|
|
Quarterly Publication | Winter 2021 |
|
RHEC Facilitates Free GED Training in the Roanoke Valley
For many people, earning a GED is the first step toward a new path that opens doors to a new career or educational opportunities. Despite the challenges this past year brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic, free GED classes are still available in Roanoke.
|
The region’s only authorized GED Testing Center is located at the Roanoke Higher Education Center (RHEC). Run by RHEC member Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Region 5 Adult Education, the GED training at RHEC is a one-stop shop that prepares students for the GED to taking the exam onsite.
Due to Covid, things are run a bit differently than in the past. Lea DeCosta, Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Region 5 Adult Education’s Regional Program Manager, said that because of current social distancing guidelines, only a handful of in-person spots are available in the classroom. However, everyone starts the GED preparation online through a user-friendly platform called Essential Education. DeCosta said, “Folks can use it on their laptops, computers, or their smart phones. Attendance earned in that program actually counts towards our class attendance. It is just like being part of our class.”
The only requirement Virginia has is for a person to be 18 years old. The GED consists of not one but four tests: math, language arts, social studies, and science. The subjects may be taken on the same day or separately.
“We are so proud to partner with Region 5 Adult Education to provide free GED preparation,” said RHEC’s Senior Director of Academic & Student Services Carla James-Jackson, “and it is so convenient to also be able to offer GED testing onsite.”
DeCosta is grateful to have their classroom right across from the testing center as “it makes our students comfortable and takes away some of the stress.”
RHEC’s Educational Testing Center is open Mondays and Fridays from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.; Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. and Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
For more information about taking the GED at the Roanoke Higher Education Center, please call 540-767-6010 or email testing@education.edu. To register for the GED, visit ged.com.
|
|
Economic Equity Initiative Grant Supports CNA Training in the Roanoke Valley
Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA) are currently in high demand in the Roanoke Valley. These vital entry-level jobs play a role in helping to lift families out of poverty. Due to Covid-19, many people have become unemployed, and healthcare provides an opportunity for a new career.
|
|
A recently awarded Economic Equity Initiative grant has allowed our area to train more CNAs. The Western Virginia Workforce Development Board (WVWDB)/Virginia Career Works, Total Action for Progress (TAP), and Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Region 5 Adult Education have partnered to offer this CNA training program at the Roanoke Higher Education Center (RHEC).
According to Lea DeCosta, Regional Program Manager of Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Region 5 Adult Education, the grant provides “skilled-up” training for qualifying individuals by combining job training and academic support. “They can take some positive steps into a new career or increase their job opportunity,” she said. “Basically, the goal is to get a family-sustaining wage.”
RHEC is the site of the program, and two of its members—TAP and Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Region 5 Adult Education—provide different components of the training. TAP is the training provider of the CNA material. Morgan Romeo, Executive Director of Virginia Career Works, said, “We partnered with TAP because they have such a great reputation and great ability to provide classes, particularly in the healthcare field for Certified Nursing Assistants, at different times of the day, starting at different times of the year.”
In addition to healthcare training, students also receive Integrated Education and Training through Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Region 5 Adult Education. According to DeCosta, an instructor offers support in math skills, digital literacy, job preparation, social media, as well as soft skills. She continued that these “skills are designed to make these individuals the best employee that they can be.”
The WVWDB applied for and received the grant through the Virginia Community College System and the Governor’s Office. While federal funding supports the training components, WVWDB is leveraging the grant of about $200,000 to provide staff and implement creative marketing strategies.
Romeo added that since their primary goal was to help the out-of-work population gain employment, Virginia Career Works has partnered with two area employers, Medical Facilities of America and Carilion Clinic, who are interested in hiring the graduates.
Both Romeo and DeCosta credit RHEC for the program’s success, taking place in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. The building is easily accessible by public transportation and has so many resources. “They are working hard to make it safe and accessible,” said DeCosta. “The services they are offering really are a lifeline, especially to folks who have lost their jobs.”
The second cohort, comprised of 3-5 students, has recently started the program. The cohorts are designed to be small and supportive. In only 6-7 weeks, the graduates will be working full-time as Certified Nursing Assistants and on their way to a brighter future.
|
|
Virginia Western Community College recently introduced a new Career Studies Certificate in Hospitality Management. Being involved with the local hospitality association, VWCC expressed a need for this type of training in the Roanoke Valley. This certificate is part of the culinary arts program and will prepare students to fulfill entry-level positions in the hospitality industry. Graduates have the opportunity to enter the workforce in the following positions: front desk clerk; housekeeper; concierge; reservations; meeting, convention, and event planner; hotel and lodging front-office operations; and restaurant and tourism marketing.
|
|
Center for Cybersecurity Education and Research Becomes the ODU School of Cybersecurity
By Keith Pierce
|
|
Old Dominion University is set to launch the School of Cybersecurity, the first of its kind in the country, on Oct. 1, the first day of National Cybersecurity Awareness Month.
