The Innovative Habit

Posted on by Leah Sciabarrasi

Over the past several decades, our lives have dramatically changed with the emergence of technological innovations. Devices that connect us to a world鈥檚 worth of information and each other, being able to meet and work anywhere in the world, digital health records that all of our doctors can access, big data collection that improves traffic patterns through artificial intelligence, robotic limbs, and devices that recognize our voice when we ask to turn on our lights鈥攖hese are just some of the many life-altering advances of our time.

The world鈥檚 many innovations all started with ideas. In some cases, ideas are spontaneous. They come to an innovator who knows how to develop it into a tangible product. Elon Musk, Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, and Richard Branson are names that come to mind when many of us think of innovators and the innovative companies they created. Many have studied the ways of these innovators and imagined how they can harness collective imagination in their own company. Developing a process to conjure up and study ideas is a critical business process in such a rapidly changing world.

Twyla Tharp, a famed American choreographer and dancer, published a book called, 鈥淭he Creative Habit.鈥� In this book, she shares strategic steps anyone can use to create space and opportunities to manifest creativity. Tharp speaks about creating a ritual for creativity to emerge. Rather than the ritual being the creative act, she says her daily ritual involves setting the stage for the creative act to emerge. Just getting up and getting in the cab every morning triggers a daily schedule of activities that prepare her for the emergence of creativity. As Tharp argues, developing a creative habit creates more opportunities for creatives to create.

A study conducted by Robert Boice, a former professor of psychology at Stony Brook University, concurs that habit creates an opportunity for creatives of another nature: writers. Boice studied a small sample of college professors who were placed into groups and assigned different writing techniques: abstinence (forbidden from using non-emergency writing), spontaneous (writing on 50 occasions when they felt inspired), and contingency management (50 writing occasions where they were forced to write regardless of spontaneous ideas). The outcomes variables were the number of pages written each day and the number of days between creative ideas. The results were outstanding. Those assigned to the contingency management group not only wrote 3.5 times more than those in the spontaneous group, they wrote 16 times more than those in the abstinence group. In addition, the number of days between creative ideas was around one day for those in the contingency management group, but two to five days for those in the other two groups. This study shows that habit breeds progress and creativity.

From Creativity to Habit

If creativity can come from habit, can innovation also come from habit?

At first glance, artists and innovators may seem like different breeds. One with a yearning for expression, another with the drive for solutions and profit, but ideation underpins both of their mediums. Ideas form their missions.

In her book, Tharp describes some strategies she uses to discover and collect ideas. The first is scratching. Like a lottery ticket, she scratches at everything that crosses her path hoping it will spark an idea to dance to. Another strategy is a box she creates for every project that becomes filled with clippings, videos, music, and books. The box documents her research and represents her commitment.

The strategies that Tharp follows form her framework for conjuring ideas. In some cases, practice sparks synthesis as ideas. In other cases, practice sparks new ideas. The act of practicing a framework is really what is important. It is the act of seeking, versus waiting. Tharp also emphasizes that the framework only works with consistency. Without consistency, one gets rusty, and the framework takes longer to get going. It鈥檚 like writing. When one first sits down to write after a long period of not doing so, words take longer to appear on the page. It can be argued that the most important part of a project is consistently working through your framework.

Developing an innovation routine is a concept Peter F. Drucker, the famed management consultant and business visionary, agrees with. In his book, 鈥淚nnovation and Entrepreneurship: Practice and Principles,鈥� he says innovative opportunities can be 鈥渟ystematically analyzed and studied.鈥� With new knowledge, businesses must act swiftly. Their search and study must be organized and done on a systematic basis. 鈥淓ntrepreneurial businesses,鈥� he says, 鈥渢reat entrepreneurship as a duty; they are disciplined about it, they work at it, they practice it.鈥�

An entrepreneurial practice is the ritual of entrepreneurial businesses. Without a diligent entrepreneurial practice, innovators can get caught in the act of carrying out the everyday tasks of their business and miss valuable opportunities to ideate. Innovators are like creatives, and need time to think. Time must be set aside to consider new possibilities. Ideas must be sought.

Drucker says innovators are entrepreneurial: always searching for change so they can respond to it and exploit it as an opportunity. This decade emphasized a push for more businesses and organizations to be entrepreneurial and for more leaders to develop an entrepreneurial mindset. One way to do this is to make innovation systematic. Systematic innovation requires companies to proactively look for changes and opportunities.

Systematic Innovation Practices

A large part of systematic innovation is creating the right mindset for it, including considering how an organization is run and how people are encouraged to be innovative. Managerial vision should be focused on opportunity. Operating reports should have two sections: what is wrong and what is right. Drucker claims for everything going right, those units should be celebrated and asked to share their practices.

No one should be restricted from sharing their ideas in a company. No leader can know all the problems that exist in their organization. Relying on employees at all levels to share solutions is a practice that can assist all organizations.

Innovation is much more than product creation and improvement. A large majority of the innovation definition should be about the process. Innovating the way we do things on a daily basis can save time, money, and lead to new markets. Shifting from a 鈥渃all and order鈥� to online ordering allows customers to order at any time.

Focusing on Key Ideas

In the limited time an entrepreneurial business has to spend, where should they be focusing their energy? There are pockets of possibilities inside every company: unexpected successes or failures, disconnects between what is and what is perceived to be, sudden shifts in the industry or society, or new knowledge.

