RALEIGH, N.C. – Dr. Stephen Scott, president of Wake Technical Community College, reports that the College has received more than $2.5 million in grant funding since May of last year. Grant funds often provide the means for educational and other non-profit organizations to strengthen and expand programs beyond the scope of their regular operating budgets.

The following grants have also been awarded to Wake Tech:
From the North Carolina Community College System (NCCCS)

• Facilities and equipment grant of $900,000 that will allow Wake Tech to start on a new 100,000 square foot Health Science Building six months earlier than anticipated – without having to wait for the release of school bond funds in July 2008. The new timeline will save the college significant construction costs; the building will expand efforts to meet the growing demand for nurses and allied health professionals.
• Minority Male Mentoring program grant of $20,000 that will leverage institutional matching funds to improve enrollment, retention, and graduation rates among minority male students.
• Professional development grants of 1) $22,353 to teach distance learning faculty to create digital video for online courses; and 2) $600,000 over three years to create a “Virtual Learning Center” with statewide partners.
• Small Business International Success Program grant of $5,000 to assist small business owners in NC in developing export markets and exploring technology transfer opportunities
• A second BioNetwork grant of $250,000 to design, develop, implement, and disseminate Virtual Environments for training students and workers in NC’s biomanufacturing industry
• Nursing education grant of $2,000 to support disadvantaged nursing students (students with disabilities and/or those at risk financially or academically) with counseling and other assistance.

From the John Rex Endowment

• Community Care of Wake and Johnston Counties partnership grant of $163,320 over three years. Wake Tech will provide the workforce development component of the project, recruiting and supporting bilingual students in medical and nursing assistant programs, assisting them with job placement upon graduation, and providing ESL classes for students and families.

From the US Department of Labor

• “Youth Build” partnership grant with Capital Area Workforce Development of $430,503 over three years to provide GED preparation and training in Construction Basics skills for college credits.

From the Bank of America Foundation

• Scholarship grants totaling $2,500, awarded to the Wake Tech Foundation to allow GED and Adult High School graduates to pursue diploma, certificate, and degree programs to increase career options and earning potential.

From the NC Health and Wellness Trust Fund Commission

• A grant of $75,000 over three years to make all Wake Tech campuses tobacco-free and to improve the health and safety of students, staff, and visitors through a program of education, prevention, cessation support, and policy reform.

Read More About This:CarolinaNewsWire

ARA) – You’re ready for a new career, or to take your current one to the next level. You’ve heard that online learning can be a convenient way for busy working adults to earn a degree. But an overload of TV commercials, Internet ads and junk mail has your head spinning, and you’re not sure how to choose the online program that’s right for you.

Online learning – completing coursework and degree requirements through Web-based lessons and seminars — has gone mainstream. Nearly 3.5 million students were enrolled in an online program during the fall 2006 term according to the 2007 Sloan Survey of Online Learning. Diploma mills, unfortunately, are also prevalent, raking in hundreds of millions of dollars each year by scamming consumers looking to advance their careers.

So how do you tap the convenience and flexibility of online learning while avoiding the pitfalls of diploma mills or a legitimate degree that still doesn’t impress employers? Most important, how do you choose the online program that’s right for you?

Adrian Marrullier of University Alliance Online, an organization that partners with leading brick-and-mortar schools such as Villanova University, Tulane University, and Florida Tech, offers the following tips:

1. Choose an accredited institution. The most widely recognized form of university accreditation in the United States comes from regional accreditation boards. Regionally accredited institutions recognize credits and degrees earned from other regionally accredited programs.

“If the online school you are considering is not accredited, beware,” Marrullier says. “Regional accreditation is best, and ensures that a school is offering a uniform and academically sound educational program.”

Other advantages to accredited schools include:

* Credits earned at unaccredited institutions usually are not transferable to accredited ones.

* Attending an accredited online school can also qualify you for financial aid from a number of sources, including employer-sponsored tuition reimbursement programs.

2. Consider an online program offered by a brick-and-mortar establishment. “Recognized, respected, traditional institutions are quickly expanding their online offerings,” Marrullier says. “It is now possible to obtain undergraduate and graduate degrees in virtually any field from a long list of top-name universities.”

