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
Lisa Nichols, contributing author of The Secret and one of the great inspirational speakers of our time, believes the best way to stay motivated when continuing your education is to “begin with the end in mind.” Pushing forward through challenges is what makes accomplishment so gratifying. Every accomplishment leads to personal growth. Nichols believes that making the completion of your degree “non-negotiable” means that you will not settle for anything less.
Kaplan University’s online degree programs cater to the busy lifestyle of today’s working professional. The distance learning programs available at Kaplan University could help you further your career, potentially lead to advancement opportunities, and assist in creating a different lifestyle for you and your family.* Nichols relates her own life experiences as a single mother working full time in this inspirational video that address the challenges Kaplan University students may be facing. She encourages students to recognize how important pursuing a degree can be to their professional success. Perhaps one of the most powerful messages Nichols relays is to focus on the positive outcome continuing education can bring. She urges students to “stay motivated by not checking into how difficult it might be” but to “check in with how sweet it gets to be.”
*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 would say to a Kaplan [University] student, ‘You’ve really made a decision to take your life by the reigns, to give yourself a second, third, fourth, fifth chance. That this season is your season and that you’ve served everyone else and this gift is a gift for you.’ When you serve yourself you allow yourself to then begin to serve everyone else from your overflow. But one of the things I would mainly say is that when you’ve been good to you, this is a gift, when you’ve been good to you then you’ll serve with more gratitude to everyone else so hold on to this. Hold on to this moment; carve out time. There’s never enough time. There are a hundred people that are going to pull at you- carve out this space for you. Say, ‘You know what? I’ve nurtured everyone, I’ve served everyone, this is my moment. This is my time to shine. This journey with Kaplan [University] is super important to me and it’s non-negotiable.’
When you say ‘no matter what,’ graduating should be ‘no matter what.’ ‘No matter what’ means I’ve removed every other option off the table. Graduating and taking advantage of this opportunity is something that nothing else can happen but this; this is non-negotiable. When you move everything else off the table other than making it, the only thing left is making it and so I would say to the Kaplan [University] student, ‘you’ve already jumped in, now say ‘no matter what’.’
I think one of the ways to stay motivated is to begin with the end in mind. See yourself on graduation day, see yourself with a certificate saying, ‘I completed. I did it. It’s done.’ See yourself in the lifestyle that this accomplishment will award you to have. When you being with the end in mind and you get so viscerally and emotionally connected to the outcome. Steven Covey, the author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, says, ‘Begin with the end in mind.’ See it, believe it, taste it, walk it, talk it, feel it and then go every day just getting to that feeling in reality. Have such a barometer to show you where you’re going and know what it looks like to be there and then become non-negotiable on it.
Stay motivated by not checking into how difficult it might be, check in with how sweet it gets to be. I believe that my life today is a result of hunkering down and seeing myself in a place where I wasn’t; seeing myself in a lifestyle th
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.”
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
The IV Eurasian Higher Education Leaders Forum (EHELF) took place at Nazarbayev University, Astana, Kazakhstan, June 10-12. Each year, more than 300 attendees, industry leaders, from different parts of the world participate in discussions and panel sessions at EHELF.
The theme of this year’s Forum was “Graduate Employability in the 21st Century: key competencies and modern labor market.” “Nazarbayev University took the initiative and created EHELF, a platform for discussing pressing issues in higher education in Kazakhstan as well as globally. Our Steering Committee researches and chooses the most relevant topics for the Forum each year. The topic of EHELF-2015, employability of graduates, employment and labor market, is relevant for us,” - says Shigeo Katsu, the President of Nazarbayev University. “Nazarbayev University is a unique university established in partnerships with some of the world’s best universities. And this year, we are graduating our first cohort of 446 undergraduate and graduate students. And, as the majority of our students will hit the job market, it is very important for us to understand whether our students meet the demands of industry and business, and how we should reflect these demands in our programs” – concluded Katsu.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7553651-iv-ehelf-astana-nazarbayev-university/
Higher Education Summit - The Higher Education Summit is an annual conference that explores issues in post-secondary education and the steps that must be taken to produce the leading-edge workforce of tomorrow. The conference wraps up with the presentation of the Premier's Awards for outstanding college graduates.
