Kaplan University presents Visionary Voices, a series of interviews that chronicle our goals in regards to adult education and continuing education throughout your life. Kaplan University offers online degree programs designed to expand the way you think and help you develop both personally and professionally. Students turn to us to develop their critical thinking skills, to challenge and prepare them for successful careers.*
At Kaplan University, we recommend that students look for support and encouragement in those around them. This journey is one that requires commitment and dedication and finding mentors along the way helps to keep students motivated. We want to encourage our students to try new things, to take a variety of courses to help ensure they are well-rounded and prepared when they complete their online college degree.
We are an accredited university that believes online courses can enrich your life just as much as attending a course in a brick and mortar classroom.† Our unique approach to distance learning sets us apart from other online colleges. At Kaplan University, we strive to make every resource available to our students to help them succeed in the field they choose.
*Kaplan University's programs are designed to prepare graduates to pursue employment in their field of study, or in related fields. However, the University does not guarantee that graduates will be placed in any particular job, eligible for job advancement opportunities, or employed at all. Additional training or certification may be required.
†Kaplan University is regionally accredited. See our website for details.
“I want to learn from someone who has really been there. I want access to the best minds in the world, access to real leadership. I want to be inspired by people who are inspired, someone who understands the passion and the hunger to create; inspire me. I want to learn from someone who made a difference, from somebody who tried something new and succeeded at it, who broke the rules and are breaking new ground. I want to learn how to make decisions that will make a difference.
The world’s preeminent innovators, a timeless exchange of ideas from established experts to aspiring new candidates, a new form for this inspiration is here, at Kaplan University.
Until Kaplan [University] and comparable schools did their instruction online, there really hasn’t been appreciable disruption in higher education.
If I were to have any advice for a Kaplan University student thinking about an entrepreneurial career path, I would say don’t be afraid to fail.
What you want to do is to acquire the habit of trying new things. There’s a saying that you’re only as young as the last time you changed your mind.
Finding that right balance between your needs and your profession and your own growth is always something that is evolving.
One of the principals I teach is find a wing to climb under and what that means is you need to find someone in your life who can mentor you through different stages of your life.
Kaplan [University] provides access to powerful ideas from brilliant thinkers, the practical intelligence and inspiration that are vital to success today and critical for a brighter future.
I want to think on a different level. I want to be provoked by original ideas; I want to have a hand in my destiny.
I always tell young people, ‘finish your education and don’t rush.’
You actually need education more than you need money. You need ideas, you need to know how to teach yourself, you need to know how things work, you need to be able to look around you and see combinations that other people haven’t seen before.
For a Kaplan [University] student thinking about, or interested in, being an innovator I would often say, ‘take a wide range of classes.’ We too quickly pigeon hole people. Reality is that we’re all capable of being so many things.
My advice is be broad, understand that things change quickly, and understand what’s happening
A degree in nursing from Kaplan University addresses the challenges and scenarios real nurses work through on a daily basis. Kaplan University’s Master of Science in Nursing (MSN program) is based on relevant material to help ensure our students are prepared for their careers. Our online nursing degrees are based on flexible coursework; students enrolled in the Kaplan University School of Nursing program are already nurses and there is no easier way to cater to the ever-changing schedule of a nurse than attending university online.
We offer our students the courses to help develop their career through program offerings such as an RN-to-MSN option and nurse practitioner certificates.* Nurses don’t just work in hospitals. At Kaplan University, we understand the different capacities in which nurses work and have developed our nursing school online to accommodate all capacities of nursing.
We see our nurses follow through with their training in programs that help students progress from their RN to an MSN program online. After years of hard work, our nurses look back at their time spent with Kaplan University and know it was a key element in getting them where they wanted to be.
* At this time, the nurse practitioner certificates are available only in the following states: California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Iowa, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, and Vermont.
