed decisions, and we will have facilitated the success of the next generation of Illinois graduates.

Link:
NIU develops online tools for new Illinois postsecondary education website - NIU Today

Lucas Hunziger, Director of Technical Education at Highland Community College Atchison Technical Center was recently recognized by the Kansas Board of Regents for excellence in Carl Perkins Career & Technical Education reporting. The award recognizes reporting and dedication within Kansas education institutions receiving Perkins funds. The award was one of two given in the state.

This recognition is very validating. It shows us that what we are doing with reporting and documenting our use of Perkins funding is on the right path and we will continue down with that, said Hunziger of the award.

The Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act, or Carl Perkins funding, focuses on improving the academic and technical achievements of students in career and technical education (CTE) programs in both high school and college.

Hunziger also noted, technical education is exploding due to the demand for skilled employees. Highland offers programs that are meeting the needs of business and industry in the region.

To learn more about career and technical training at Highland Community College visit highlandcc.edu.

More here:
HCC director of technical education recognized by Kansas Board of Regents - Hiawatha World

In February, an Instagram account called @BallerBusters cropped up and began wreaking havoc on the flashy Instagram entrepreneur community.

Its goal: To expose phony entrepreneurs. Using a mix of screen-shotted receipts, memes and crowdsourced information from followers, the account seeks out people who dont act their wage.

Often, these are people who call themselves entrepreneurs and who brag about their money, cars, watches or influence, but seem as if they dont have the cash to back it up.

In many cases, these #FlexOffenders, as the account likes to call them, use this veneer of a lifestyle to sell mentorship, membership or online classes.

Recently, the account targeted a drop-shipping entrepreneur who says he is a teenager. He claimed to have purchased an $8 million penthouse; BallerBusters found photographs showing that the home was an Airbnb rental property.

Another target was a young thought leader who sold entrepreneurship courses and then blocked complaining critics, including those who said they were owed refunds.

BallerBusters also regularly calls out entrepreneurs for showing off fake watches and posing in rented private jets.

Instagram has always been good for all kinds of braggers. But the administrator behind @BallerBusters believes a new breed of scammer is running rampant on social media: the young business guru.

They are pervasive on Instagram. Their avatars feature corporate head shots or photos of themselves onstage, apparently mid-TED Talk. Their online following looks huge; that can be because they have bought a large amount of followers. Their feeds portray a lavish life full of cars, money and women used as props.

All these spoils can be yours, they promise for a price.

Its a lot of rented cars, ride-share jet company photos making it look like they own the jet, said Buster Scher. He is the 19-year-old founder of Hoops Nation, a sports media publication, who has been an avid follower of the account since the beginning.

Snake-oil salesmen is the best description for the type of people hes busting, said the entrepreneur Jason Wong, 22, another fan. Theyre preying on kids who want to become entrepreneurs and offering mentorship services in exchange for thousands of dollars and not delivering on their promises.

The person who runs the @BallerBusters account said they had heard from hundreds of people who believe they have been scammed. (The New York Times agreed to grant the admin anonymity; they believed they would be targeted.)

These teenagers know that making money on the internet is possible, and often they have friends who have done it. But they end up paying for bad advice.

Theyre flaunting private planes, fake watches, posing with all this stuff and creating a life for themselves on social media thats not true, the administrator behind @BallerBusters said, of the people who the account chooses to expose.

These young people share this common thought that school doesnt work, Stephen T. Johnson, an entrepreneur and a founder of Flipmass, a monetization platform for social publishers, said of followers of the account.

He added that the fact that many faux entrepreneurs are young themselves just makes their sales pitch more effective.

If me and my friends are following someone who looks like us, but has nicer things than us and says, Im going to teach you to be like me, Mr. Johnson said, teenagers cant help but take them up on the opportunity. If youre all talking about him, like, Wow, did you see the new car he bought? Did you see hes going to teach only 10 people how to do this, too? We have to be those 10 people.

Victims pay for bogus entrepreneurs courses and mentorship programs, or to be added to an Instagram accounts close friends stories circle a private group that receives exclusive content.

Mr. Wong said that often these scammers dont even teach their own classes. They create a script or slide show and hand it off to subcontractors. Its like claiming youre an expert yoga instructor, selling your yoga classes, then getting your sister-in-law who has no yoga experience to teach, Mr. Wong said.

The administrator behind @BallerBusters said their research methods are rigorous. They will comb through screen-shotted messages and legal filings, speak to industry sources, and conduct a social media audit before committing to exposing someone.

Were not TMZ or a review page we actually do investigative journalism, the administrator said.

The busts themselves generally take place on Instagram Stories and are done in a tongue-in-cheek nature with plenty of emoji. (The majority of content on the accounts main feed consists of memes and parody videos.)