The current student loan debt crisis in the U.S. is real. Total student loan debt currently stands at more than $1.16 trillion. And, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, student loans represent the highest amount of delinquent debt compared to all other forms of household debt, including mortgages, auto loans, and credit cards.
Gaining a college education has long been among the most important first steps towards obtaining a happy and prosperous life. The reality, however, is that most college graduates are starting their adult life deep in debt, and feeling stressed and completely unprepared to manage their financial lives. The good news is that the government has created programs to help borrowers reduce the burden caused by student loan debt. To learn more about these government programs, visit StudentAid.ed.gov.
Money Management International (MMI), along with other nonprofit organizations and consumer advocate groups, have taken additional steps to help struggling student loan borrowers understand their repayment plan options, find solutions for managing other debt obligations, and create realistic action plans for reaching overall financial success.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7406151-mmi-student-loan-debt/
The Class of 2017, the first crop of Generation Z (people born between 1993 and 1999) to enter the workforce, is more interested in working for large companies compared to last year’s grads (19 percent vs. 14 percent), according to a new study by Accenture Strategy on the future workforce. New graduates desire an engaging employee experience and want to take full advantage of their degree. The fifth annual Accenture Strategy 2017 U.S. College Graduate Employment Study also found that this generation is more prepared to enter the workforce and desires in-person interaction.
To view the multimedia release go to:
https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8076751-accenture-generation-z-workforce-study/
This is a tribute video to our customers who played at Diablo Venture Games Paintball for the past 1/4 century. It starts off with shots of some of our many volunteer ref\'s and paid managers. Diablo Venture Games was always proud of those ref\'s who represented our paintball games to the public. Our customers most often commented both in person, phone and email on how well our staff performed and serviced their needs, ensuring the safest paintball games in the San Francisco Bay Area.
It\'s not surprising, giving the fact that we always attracted and accepted only those young people with the very best character traits. Most all my staff the past 1/4 century went on to college and are active and productive members our great nation. We count 15 eagle scouts among our ref\'s. Many went on to military carriers, taking what they learned on our paintball fields to the battle fields. Among my very proudest are 2 west Point, 3 Annapolis and 1 Air Force academy graduates, not to mention the many enlisted who worked their way up the enlisted ranks.
Although there are some relevantly new customers represented in the video, most shots take you back the the mid eighties and continue into the early nineties. In my opinion, this was Venture Games golden years as well as paintball its self, before it went total commercial and corporate
{Note}
Diablo Venture Games Paintball Park opened on April 12th 1986, due to the property owner selling the land; it was forced to close down on January 31st 2009. It was home to the original Ironmen recreational paintball team from 1986 to 1988 before it switched to a tournament team. Home to the Lost Boys, Little Rascals, Wild Geese, Out of Shape, Team Taurus and countless others no one ever herd of but deserve mention in this world of the internet!
www.venturegamespaintball.com
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
The biggest annual event in the Fashion Retail Academy’s Calendar, the FRA Awards Ceremony took place yesterday and was attended by Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Education. Nick Grimshaw also made a guest appearance to present the Commitment Award. The Awards acknowledge the success of FRA graduate students and pave the way for them to begin their careers within the Industry. Sir Philip Green (Arcadia), Jason Tarry (F&F for Tesco), Christos Angelides (Next) and John Dixon (Marks and Spencer) all presented at the event as key sponsors of the FRA.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/71400580-fashion-retail-academy-awards-2014
The Art Institutes invites talented future chefs to enter The Art Institutes Best Teen Chef Competition for high school seniors or The Art Institutes Culinary Scholarship Competition for high school graduates. The competitions are an opportunity for those interested in pursuing a culinary career to experience the excitement and discipline of the industry. Each participating location of The Art Institutes will award three tuition scholarships to the winners ($4000 and $1000 to the top two high school seniors and $1500 to the top high school graduate). Deadline for entry is January 24, 2013. For information, to enter or to view the competition rules, visit http://www.aicompetitions.com/culinary2013/.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/58517-the-art-institutes-international-culinary-schools-best-teen-chef-scholarships/