“It’s important to Kaplan [University] to make sure that the students have the skill set and the abilities to function well in the world of nursing. We want our graduates to be considered the employees of choice so if they’re in a position or applying for a position, when the employer looks, ‘Oh you graduated from Kaplan [University].’ They know there is a certain currency and a certain relevance to the information and the knowledge they’ve gained. All of our online students are already nurses so they’re out there working in a variety of fields all over the country. We ask our nurses, we ask our students that are in our bachelor’s and our master’s program, what do they think? What’s important to them?
We try to think outside the box. Not all nurses work in the hospital. Nurses in the community, nurses in informatics, nurses in education—because when you find something that you’re passionate about, that’s when you’ve learned.
Their method of teaching was phenomenal. It was so phenomenal that when I went to take the boards I knew I passed the board. Why? Kaplan [University] taught me how.
What makes the Kaplan [University] School of Nursing so unique is the ability to offer the beginning nurse Vocational Nursing diplomas, Practical Nursing diplomas, and then to be able to be with them all throughout their career as they advance and progress with additional diplomas, certificate and degree programs to meet every need.
We give them opportunities to build their own professional portfolio throughout the nursing program we encourage the students to hold on to the things that they did well and to refine their skills. All of that are things that are absolutely embedded in the curriculum because we’re all about students’ success. Our students are challenged; they are working adults, they have families, and they have responsibilities, perhaps for children or older relatives. The personal touch is when the students know that the faculty care about them, that the advisors care about them and that people follow up.
I initially went with Kaplan [University] because I had a lot of returned calls from them and a lot of encouragement. Being that it was an online school I was nervous about, “What if I need help?” “What if I have a question?” All of the instructors that I had said call me if you have a question, email me if you have a question; I really needed that extra little push to get me started.
Our students feel like they really develop a personal relationship with the faculty. We see that when they graduate they’re always interested, if they
An information technology degree from Kaplan University could be the first step towards a potential information technology career.* Earning an IT degree online can seem like a daunting task, but Kaplan University faculty and staff are available to students through email, instant messaging, and phone calls as well as weekly online seminars.
Kaplan University students who have completed their online information technology degrees have gone on to work at major corporations including Microsoft and Ticketmaster. The IT degree program offered by Kaplan University presents students with real-world scenarios and offers the support to learn in an interactive environment. Constant communication and extensive resources positions Kaplan University among the top online universities.
Completing a university degree online allows the student to continue working full time while being able to take classes that fit into their busy schedules. Even in a difficult economy, a degree from Kaplan University is an investment in your future. Technological advances are not slowing down and those who can manage information technology and all that an IT degree encompasses could have a relevant career ahead of them.
* Kaplan University's programs are designed to prepare graduates to pursue employment in their field of study, or in related fields. However, the University does not guarantee that graduates will be placed in any particular job, eligible for job advancement opportunities, or employed at all. Additional training or certification may be required.
“The Information Systems and Technology programs at Kaplan [University] are very real-world and very relevant. Kaplan [University] teaches its students skills that are really necessary in today’s work place. One of the things we do for an incoming student at Kaplan [University] is we provide them very early on with some diagnostic testing that helps them identify not only their academic strengths and opportunities for learning, but also helps them identify their areas of interest and their strengths outside of the academic setting. From the first day the student virtually steps on to the campus they’re empowered to be successful.
Every day our faculty talk with students and help them think about how they can accomplish what they need to accomplish in order to be successful at school. They want to make sure that the students are comfortable in their environment and students will tell you that they can get a hold of anybody just about any time.
All of the faculty members have instant messaging and email capabilities and they have office hours where you can contact them or you can email them and they’ll always get back to you.
I have well over 300 students on my messenger list so there’s still a lot of that personalization and we try to get in there and really help the students succeed.
The support I got from my teachers and advisors was tremendous. They were caring and they seemed like they were really interested in what was going on.
We’re very serious about our work so that our students are learning and growing and when they graduate they’re prepared for what they’re doing. In the classroom we’re relaxed and we talk to each other.
I was very surprised; I actually met a lot of wonderful people online and I’ve made lifelong friends with them.
