Who is Rachel? I am an admissions representative at Globe University-Appleton. I graduated from University of Wisconsin-Green Bay with my bachelor’s degree in Humanistic Studies and Spanish in 2011. I am a health nut and I recently got a rescue dog named Kora. Tell us something interesting. My mom left her house in California in October to travel to the United States (and Canada) alone. She is currently in Sarasota, FL. She is doing things I am jealous of, like 30 mile hikes on the Appalachian Trail, drinking moonshine with strangers in Kentucky, and climbing the half dome at Yosemite. How do you feel about your mother doing this alone? I am so happy for her and I idolize her.  She frequently texts me about trials and tribulations of traveling alone, and sometimes I wish I could just email her a hot breakfast after raccoons ate her food while she was sleeping. What have you done recently that challenged the norm? Last week I was driving home from work and there was a woman walking on the side of the road. I immediately thought of my mom, and was like maybe this woman got turned around on a 30-mile hike and just wants to get home. I stopped to see if she needed help. That’s when I learned Connie was a homeless woman. She said she was just trying to find a warm place to sleep for the night, and I informed her she was going the wrong way and headed into the country. I panicked. Was I going to bring this lady back to my house? No? No. It was 13 degrees out! I invited her to sit in my car while we figured out the next step. Then, for the first time in my life I called the homeless shelter. The first shelter was at capacity. How many people are homeless in Appleton!? Luckily, she suggested that I call the Fox Valley Warming Shelter, so I called and they had three, first come, first serve spots available for the night. I rushed Connie over to the warming shelter and she was able to get in for the night there. What a wonderful, caring gesture! What are you thinking about today? I was just thinking about Connie this morning, how I hope that everything works out for her, and realizing how grateful I am and should be for everything I have. Who have you helped lately? 

Job seekers who keep at it during the holidays are more likely to find a job. There’s less competition, the season puts people in a receptive mood and there are ample networking opportunities. Less Competition Many people think that the holidays are a time to relax and take a break from their job search. Natalie Busse, career services coordinator for Globe University, says by all means you should take time to enjoy the season, but the reality of our digital world is that companies and hiring managers are still posting jobs, accepting applications and reviewing resumes. "It’s a busier time of year, and most people take the time to focus on their families, spend time with them and go shopping," says Busse. "But the right opportunity could be posted at any time, and you don’t want to miss out." Many companies have a goal of filling any remaining job openings by December 31, and with less people applying, you have an advantage toward the end of the year. Busse suggests using your extra downtime around the holidays to dedicate to your job search. "Pull out your laptop and search postings while everyone is on the couch watching a movie, or focus on applying for an hour or two before bed each night," she suggests. Positive Vibes People tend to be in a better mood during the holiday season. We’re more caring and want to give back, and the same goes for hiring managers. "You may think the opposite - that they just want to get out of the office, so they have limited patience and conduct shorter interviews," Busse says. But according to Forbes, managers may have a lighter work schedule during the holidays, so if they’re in the office, they’re more likely to take the time to talk and meet with you. Employers will also be more open to candidates with an optimistic attitude. Being unemployed can bring you down, but the holidays are a good time to remind yourself of all you do have, and in turn, your positive outlook can help get you hired.  Networking The holidays offer plenty of opportunities to meet, reconnect and network with a variety of people.Busse says get-togethers with extended family are great places to start. Tell relatives about what you’re looking for, and if they know of any possible employment opportunities. Many professional organizations or city chambers host holiday parties, which are also perfect opportunities to meet people in your industry and those who are working at businesses in your community. You can also use the holidays to keep in touch with your network, whether it’s a handwritten card, email or a quick greeting sent via LinkedIn. "Wish them a happy holiday season, and ask if he or she would want to schedule a time to meet for coffee after things settle down in the new year," suggests Busse. The holidays offer many opportunities to volunteer, and it’s not only something to add to your resume, but a chance to meet people who can assist you with your job search. "You already have something in common, because you’re all there to help the same cause," says Busse. "Ask about what they do for work. You never know - it could lead to a job for you." If you’re bold enough, Busse says you can even strike up a conversation with someone in line while doing your holiday shopping. "Never miss an opportunity to network," she says. "The holiday spirit encourages people to build connections, and you can definitely use this to your advantage." To learn more about Globe University and career support services visit www.globeuniversity.edu/about-us/career-services.  