    Consider the data. Sudden industry or societal shifts can be discovered today through data. Algorithms and analytics comb vast amounts of data to uncover possible meaning. Analyzing demographic shifts, for example, might tell a company a new market has opened up and how to market to them. One example of a possible shift always overlooked is age and cultural distributions. Very few organizations are prepared for such shifts because they aren鈥檛 studying them.
    Focus on simple solutions. Another key approach is to focus on simple, tangible products or processes. 鈥淔or an innovation to be effective, it has to be simple and it has to be focused,鈥� Drucker says. Otherwise, it will be hard to appeal to the masses. In one sentence, what is your innovation and what can it do?
    Enhance and invent. Innovation is often seen as a starting process, rather than part of a continuous loop. Just as society evolves, so should businesses evolve their products. This doesn鈥檛 always mean creating new product lines, but it can. Simply adding features to existing products can help the consumer immensely. For example, copy machines and printers still serve the same purpose as they always have, but their speed, quality, and accessibility have been greatly improved over time. Most recently, Wi-Fi capability allows printers to be activated and sent instructions from any mobile device, allowing people to send instructions to the printer and print from anywhere in their home.

Developing rituals and frameworks for creativity has been a successful strategy for many creatives. If creativity can come from habit, innovation can also come from habit. Leaders can develop routines that create space for systematic innovation practices that encourage idea generation in their organizations. Strengthening these practices with a focus on key ideas will help them to align ideation and productivity toward organization goals.

Looking to Advance Your Education in Organizational Leadership and Innovation Management?

91直播鈥檚 online Master of Science in Organizational Leadership with an Emphasis in Technology and Data Analytics program gives you specialized knowledge in the strategic management of technology and innovation, leadership, and data analytics so that you can effectively lead an organization through transformational changes. You can gain practical knowledge you can use immediately as you develop your professional expertise through a curriculum emphasis on the effective use of technology and data analytics.

Earning a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership with an Emphasis in Technology and Data Analytics provides students with a proven pathway to playing an important role in organizational leadership. If you鈥檙e ready to earn your master鈥檚 degree online, contact an admissions counselor today.

Career Spotlight: Penetration Tester

Posted on by Caitlin Abram

Career Spotlight: Penetration Tester

Penetration Tester Job Outlook

Penetration testing is one of the most crucial elements of cybersecurity today, and the job outlook definitely reflects its importance. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that penetration tester employment is expected to grow at a rate of over 30 percent in the next decade as nearly every major industry needs to take proactive steps to make sure their valuable data and systems are secure.

Penetration testers work as part of a company鈥檚 in-house cybersecurity team, for cybersecurity firms, or as independent consultants. Depending on the location, they can expect to earn an average of $100,000 per year.

What is penetration testing?

Penetration testing, commonly shortened to 鈥減en testing,鈥� is the process of simulating cyberattacks to identify weak spots in an organization鈥檚 technology infrastructure and then proposing solutions to strengthen them. Penetration testing helps organizations fine-tune their procedures and is an important way for companies that handle sensitive health or financial data to stay compliant with regulations.

What is a penetration tester and what does a penetration tester do?

Penetration testers work as ethical hackers who to break into an organization鈥檚 information systems before the real hackers have a chance to.

By strategically 鈥減utting on the hat鈥� of a bot, a DDOS attacker, or a phishing scammer, penetration testers can save a company millions of dollars in lost revenue.

There are many different tests that can be used depending on what type of damage a hacker might be trying to do, how they鈥檙e trying to do it, and where they鈥檙e coming from. For example, if you wanted to test for an internal threat, you might use a 鈥渨hite box鈥� test, which gives the tester all the confidential company knowledge an employee might have. 鈥淏lack box鈥� testing gives the tester no outside knowledge and can be used to simulate an attack coming from outside the company.

While there are various techniques for testing, pen testers basically follow the same basic steps. This is how Imperva, a comprehensive digital security company, defines each stage:

    1. 1. Planning and reconnaissance. The first step is to define the goals of a test, the systems to be addressed, and the testing methods to be used. Then, the tester gathers information to better understand how the targeted system works.
    1. 2. Scanning. The next step is to understand how the target will respond to a variety of different attacks.
    1. 3. Gaining Access. This stage uses successful attacks to uncover a target鈥檚 vulnerabilities. Testers then try and exploit these security holes to understand the damage they can cause.
    1. 4. Maintaining Access. The goal of this stage is to see how long a vulnerability can be exploited without discovery. The idea is to imitate advanced, persistent threats that often remain in a system for months.
    1. 5. Analysis. The results of the penetration test are then compiled into a report detailing what specific systems were breached, what data was accessed, and the length of time the pen tester was able to remain undetected.

What do you need to be a penetration tester?

Becoming a penetration tester starts with a solid background in IT, and professionals need to be fully experienced in a range of technologies and systems to succeed. In other words, you need to know how the house is built before you try to break in!

Technology advances quickly, and so do a hacker鈥檚 sophisticated tricks. Penetration testers need to be nimble, creative thinkers with excellent organizational ability to stay one step ahead. Pursuing advanced education and earning industry-recognized certifications are ways you can gain the technical and soft skills employers are looking for.

How to become a penetration tester?

What degree is needed for penetration testing?

Because pen testing isn鈥檛 necessarily an entry-level position, if you have the right amount of progressive experience, an advanced degree might not be required.

For those IT professionals looking to switch their careers sooner and build their specialized knowledge, Excelsior offers both a bachelor鈥檚 degree in cybersecurity and a master鈥檚 degree in cybersecurity to provide you with a focused foundation of skills you need to move up in the field.

What about penetration testing certification?

Validate your skills and show employers you鈥檙e serious about your career by earning one of these top certifications for penetration testers.