We have a seminar every week online where you meet with the instructor and all the students; it’s like a chat room. It involves an audio feature so they can hear the instructor speak. It allows for much more interactive questioning and dialogue so the student gets much more out of the seminar experience. We want to connect talent to success, to career and job success.
Now, with my education, I’ll be able to make better money which means better opportunities for my kids, my family and a better quality of life. The quality of education that I received at Kaplan University was superb. It was far beyond anything I could have imagined.
One of my former students has al
At Kaplan University, our main focus in developing our online MBA programs is career development. We believe the time and effort that is required to obtain a master’s degree online should be apparent the first day the student begins their new career. Earning an MBA could be a step in the right direction towards a fulfilling and satisfying career.*
Kaplan University’s Master of Business Administration online offers students the tools to understand the relevant knowledge and proficiencies, and to apply what they have learned in class at work. Our unique distance learning MBA program is designed to accommodate students that work full time. You can attend class virtually anywhere you have an Internet connection, and the coursework material is available to you at any time. Students can pursue their goals and complete their MBA online for a brighter future.
Kaplan University strives to put our students first. We have our fingers on the pulse of what is going on in the business world and integrate that knowledge into our courses. At Kaplan University, we are proud to offer our students resources to help them succeed in their pursuit of continuing education. Our instructors care about their students and are available to answer questions or offer support.
* Kaplan University's programs are designed to prepare graduates to pursue employment in their field of study, or in related fields. However, the University does not guarantee that graduates will be placed in any particular job, eligible for job advancement opportunities, or employed at all. Additional training or certification may be required.
“We’re very proud of our MBA program. The MBA Program enables students to develop a portfolio of practical, resume building experiences while they’re still in school. What they can do with that is really demonstrate that they know what business is about and they know how to manage and lead projects.
I think one of the things that we’ve worked very diligently toward is to build a curriculum that provides students with real world experience so that they’re able to that the skills that they’re earning in the classroom, learning in the classroom and carry those immediately into the workforce.
The one thing that I would have to say that Kaplan [University] afforded me that other programs I looked at did not afford me is the practical use of every course and I can take it right from the classroom right to my work every single day.
We have specializations in marketing, management, finance, entrepreneurship which is very popular, international business.
An emphasis in International Business with all of its aspects from Human Resources to International Finance, International Projects, and International Marketing; that is something that I think will help me greatly especially in the consulting field.
What they’re able to say with the MBA is that they’ve got areas of expertise in Finance and Economics and Accounting and that they’ve got the skill set that goes beyond what somebody with a bachelor’s degree would have.
All of a sudden my supervisor is realizing that I’m being underutilized, so now I have more responsibilities that are more challenging.
The challenge is there for sure, but it’s the tools like the Writing Center, the Math Center- the things that make a student be able to succeed.
You will find help and assistance from the beginning. Your academic advisor, the financial advisor, and every step you will always have somebody that will be there right by your side.
I’ve had many students contact me years after they’ve completed their degree and say it was because of having earned my MBA I’m now working in a different capacity; working in a leadership role, working as a VP, working as a CEO at a small corporation. Or many students go off and start their own business because they got the confidence of the skills that they’ve gained.
If you want your MBA, I can just tell you- Kaplan [University] is your first choice, it is. The structure of th
Carol Platt was caught in the middle of the economic downturn with no backup plan. Searching for a stable job in an unstable economy proved to be difficult without a college degree. Her work history and past successes were overlooked. It had always been a dream of hers to complete her degree; after a failed first attempt, she was unsure of her ability to follow through. She began researching online education options and felt that Kaplan University stood out; she decided to complete her college degree online. Carol enrolled in Kaplan University’s School of Business and Management and earned her bachelor’s degree online, focusing on business with an emphasis in human resources.
The adult continuing education program at Kaplan University is designed for working professionals who seek to further their career or, like Carol, want to earn their university degree online.* Students can complete assignments on a schedule that fits their lives. It’s this type of flexibility that helps prepare Kaplan University online students for success. Even if you already have an established career, it’s never too late to consider online business school to further your knowledge and update your skills. Increase your marketability with one of Kaplan University’s online bachelor degree programs without taking time off of work to attend class.