Student’s in the architectural drafting and design program recently joined forces with the real estate law class within the legal studies programs to create a 3D model city. It was called "Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood meets City of Utopia," according to John Hartman, architectural drafting and design program chair. The city is complete with zoned areas for agricultural, industrial and commercial areas, as well as multi-family and single-family residential houses. The model city also included environmental features, such as a river flowing through the town. "Not only did this project give my students the hands-on experience of creating a property model that they will be able to use for future projects, they were able to utilize their Revit modeling software to create the various buildings that make up our City of Utopia," said Hartman. According to Hartman, the engineering drafting and design students will also lend a hand on this project by modeling various 3D components and printing them on the Fortus (a 3D production system that builds durable, accurate, repeatable parts used by the drafting programs). Related: How 3D Printers Are Changing College Drafting and Design Classrooms "Additional creative design projects like these allow me to explore more massing and extrusion tools in Revit this quarter," said Pablo Fenandez. He added that a public library he designed to look like a book turned out great. (See to the creation in the photo.) Likewise, architectural drafting and design student Justin Schaar said this applied learning project enhanced his experience with Revit. "It was advantageous to see the structure I designed placed on a building site, which made it all come together on a larger scale," said Schaar. While the project isn’t quite done yet, the effort proved worthwhile.  "There are still final touches to be made," said Hartman. "This model is a great way to showcase components of our program and this will be extremely valuable for high school student visits and other youth-based architectural workshops we may host in the future."

You’ve probably heard of the so-called "skills gap" and the fact that many employers in the U.S. have difficulty finding the right workers. Even as unemployment figures have crept downward, some industries are still experiencing a shortage of qualified employees. But in what fields, exactly, is the skills gap most prevalent? Aside from manufacturing, an industry widely recognized as having problems with hiring, there aren’t hard figures on which types of businesses are most affected. We’ll look at lists from a few publications, examine some of the themes that emerge from research on the topic and discuss how you can take advantage of the skills gap. Skills Gap by Industry To begin, let’s look at which industries a few publications say are in need of quality workers. From ManpowerGroup’s 2014 survey on the industries that are having the hardest time filling jobs: Skilled trade workers Restaurant and hotel staff Sales representatives Teachers Drivers Accounting and finance staff Laborers IT staff Engineers Nurses From CareerBuilder: Computer and mathematical Architecture and engineering Management Health care practitioners and technical Installation, maintenance and repair Legal Business and financial operations Personal care and services Sales and related Production From Harvard Business Review: Computer technology Nursing High-skill manufacturing So, what do these lists tell us? There’s still a lack of people going to college to get a degree in the STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) professions. But there’s also a dearth of skilled workers in service, sales and general business fields. While there are many factors that contribute to the skills gap, the major culprit is a lack of appropriate training (or opportunities for such education) in job-seekers. Citing figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, a CareerBuilder study says nearly 40 percent of people under 25 are unemployed or underemployed, while about 8 percent of those in the same age bracket with a four-year degree can’t find a job at all. How to Fix the Skills Gap The basic conclusion regarding the skills gap discussion would seem to be that people aren’t getting degrees in in-demand fields. The CareerBuilder survey of 1,025 employers, 205 academics and 1,524 job-seekers found that educational gaps and lack of on-the-job training were the two primary culprits of the skills gap. So, what’s the solution? According to a post on Forbes, it could lie with how schools prepare graduates. "Part of the problem may be that traditional educational institutions weren’t designed for a fast-changing market where skills depreciate quickly," wrote Dennis Yang, president and COO of Udemy."Universities weren’t designed to change curricula and introduce new classes at the pace required by changing industry requirements." Continuing education is also needed, according to Yang, as well as on-the-job training for new hires. Meanwhile, for some businesses, the issue lies with a lack of "soft skills," which include critical thinking, teamwork, creativity and communication, according to a report from CNBC, citing a survey of 500 executives by ADDECO. Lack of technical and leadership skills were the next two most often mentioned attributes job-seekers are lacking. Based on this information, there seems to be two clear answers to bridging the skills gap: More focused (and practical) degree programs Improved apprenticeships and corporate training programs Of course, there are hurdles associated with these efforts. Traditional universities aren’t positioned to quickly respond to demand in the marketplace, and some companies are wary of the costs of implementing training platforms. And in the ever-changing world of technology, even professionals in the job they want must continue to develop their skill set. You’ll also hear talk of the "middle skills gap," which refers to jobs that require more than a high school education but less than a four-year degree. These various factors contributing to the skills gap illustrate that it will take a multi-pronged approach to making sure employers have enough qualified workers: Improvement of soft skills among job-seekers Degree programs aligning with employer needs Better on-the-job training Consistent updates of tech skills by workers Skills Gap: Where Do I Fit In? What does all this mean for people in the workforce? Well, there are openings. You just need to know where to look. (And have the right education and training for the job.) The skills gap provides opportunities in many sectors, but many of them require a degree or some form of education beyond high school. If you’re looking to take advantage, think about your interests, existing skills and where you see your career heading. You’ll have to do some thinking and self-reflection. You might be fine with a certificate of some sort. Maybe you want to secure an advanced degree to get ahead in your company. Or would an apprenticeship make more sense for your goals? Remember these things when you do research on the skills gap and how it factors into your future. There are jobs to be had. You just need the right plan.