  • CEH 鈥� Certified Ethical Hacker Certification
  • GPEN
  • CPT 鈥� Certified Penetration Tester
  • CompTIA PenTest+
  • ECSA 鈥� EC Council Certified Security Analyst
  • CEPT 鈥� Certified Expert Penetration Tester
  • LPT 鈥� Licensed Penetration Tester
  • OSCP 鈥� Offensive Security Certified Professional

If you already hold some of these or other IT credentials, Excelsior accepts many top IT certifications, training, and exams for degree credit to help you reach your career goals faster!

What is the career path for a penetration tester?

As a penetration tester, your career path is up to you! Pen testers are needed in nearly every industry, and employers recognize that people with pen tester on their resume have already gained a foothold in key IT and cybersecurity disciplines, such as systems, coding, and networks, putting them in high demand. Experienced penetration testers can move into positions as information security managers, cybersecurity consultants, or even executive roles, including chief technology officer.

Over time, penetration testing has gone from being a manual to an increasingly automated process. As technology evolves quickly and so do threats, companies are now relying more on machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) to keep pace. To grow in your career as a pen tester, you should make it a goal to keep your skills updated to ensure you stay in demand.

It will pay off in your career to keep your education and certifications current in all areas of IT. Excelsior offers a variety of IT training and certification courses for people any career level, ranging from those just starting their career to industry veterans.

Speak with an Excelsior admissions counselor about the right education path for the next step in your penetration tester career.

Career Spotlight: Dispensary Manager

Posted on by Caitlin Abram

With the increasing number of states legalizing recreational cannabis and general comfort with marijuana use growing among the majority of Americans, business owners and job seekers alike are seeing green!

Chances are, you have seen ads for a marijuana dispensary near you and may have even noticed more job opportunities being posted for dispensary staff. Dispensaries are brick-and-mortar or online retail stores where shoppers can learn about and buy marijuana. High-performing dispensary managers are in high demand and are great positions for people who already have a good base of product knowledge. Depending on where you live, salaries for marijuana dispensary managers can range from $40,000 to around $60,000 per year, according to Salary.com.

However, it is not enough to be an enthusiastic cannabis consumer, you also have to have some key business and management skills as well as experience in retail or customer service to land your dream cannabis job.

How to Become a Marijuana Dispensary Manager

You鈥檒l need the right combination of education and experience to become a dispensary manager. The majority of marijuana dispensary manager jobs require at least a GED, with many requiring an associate degree, bachelor鈥檚 degree, or commensurate experience.

You should also have at least five years of experience in the basic business operations associated with managing a retail store. Just like any other business, dispensaries need customers, sales, and strategy to be successful. Unique to the cannabis business, however, are the high stakes involved in remaining compliant with state and local regulations. While cannabis-specific retail experience is not always required for dispensary managers, as the market continues to grow, employers are going to be looking for applicants who already have a thorough understanding of the industry.

Excelsior鈥檚 Graduate Certificate in Cannabis Control is the perfect credential for those looking to show employers they鈥檙e serious about their cannabis career and to keep current with the latest in cannabis policy, regulation, and business best practices.

If you don鈥檛 already have an undergraduate degree, a great place to start is with an associate degree in business or bachelor鈥檚 degree in business. Both will give you the business basics employers are looking for in human resources, accounting, inventory, and leadership that you need to start your career.

What Does a Dispensary Manager Do?

Being self-motivated and ambitious with strong organizational and management skills is essential. As a dispensary manager, you will be responsible for managing all of the day-to-day operations of your store with duties including:

  • Ensuring the dispensary鈥檚 compliance with security, inventory, and local and state regulations
  • Scheduling, managing, and hiring dispensary staff
  • Creating budgets, maintaining sales reports, and financial record-keeping
  • Working closely with the inventory manager to procure an adequate supply of quality products
  • Continually seeking new education and information about cannabis business trends, regulations, and best practices
  • Developing reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals

    • Requirements to Work in a Dispensary

    In addition to education and experience, dispensaries have very specific legal regulations for anyone working with cannabis. Here are the three requirements you should know before applying for a job as a marijuana dispensary manager:

      Age requirements: You must be at least 18 to work in a dispensary. In some states, the age requirement may be as high as 21.
      Licensing requirements: Licensing requirements for cannabis employees who buy, handle, and distribute cannabis differ from state to state and even from city to city, so make sure you check with your state鈥檚 Office of Cannabis Management on what the dispensary manager requirements are in your location.
      Background check requirements: Most dispensary manager jobs require you to agree to a criminal background check, including a check of your driving record, as part of the hiring process.

    If you鈥檙e interested in starting your career in cannabis as a dispensary manager, Excelsior admissions counselors can work with you to choose which degree or certificate program is the right path to start today to help you reach your goals tomorrow.

    Career Spotlight: Data Entry Associate

    Posted on by Jenna Kerwin

    You just graduated college with an associate degree in business. Now you鈥檙e ready to enter the workforce and build a foundation for your career. What job should you choose? Data entry seems like the perfect answer.

    What Is Data Entry?

    Data entry is the process by which employees add, verify, and edit information or records into a database or computer system. This can also include transcribing information from meetings, recordings, and phone conversations. Usually, data entry includes electronic documentation and entering information into computers, but sometimes employers may require their employees to also use paper documentation.

    Many different industries require data entry work, and you can find data entry jobs ranging from typist to coder. One of the most popular positions is a data entry associate. Let鈥檚 take a closer look at this position.

    What Do You Do as a Data Entry Specialist?

    As a data entry specialist, as with most data entry jobs, you type information from documents, phone conversations, recordings, meetings, and other media into computers and keep the data organized. In data entry, you are essentially converting raw data into a more usable format. You may also come across some data entry specialist jobs that require you to answer phone calls, sort mail, review financial statements, greet visitors, and other duties similar to those of an administrative assistant.