* Kaplan University's programs are designed to prepare graduates to pursue employment in their field of study, or in related fields. However, the University does not guarantee that graduates will be placed in any particular job, eligible for job advancement opportunities, or employed at all. Additional training or certification may be required.
“I grew up in Graham, North Carolina. My parents both worked for the textile mills, both had fourth grade educations and my mom always wanted me to get an education. When I graduated from high school it was my dream to go to college. I failed the first class of my life which was my chemistry class. I was just overwhelmed so I left after about a year and half, got a job and kept trying to go back to school. For me it was personally devastating. It really bothered me. I felt like I was failing. I had one shot and I blew it.
When Jenna left for boarding school I couldn’t even open the door and go in the room and I was almost 52. All of that coincided with the downturn of the market. I had almost $6 million dollars in contracts waiting to close and they all fell through—every single one of them. I thought, ‘now what? I don’t have a degree, there are no jobs.’ It doesn’t matter what I had done or how much success I had, the requirements are to have a degree. Not only that, I had to walk back in the door competing with people half my age and many of them had MBAs.
It was just a matter of figuring out how to do it—so that’s when I started to check into what were the institutions, what was the cost, how were they respected. Kaplan [University] had a degree in business with a specialty in human resources. As I started narrowing the options down, it made it into about the final three. I took those three finalists to my traditional education friends and I said, ‘I want to know what the most respected online degree would be if someone was coming into your office looking for a job.’
The IT Dean, the Computer Science Dean, felt like Kaplan [University] had the best online delivery program that was out there. The Academic Dean’s advice was that this is a respected degree that you’re not going to have people questioning whether you were competent when you came out. Everything that you take there will be accepted if you go on to a master’s [program] anywhere so that was a very good recommendation. When I sat down at graduation, 31 years later, and I’m looking up at the podium and it says, ‘Kaplan University: a Different School of Thought’ that was probably more me because I do think a little differently. I’m willing to work on things that innovate and I think that’s more of an opportunity for me and many students like me.~N
Kaplan University master’s degree graduate Onica Browne obtained her Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a focus on international business. In her case, this Kaplan University online program offered a unique learning experience to collaborate with students in other countries, enriching the learning process.
Kaplan University offers online degree programs including an MBA distance learning program designed to foster thought leadership, innovation, and corporate social responsibility on a global scale. Upon completion of the MBA program students could have the opportunity to pursue several career paths.* An MBA is one of the most sought after university degrees online as it can be applied in almost any realm of the business world and is often of interest to students looking to advance in their field.
Kaplan University’s online MBA program is designed for the working student. Our classes are flexible and the courses are designed to be closely related to what students will encounter in their career. More employers seek the knowledge and discipline that is relevant to completing graduate school. An MBA degree could help create value in an employer’s eyes and set you apart in today’s competitive business environment. We strive to set ourselves apart by continually developing and enhancing our curriculum to help prepare our students to succeed in their careers.
* Kaplan University's programs are designed to prepare graduates to pursue employment in their field of study, or in related fields. However, the University does not guarantee that graduates will be placed in any particular job, eligible for job advancement opportunities, or employed at all. Additional training or certification may be required.
“I had my undergraduate degree in international business for just about seven years and I have always wanted to get my master’s degree. When I looked at other universities and selected Kaplan [University] for my master’s degree, Kaplan [University] gave you the most ‘bang for your buck.’ I met professors that were actually in the industries that they taught. This was not purely an academic setting. Everything that we do in international business is all about relating to other people and everything we do at Kaplan [University] is about how you relate to other people and how that relation allows you to do better.
I met people who were from China, who were from Japan, who were from the Middle East; I met a gentleman who was a program developer for Microsoft based in Shanghai. I had one of my classmates in Iraq at the time and we would collaborate on different projects while she was in Iraq and I was in the United States.
