Your Degree

Obama’s TARP Plan Offers Much-Needed Aid for Higher Education, Including the Fast-Growing Online Education Segment, According to Online Education Expert

(PRWEB) February 4, 2009

President Obama’s economic bailout plan, labeled the Troubled Assets Relief Program (TARP), offers extensive relief to school districts and higher education programs throughout the U.S. According to Sheila Danzig, founder of Degree.com, an information hub on accredited online degree programs, it’s critical that the proposed aid for students pursuing college and graduate degrees online be kept in the plan, as interest in online education continues to increase sharply (http://www.degree.com ).

“Inquiries about distance education degree programs at Degree.com jumped by 50 percent in 2007 and by around the same amount again in 2008,” Danzig notes. “Other sites show a similar jump in interest. In the last quarter of 2008, TheCollegeDegrees.com (http://www.thecollegedegrees.com) reported a 10 percent increase in students inquiring about distance learning degree programs. Another site, TheDegree.com (http://www.thedegree.com), reported the highest number of queries in its ten-year history in January 2009, and a similar increase in interest showed up at 4CollegeDegrees.com (http://www.4collegedegrees.com ). This popularity of online degree education demonstrates how critically important it is that any additional assistance for higher education in a bailout plan include students in online degree universities in the U.S.”

Two important components of the economic relief plan for higher education are an increase in Pell Grant spending and a larger subsidy for banks involved in the Guaranteed Student Loan (GSL) program.

According to New York Times journalist Sam Dillon, President Obama’s plan would provide an additional $ 8 billion in Pell Grant dollars to students in financial need. Furthermore, additional monies would be available to banks that issue guaranteed loans to university students. The proposed $ 150 billion in extra federal education funding would increase the U.S. Department of Education’s current budget by more than 100 percent.

Students enrolled in online degree programs offering Associate Degree or Bachelor Degree programs are currently eligible for Pell Grants to help finance their college education. Additionally, many students who pursue distance learning to earn a college degree depend heavily on student loans to finance their education.

“Because of its convenience, flexibility, and variety of options, distance learning is quickly becoming the top choice for working adults who want to earn a college degree,” says Sheila Danzig. “More than four million people are currently enrolled in online degree programs throughout the United States, a number that continues to grow by double digits each year. TARP funding can provide both lenders and students the critical relief necessary to continue this helpful trend.”

For more information about the wide variety of online degree programs that offer online undergraduate and graduate degree programs, visit Degree.com (http://www.degree.com), which provides free information about online certification programs and online programs for associates, bachelor, masters and doctoral degrees.

###

©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

NLN Supports Nurse Faculty Higher Education Act: Bill Addresses Shortages in Nursing, Creates Program to Increase Graduate-Educated Nurse Faculty

New York, NY (PRWEB) May 24, 2007

Based on the positive impact the bill would have vis a vis the nurse and nurse faculty shortage, the National League for Nursing today announced its strong endorsement of the legislation introduced by Representative McCarthy on May 17.

The Faculty Higher Education Act will “create a pilot program to increase the number of graduate-educated nurse faculty to meet the future need for qualified nurses…” Said NLN CEO Dr. Beverly Malone, “The provision of grants to hospitals and health facilities that permit qualified nurses to earn a salary while they continue their education is a significant step in addressing our ongoing shortages.” Nurses participating in this program would continue to work part time or on flexible schedules to accommodate their schooling. Upon completion, each nurse will be required to teach two years for each year of support received under the program.

Added NLN president Dr. Toni Bargagliotti, “The NLN endorsed this bill when it was introduced in the previous Congress and stands behind it 100 percent. It is as vital as ever to ensure that nurses exist in the future who are prepared and qualified to take care of all Americans who will need their care.”

Editors and reporters: For interview opportunities please contact NLN chief communications officer Karen R. Klestzick at 212-812-0376.