    Start your career strong with Excelsior鈥檚 AAS in Administrative and Management Studies.

    Duties and Responsibilities of a Data Entry Associate

    The main job of someone in data entry may seem like transferring information from one place into another, but there鈥檚 a lot more to it than that. Check out some of the typical roles and tasks of someone in the data entry associate position:

    • Transfer data from hard copy to a digital database
    • Update customer information in a database
    • Create spreadsheets to track important information
    • Scan and organize documents for filing purposes
    • Verify data and make any needed changes to records
    • Prepare reports by collecting and analyzing data
    • Operate office equipment, like scanners and printers
    • Provide occasional administrative support

    Skills and Requirements for a Data Entry Associate

    To be a data entry associate, you need to have some certain skills and attributes to ensure you succeed. Among these skills are good interpersonal communication, excellent typing skills, attention to detail, data analysis, computer proficiency, and customer service skills.

    Beyond this, someone in data entry should have at least a high school diploma. Many organizations are now requiring an associate degree, too. Excelsior鈥檚 Associate in Applied Science in Administrative and Management Studies gives you the knowledge and skills needed for business support roles like those in data entry.

    Usually, employees in data entry will also receive on-the-job training so they are well-versed in their company鈥檚 specific needs.

    How Data Entry Can Help You Land Jobs

    Data entry is a field that has been around since the invention of the typewriter. Companies have always required their information to be processed, organized, and archived. Today, many organizations are finding more need for data entry professionals to combine their soft skills with the aid of technology to sort through the myriad data of a business or corporation.

    A data entry associate is in a unique position to be able to work in any sector, in nearly any related job, in any location. The only thing you need are the demonstrated skills in typing, attention to detail, computer proficiency, and customer service.

    The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects the overall employment of data entry positions to grow 2 percent from 2020 to 2030, which translates to about 156,800 positions each year, on average, over the decade.

    According to Salarly.com, the average data entry associate makes $36,178, but the range typically falls between $32,478 and $40,805.

    Does a career in data entry sound right for you? Consider pursuing an associate degree in business with Excelsior and start on your career path today.

    Career Spotlight: Defense Contractor

    Posted on by Jenna Kerwin

    The use of defense contractors stretches back to the American Revolution. During that war, the Continental Army was inexperienced and ill-equipped, so contractors provided food, clothing, horses, wagons, weapons, and even scouting services. Today, the Department of Defense still requires the help of defense contractors for the U.S. military.

    What Is a Defense Contractor?

    A defense contractor is a business organization or individual who provides products or services to a government鈥檚 military or intelligence department. These products and services can include technical support, training, weaponry, aircrafts, vehicles, communications support, logistics, and electrical systems.

    Working for a Defense Contractor

    According to Stanford.edu, The Boeing Company and Lockheed Martin Corporation are two of the largest defense contractors. These defense companies focus on manufacturing in areas of aeronautics, technology services, space systems, electronic systems, information technology, and others.

    You don鈥檛 have to work for a large business to be a defense contractor, though. The Department of Defense also works with small businesses, including those owned by women, minorities, and veterans.

    Whether you work for a large or small business organization, much of what you do working in defense contracting will be the same. You will help make radars, sensors, weapons, data-analysis tools, command-and-control systems, and cybersecurity systems. As such, it is important to have a degree in an area that supports your career goals.

    Build your knowledge and your career opportunities with a BS in National Security.

    How to Become a Defense Contractor

    The world of defense contracting is complex; it is important to think about what you can offer the Department of Defense and the U.S. military before entering the field. What types of services or products can you and/or your company offer? There are a few steps to follow if you want to become a defense contractor:

    • Verify your business eligibility鈥擟heck the Small Business Administration size standards tool to see if your business meets small business size standards. Your business must meet certain standards to operate for profit, be independently owned and operated, and make significant contributions to the U.S. economy. Also, be sure to choose a North American Industry Classification System code that best describes your business.
    • Get the proper credentials鈥擮btain a free data universal numbering system number, which will help you bid on proposals by coding the physical location of your business. You can also register with the Federal Contractor Registry, System for Award Management so your company is listed as wanting to bid on projects of the federal government.
    • Find appropriate opportunities鈥擸ou can look for an appropriate contract opportunity at www.sam.gov.
    • Hire qualified individuals鈥擶hoever works in your company must be qualified and committed to understanding federal guidelines and be masters in their fields.

    Defense Contractor Job Outlook

    Working as a defense contractor has many benefits. You can work in an exciting, fast-paced, and growing career field while providing goods and services that help the U.S. military. In addition, there are other great pros to working in defense contracting:

    • Good equal opportunity
    • Generous paid time off
    • Annual cash bonus called the Success Sharing Plan
    • 100 percent tuition reimbursement for approved coursework
    • Life insurance plans
    • Health care plans

    According to comparably.com, defense contractor salaries in the U.S. range from $19,398 to $517,263 with the median salary of $93,671.

    If you think that you could offer goods and products to help the Department of Defense and the U.S. military, consider becoming or working for a defense contractor. A Bachelor of Science in National Security from 91直播 can give you a foundation in federal regulations to help propel you in this career.

    Entry-Level Criminal Justice Jobs

    Posted on by Jenna Kerwin

    You鈥檝e loved justice and law enforcement since you were a kid. So, naturally you pursued criminal justice for your education. Now you have a bachelor鈥檚 degree under your belt. Or maybe you have an associate degree. Whichever the case, now you鈥檙e ready to start your career. But where do you begin? How do you enter the criminal justice field?

