This week we are proud and excited to spotlight another team member of Brighton College/The Paralegal Institute, Gilda Rada who has embraced our “Why” on Improving Employability Every Day! You may have read a bit about her on one of last month’s announcement, however, due to popular demand we wanted to share more about her role and share some great advice she has as well.

What is your role at Brighton College? I’m the Curriculum Program Manager at Brighton College, my role is overseeing design, authoring, development, and revision of courses for Brighton College and The Paralegal Institute. In addition, I maintain ongoing coordination with student services, SME’s, faculty and senior management, in the areas of course implementation, supplementation, modification and revision of curriculum content, with a focus on continuous improvement to the educational programs our institution offers. In the process of overseeing and coordinating the academic development of our curriculum, I also oversee the timely fulfillment and completion of various ongoing academic projects, which ultimately helps us leverage strategic organizational goals, thus yielding positive student outcomes.

What part of your job do you like the most? I love (not like) my job, and everything I do in the curriculum development process. In fact, effectively planning for our student’s academic development on a daily basis, makes me jump out of bed every morning. The reason behind my excitement, is the realization that what we do today as a department, can have long term effects in our students, our faculty, the institution, and the community.

Have you ever taken online college courses? I am constantly taking online courses for my academic and professional career. In fact, this month I will receive the (CHEP) Certified Higher Education Professional in Online Learning; this certification is one of the many online certifications our accrediting body offers to institutions in distance learning. In addition, I’ve been privileged to take virtual, hybrid and blended courses through various online platforms, which included Moodle, and Blackboard. In traditional higher- learning institutions, I’ve also been involved in the testing and launching of various distance educational platforms. It is certainly exciting to see new and improved adaptive learning platforms in distance education; this improvement allows institutions such as ours, to maintain a high level of student engagement and quantifiable student outcomes, thus allowing us to reach a student population which was almost impossible to reach in the past.

What advice would you give a student attending an online college? My advice to a student attending or planning to attend an online college in 2017 is very simple, “Get Ready to Meet a New YOU.” Today’s students have technology at their fingertips, but not all of them know how to use technology as an educational or a productivity tool, therefore, it is up to us (educators, curriculum developers, faculty, distance learning institutions) to provide the typical components of traditional learning, and adapt this model into a student-centered learning environment. In this new model of distance and adaptive learning, students are capable to work at varying paces, with content created with their abilities in mind, develop greater responsibility towards their own learning, and find a work-life-balance, which they may not be able to find in the traditional model of learning.

Share one of your favorite benefits of why students should attend Brighton College? One of my favorite benefits, which I know students derive when they join Brighton College is in our mission statement, and this is personalization. At Brighton College, we strive to be readily available to engage with students, their needs and circumstances, and yes, academics is at the top of our lists, but we understand first and foremost, that we must be present in our student’s life, like never before, and convey this message every time we interact with them. In fact, when our students experience a high level of engagement through non-traditional interaction, they feel confident in their academic and career growth, and by default we help them solidify the future with certainty in a new era of distance learning.

Be sure to check back weekly as we will continue to spotlight more members of our team. Once again, please join us in welcoming Gilda.

In our series of sharing some of the exciting new additions to our leadership team, this week we are excited to spotlight Sean Dixon who recently celebrated his one year anniversary at Brighton College.

Please take a moment to get to know him:

What is your role at Brighton College? Student Services Manager

What part of your job do you like the most? Everyday brings on a new opportunity to help our students become employable, also the fact that everyday is different in what tasks I will be completing.

Have you ever taken online college courses? Yes, I am currently taking my Bachelors in Business Management, expected graduation date is in February. I have also taken my General Ed’s, and studied Mechanical and Electrical Engineering in an online setting.

What advice would you give a student attending an online college? Creating and sticking to a schedule. I have been in online college for a few years now, gone though different schedule changes which changed my times of getting to school work. Overcoming the objections of schedule changes is difficult, however once the schedule changes you can adapt. Another bit of advice is to login to your course at the beginning of each week, check out what is due, create a plan according to your schedule and keep to it.