Dedicated to excellence in nursing, the National League for Nursing is the premier organization for nurse faculty and leaders in nursing education offering faculty development, networking opportunities, testing and assessment, nursing research grants, and public policy initiatives to its 21,000 individual and 1,100 institutional members.

###

Attachments

©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

New Government Report Asserts Healthcare Education and Training Can Help Military Servicemembers Find Jobs Faster

Tampa, FL (PRWEB) August 02, 2011

A recent report issued by the U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee (JEC) Chairman’s Staff found that healthcare education and training can improve employment prospects for military servicemembers and veterans.(1) The report – issued by JEC Chairman Senator Bob Casey and titled “Meeting the Needs of Veterans in Today’s Labor Force” – asserts that training in high-growth sectors such as healthcare can combat the high unemployment rate among post-9/11 veterans.

Online healthcare degrees and training programs – such as those offered by Ultimate Medical Academy (UMA), a military-friendly school – allow servicemembers worldwide to earn valuable credentials, even while they’re still serving.

Senator Casey’s report cited findings from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), which revealed that post-9/11 veterans have the highest unemployment rate when compared to other veterans and nonveterans. In 2010, the average unemployment rates were 8.7% for all veterans and 9.4% for nonveterans, while post-9/11 veterans had a jobless rate of 11.5%.(2)

The JEC Chairman’s Staff attributed this disparity to the fact that post-9/11 veterans were more likely to be employed in construction, manufacturing, mining and other industries that suffered substantial employment drops during the recent recession and less likely to be employed in health services – the only major sector to add jobs during the recession.(1)

According to the report, “Promoting education and training related to expanding sectors, such as education and healthcare, both before and after servicemembers exit the military, will help them find employment more quickly.” It also noted that “effective programs will help servicemembers better translate their military experiences to employers in a way that more closely aligns with the skills private-sector employers are seeking.”(1)

UMA specializes in healthcare education, offering degree and training programs in a variety of allied health fields. In addition to its two ground-based locations in Tampa and Clearwater, Florida, UMA delivers online healthcare courses to students worldwide via the Internet. These online programs allow servicemembers to complete their education from anywhere; whether they’re serving abroad, expecting a transfer or deployment, or transitioning to civilian life.

“At UMA, we’ve made it our mission to support servicemembers and veterans with quality, career-focused healthcare education,” said Brian Braggs, Director of Military Affairs and Government Education, Ultimate Medical Academy. “We offer flexible online healthcare programs leading to an Associate of Science, which can be completed in as few as than 18 months. We also have a transfer credit acceptance policy for eligible military experience, and we accept CLEP/DANTES credits.”

Braggs noted that UMA’s associate degree programs are ideal not only for servicemembers and veterans but also for the spouses and children of those currently serving at home or abroad. “We strive to make healthcare education affordable for military families by extending special tuition pricing to servicemembers and veterans, as well as the spouses and qualifying dependents of active-duty military personnel.”

The Associate of Science (AS) online healthcare degrees available from UMA include:

    AS in Health Sciences degree
    AS in Health Information Technology degree
    AS in Healthcare Management degree
    AS in Medical Billing and Coding degree
    AS in Spa Management degree

To learn more about UMA’s online healthcare degrees and online healthcare training programs, as well as its military-friendly policies, visit http://www.ultimatemedical.edu/military-friendly.

About Ultimate Medical Academy

Founded in 1994 and located in Florida, Ultimate Medical Academy (UMA) offers dynamic healthcare training that empowers students to enter and advance within the growing allied health field. UMA is accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) and dedicated to providing a superior education in a supportive, professional and ethical environment. With flexible online healthcare training and degree programs, as well as campuses located in Tampa and Clearwater, UMA has helped thousands of students launch healthcare careers nationwide.

(1) The U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee Chairman’s Staff. Meeting the Needs of Veterans in Today’s Labor Force. May 31, 2011.

(2) U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Employment Situation of Veterans, 2010. March 11, 2011.