Ultimately @BallerBusters administrator wants the account to be an educational resource. There is a URL to host a website and plans to create an online hub for information about avoiding common business scams on social media, creating a platform for people to review courses and mentorship programs.

Im not all about the busts, I really want to teach people, they said. Id like to bring experts in each field and talk on Instagram live. I want an attorney to teach people how to file claims legally, how to get legal counsel and their rights. I want to bring a social media expert to talk about personal branding, someone who knows Facebook ads. I would love to put them on and teach people for free.

While high-profile female influencers like Caroline Calloway have suffered public blowback for selling writing courses and creativity workshops, the account administrator said they believed these women arent the real scammers.

Ninety-nine percent of the people perpetuating course scams are men, they said. And, unlike women, theyre charging thousands of dollars, and in some cases tens of thousands, for their classes.

Ive been looking for girls to bust, and theres nothing. Maybe a few, but its nothing compared to men, they said. People can go bust models, like one was busted for the clouds in her pics being the same. I dont care about that.

@BallerBusters refuses to create a list of ballers it considers legitimate, but it does follow businessmen, including Richard Saghian, the chief executive of Fashion Nova, and Mark Cuban, the entrepreneur.

As some have learned, however, a follow from the account can also be the first sign youre about to be busted.

Here is the original post:
On the Internet, No One Knows Youre Not Rich. Except This Account. - The New York Times

The report titled, Online Program Management in Higher Education Market boons an in-depth synopsis of the competitive landscape of the market globally, thus helping establishments understand the primary threats and prospects that vendors in the market are dealt with. It also incorporates thorough business profiles of some of the prime vendors in the market. The report includes vast data relating to the recent discovery and technological expansions perceived in the market, wide-ranging with an examination of the impact of these intrusions on the markets future development.

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Table of Contents

Global Online Program Management in Higher Education Market Research Report 2019

Chapter 1 Global Online Program Management in Higher Education Market Overview

Chapter 2 Global Economic Impact on Industry

Chapter 3 Global Market Competition by Manufacturers

Chapter 4 Global Production, Revenue (Value) by Region

Chapter 5 Global Supply (Production), Consumption, Export

Chapter 6 Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by Type

Continue for TOC.

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Excerpt from:
Online Program Management in Higher Education Market Update | Increasing Investment Is Expected To Boost Market Growth with Blackboard, Online...

K-12 Online Education Market report, recently published by Research N Reports is a panoramic understanding of its core subject. This statistical data offers an in-depth analysis by considering several factors, such as type, size, technology and applications. Data deduction techniques such as, qualitative and quantitative analysis have been used to provide the readers with a wholesome montage of the businesses. Distinct case studies have been lined up in the report included with supporting statistical data. It closely reads recent trends, tools, methods and technologies that are driving the growth of the market. Key segmentation and sub-segmentation have been elaborated to get useful information to fuel progressive decision making. The scrutinized report offers some significant approaches to discover global opportunities, which can rapidly increase the client base.

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Profiling Key players: K12 Inc, Pearson, White Hat Managemen, Georg von Holtzbrinck GmbH & Co KG, Bettermarks, Scoyo, Languagenut, Beness Holding, New Oriental Education & Technology, XUEDA, AMBO, XRS, CDEL, Ifdoo, YINGDING and YY Inc.

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Actionable Insights on K-12 Online Education Market with Future Growth Prospects by 2026 | Bettermarks, Scoyo, Languagenut, Beness Holding, New...

Dear Catey,

Im quickly closing in on 60 and will retire at the end of this year. I can spend about $2,500 a month in retirement. Im single, and my family lives on the West Coast. I prefer a cooler climate, proximity to an ocean and enjoy a community that supports the arts. Im not opposed to snowbirding to avoid extreme summer temperatures. I currently live in Alaska, and south has an undeniable appeal.

M.D.

Dear M.D.,

Im not going to lie: Finding a compelling spot to live on the West Coast so you can be near your family and the ocean might be a little tough to do with a budget of $2,500 a month. But I think Im up for the challenge. In other words: This winter could be decidedly less chilly for you!

Ive got a handful of places that are artsy, relatively affordable (at least for the West Coast) and within a few hours drive of the Pacific Ocean. Since youre single, you might be able to squeeze by on $2,500 a month in these spots, especially if you dont have much in the way of health care or other expenses, but I will say that youll need to keep a pretty tight leash on your spending to do so.

But before I dive in, I think its important for all readers to note that if you want to spend part of the year in a location like Alaska or Florida, both no-income-tax states, check the rules on how long you must stay in the state per year to maintain the tax advantage. (M.D., this article on Alaska snowbirds might be of interest to you.)

That said, whether you decide to spend part of your time in Alaska or not, here are some spots you might want to consider.

