I think parents are starting to wisen up, especially with the current economic situation.

The student's rights have excluded the parent from even knowing if their child is attending class let alone flunking out. The law seems to protect the student so you need to consider making a contract with your kiddo. No sharing of information? Then no money. Let them finance their college experience.

Parents are often ratcheting down their expenses so they can pay for their child's college, not knowing that their student is not even attending class. Maybe in someone's eyes, this is a violation of the students rights, but when the parents are putting their retirement in jeopardy, then I think, it is time for the parents to assert their rights to say "No".

I also think the student may need strong guidance, strong parenting. We put them at risk when we set them free before they are ready. There use to be curfews, dorm rules and social rules that protected our adults in the making. Now, it is almost total freedom unless they break the law. Even then, the parents are not the first to know.

So, what to do? Make an agreement with your student that there will be open sharing of grades. You might even request an accounting of how they are spending their (your) money. These kiddos really need your parenting, even if they don't know it. Not helicoptering, parenting.

Article by, College Parenting Expert, Dr. Debi Yohn, whose advice on successfully getting college students through college with an emphasis on graduation and rewarding employment is sought by parents from around the world. Now for the first time, she reveals 27 Winning Strategies for Success - a guidebook geared to parents of new college students. Get her free e-Book now at http://www.collegeparentsadvice.com/ and improve your child's chances of a successful college experience.

Posted by Candice Arnold on October 22, 2009 at 8:43 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

Established in 1953, Westwood College has since graduated more than 20,000 students from its 17 campus locations. When combining campuses in six states, an online learning program, and seven different schools of learning, students find Westwood College to offer exactly what they are looking for. Their career-focused diploma, associate, bachelor's and master's degree programs range from Criminal Justice and Game Art to Business Administration and Information Technology.

History

Founded in Denver, Colorado the school was originally known as the Denver Institute of Technology, offering degrees in a variety of technical fields. Once these programs began expanding the name was changed to Westwood College. Today, campuses extend into California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Texas, Virginia and even online with approximately 15,000 students enrolled.

Curriculum and Accreditation

Westwood College operates on a term schedule with degree programs starting five times a year and courses being offered year-round with day, evening, and online class options. Students are able to earn an associate degree in as little as 20 months or a bachelor's degree in three years. The curriculum focuses on both degree-specific and general education class work, but approximately two-thirds of the schedule is spent in classes specific to a student's chosen degree.

The various campus locations as well as the online campus are nationally accredited by either the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and the Colleges of Technology (ACCSCT) or the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS), both of which are recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council on Higher Education Accreditation.

Seven schools offer degree programs: School of Technology, School of Design, School of Business, School of Justice, School of Healthcare, School of Professional Studies and the School of Industrial Services.

School of Technology

The Westwood College of Technology offers degrees that range from information technology to game software development. Degrees are available at locations in Texas, Virginia, Illinois, Georgia, Colorado, and California as well as online. An associate degree is available in Information Technology while bachelor degree programs are available in Game Software Development and Information Technology with Majors in Cisco® Network Systems, Computer Forensics, Network Management or System Security.

School of Design

The Westwood College School of Design offers degrees in programs that range from animation and graphic design to computer-aided design and game art. Classes are available in California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Texas and Virginia, as well as online.

Associate degree programs are offered in Computer-Aided Design/Architectural Drafting (CAD) and Graphic Design and Multimedia. Bachelor degree programs are available in Animation, Game Art, Interior Design, Visual Communications and Web Design & Multimedia.

School of Business

The Westwood College School of Business offers various degrees in programs that range from marketing and accounting to construction management and fashion merchandising. Programs are available in California, Illinois, Georgia, Colorado, Texas and Virginia as well as online.

Bachelor degree programs include Business Administration with a Major in Accounting and Financial Management, Fashion Merchandising, Healthcare Management, Management, Marketing Management or Retail Management, as well as Construction Management. There is also an associate degree option available for Construction Management. A Masters of Business Administration is also offered.