For information on student graduation rates, retention and placement rates, and student financial obligations visit http://www.UltimateMedical.edu/consumerinfo.

Media Inquires:

Tricia Wong

Director of Marketing

Ultimate Medical Academy

Phone: 813-676-1646

This press release distribution was issued by PR Syndication via PRWeb, a Vocus company.

###

©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

More Online Degree Press Releases

For Memorial Day EarnMyDegree.com Launches Guide to Military Discounts for Education

Hoboken, NJ (PRWEB) May 23, 2008

To celebrate the men and women who have served or are currently serving in the U.S. military, EarnMyDegree.com, a web resource of EducationDynamics, has launched a Guide to Online Education for the Military at http://www.earnmydegree.com/online-education/military/. The guide features special rates from ten online colleges so active duty members, guards, reservists, veterans and immediate family members of military personnel can receive an online education.

According to the National Center for Veterans and Analysis and Statistics, nearly 24 million people in the U.S. are military veterans and the Department of Defense lists the active military personnel at 1.4 million. The Guide to Online Education for the Military is a one-stop resource, listing the programs and financial aid options specifically tailored for the armed forces. Many of the accredited online schools listed at http://www.earnmydegree.com/online-education/military/ offer tuition discounts, financial aid assistance and accept military training for college credit.

“Servicemen and women and their families sacrifice so much for our country and often have to put their college education on hold,” said Terrence Thomas with EarnMyDegree.com, which connects prospective students with online learning programs. “However, by going to school online students can study from anywhere in the world. So if they have to suddenly move or work in remote locations, they can still continue their education.”

Through online education opportunities on EarnMyDegree.com, veterans can find colleges that accept the GI Bill, which provides federal aid to help veterans return to life as a civilian. While most veterans enlist in the military to take advantage of the education benefits, many do not use all of the financial aid available. According to a Washington Post interview with Ray Kelley of AMVETS, more than half of the military veterans use some part of their education benefits and only 8% use all of the benefit.

In addition to listing special rates and programs for members of the military, veterans and their immediate family, the Guide to Online Education for the Military also has a Military Education FAQ section, which covers:

How to use tuition assistance programs.
What degree is the best fit with your military background?
How to determine the next steps to getting an online degree.

EarnMyDegree.com provides in-depth and diverse content about the world of online and distance learning and has successfully connected more than three million students with adult online education programs since its launch in 2003. For more information on EarnMyDegree.com and to search for online degree programs, courses and classes, visit http://www.earnmydegree.com.

About EarnMyDegree.com

EarnMyDegree.com, part of the Prospecting Services Division of EducationDynamics, is a network of leading websites that connect prospective students with colleges, universities and online learning programs. Established in 2003, EarnMyDegree.com serves as a one-stop directory for undergraduate and advanced degrees, as well as professional certificates in a variety of fields from business to healthcare to technology. EarnMyDegree.com’s team of marketing experts, designers and copywriters have a proven track record for optimizing marketing campaign results to increase qualified leads. More than 3 million students have been connected to the online education programs of their choice through EarnMyDegree.com. To learn more, visit http://www.EarnMyDegree.com.

About EducationDynamics

EducationDynamics, a portfolio company of Halyard Capital, is the leading marketing and information services company dedicated to helping higher education institutions find, enroll and retain students. Its content-rich and highly visible education websites, including EarnMyDegree.com, eLearners.com, GradSchools.com, StudyAbroad.com, and its more than 50 special interest microsites, make EducationDynamics the premier provider of qualified prospective students for colleges and universities. In addition, the company offers a full suite of web-delivered services proven to drive enrollment growth and reduce student attrition. For more information, visit http://www.educationdynamics.com.