Share one of your favorite benefits of why students should attend Brighton College? The care from the staff and ownership team, from enrollment to graduation. The enrollment team really cares and wants to help you be successful, we will not force you into something you do not want. Once you have transitioned over into a student role, the success coaches are here to help answer any questions while helping you progress through the program. I have gone through some colleges where you do not hear from anyone throughout your program, that leaves you feeling alone.

Sean won’t brag but we want you to know he worked his way into his current role by being promoted from the enrollment team. His passion is helping people gain key employability skills training, which is why if you have ever receive an email from him you will see in his signature the tag line “Improving Employability Every Day”.

Great schools are run by great people and we value our talented leadership team. Therefore, we are excited to share key team members of our team at Brighton College. So over the next few weeks we will be spotlighting some of our newest additions. This week we are featuring Rene Nasluchacz who joined Brighton College back in December 2016.

Please take a moment to get to know her:

What is your role at Brighton College? Vice President of Academic Affairs and responsible for the academic department, student services, and compliance.

What part of your job do you like the most? Working with all departments to provide diverse educational options for students. Working with each department allows me to see how every person influences and impacts student success.

Have you ever taken online college courses? Yes. My MBA was completed online and my PhD work is an online program as well, with face to face residency requirements. I have been teaching online college courses for over 15 years.

What advice would you give a student attending an online college? I would advise students to step away from their limitations and cut away any anchors that can impede their success. It is important for students to realize that the only thing holding them back from achieving their goals is themselves. Also, carving out dedicated study and homework time is essential so that school does not come in second or third place on their schedules. Students should surround themselves with positive influences, people that propel them forward and light a fire when needed. Last, balance is key. Balancing family, school, work, and social responsibilities requires a conscious effort to manage one’s time and prioritize so that nothing falls through the cracks or suffers.

Share one of your favorite benefits of why students should attend Brighton College? Students who attend Brighton College have access to industry professionals in every course and program offered. Such connections give students the advantage of being connected with true professionals within their industry of choice.

Rene, is a fantastic addition to the leadership team and we are thrilled to have her experience, professionalism and work ethic. Check back next week as we feature another one of our newest additions.

In our never ending quest to have the best faculty team on the planet, please join us in welcoming four (4) key new additions to the Brighton faculty team:

Gilda Rada, a current Brighton instructor will take on the role of Curriculum Project Manager. She will work with the academic and management teams in prioritizing and completing a rigorous curriculum revision plan that includes data analysis, Subject Matter Expert involvement, and collaborative work flows.

Gilda holds a Bachelor of Science in Marketing, and a Masters of Business Administration from University of Phoenix. She has more than 20 years of experience in marketing, advertising, sales, research and business development. Most of these years have been spent in Tucson, a place she calls home. She has managed and consulted with companies like Univision, Azteca America (Mexico/USA) CRG Global, Casino Del Sol, The Pasqua Yaqui Tribe, Jim Click Automotive, SCORE, The SBA and hundreds of local and international companies.

She has been teaching in higher education since 2011, where she had the privilege of utilizing her professional experience as a Business and GenEds Program Director and the liaison between campus and home office, during the adoption and transition of hybrid/blended and online learning. Further, she was heavily involved in curriculum development of Business, GenEds and Medical Programs. Gilda also collaborated and designed the first entrepreneurial Bachelors program and many shorts courses, thus helping increase campus profitability.

She has been the recipient of many awards in both the private sector and various industries in Marketing and Advertising. In addition, Gilda believes that by the power of education, entrepreneurial development, and economic empowerment, one can break down the barriers of socio-economic challenges. Gilda is currently a member of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, YAO (Young Ambassador Opportunities, an organization driven to empower women around the world to use microloans for their countries development), the Executive Women’s Golf Association and holds a close relationship with the Mexican Consulate, often speaking at their local events about education and economic empowerment. She is ASPA Certified in Campus Administration, Admissions, Compliance, Design and Developing Online Courses, along with Designing Technology-Rich Learning Environments. She is currently pursuing her Certification in Higher Education Professional (CHEP) in Online Teaching.