Tom Kosel, director of government relations for Globe Education Network (GEN), has been recognized by the Minnesota Career Colleges Association (MCCA) with the 2014 Lifetime Achievement Award. Kosel has served as the MCCA Legislative Chair since 2000. "I am honored to receive such a distinguished award," says Kosel. "I’ve enjoyed the opportunity to work with MCCA, and believe it’s important that all students seeking career-focused education in the state of Minnesota have continued access and choice." MCCA is a voluntary organization, and is the voice of career and professional education in Minnesota, representing private post-secondary schools and colleges since 1958. Kosel and the MCCA Legislative Committee advocate on behalf of students, and build positive relationships with legislative and regulatory officials on both the state and federal level. One of their major focuses is ensuring students have access to the Minnesota State Grant Program. "Tom has inspired all of us at GEN to be more civically engaged, and involved in state and federal issues affecting higher education," says Jeanne Herrmann, Chief Operating Officer for Globe Education Network. "He epitomizes integrity and character, and we are so grateful for his service and dedication to career colleges." In his eight years as director of government relations for Globe Education Network, Kosel has lead Globe University and Minnesota School of Business campuses in their community engagement activities, as well as developed training programs for campus community managers. Kosel has also been instrumental in accomplishing several large scale initiatives, including defeating a bill in the Minnesota House of Representatives to eliminate state grant eligibility for students attending career colleges. He worked with the Association of Private Sector Colleges and Universities (APSCU) on their grassroots effort to submit comments opposing the first gainful employment rule in 2011, and researched and prepared testimony for Congressman John Kline’s House Education and Workforce Committee. "Tom is an extremely valued member of our team," says Jeff Myhre, Chief Executive Officer for Globe Education Network. "He represents not only the interests of our colleges, but all career colleges. He truly cares about our students, and has dedicated his career to ensuring their access and choice for higher education is protected." Kosel became involved with MCCA through his father-in-law, Bob Casserly, founder of Minneapolis Drafting School, who was also given the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2001. "Our job is to show up, speak up and represent students’ needs," Kosel says. "I’m proud of the work we do to help students achieve their dreams."