###

Attachments

©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

Vital Reference For Nurse Education Programs — Scope Of Practice For Academic Nurse Educators© — Published By The NLN Groundbreaking Certification Exam on September 28

New York, NY (PRWEB) August 16, 2005

In a critical step for the nursing education academic community and a crucial adjunct to the pioneering NLN Certification Program for Academic Nurse Educators the National League for Nursing has published The Scope of Practice for Academic Nurse Educators©.

Â?I am quite sure this new book will serve as a set of guidelines for programs that prepare nurse educators, said NLN CEO Dr. Ruth Corcoran. Â?It should also serve as an important reference for all nursing programs that strive with us to advance quality nursing and the attainment of excellence.Â?

The book includes the NLN�s Hallmarks of Excellence in Nursing Education© which were developed with great care with input from other nursing organizations, other disciplines, and NLN members; and the Core Competencies of Nurse Educators©, which provide the standards for practice as a nurse educator. Together they serve as core values and beliefs that characterize the best of academic nursing education.

The Certified Nurse Educator (CNE) pilot examination will be administered to 250 candidates immediately prior to the NLNÂ?s Education Summit in Baltimore. Explained NLN president, Dr. Joyce Murray, Â?Certification in any field is a recognized mark of professionalism and will provide academic nurse educators with the opportunity to have their specialized knowledge, skill, and ability recognized and rewarded.Â?

Â?It was absolutely necessary to clearly delineate the scope of practice for nurse educators hand in hand with the development of the certification program for nurse educators,Â? added Dr. Corcoran Â?The Scope of Practice for Academic Nurse Educators will be of great interest to faculty in all schools of nursing and used as a guide by nurse educators for years to come.Â?

Editors and reporters: For interview opportunities, to receive a copy of The Scope of Practice for Academic Nurse Educators, or for more information, please contact NLN communications director Karen R. Klestzick at 212-812-0376, kklestzick@nln.org.

The NLN advances quality nursing education that prepares the nursing workforce to meet the needs of diverse populations in an ever-changing health care environment.

# # #

©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

More Nursing Press Releases

With the Economic Downturn Boosting Interest in Higher Education, Some Data and Advice for College-Bound Students on Recession-Beating Career Choices

(PRWEB) February 12, 2009

Fort Lauderdale, FL – With interest in higher education sharply increasing in the wake of today’s economic slowdown, students are keenly eager to know which careers hold the promise of financial security – even in troubled economic times. According to research by online degree program expert Sheila Danzig, owner of TheCollegeDegrees.com and Degree.com, CPA firms and universities are continuing to be steady, reliable employers of new graduates, indicating two smart career choices.

For those who are good with numbers, or enjoy an educational setting, it’s your turn to get ahead. According to Jessica Mazor, an Account Manager at KForce Finance and Accounting Professional Staffing, “Although there is a hiring slowdown, both CPA firms and universities are continuing to hire. Students returning to school to earn a college degree should seriously consider exploring these career paths.”

In fact, a shortage of accountants has resulted over the past several years, according to Mazor. Whereas technical and computer jobs garnered more enrollments over the last few decades, the need for professionals holding traditional or online degrees in accounting has never decreased.

As for the rising interest in going back to school, 4CollegeDegrees.com recently conducted an informal survey to determine the motivations of students interested in online degree programs. Two-thirds of respondents shared that the recession was the primary factor behind their decision to enroll in a traditional or distance learning degree program. In July 2008, only 41 percent of those who responded cited the economy as their reason to earn a college degree.

This increase in concern over job security and the country’s economic forecast may account for why many other websites dedicated to online university degree programs are also reporting a sudden spike in queries from interested students. For example, Degree.com has reported that since January 2008, the site has experienced a 22 percent increase in the number of students interested in online Master Degree programs and online PhD programs.

Likewise, over the last several years TheDegree.com has also seen a sizable jump in interest in graduate distance education degree programs. For example, the number of visitors who want to earn an MBA online has jumped by more than 10 percent since 2008.