    Criminal justice is a broad field that includes many kinds of jobs. You can choose a career at the local, state, or federal level, working within the criminal justice system. Let鈥檚 explore some popular options if you鈥檙e ready to enter this career field.

    Jobs You Can Get with an Associate Degree in Criminal Justice

    With an associate degree in criminal justice, you have a strong foundation of the theories and practices of the criminal justice system. With this degree, you can enter a rewarding field with job opportunities that grow while you do. Here are some popular jobs you can land with an associate degree:

  • Police officer.Police officers protect the lives and communities they serve. They respond to emergency calls, patrol assigned areas, provide evidence and testimony in court, and have many other responsibilities. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports the average salary at $66,020.
  • Corrections officer. A corrections officer works in jails and prisons to protect inmates and staff. They might also be in charge of investigating illegal activity, preventing disturbance, transporting inmates, and inspecting facilities. The BLS reports the average salary at $47,920.
  • Legal assistant. A legal assistant helps lawyers by preparing documents, drafting correspondences, organizing legal appointments, and performing other legal tasks. The BLS reports the average salary at $56,230.
  • Criminal court officer. Criminal court officers, or bailiffs, maintain order in the court. They escort judges, jurors, attorneys, witnesses, and defendants into the courtroom, make sure all parties abide by the rules of the court, and ensure that lawyers and witnesses don鈥檛 influence the jury鈥檚 decision. The BLS reports the average salary at $47,920. Note: at the federal level, a bachelor鈥檚 degree is required for this position. At the local and state levels, you only need a high school diploma or associate degree.
  • Juvenile counselor. A juvenile counselor works with troubled youth in schools or correctional facilities to help them make better choices and overcome adversity. Glassdoor reports the average salary at $40,440.

    • Jobs You Can Get with a Bachelor鈥檚 Degree in Criminal Justice

    With a bachelor鈥檚 degree in criminal justice, you will be well-prepared to enter any of the jobs mentioned above, plus you will be well-positioned to apply for higher-level jobs. Here are some popular entry-level jobs you can pursue with a bachelor鈥檚 degree:

  • Forensic science technician. A forensic science technician has a variety of roles, including collecting and analyzing evidence, preparing detailed reports to be used in court, and explaining complex ideas to other parties. The BLS reports the average salary at $61,930.
  • Detective. A detective is a great position to work up to if you鈥檙e a police officer. With a bachelor鈥檚, you can achieve this goal and help solve crimes. Detectives gather evidence, interview witnesses and persons of interest, participate in arrests, and much more. The BLS reports the average salary at $90,370.
  • Secret Service agent. A Secret Service agent protects important government officials like the president or vice president. Since they are part of the Department of the Treasury, they also work on cases involving fraud, money laundering, and counterfeiting. ZipRecruiter reports the average salary at $69,071.
  • FBI agent. FBI agents investigate violations of the federal government, including human trafficking, insurance fraud, drug-related crimes, financial crimes, and much more. PayScale reports the average salary at $66,542.
  • DEA agent. A DEA agent combats drug trafficking within the United States, sometimes working with other federal, state, and local agencies. They may also work with agencies from outside the United States to fight international drug crimes. ZipRecruiter reports the average salary at $81,142.

  • Benefits of Entering the Criminal Justice Career Field

    By entering the criminal justice field, you can make a difference in the lives of many people. You can help crime victims, help prevent crime, and help solve crimes. It can be a rewarding career for anybody looking to give back to their community or who wants to make a difference.

    If you think a career in criminal justice is right for you, consider pursuing an Associate in Science in Criminal Justice or a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from 91直播 so you can jump into one of these entry-level jobs and start your career in criminal justice.

    • Going Back to School While Raising a Family

    Posted on by Excelsior Staff

    People apply the phrase 鈥渋t鈥檚 never too late鈥� to many aspects of life, including earning a college degree. But before the emergence of online college degree programs, most parents found the idea of going back to school while raising a family highly unrealistic.

    That鈥檚 no longer the case. High-quality, 100 percent online college degree programs offer parents and working adults the flexibility to earn a degree on their own schedule, allowing them time for family and work.

    91直播 is a pioneer of online learning. Excelsior offers a wealth of online degree programs in business, health sciences, liberal arts, nursing, public service, and technology. Each one features experienced staff, rigorous curriculums, and an online environment designed for non-traditional college students, like those going back to school while raising a family.

    In recent years, such non-traditional students have become the new normal.

    The Growing Popularity of Going Back to School

    Every year, more working adults and parents across the United States return to college. Recent data reported by the Institute for Women鈥檚 Policy Research that parents make up 22 percent of all undergraduate college students.

    That translates into about 3.8 million parents going back to school. Of those, about 2.7 million are mothers and 1.1 million are fathers. Also, the Lumina Foundation that 40 percent of today鈥檚 college students are 25 years or older.

    Data also that more people than ever are enrolling in online degree programs. Federal data shows that 3.4 million students enrolled in 100 percent online degree programs in 2019鈥�2020, or 17.6 percent of all college students. More than 37 percent took at least some online courses.

    Characteristics of Parents Who Become Students

    Parents who go back to school are typically motivated to succeed because they want to improve their children鈥檚 lives, according to the Institute for Women鈥檚 Policy Research. And despite the obstacles these parents face, they tend to do well in college.

    For example, student parents typically achieve a higher grade point average than other students. About one-third of parents enrolling in college have a GPA of 3.5 or higher. In comparison, about 31 percent of independent non-parents and 26 percent of dependent students attain a 3.5 GPA, the institute reported.