Olympia, Wash.

Like Alaska, Washington has no state income tax and its state capital, Olympia, has plenty of other perks you might like, too, including arts offerings. The Olympia Film Society showcases independent and classic films at the historic Capitol Theater, a city landmark. Art collectors wont want to miss the semiannual Arts Walk, featuring paintings, sculptures, photography and more, Kiplinger writes of Olympia, which it calls a smart place to retire. And should you want more in the way of arts, you can drive about an hour and be in Seattle.

If youre craving the beach, head to the 40-acre Kenneydell Park, which offers 1,000 feet of freshwater beach, plenty of trails to hike and a swimming area on Black Lake. Olympia also boasts a wine trail, a coffee trail and a university that welcomes older students.

Its certainly not dirt-cheap to live in Olympia (the cost of living is 13% above the national average, according to Sperlings Best Places most of that due to housing (the average one-bedroom costs about $930 a month to rent, for example). But the absence of a state income tax could give you a boost should you decide to work a part-time gig to supplement your $2,500 a month, and will help you keep more of the money you withdraw from any retirement accounts.

Eureka, Calif.

Its tough to do California on a budget if you want to be on the ocean, but Eureka fits the bill. Its got a cost of living thats only about 5% above the national average, according to Sperlings Best Places, and the average one-bedroom rents for less than $800 a month.

This sleepy seaport town at the northern end of the state is crowded with artists and dotted with quaint Victorian homes, I wrote back in 2012 when I recommended it for active retirees. And though its small (fewer than 30,000 people), there are interesting arts offerings, including monthly art walks, art galleries, food and music festivals, and more.

Temperatures in Eureka are relatively mild (its typically in the 50s and 60s) and there are myriad redwood trees, as those who hike and bike will surely discover. That said, there are some downsides to living here, including high property-crime rates and more than an average number of rainy days.

Medford, Ore.

This isnt the first time Ive recommended Medford to a retiree when 66-year-old Bill from San Diego got sick of Californias costs, I suggested he go here, too and theres a good reason for that. Medford is pretty affordable (with a cost of living about 9% above the national average) and has decent weather with mild temperatures and less rain than in other parts of Oregon.

Ashland is just 20 minutes by car from Medford and is known as an arts community (its home to the renowned Oregon Shakespeare Festival), but Medford, too, has its fair share of artsy stuff to do, including theater, art galleries and a dance-oriented arts center. Sperlings Best Places even calls it a cultural and residential crossroads between California and the Pacific Northwest.

Also, there are more than two dozen parks in Medford, and southern Oregon offers gorgeous hiking options, and Medford is an emerging wine region with a growing artisan food scene. One possible drawback is a relative lack of diversity in the area.

See more here:
Im 59, have $2,500 a month to spend and prefer an artsy community near the ocean thats not too hot where should I retire? - MarketWatch

Dear Liz: Im retired, 64 and delaying Social Security for a few years. I want to create a monthly stream of income from $850,000 in retirement funds. It may be needed to show a solid, dependable income so that I can get a mortgage. Is there any way to avoid the 20% federal and 7% state tax withholding? I do realize the amount I withdraw could trigger higher Medicare premiums in the future. The drawdown is $8,300 per month, which leaves me a spendable amount of $6,000.

Answer: Good for you for delaying the start of Social Security, but please get yourself to a fee-only certified financial planner before you tap any of your retirement funds. A 4% initial withdrawal rate from retirement funds is considered sustainable.

The amount youre contemplating would be nearly three times that. Even if youre withdrawing at that rate for a limited time, it could leave you without enough money later. And if this high withdrawal rate is the only way you can get the mortgage you want, you may be taking on more debt than you can really afford.

The certified financial planner also can help you with a tax strategy. Tax withholding on retirement income is usually voluntary, but paying the actual tax is mandatory.

The percentage you ultimately pay on the withdrawals will be based on your tax bracket, which could be higher or lower than the 20% federal and 7% state rates you cite.

Before you withdraw anything, you should have a good idea of what the tax bill will be and have plans to cover it. Those could include having the investment company withhold a certain percentage or making quarterly estimated tax payments.

You may have done well with a do-it-yourself approach up to this point, but there are many ways to mess up your finances unknowingly in retirement. Youd be smart to get expert help in creating a tax-efficient withdrawal strategy that maximizes your retirement income while minimizing the risk of running out of cash.

Liz Weston, Certified Financial Planner, is a personal finance columnist for NerdWallet. Questions may be sent to her at 3940 Laurel Canyon, No. 238, Studio City, CA 91604, or by using the Contact form at asklizweston.com.

Here is the original post:
Liz Weston: Get professional help before withdrawing retirement funds - OregonLive.com