At TheCollegeDegrees.com and Degree.com, two sites owned and managed by education expert Sheila Danzig, interest in online accounting degree programs began to spike during this time as well. “We are seeing surges in growth in online bachelor degree programs in general as adults go back to school when they can’t find jobs,” said Sheila Danzig, founder of Degree.com, “Yet interest in accounting degrees online and graduate degrees online, however, is growing at a faster pace. People appear to know where the hiring is happening, and they are increasing their skills in those areas. It’s a good trend to see.”

###

©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

Cheap textbooks are a source of satisfaction for thousands of students at all levels of education as they allow them to afford the much needed and desirable education which will not be possible without the availability of such textbooks.

College and university level students especially benefit form them because at the college and university, other than the main textbooks, a number of textbooks are used for reference purposes, each of which is expensive to purchase. Cheap textbooks serve as an excellent source of substitution and are therefore very popular amongst the masses.

One major medium of cheap textbooks are old book stores that provide students used textbooks at much lower rates than the new prints of these textbooks cost, normally at fifty percent discount but the condition of the books being sold is also a factor in determining the price of the books being sold.

After all, books are there only to convey the messages given by the authors, on pieces of paper; the main idea is to understand, grasp and remember those messages, the quality of the pieces of paper have little or no influence in making students do this, therefore, majority of the students opt in for purchasing cheap textbooks as long as they are in ‘working’ condition only.

Some of the publishing companies are another major source of cheap textbooks, but contrary to old books stores, these books are new books, published with permission from the authors of any book in any discipline with low quality and hence low cost paper relative to the original editions. This is to cater to the poor children unable to purchase new textbooks throughout the world. These cheap books come normally in paperbacks and are readily available in the market for the ease of purchase of students.

Cheap textbooks also serve to increase the reading sphere of able but poor students as the low cost brings more and more textbooks within their financial range for purchasing and reading.

Education Portal ‘My Nursing Degree’ Provides Nursing Shortage Relief

Jersey City, NJ (PRWEB) June 4, 2008

Online publishing company MND, publishers of the education portal MyNursingDegree.com has been at the forefront of providing prospective nursing students and Registered Nurses online educational opportunities. By allowing current RNs and other nursing candidates an easy to use and central database of online educational opportunities, My Nursing Degree is assisting students in finding the career they love and helping to curb the nationwide nursing shortage plaguing the healthcare industry.

The nursing shortage epidemic in the U.S. is expected to intensify as baby boomers age and the need for heath care grows. The latest projections from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, published in the November 2007 Monthly Labor Review, predict that more than one million new and replacement nurses will be needed by 2016. Unfortunately even with current enrollment steadily increasing on an annual basis U.S. nursing schools turned away 40,285 qualified applicants from baccalaureate and graduate nursing programs in 2006 due to insufficient number of faculty, clinical sites, classroom space, clinical preceptors, and budget constraints. To tackle this ongoing problem statewide initiatives are underway from nursing schools to hospitals all working in tandem in developing new strategies to meet the need for qualified nurses.

One particular strategy has been the increased usage of online coursework. Nursing students all across the country are fulfilling much of their text based coursework utilizing online programs. Harnessing the power of the Internet, registered nurses looking to enroll in accelerated nursing programs, achieve their MSN, or enter into specialized fields of nursing are fulfilling much of their requirements in the comfort of their own homes and on their own schedules. The growing popularity of nursing degree online programs has contributed to increased enrollment. Nursing students, many who already work fulltime, enjoy the flexibility to complete coursework on their schedule and nursing schools are provided a needed relief from scarce traditional brick and mortar classroom space.

A leader since 2005 My Nursing Degree Online features a wealth of article resources relating to the various online nursing programs, a nursing shortage blog, and career planning tools to help students save money, find the work they love and, most importantly, make well-grounded career decisions. In a small way the education portal My Nursing Degree Online is helping more students find their chosen path in nursing while at the same time helping to curb the nursing shortage epidemic. After all it’s the small steps that count.