Lissa Whyte, joins us as the Program Chair for General Education and Business. Lissa holds a Bachelor of Arts in Humanities from Laurentian University, a Certificate in Human Resource Management and Mediation, and a Masters of Business Administration from University of Phoenix. She has been teaching in one capacity or another since 1995 (ESL in South Korea for 18 months), junior high and high school courses for several years before she saw the light and moved to higher education where she feels a strong connection to students. Lissa teaches a wide variety of online business and general education courses at two other colleges and truly enjoys working with students as they pursue their goals.

Lissa has worked in for-profit education since 1998 in various capacities – with a focus on curriculum development, instructional design, and technology integration for the past 10 years. She has been with Brighton College for nearly a year and helps with special projects, including the upcoming DEAC re-accreditation project plan.

Carol Duff, comes on board as our Allied Health Program Chair. Carol has been a dedicated faculty member for several years, teaching a variety of courses: Medical Billing I and II, American History 1 and 2, Skills for Success, Medical Records and also the Medical Records course, Human Diseases, Anatomy and Physiology, and Career Exploration.  She has taught Medical Terminology at another institution in both online and face to face learning environments.

Carol holds a Masters of Science degree in Nursing from the University of Toledo College of Nursing and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Bowling Green State University, with a major in History and a minor in Literature. Carol has been a tremendous asset to the Brighton and Paralegal academic departments, assisting with curriculum development, course revision, and special projects. She brings her experience, education, and passion for helping our students one at a time, each and every day.

Ben Lee, as our Information Technology Program Chair. Ben is the IT Systems Lead at LearnKey, a sister company to Brighton College. He was asked by the leadership at Brighton and LearnKey to design and teach all the tech courses at Brighton College. These tech courses integrate as the main part of curriculum for LearnKey’s video training and testing system.

For the past several years, Ben has been working with LearnKey in developing, testing, and implementing educational online course ware. He is a versatile learner and instructor who is driven by in-depth research.  Ben loves organizing and presenting data that can influence end-users or the bottom line. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Southern Utah University and has advanced training and certifications in information technology, English, music, and has the equivalent of a minor in Mandarin Chinese. Ben enjoys interacting with students and collaborating with teachers, and finds inspiration in his students’ progress.

We are thrilled to have these four individuals who will take on such significant roles on our staff to ensure we are providing the best learning experience and outcome for our students and learners.

You are faced with making choices for yourself on a daily basis. What clothes do you wear? Which car do you drive? What kinds of hobbies do you have? Which clubs do you join? The decisions you make reflect who you are and how you represent yourself to the world. “The choice is yours and yours alone.” In the case of your education, the choice, literally, is yours.Believe it or not, all of these decisions you make about yourself can affect the choice you make when deciding on a field of study to pursue.

John L. Holland came up with a theory: if individuals’ personality and the work environment of their job are congruent, the more satisfied and successful they will be. This makes a lot of sense. If you are artistically oriented, for example, then you would be more likely to be happy in the arts, theater, journalism, music, or something else within a creative environment. You would probably not find yourself happy in an accounting job crunching numbers. If you are not happy, how can you expect yourself to feel satisfied and therefore successful?

It is important for you to have a sense of self-awareness when making decisions for yourself. This may seem like a very difficult and in-depth journey to take, but don’t be afraid to take the time to really think about you. Are you extroverted or introverted? Are you social and enjoy meeting new people or do you prefer to keep to yourself? If you are shy, then customer service, for example, would be a bad field of study and therefore unsatisfying career choice. Think about your hobbies. They aren’t just an outlet for how you have fun but an echo of your personality.