That’s the beauty of Kaplan [University]. We share and we learn from each other and then you can go back to work the next day and apply the same information that you learned in class. I work for the US Small Business Administration. Because I have my Master’s Degree from Kaplan [University] I actually was able to obtain the job that I have right now where I’m helping small businesses. Without my master’s degree from Kaplan [University] I would not have even been considered for the position so my degree is allowing me to touch people outside of me and allowing them to touch people outside of them so it’s almost like paying it forward.”
When beginning her journey at Kaplan University, Michell Sturgis was unsure how the demands of working full time and college course work would impact her life. Kaplan University’s flexible learning schedule and online degree programs allowed her to complete her assignments at her own pace while still being able to spend quality time with her daughter. Michell took the next step forward from her associate’s degree to earning her bachelor’s degree online.
Like many other Kaplan University students, Michell trusted the Kaplan name. With Kaplan University comes the knowledge that we’re an accredited online university* and that our business and management degrees are well- received in corporations all over the country. Our online courses cater to working adults with responsibilities that extend beyond the typical 9 to 5.
If working while attending college is your reality, our online School of Business and Management sets us apart from other online colleges. We offer extensive resources to our students to aid in their academic success. Attending business school online can seem daunting, but current Kaplan University students will tell you that professors are readily available through e-mail, instant messaging, phone calls, and office hours. If earning an online bachelor’s degree is part of your plan, come see what Kaplan University’s many online learning programs have to offer.
*Kaplan University is regionally accredited. See our website for details.
† Kaplan University's programs are designed to prepare graduates to pursue employment in their field of study, or in related fields. However, the University does not guarantee that graduates will be placed in any particular job, eligible for job advancement opportunities, or employed at all. Additional training or certification may be required.
“When I decided to come back to school and pursue my bachelor’s degree I did have a fear of how I was going to fit the studies into my schedule. It had been quite a while since I graduated with my associate’s degree. I was already working full time when I started here at Kaplan [University], and I’m also a parent. I have a 7-year-old daughter and it was really helpful that they were really flexible and they offered classes during the day and the evening.
Kaplan [University] started offering online classes for my degree which really ended up being helpful to me because I didn’t have to be here on campus all of the time and I could get work done at night after I got my daughter to bed. I chose to study business management because I want to one day have my own business. Now that I have graduated from Kaplan [University], I am still working full time. I work as a case manager at a shelter for domestic violence. My business degree has contributed to my current job because I am able to move into different areas at my workplace and move more into the administrative side of things instead of the direct care and that was one of my goals.
Since graduating from Kaplan University my life has changed. For one, I am more confident when it comes to applying for jobs. It has also changed in my home life with my daughter; she is very proud of me—that her mom is successful and that is important to me.”
Kaplan University nursing alum Debra Eppley was already working in the nursing field when she started her RN-to-Bachelor of Science in Nursing completion program (RN-to-BSN program). Kaplan University’s flexibility and support offered her the opportunity to complete her degree online while continuing to work. Once she completed her Bachelor of Science Nursing online, she was able to make a career move that not only increased her salary, but also her level of job satisfaction.
Kaplan University makes taking online nursing classes a streamlined process. Every day nurses choose Kaplan University for their online master’s degree programs. The distance learning curriculum makes a nursing degree obtainable for working professionals. Nursing as a career is a rewarding occupation that could allow for a wide range of employment opportunities beyond the hospital doors.* The Kaplan University School of Nursing offers online nursing degrees such as an the RN-to- BSN completion program, the RN-to-MSN option, and nurse practitioner certificate programs† to help get you where you want to be. Nursing programs at Kaplan University, including the MSN programs online, are designed for nurses that are already in the field. It’s this unique approach that sets Kaplan University apart.
*Kaplan University's programs are designed to prepare graduates to pursue employment in their field of study, or in related fields. However, the University does not guarantee that graduates will be placed in any particular job, eligible for job advancement opportunities, or employed at all. Additional training or certification may be required.