# # #

©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

More Nursing Press Releases

College textbooks prices are continuously increasing, and this has become a problem for a large number of students with limited budgets. Students must acquire many textbooks for their studies and with today’s prices the total amount of money that has to be spent on these college textbooks is pretty large and this problem becomes an obstacle in the student’s path to graduation. Therefore many students have begun to consider the textbooks which were once accessible to everybody something unreachable and unaffordable. This is disturbing, and something must be done so that all students can access all the books they need for their education. You may say that there are libraries of course, but libraries have limited amounts of each book and in many cases students can’t take the book at home to study it at their will, they can only read it inside the library, which may be disturbing for students who need privacy to learn.

Most of the colleges and governmental institutions don’t do anything to solve this problem and they let students do whatever they can. Therefore, the only solution to this problem is to buy much cheaper books from the students that graduated or don’t need them any longer. This way you get the same books that you need but at prices that everyone can afford. This business is profitable in both ways, because it helps both students who can’t afford to buy all the college textbooks they need and those who don’t need them anymore to sell them and make some profit from something otherwise wasted.

If you are interested in buying second-hand college textbooks and saving good money you should visit one of the websites that are specialized in the commercialization of college textbooks. This way you’ll find all the textbooks you need, because these websites have domain categories, where you can search for all the subjects studied in college, from mathematics to biology or astrophysics, and you won’t even leave your house.

Also, if you are interested in selling your old college textbooks you can find one of these websites and list the books that you need to sell. Whomever needs one of the college textbooks you are offering can buy it from you with the help of the website.
These websites have a search engine that can find any book you need and can also compare the prices of the textbooks and help you find the best deal!

Many times college teachers dictate the students what books to buy in order to learn everything about his/her subject and pass the exams. After finding this information out, ask your teacher or a friend that has the book what he book’s ISBN code is. Then type the ISBN code in a college textbooks-selling website and you’ll find the exact same book but at a much lower price. As simple as that!

Until the government gives colleges more funds, which isn’t likely to happen in the near future, the method listed above is the best method to get very good prices on college textbooks, so if you are a student that needs textbooks just search for a website that sells them and you’ll save good money

Find More Textbooks Articles

Almeda University Caters to Working Students with Additional Guide to an Online Education

Boise, ID (PRWEB) May 15, 2008

Responding to an increasingly competitive job market in the United States and abroad, working men and women are flocking in droves to online universities to sharpen their professional skills and augment their resumes. Almeda University, a leading online educational institute for over 10 years, is serving a lion’s share of these busy individuals thanks to a new online degree guide that makes earning a college degree online a straightforward and accessible process for people from all walks of life.

Armed with an acute understanding of the challenges that face working students, the staff at Almeda University works to simplify the process of achieving university degrees online. The university’s clear-cut guide to online education assists time-strapped students by offering guidance on choosing a degree, earning that degree online, and utilizing it to its highest potential. The success of their initial online degree guide has prompted the university to tailor it to working students and their unique challenges.

“Our students come to us with a wide range of situational challenges,” says Richard Franklin, Almeda University spokesman, “but one thing that many have in common is a feeling that they lack the time they think is required to improve their professional position with an online university degree.” Franklin states that these students are relieved to discover a staff that is highly responsive and a process that is well defined. “Our online degree guide has really made it possible for a large number of students to improve their job security and earning potential as it takes the guesswork out of earning university degrees online.”

With a growing uncertainty looming over the economy, many forward-thinking individuals are increasing their security by earning a university degree online. Rather than compounding the challenges faced by stressed workers, Almeda University offers solutions with a precise online degree guide that takes the stress out of achieving a higher education online.

Almeda University is an online institute that has been serving the international community since its inception in 1997. Since that time, Almeda has evolved to educate an expanding population through cutting edge curriculum design based on students’ needs and professional service. For more information on University degrees online and Almeda University visit http://www.almedauniversity.org.

###

©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.