Your perfect career may be hidden within the very hobbies you enjoy so much! Do you like to solve problems and do crossword puzzles? Perhaps a career in engineering or law would be a match for you. Do you enjoy working with your hands? You could find happiness in becoming an architect or mechanic. If you can’t imagine living anywhere other than the beach, enjoying the ocean on a daily basis, then a career in oceanography or marine biology would be right up your alley! Who says you can’t major in your hobby? Talk about having your cake and eating it, too (maybe a pastry chef is in your future!).

When the time comes to look internally at yourself to decide which path of education is best for you, know that there are external means in assisting you with your decision as well. Brighton College is an example of such support. Each student enrolled in Brighton receives a ProScan and Motivation Review. What does this mean?! It is a behavioral assessment that contributes in helping you to realize your strengths and personal tools that are within you. This behavior assessment will guide you to incorporate the tools within you to be in the right mind set when considering and choosing your field of study. Brighton believes very much in the success of their students. What better way to succeed than to pursue a career that you enjoy and can find personal satisfaction? It all starts with the right field of study. Just as the old adage says, “Choose a job you’ll love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.”

Sources:

www.livecareer.com/career-tips/research-studies

www.knowyourtalents.com

As someone who is considering enrolling in an online degree program, you are probably already aware of the numerous benefits of distance learning. In addition to being affordable and flexible, you receive the same high quality education as students who attend classes in the traditional manner. One thing you might not have considered is how your decision to complete your education via the Internet has a positive effect on the environment. From reducing greenhouse gas emissions to saving trees from being made into paper, online learning is an environmentally friendly choice.

Less Air Pollution and Traffic Congestion

In 2011, two professors affiliated with the Online Journal of Distance Education Administration surveyed 100 online students about their driving habits. While some did occasionally drive to campus, most had sufficient resources to complete their work online from home. The professors estimated that over the course of the semester, keeping these 100 students off the road resulted in five to 10 tons in reduced greenhouse gas emissions.

By taking classes online, you also do your part to reduce traffic jams. This is especially true if you live in a large metropolitan area. The less you drive your car, the longer you can expect it to last before requiring replacement. That means there is one less vehicle at a local junkyard taking up space that could be used for other purposes.

Reduced Need to Print Paper and Maintain Office Equipment

According to Scholarix, a company that develops curriculum for online learning, 350 million print cartridges end up in landfills every year. This is despite the fact that several companies that manufacture print cartridges give consumers the option of refilling them. When you take classes online, it completely eliminates the need to print tests, study notes and other learning materials.

By reducing the need for so much printing, online schools also help to save electricity. Copiers, computers and printers must be plugged in to work properly, which means they utilize a fair amount of power from local utility companies. Like cars, electronic resources last longer when they are used less often. This means fewer of them end up in landfills, where they would serve little purpose but to contribute to pollution.

No Need for Colleges to Physically Expand

Traditional colleges often lack the funds to make classrooms and common areas comfortable for students. However, the administration may be forced to expand once enrollment reaches a certain level. Often times, this means taking over space that was previously vacant. Adding on to the physical structure requires the removal of trees and natural vegetation in addition to using various types of possibly toxic building materials. Once the expansion is complete, there are additional heating and cooling costs to consider.

Attend Brighton College No Matter Where You Live

Brighton College, which is physically located in Scottsdale, Arizona, offers allied health, business and paralegal degree options as well as continuing education programs. Whether you’re a working adult looking for greater flexibility or someone who takes pride in preserving the environment, we invite you to contact us to learn more.

What Are Digital Badges?

Badges have been used by organizations for years to showcase accomplishments. Now that we are submersed in an online world, digital badges are the latest way to reward users for accomplishing certain tasks.

Digital badges credentialing mechanism, based on assessments, which are displayed online. Badges are designed to validate learning and acheivements.

How Digital Badges Got Started

In the past, the only way for people to demonstrate mastery of a subject was to produce the original degree or award presented to them. This was sometimes problematic for non-traditional students who completed their degree requirements online. Even though online learners typically receive formal recognition of their accomplishment by mail, many students felt it wasn’t enough. Because much of their networking and pursuing of job leads takes place online, these non-traditional students wanted a way to prove their expertise in their chosen field. Digital badges allow them to do just that.