† At this time, the nurse practitioner certificates are available only in the following states: California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Iowa, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, and Vermont.
“I got out of high school and started working. I had a family very young. About the time I was 28 I decided I needed to go to school. I went and got my associate’s degree in nursing at that time. I had worked in labor and delivery, and that’s my niche. I like it–I like babies, I like seeing families with their babies. Then I thought, I love floor nursing but there was something else I wanted to do.
We are in Coshocton, Ohio, which is very near to the heart of Amish country. I just needed to step out and do something else for myself. What I thought I would like to do required a bachelor’s degree and so I started looking down that road. I had kind of shopped around on the net looking for every last online class. You’re looking at price, you’re looking at length, you’re looking at what kind of clinical requirements are there–especially for me in nursing. I just started weeding and narrowing it down and I kept coming back to Kaplan University because it seemed to fit what I wanted to do at that time.
I enrolled to start my bachelor’s degree. There were times when I thought I was going to quit–family life is too much, work is too much, school is too much. I thought, no wasn’t an option. But of course that thought of having that extra two year degree bumps that salary up immensely. I was also thinking, ‘I’m going to have four kids I have to put through college, because now I’m encouraging them to go to college so I need to find a way to help them pay for that, too.
Financially going back to school was a huge plus. This January the head of OB at the time decided to leave her position, and it was open. They posted the job and I debated long and hard because I thought, ‘It’s too soon,’ ‘I can’t be there yet,’ and after much coaxing from a few of my coworkers, my husband, and my mother, I went ahead and I applied for the job and they hired me.
I started the end of March; I am now the OB coordinator, so I manage the whole OB department. It’s just a huge feeling of pride. My Kaplan [University] experience was fantastic. They just want to see you succeed and they want to help you get there. You have a job, you have a
Expanding its leadership in high-definition (HD) video-surveillance solutions, Altera Corporation (NASDAQ: ALTR) announces the world's first FPGA-based full-HD 1080p/(30 frames per second) 30fps video analytics on a Cyclone® IV FPGA. Altera's single-chip solution provides a new level of video analytics performance, combining exceptionally high throughput (60-Mpixel per second) with pixel precision detail not http://www.lubygvideo.com/uploadpossible with traditional digital signal processing (DSP)-based approaches. The solution includes Eutecus' Multi-Core Video Analytics Engine (MVE™) intellectual property (IP), which performs the analytics functions in the FPGA. Because this solution can be easily integrated into HD Internet protocol , it is ideal for a variety of applications, including traffic surveillance that monitors accident detection, vehicle counting, lane-exit detection, stopped traffic, red-light violations and vehicles moving in the wrong direction.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/altera/43984/
In Becoming Fearless, readers will discover Aguilars motivation not only for winning the show, but facing her deep seated fears. They will discover they have a lot to lose as well, whether it�s fear, weight, or insecurities that keep them from living a full life. Learn about the book here http://bit.ly/BecomingFearless Learn about the author here http://bit.ly/MichelleAguilar Non fiction, self help
Based on its recent analysis of the Carrier Ethernet demarcation market, Frost & Sullivan recognizes MRV Communications Optical Communications Systems (MRV OCS) with the 2011 North American Frost & Sullivan Award for Product Differentiation Excellence. MRV OCS, through its Pro-Vision service management system found in the OptiSwitch® family of Carrier Ethernet demarcation products, has brought to market a field-proven and compelling solution that addresses critical requirements such as a focus on service management, and not just element management.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/frostsullivan/52565/
New research released today to mark European Week Against Pain reveals that, in more than half of cases, peoples’ levels of pain across Europe are not being adequately assessed.
More than half (52%) of European primary care physicians use no form of assessment tool to measure peoples’ levels of pain despite chronic pain affecting 1 in 52 adults across Europe. A study in Finland found that pain is also the reason for 40% of patient visits to a primary care physician each year, with approximately 20% of these patients having experienced their pain for more than 6 months.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/prne/mundipharma/52140/