School of Justice

The Westwood College School of Justice educates students on varying aspects of the judicial system. Course topics range from law enforcement and private security to the correctional system and advocacy. Bachelor degree programs in Criminal Justice are available at most campuses and online. A paralegal associate degree is offered online, in California and Texas.

School of Healthcare

The Westwood College School of Healthcare offers both diploma and associate degree programs for students interested in the medical field. Healthcare programs are available in Texas, Illinois, Georgia and Colorado. Both a diploma and associate degree are available for Medical Assisting and a diploma is available in Medical Insurance Coding & Billing.

School of Professional Studies

The Westwood College School of Professional Studies is the perfect solution for busy lifestyles. It offers working adults the opportunity to finish a bachelor's degree or to earn an MBA. The Professional Studies program is tailored to potential students that have already demonstrated commitment to success by working toward a degree, and students that need a truly flexible program accommodating demanding schedules and satisfying unique lifestyle needs. Bachelor programs in the School of Professional Studies include Business Administration with a Major in Accounting and Financial Management, Fashion Merchandising, Healthcare Management, Management or Marketing Management. A Masters of Business Administration is offered as well.

School of Industrial Services

The Westwood College School of Industrial Services is available at the Denver, Colorado location and trains students in aspects of mechanical training, construction management and planning. Associate degree programs include Automotive Technology and Surveying.

Posted by William F on October 21, 2009 at 12:43 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

College is on the mind of many high school students and homeschoolers are no exception. If you're searching for what you need to do to get in to a good school and succeed, you'll find lots of help online. With these tools and resources, you'll be able to get prepared to take on the challenge of college. Continue reading ...

Article courtesy of OnlineDegreePrograms.org

Posted by Candice Arnold on October 15, 2009 at 9:59 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

I love reading articles about college major trends because that's a good way to gauge which career fields are up-and-coming and eager to hire. Lucky for us, writers at The Chronicle of Higher Education did some legwork in "5 College Majors on the Rise."

Not surprisingly, all of the majors they list have something to do with making ourselves and/or the environment a little healthier, and finding new ways to solve problems. In fact, each field can be classified as "higher" education in some way, since they each have a higher purpose than just simply memorizing facts, performing calculations, or appreciating some type of art.

Take a look...

Sustainability -- A few weeks ago, I actually had to look this up -- no joke! That's how new an idea this is when it comes to education and business. If you're wondering what it is (which is nothing to be ashamed of), I'll tell you. It's the concept of making something more "green" or ecofriendly. Many businesses today are sustainable businesses. So college students, be sure to at least take a class on this because it's the hottest buzzword in the workplace today!

Service Science -- This is another buzzword that may not be what you think it is. The article describes it as cultivating "'deep problem solvers' who understand the economic, human, and technical dimensions of complex systems." Yikes! That's a mouthful, isn't it? The idea is to improve productivity and encourage innovation in various service industries. In other words, these grads will help find more efficient ways of doing things. That sure is a good skill set to have.

Health informatics -- The idea is to take each person's tons of health data and digitalize it. The Feds are totally behind this initiative, and so a new field has emerged that will demand lots of technological know-how with a health care twist.

Computational science -- Math meet science. Science meet math. Together, you'll solve problems. At least that's the gist of what computational science is all about. I'm not a techie or a number cruncher so it's a bit beyond me, honestly, but the article says this: "Companies have used computational analysis to increase the absorbency of disposable diapers and to tweak the shape of potato chips so they drop into packages rather than fly off the conveyor belt." OK then, moving on...

Public health - If the swine flu epidemic has taught us anything, it's that public health is an expansive field. Students who merge the biology stuff with the public policy stuff will be huge commodities in our society.

Intrigued by any of these up-and-coming fields? They are definitely worth paying attention to for anyone interested in entering a viable industry. One day, they may even be as commonplace as English literature or psychology, so get studying!

Article by Dawn Papandrea and courtesy of CollegeSurfing Insider.

Posted by Candice Arnold on October 8, 2009 at 1:29 PM | Leave a Comment (0)