    Student parents also have a clearer idea of what they want out of college. Author Rebecca Klein-Collins, who recently wrote a book about adult college students, National Public Radio that working adults entering college come from many different backgrounds. Some started but did not finish college after high school. Some went straight from high school into the workforce or joined the military. And some decided to start a family.

    鈥淭hese are all people who are really good candidates for going back to school,鈥� she said. 鈥淎nd these are the kinds of people you see in classrooms these days. It’s not that unusual.鈥�

    How Excelsior Helps Parents Who Become Students

    91直播 designs its online degree programs with adult students in mind, including parents returning to school. Excelsior鈥檚 online programs are flexible, allowing parents to schedule time to focus on school around their work and family responsibilities.

    Excelsior also offers a generous transfer policy allowing parent students to transfer credits from a variety of sources:

  • Courses taken at accredited colleges
  • Credit for college-level exams
  • Business and professional certifications
  • College and university professional training
  • Criminal justice training
  • Educational and vocational programs
  • Health care credentials and certifications
  • IT certifications, training, and exams
  • Military training
  • Nuclear utility-accredited training programs
  • Nursing licenses and certifications
  • Professional and workplace training

    • 91直播 also assigns every student an advisor who collaborates with them throughout their time at the school. This partnership ranges from guidance during enrollment and orientation, to advice on choosing courses, and support in finding a job as graduation approaches.

    Taken together, these services from 91直播 increase the chances of academic success for working adults ready to enter college. For the growing number of parents going back to school while raising a family, Excelsior鈥檚 comprehensive services and curriculum make a significant impact in their ability to reach life-changing academic and career goals.

    What Makes a College Veteran Friendly?

    Posted on by Excelsior Staff

    Many colleges advertise themselves as 鈥渧eteran friendly鈥� or 鈥渕ilitary friendly,鈥� but not all provide the services that meet the promise of those words. At 91直播, administrators, faculty, and staff pride themselves on providing an educational experience that helps veterans make a smooth transition from military service to the civilian workforce.

    In 2013, Excelsior created the Lt. Col. Bryant A. Murray Veterans Center with funding from alumnae Bryanne Hamill. A former Excelsior trustee whose father served 30 years in U.S. Air Force, Hamill also created two endowment funds to support scholarship awards for veterans.
    Hamill said her father never had the opportunity to earn a college degree because of having to move around and support his family.

    鈥淎ppreciating how important education is, I wanted to be able to give back to Excelsior and also be able to really support military servicemembers and veterans in obtaining and completing their education, so that they could pursue their dreams, either while they are in the military or to prepare for the transition out,鈥� Hamill said in a video about the veterans center.

    That commitment to helping servicemembers and veterans are what sets a true veteran-friendly college apart.

    Characteristics of a Veteran-Friendly College

    Veterans searching for the right online college will frequently come across schools claiming to be veteran or military friendly. But actions speak louder than words. The first step in finding colleges that deserve the title 鈥渧eteran friendly鈥� involves researching what they offer military students.

    Some of the schools that are veteran friendly include the following.

    Flexible admissions process. Members of the military and veterans need flexibility in the admissions process. Many of the items needed for a civilian application 鈥� high school guidance counselor recommendations or updated senior high school grades 鈥� don鈥檛 apply for veterans who graduated high school years ago. Veterans should look for schools that offer them flexibility, such as using letters of recommendation from military officers.

    Credit for military training. A military-friendly college should review what a veteran has learned in military training, including from classes in military technical schools, as potentially qualifying for credit in similar college courses.

    Flexible withdrawal rules. For active-duty students or those in the National Guard, a college should have flexible rules in place in the event a military student is deployed and must withdraw from classes.

    Emphasize diversity. Many schools pursue students from diverse economic, racial, and ethnic backgrounds. The same commitment should apply to veterans, who make up about one out of every 30 college students nationwide. Veteran-friendly schools show a commitment to making the educational experience better by seeking to recruit a diverse mix of students on campus.

    Clear financial aid. Veterans can face a bewildering amount of bureaucracy in securing financial aid to pay for their college courses. While veterans receive aid through the Post-9/11 GI Bill, that often does not completely cover costs. The most veteran-friendly schools offer scholarships to support veterans in pursuing their academic goals.

    Why Excelsior Is Veteran Friendly

    91直播 offers veterans and active duty servicemembers support in all the categories above. But Excelsior goes beyond these areas in providing services to military students. Here鈥檚 a look at some of the highlights of what Excelsior offers.

  • A generous credit-transfer policy that allows veterans and servicemembers to receive college credit for qualified military training
  • Transition support for veterans that includes military education representatives on bases throughout the United States
  • Scholarships designated exclusively for veterans
  • Online degree programs that provide veterans and servicemembers more flexibility to earn their degree
  • Popular degree programs for veterans such as the Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity
  • The online veterans center with resources for mental health and wellness and career development

    • Excelsior also has a strong record with military students, working with more than 72,000 veterans, active-duty servicemembers, and their families since its inception.

    Through the Lt. Col. Bryant A. Murray Veterans Center, Excelsior provides military students a point of entry into what Excelsior can offer them. Hamill said the center helps Excelsior 鈥渕eet the veterans and the military servicemembers wherever they are.鈥�

    鈥淟earning is a lifelong pursuit. We never stop learning. We always want to be growing and learning and availing ourselves of different opportunities,鈥� said Hamill. 鈥淢y hope with the veterans center is that veterans and military will tap into the education that鈥檚 available here.鈥�

    Career Spotlight: Customer Service Associate

    Posted on by Jenna Kerwin

    Have you ever had a question about the bill you received in the mail? Did a child鈥檚 Christmas toy just not work as promised? Maybe your DIY cabinet didn鈥檛 come with the necessary directions. In any case, you need to talk to someone about rectifying these problems. You call the 1-800 number provided and the voice on the other end helps you get what you need. The person helping you is a customer service associate, also known as a customer service representative.