Globe University-Sioux Falls students volunteer at The Banquet Students at Globe University-Sioux Falls are already spreading holiday cheer. On Wednesday, December 3, 10 students served dinner to those in need at The Banquet. The Banquet welcomes volunteers from the local community to serve free meals twice a day at their location in downtown Sioux Falls. Alysha Campbell, DECA president and healthcare management student, organized the volunteers and posted a sign-up sheet at the front desk for other students to join. A variety of students, including those in the business management, medical assisting, and massage therapy programs, took advantage of this volunteer opportunity. "Alysha has been our DECA president since October and has hit the ground running. She has taken the initiative to ensure DECA is giving back to the local community and Globe University through her enthusiasm and her drive to help people. I can’t wait to see what she will accomplish throughout her presidency," Angela Livingston, DECA adviser and business program chair, said. The students who volunteered had a chance to consider those in the community who are less fortunate. "We never think about the children that are hungry in our community and by helping with this event made me think about people in our community that rely on services like the Banquet to help them have a warm meal each day," Merry Sandoval, business administration student, said. DECA was able to donated $200 to The Banquet, which will no doubt be put to good use this holiday season. DECA also plans on purchasing items from the Globe University giving tree to help their fellow Globe University students throughout the holidays.

Written by Amanda Loewen, service learning coordinator at Globe University-Appleton On Saturday, November 15, students in Introduction to Veterinary Technology at Globe University-Appleton assisted with the annual Saving Paws Vet Tech Students at Saving Paws Holiday Miracle Fundraiser Holiday Miracle Fundraiser. Saving Paws is a non-profit animal rescue dedicated to rescuing homeless, abandoned and special needs animals. They find new adoptive homes or provide lifelong sanctuary for these animals. Through outreach and education, the organization also seeks to decrease the number of unwanted animals and animal cruelty incidents in our community. The students helped out in multiple areas, both before and during the fundraiser. Some students volunteered in the morning by setting up booths and displays, decorating tables and organizing raffle and auction items. The rest of the students volunteered in the evening during the event. These students’ tasks included selling raffle tickets, monitoring the silent auctions and taking final payments from auction winners. "This was a great way to support one of the shelters that allows us to utilize their animals throughout the quarter," Amy Plach, veterinary technology instructor and certified vet tech, said. "Volunteering at this event allowed the students to see a different perspective of a non-profit shelter. The students experienced some of what goes into making a non-profit shelter’s fundraiser a success." The students were able to walk away with a new understanding and appreciation for the organization. "I learned that in setting up for a big event such as this was, the more people willing to help, the better! It is also great when people can get along with each other and get so much accomplished, even if they just met," Charity Zeigler, veterinary technology student, said. "I could not believe the number of people who showed up to show their support and to be there for the animals at Saving Paws. The people of Saving Paws are doing what they love to do, and they are doing a wonderful job in doing so. Hopefully in the near future, I will find some time to head to Saving Paws and help make a difference," Stephanie Webster, veterinary technology student, added.

DECA President Alysha Campbell volunteering at The Banquet in Sioux Falls.Globe University-Sioux Falls students are very active in DECA, an organization that encourages networking and volunteering in communities. This year, the Sioux Falls campus division elected Alysha Campbell, a recent graduate of the medical assistant program and third quarter healthcare management student, as their new president. Alysha has already organized several volunteer opportunities for her fellow classmates, including a trip to The Banquet on December 3. DECA advisor and business program chair, Angela Livingston, is very impressed with Alysha’s efforts and will continue to encourage her enthusiasm and hard work. Tell us about yourself and your interest in the healthcare management program. I am currently working on my second degree with Globe University. I graduated with my fist degree in medical assisting in March 2014, and now I am working on my healthcare management degree.  I have worked in the medical field all my life, from home healthcare and hospice care to certified nursing assistant.   How long have you been a member of DECA? What made you want to join? I have been a member of DECA for two quarters. I have always enjoyed being involved in activities that the school makes available to students. Volunteering in the community is very important to me, which helped motivate me to join DECA. What are some initiatives you hope to make now that you are president? I really want to get the DECA group out of the school and into the community because I believe that is the best way for students to learn about the community before they graduate. Volunteering gives students the opportunity to meet people who later can assist them with their job searches. Business students hoping to start their own businesses can build an early clientele by networking with members of the community. Any advice for students considering volunteering in Sioux Falls or joining DECA? I encourage everyone to join DECA or another group on campus. Joining a volunteer group on campus allows students to get out into the community, as well as build friendships with other students. I also encourage everyone who is attending school to volunteer, even if it is just to gain some experience that you would not be able to learn from a class.