Expanding from the existing Center for Cybersecurity Education and Research (CCSER), the new school builds on the University's efforts to offer cybersecurity expertise to the Hampton Roads region, Virginia, and the nation.
|
"The School of Cybersecurity is a great example of ODU's commitment to providing educational solutions to address real challenges in our region and the world," President John R. Broderick said. "It embraces an interdisciplinary foundation to expand the pipeline for a diverse group of cybersecurity, resilience, and engineering professionals who will be responsible for safeguarding our critical infrastructure."
According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, cybersecurity jobs are now growing faster than the average for all other occupations. Last year, Cybersecurity Ventures predicted there will be 3.5 million unfilled cybersecurity jobs globally by 2021.
Old Dominion is the first research university in the country to launch a School of Cybersecurity offering interdisciplinary degree programs for both undergraduate and graduate students. Georgia Tech recently opened its School of Cybersecurity and Privacy, which does not include an undergraduate focus.
The school will operate under the Office of Academic Affairs and report to Brian Payne, vice provost for academic affairs.
"This is the right time and ODU is the right institution to have such a unique school," Payne said. "To fully realize the growth of tech talent in Virginia, it is imperative that we have a diverse pool of professionals able to help secure the technology. There are more than 54,000 cybersecurity jobs open in the state. We are preparing our students for these jobs."
In 2019, the National Security Agency (NSA) designated ODU a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Operations Fundamental for 2019-2024. The University gained the designation by demonstrating the faculty research grants and publications related to the field of cyber operations and the ability to provide undergraduate curricula that satisfy the necessary academic requirements.
The school "draws on Old Dominion's well-established state and national recognition as a leader in cybersecurity workforce development," Payne said. "This is an important step for ODU as it meets the needs of students while also offering a substantial positive impact on the Hampton Roads region, the state, and the nation."
The move to become a school is largely driven by the increase in student interest in cybersecurity programs since they began in 2015.
"We started with 11 students," said Hongyi "Michael" Wu, director of CCSER who will lead the new school. "We now have roughly 800 students, so it made sense to create an academic unit to better support them in an education environment that they can call home."
Student interest as well as industry demand also facilitated the need for additional degrees. Since 2018, the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia approved two cybersecurity degrees for ODU—a Master of Science, which has grown to more than 100 students, and a Bachelor of Science, launched in the fall of 2019.
"For ODU, this is more than a name change," said Payne. "As the demand for cybersecurity education continues to increase, in addition to our ongoing research, we want to expand our focus on students to ensure they have the support they need to pursue these careers that are so critical to our nation's workforce, particularly its economic and national security."
|
|
Research funding will be used to hire research scientists in the upcoming year. In addition, more than three dozen faculty across campus will be affiliated with the school.
Old Dominion's School of Cybersecurity will soon be located in Monarch Hall.
|
|
Develop Skills for Effective Communication In-person & Online
Understanding the perspectives of others is increasingly important in our world; 85 percent of job success comes from well-developed soft skills. The ability to understand and empathize with others is often seen to be the most valuable of these skills.
What will I learn?
- how to build trust, develop empathy, and listen deeply
- the best ways to communicate personally, directly, and spontaneously
- the value of storytelling and engaging your audience
Explore the value of playful and creative approaches that will help you establish more productive and more effective connections with all of your collaborators at work and in life.
Classes will meet virtually in three sessions: February 25, March 4, and March 11. Reflections assigned between meetings will help you apply what you’ve learned and prepare for the next session. Cost for this three-part workshop is $199.
|
|
Virginia Breweries: This workshop can answer your laws & regulations questions
If you own, work for, or are thinking of opening a brewery in Virginia, you need to know the rules.
Every brewery is subject to complex federal, state, and local laws and regulations. Whether you are a start-up or existing brewery, this course will help you successfully navigate the legal waters regarding the craft beer industry.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:
After completing this 6-hour course, you will have a strong understanding of these topics (and more!):
- Federal licensing (TTB)
- State licensing
- Three-tier system
- Distribution
- Intellectual property/trademarking
- Labeling/formulations
- Taxes
- Business structures
- Financing
- Owner operating agreements
- Employee issues
- Brewing legislation
- Virginia ABC
SCHEDULE:
When: Feb. 23, March 2, & March 9, 2021
Time: 6-8 p.m.
Location: Virtual
Cost: $179 beginning Feb. 1
This is a virtual course consisting of three real-time lectures and Q&A with the instructor. Instruction is based on laws in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
|
|
|
|
OSHA Occupational Safety and Health Administration General Industry Training
The OSHA 10-hour general industry course is designed to teach entry-level general industry workers information about their rights, employer responsibilities, and how to file a complaint, as well as how to identify, abate, avoid, and prevent job-related hazards on a job site.