What Digital Badges Represent

In December 2014, U.S. News & World Report Education stated that digital badges recognize the achievements of online students in the same manner that typical college students are rewarded with academic credentials. Supporters of digital badges feel that this new type of recognition represents a shift in the way society views online learning.

Gone are the days when employers would not accept a degree earned online as being valid. Today, employers and educators alike acknowledge there are multiple ways to acquire new information, including by Internet and through project-based learning. Digital badges serve to further increase the legitimacy and acceptance of degrees and program certificates earned entirely online. Additionally, they offer adult learners the opportunity to choose what to study and decide who gets to see the badges.

How Badges Are Displayed

With digital badges continuing to grow in popularity, several companies now provide people with options for storing and displaying their badges. One such system is the Mozilla Open Badge Infrastructure (OBI). In order to use this program, an adult student must prove that he or she has met all of the criteria required from the grantor of the badge. This typically includes completing required coursework and passing some type of competency test. After verifying these credentials, an OBI employee inputs the following information:

• Student’s name
• Email address
• Criteria met to earn the badge
• Link to a description of the program criteria
• Badge issue date
• Badge expiration date, if applicable

The person who earned the badge then stores it in an electronic backpack. He or she has complete control over where it is displayed and who has access to the information.

Online Learning Opportunities at Brighton College

Brighton College, a distance education provider located in Arizona, offers degree programs in business, healthcare and several other in-demand occupations. We encourage all prospective students to contact us for specific program information and to inquire about digital badge options.

According to the United States Department of Education, accreditation means that an institute of higher learning has demonstrated commitment to providing courses and programs that allow students to make practical use of the skills they have acquired. For some students, this means graduating from one college and immediately enrolling in another one to continue training for a professional career. Other students who graduate from an accredited school immediately apply for employment in their field. Although accreditation is voluntary, a college that receives it must demonstrate rigorous standards of excellence.

Different Types of Accreditation

There are two main types of accreditation available to all types of colleges. These include:

• Institutional Accreditation: This status refers to the college or university as a whole. It’s important for prospective students to keep in mind that just because an institution has earned accreditation, it doesn’t mean that every program within it has.
• Professional or Specialized Accreditation: The head of specific programs within a college may choose to apply for separate accreditation. When an accrediting body evaluates a specialized program, its members pay attention to student learning outcomes or expected competencies after completing the program. Since many professions require students to graduate from an accredited specialty program, it’s important for students to ensure that a program is accredited before enrolling in it.

Questions Prospective Students Should Ask Every College

Before seriously considering enrolling in an online or degree program, future students should know if the school itself or a specific program it offers is accredited. If the answer is no, he or she may want to keep looking. While the college may offer some valuable courses and career training, many employers and universities offering advanced degree programs don’t consider credits from an unaccredited college to be valid. Students should also consider asking the following questions:

• Does completing a specific degree or program allow the student to become certified or sit for a required exam?
• Does the fact that the school is accredited have any bearing on financial aid eligibility?
• What percentage of graduates obtains a position in their career of choice?

Brighton College’s Accreditations and Memberships

Brighton College, originally founded under the name Modern Schools, Inc. in 1961, offers certificate, diploma, and degree programs in business, allied health, paralegal and criminal justice, information technology, and continuing education for professionals. As a distance learning college, we offer all of our coursework online. Depending on the specific program chosen by the student, he or she can expect to graduate from Brighton College in 12 to 30 months.

Because we are committed to the ongoing success of our students, Brighton College is licensed by the Arizona State Board for Private Postsecondary Education and is accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC). Additionally, we hold membership or affiliation with the following organizations:

• American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA)
• American Medical Billing Association (AMBA)
• Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity (AHDI)
• Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA)
• Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB)

Students who are interested in learning more about our various career programs should contact us today.