    Customer service associates are responsible for interacting with customers and helping them with questions or concerns regarding a company鈥檚 products or services. They listen to customer concerns and problems, recommend products or services, and offer to help in any other ways the customer might need.

    The best customer service associates are good communicators who like to talk with others. They鈥檙e patient, empathetic, good problem solvers, and can easily put themselves in their customer鈥檚 position. Does that sound like you? Keep reading to learn more about this rewarding career.

    Great careers start here! Earn your AAS in Administrative and Management Studies.

    Customer Service Associate Duties and Responsibilities

    Customer service associates work in many industries, from small nonprofits to large corporations. They are part of the customer service department, and their primary job is to help solve customer issues.

    Here are some specific duties a customer service associate may do:

    • Communicating with customers in-person, through email or chat, over the phone, or on social media
    • Listening to customers鈥� concerns and handling complaints and returns
    • Escalating unresolved issues to the appropriate internal teams
    • Reviewing customer accounts and transactions
    • Keeping records of customer interactions, processing customer accounts, and filing documents
    • Monitoring customer satisfaction levels
    • Giving detailed explanations of services or products
    • Working with a team to figure out how to address customer complaints
    • Receiving orders, calculating charges, and processing payments
    • Building sustainable relationships and trust with customers
    • Providing accurate information by using the right methods and tools
    • Following communication procedures, guidelines, and policies

    Customer Service Associate Skills and Qualifications

    Customer service associates use many skills to provide the best assistance to customers. Here are some skills and qualifications that every customer service associate should possess:

    • Good written and verbal communication abilities
    • Patience, empathy, and professionalism
    • Good problem-solving capabilities
    • Proven customer support experience
    • Attention to detail
    • Basic computer skills, including data entry
    • Effective time management
    • Ability to work in a team setting
    • In-depth understanding of a company鈥檚 products or services

    Customer Service Associate Education Requirements

    Employers hire customer service associates who have at least a high school diploma or GED, but many prefer those who have an associate or bachelor鈥檚 degree as these degrees provide a candidate with advanced computer and communication skills and industry knowledge. 91直播鈥檚 Associate in Applied Science in Administrative and Management Studies gives you the knowledge and skills needed for business support roles like customer service associate. Students can obtain practical training and experience using the most common office software applications, including Microsoft Office programs.

    According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median pay of a customer service associate is $36,920. The BLS projects about 361,700 openings each year, on average, over the decade.

    Contract Cheating in Higher Education

    Posted on by Jenna Kerwin

    In today鈥檚 world, you can pay someone to clean your house, shop for and deliver your groceries, walk your dog, and fix that leaky pipe in your basement. So why not pay someone to write that research paper for your English Literacy course?

    Well, because that falls under what is called contract cheating and it鈥檚 a form of academic misconduct.

    So what is contract cheating? Contract cheating is when a third party completes your assignments, but you turn them in as if you completed them yourself. Contract cheating covers a variety of scenarios. For example, a student may contract cheat if he or she purchases assignments from an online site; obtains assistance from someone else that goes beyond editing to actually doing the assignment; participates in unauthorized discussions or shares answers of an assignment on file sharing sites or social media sites; posts or purchases answers to an exam, assignment, problem or other work; or pays someone to write a test or exam.

    When students aren鈥檛 fully aware of what constitutes contract cheating as well as other forms of academic misconduct such as plagiarism, they are more likely to fall prey to it. That鈥檚 why it鈥檚 important to understand and recognize what constitutes academic misconduct.

    But why is contract cheating so wrong? When students contract cheat, they essentially pay their way to their degree and devalue the work that other students are doing honestly. The practice of contract cheating is a dismissal of the learning process and principles of academic integrity.

    Many universities and colleges are cracking down on contract cheating and coming up with ways to stop it. This includes blocking various internet sites that claim to help students but really promote academic misconduct; creating strong syllabus statements advising students to avoid these sites; talking to students about the thought process necessary to generate an answer to a question or problem; promoting a wide variety of resources such as tutoring centers and counseling services; and developing course assignments that are resistant to cheating. According to EdSurge, an education journalism initiative provided by the International Society for Technology in Education, many university groups are also advocating for laws that would make it easier for colleges to stop contract cheating.
    Turnitin, one of the largest makers of software that checks student papers for plagiarism, also sells an add-on service called Turnitin Originality to check for contract cheating. But aside from technology, professors can use an old-fashioned approach if they suspect contract cheating has taken place: interview the student to see if they have knowledge about the assignment. If they don鈥檛 know what they wrote about, chances are, they didn鈥檛 do the work.

    Since 1992, the International Center for Academic Integrity (ICAI) has been working to promote a culture of academic integrity and to discourage academic misconduct. Since its founding, contract cheating has become a world-wide concern. For instance, in 2019, the New York Times highlighted the rise of contract cheating in North America and in 2017, the UK鈥檚 Daily Telegraph reported that more than 20,000 university students bought essays.

    Each year, the IACI spearheads an International Day of Action Against Contract Cheating on October 20, in which educators, students, and institutions are urged to take a stand against and promote awareness against academic misconduct. Raising awareness is critical in combatting cheating and supporting student learning.

    Q&A with Jennifer Sedelmeyer

    Posted on by Jenna Kerwin

    About Jennifer Sedelmeyer

    Jennifer Sedelmeyer is an adjunct instructor with 91直播 and SUNY Broome Community College where she teaches computer science courses. Her love of computers and technology stems from her childhood, and she remembers tinkering with a model train set. Sedelmeyer earned an Associate in Applied Science from SUNY Broome Community College and a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science from Binghamton University.