The training covers a variety of general industry safety and health hazards, including an introduction to OSHA walking and working surfaces, including falls, protection exit routes, emergency action plans, and fire prevention plans, fire protection electrical personal protective equipment hazard communication.
2-day course | Live instructor | Virtual instruction
March 18 | 1-5 p.m.
March 19 | 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
For more information, contact
|
|
Building Better Future Businesses at MBU
A Revised Curriculum
During the past year, the Business Department in the College of Business & Professional Studies at Mary Baldwin University (MBU) has enhanced our undergraduate and graduate business offerings. The primary focus was further to align the academic content with emerging business practice and create stackable pathways from an initial undergraduate certificate through the completion of the Master of Business Administration (MBA) program.
Furthermore, as long time players in the non-residential learner arena and a former working adult student myself, MBU understands these unique challenges. All our courses are offered regularly in an online format that allows students to progress at their right pace. Our classes are asynchronous in many cases, enabling course participants to complete assignments at the optimal time each week for them.
Those individuals wanting to use business as a force for creating good in the world will benefit from the continued sustainability focus integrated into both the undergraduate and graduate programs. The curriculum has embedded the benefit or fourth sector approach to business where a company wants to generate profits and has an environmental or social purpose. Well-known companies with this approach to business include Ben & Jerry's and Patagonia.
A Stackable Approach
The highly integrated and fully aligned coursework stacks credentials from an initial undergraduate certificate to the culminating Apex Project course for the Master of Business Administration (MBA) program. An example is the undergraduate entrepreneurship certificate comprised of the following courses:
-
BUAD 230 – Marketing Principles (3 credits)
-
BUAD 306 – The Sustainable Entrepreneur (3 credits)
-
BUAD 363 – Exploring Market Disruption (3 credits)
-
BUAD 364 – Product/Service Innovation & Design (3 credits)
-
BUAD 365 – Entrepreneurship Technology (3 credits)
-
BUAD 399 – Certificate Impact Project (1 credit)
Students deciding to continue earning an undergraduate degree would complete the business major core courses and balance the Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree requirements. Part of the coursework could include a second emphasis in sustainability that would lead to an additional Certificate in Sustainability. Additionally, those who want to complete the Master of Business Administration degree can take up to six MBA credits as an undergraduate to count towards the BA degree 120 total credits. The result is to complete 30 of the 36 total credits of the MBA at the undergraduate level reducing time to completion and total program cost.
The MBA allows for continued stackability with graduate certificate opportunities to include:
MBA Business Core (18 credits)
-
BUAD 501 – Marketing Management
-
BUAD 502 – Managing & Leading Others
-
BUAD 503 – Business Communication
-
BUAD 504 – Managerial Accounting
-
BUAD 505 – Financial Management
-
BUAD 600 – Strategic Planning & Process Improvement
Sustainable Enterprise (15) credits:
-
BUAD 622 – Community Transformation
-
BUAD 641 – Sustainable Business Products & Services
-
BUAD 642 – Responsible Business Environments
-
BUAD 623 – Impact Governance
-
BUAD 624 – Maximizing Human Capital
The Apex Project course (3 credits) is the culminating and comprehensive application of the MBA curriculum in a strategic context. This course is a platform for demonstrating the student's detailed knowledge of concentration business systems and functions by completing a business planning or strategic planning project to showcase these capabilities.
Additional MBA Options
The Master of Business Administration (MBA) online degree focuses on educating students to be part of those positioned on the curve of businesses developing a purpose agenda committed to combining economic success with social progress. Our primary objective is to teach those who want to solve the tough challenges facing the world. The outcome is a comprehensive understanding of creating a business environment that benefits all stakeholders while addressing social and environmental issues, leading to a better human experience.
Building on the initial success of the MBA program, the fall 2020 semester introduced an expansion of new concentrations of (15 credits each):
-
Strategic Management – Providing internal strategic management or external consulting on ways to improve operations through systems or organizational change across industries and business environments
-
Healthcare Administration – Delivering knowledge on efficient and effective management for the delivery of the health sector and medical services
-
Nonprofit Management – Focusing on developing a strategic plan for the organization to build productive revenue streams, fundraising, marketing, and community outreach
These concentrations are also available as a graduate certificate for those holding an undergraduate degree or appropriate business experience.
Business as a Force for Good
The residential and online undergraduate and online graduate business offerings focus on providing students a general knowledge of the various aspects of leading and managing responsible organizations, regardless of size or longevity. The program's strength is our approach to learning and practice through a blend of discipline and fundamental skills to develop desirable skills and abilities expected by employers or needed by entrepreneurs.
The student looking to make a positive impact on the world using the power of business, beyond earning a paycheck, will benefit from the education experience offered by the Business Department at MBU.
|
|
Roanoke Higher Education Center
108 N. Jefferson St. | Roanoke, VA 24016
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