Each year, more schools hop on the information superhighway. For example, the Florida Institute of Technology recently expanded its successful online program to 15 undergraduate and graduate degrees available 100 percent online. Courses include online chat rooms, professor-led streaming video, message boards, e-mail and MP3 downloadable lectures.

Cathy Nanovic, who earned her certification in project management from Villanova through the university’s online program, can vouch for the value of a big name school on your diploma or certificate. “The Villanova certificate program I listed on my resume generated so much attention that I had to make a spreadsheet to keep track of all the offers,” she says. “I accepted a role on an exciting and highly visible project with Penske Corp. I even had other companies offer more money if I would change my mind.”

3. Once you’ve narrowed your search to one or two schools, examine the specific program you’re interested in. Consider:

* Does the program offer the flexibility you need? James Wong, who earned a Master’s degree entirely online, travels extensively for his job. “I needed a course of instruction that was flexible enough to accommodate my absences from the U.S.,” he says. “Florida Tech’s online course was ideal since I could do the work while away or on the airplane, and they even flew my books to me when I was abroad for extended times.”

* Will you receive the support you need to achieve success? Make sure your chosen program offers knowledgeable and dedicated enrollment representatives who will assist you with everything from financial aid to class scheduling. “My enrollment rep handled a number of issues for me as I was going through my program,” says Donna Bryan, a high school English teacher who is two courses away from completing an online Master’s degree with The University of Scranton. “As a result, I’ve had a great experience taking classes online.”

* Is the online program and the degree you will earn from it the same as what you would experience and earn if you physically attended classes at the institution? Will the word “online” appear anywhere on your diploma? To provide the maximum career benefit, your online degree should be no different than ones awarded to attending students.

To learn more about online degrees from leading accredited universities, visit www.UniversityAlliance.com. Online learners can earn associate, bachelors or graduate degrees from institutions such as Florida Tech, The University of Scranton and Jacksonville University and certification programs from Villanova University, University of Notre Dame, Tulane University, and Thunderbird School of Global Management.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Raleigh, NC – Communities In Schools of North Carolina (CISNC) has announced the addition of two business leaders to its Board of Directors. The Board of Directors for Communities In Schools North Carolina provides direction in planning and policy decisions, oversees financial development, and monitors implementation of goals and objectives of the non-profit to help ensure best practices and results. Board members also serve as advocates and spokespersons for Communities In Schools North Carolina to the community at large.

“Both Tina and Louis bring a wealth of experience, insight, and knowledge to Communities In Schools of North Carolina,” said Linda Harrill, president and chief executive officer of CISNC. “Our organization continues to be strengthened by having these business leaders join our board of directors. Their commitment of time and resources to CISNC illustrates the fact that businesses across our state realize that helping our students succeed in the classroom and stay in school is vital to the economic future in North Carolina.”

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Raleigh, N.C. — The Alice Aycock Poe Center for Health Education is receiving a $25,000 grant from the AT&T Foundation to improve use of technology in educating North Carolina youth. The grant, part of the AT&T Excelerator program, will fund technology enhancement, reinforcement and expansion the Poe Center’s programs and evaluation methods.The project will improve the Poe Center’s website to give students, teachers and parents better access to health education curriculum and resources. It will also provide for an online evaluation system. By expanding its website, the Poe Center will expand its reach to all of North Carolina and beyond.

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RALEIGH, N.C. – Wake Tech’s new Public Safety Training Center opened to serve the growing needs of area law enforcement and other public service agencies. The Center, at 321 Chapanoke Road in Raleigh, will train law enforcement officers, firefighters, corrections officers, and emergency medical service providers. It is the first centralized facility for training of this kind in Wake County.

The Public Safety Training Center will begin with courses offerings such as Crime Scene Investigation, DWI Detection, and Field Training Officer instruction.

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RALEIGH, N.C. – Pending final approval from the State Construction Office, Dr. Stephen Scott, president of Wake Technical Community College, announced that Wake Tech’s new Public Safety Training Center is set for its planned January 2008 opening. The Center, at 321 Chapanoke Road in Raleigh, will train law enforcement officers, firefighters, corrections officers, and emergency medical service providers. It will be the first centralized center for training of this kind in Wake County.

The Public Safety Training Center will begin with courses offerings such as Crime Scene Investigation, DWI Detection, and Field Training Officer instruction.

Read More:CarolinaNewsWire