    At Excelsior, Sedelmeyer teaches IT 210 Object Oriented Programming and IT 240 Introduction to Programming. These are both important and beneficial courses for IT professionals just starting out or wanting to refresh their Java knowledge.

    We asked Sedelmeyer about her courses, serving on the Information Technology Faculty Advisory Committee, and what she brings to the online classroom. Check out her answers below.

    Q&A with Jennifer Sedelmeyer

    Q: Can you describe the courses that you teach at Excelsior?
    A: I teach IT 210, which is the Java class and IT 240, which is C++ programming. They鈥檙e both intro classes, so you can come in with no knowledge of programming and we get you started.

    Q: What do you hope your students gain from your courses?
    A: I want them to gather a lot of knowledge. I have students that range from age 12 to 91. So, they鈥檙e all different age brackets, and I want them to enjoy programming. I love it [programming], and I would like them to, but if they don鈥檛 love it, at least have an appreciation for it.

    Q: What鈥檚 your favorite part about teaching your courses?
    A: I like it when that light bulb goes off and the students then understand it and go, 鈥淥h yeah, I see it.鈥� I see that all the time, and after almost 35 years, I still see it and I鈥檓 still happy with it.

    Q: What is your role on the Information Technology Faculty Advisory Committee?
    A: The committee helps to decide changes in the curriculum and/or changes in the content of a course. We meet three times a year鈥e decide what courses we should add depending on current industry trends. Also, [we decide] any requirements for transfer credits and/or prerequisites. We get input from all over to see if our classes have the material that’s needed, and we make any changes.

    Q: With your knowledge and experience, what do you bring to the Information Technology Faculty Advisory Committee?
    A: I have been teaching at SUNY Broome Community College for 34 years. I can bring in that perspective鈥攚hat knowledge the community college or two-year school students have coming into Excelsior. I also have a programming background, so I can help with that topic.

    Q: What new ideas do you have for curriculum development, as far as IT and programming courses?
    A: We always try to stay current with whatever technology trends. For example, we have changed the programming language for the introduction to programming course.

    Q&A with Gary McClain

    Posted on by Jenna Kerwin

    Gary McClain is an adjunct instructor with 91直播 and a therapist who maintains the website www.JustGotDiagnosed.com, which provides information for patients and caregivers facing chronic and catastrophic illness. McClain works specifically with patients to help them understand and cope with their emotions.

    McClain completed graduate work in clinical psychology and education and earned a PhD from the University of Michigan. He has spoken on topics such as dealing with medical diagnoses, being one鈥檚 own advocate, communication between patients and caregivers, and more. He conducts training for community agencies and works with employee assistance companies to provide workshops and counseling in the workplace. He has authored and co-authored many books and has several published articles.

    McClain teaches health care courses with 91直播, including HSC 316 Mind, Body, and Health; HSC 375 Health and Wellness; HSC 470 Healthcare Management Capstone; HSC 510 Health Care Policy, Politics, and Power; HSC 516 Communication Strategy for Health Care Leader; and HSC 698 MS in Health Care Administration Capstone.

    We asked McClain about his career, his courses, and what he brings to Excelsior students through the courses he teaches. Check out his answers below.

    Q&A with Gary McClain

    Q: Can you describe your background?
    A: I am a mental health professional currently. I am a therapist and I work with clients with chronic conditions, and I also work in the employee assistance environment. Many years ago, I worked on drug abuse and when I finished my PhD, I thought maybe I’d like to work in business. So, I took a little break鈥攚hich lasted 20 years鈥攁nd worked in marketing, and I did qualitative research鈥 just decided to go back into mental health back in 2002 and got my license in New York in 2005.

    Q: What is the appeal of mental health?
    A: I just really like helping people. When I was working in business, I did some interesting things and I enjoyed the work that I did, but I really missed helping people. And when I started doing qualitative research focus groups, I worked in mostly health-related [areas]; I worked for some pharma companies and a couple of cancer centers. What I was finding was that I would do focus groups or interviews and people would hang out afterwards and they would say 鈥渢hank you for talking to me about my emotions.鈥�

    Q: Why do you enjoy teaching?
    A: I feel by teaching I really touch peoples鈥� lives as well, and I love teaching. I just love it. I love being a counselor/therapist, and I really love teaching as well.

    Q: How did you start teaching with Excelsior?
    A: They brought me in to develop a health education kind of course and then they started letting me teach鈥nd then they started asking me to teach some other courses, and I just kind of gradually got integrated with Excelsior and it has been a great experience.

    Q: What do you like about teaching the courses at Excelsior?
    A: I like interacting with students. I love it when they email me, and I like being upbeat and friendly.
    I like the discussions and so I feel that I have a real opportunity to bring my own personality into it as well. I have opportunities to talk about my work and things [that] are important to me, things that I鈥檓 seeing as a health professional. I like to think that I鈥檓 helping to raise awareness beyond general health issues鈥攔eally raise awareness around mental health issues as well.

    Q: What do you think students gain from taking your courses?
    A: I think students working in health are coming out of our courses in general鈥攂ut certainly my courses鈥攎ore aware of mental health and the importance of looking at mental health issues鈥 think they鈥檙e hopefully leaving more sensitive to their coworkers鈥� mental health issues, hopefully more aware of the importance of empathy and showing kindness and compassion to each other鈥 hope they鈥檙e recognizing that role of really watching out for each other鈥檚 mental health鈥攐ur patients, our coworkers, our employees鈥攔eally watching out for mental health and being aware that mental health can be an issue.