By Laura Ankerson, business program student On the right, Laura Ankerson, business student Laura Ankerson, one of our business program students, recently completed an internship at the Volunteer Center of Brown County. This internship allowed her an opportunity to strengthen her social media skills while helping a community partner. Below we share an excerpt from her personal experience in her own words. Enjoy! At the beginning of my internship, I was given an outline for my basic duties as the social media intern. They were pretty general and included the following: co-manage the center’s website and edit pages as necessary, learn about Facebook best practices and enhance the center’s offerings and engagement on Facebook, research the most effective ways the center can utilize LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram, report finding and slowly implement suggestions, assist with general marketing efforts, educate staff about social media and how they can use it, and other media-oriented assignments as agreed upon. The great thing is that I feel like I did all of those things and so much more! I did enhance the center’s offerings and engagement on Facebook. During that same timeframe I increased the number of Twitter followers, tweets, retweets, mentions, and favorite tweets by the Volunteer Center. I also increased engagement and awareness on their LinkedIn profile with more information in the profile and more posts than had been done before. Overall this experience has been amazing. The practical use of social media, the research, blogs, tips, and course concepts that I can now say I’ve tried instead of just reading about has been invaluable. I appreciate this opportunity and the knowledge I have gained from it. As singer and songwriter, Marc Anthony said, "If you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life." I believe this with all my heart and that is one of the reasons that I plan to work with animals. My internship was good for the Volunteer Center as well, and I know this because the director expressed hope that I would stay on after the completion of my internship. It is with happy thoughts and a smile on my face that I conclude this reflection paper by stating, without hesitation, "Yes Michael, I would love to continue working at the Volunteer Center!"

By Kerry Miller, medical assistant program chair Recently, while walking through the lobby of the Globe University-Wausau, I happened to notice something on the TV screen that caught my eye. It was an informational slide that stated something about Doggie Sleep Overs. I was intrigued by this idea because I had just put my 15-year-old dog to sleep and had been wrestling with the loneliness and the idea of maybe getting a new dog.  I tracked down our friendly librarian, Nora Craven, to ask about the Doggie Sleep Overs. I found out the slide I saw was part of a project from one of our veterinary technician students and Student Ambassador, April Schulz. April works at the Clark County Humane Society, in Neillsville, Wisconsin, and made a series of slides advertising their fantastic new program where you take home one of their shelter pets for a few nights and then provide the shelter extensive feedback as to how the animal did in a home setting. Most of the animals that go on these "jaunts" have come to the shelter as strays and there is little known about how they will act when in a home environment. A few days after learning more about this program, I made a call to the Clark County Humane Society and spoke with the shelter manager, Michelle Tesmer. After speaking to Michelle, I felt an overwhelming desire to offer up my pad to one of these stray souls. I notified the shelter, chose a weekend for the encounter, and drove the 55 minutes to the shelter on a sunny Friday afternoon. Meet Vox I had a chance to see the dogs and their profiles on the shelter website and found a video of a dog named Vox. I didn’t know it at the time, but Vox was one of April’s favorites. April told me later that: "Vox had been my pet project for the summer because he was super shy, but super nice when you got to know him. I wanted him to get out of the shelter because I felt he would do better in a home." I felt that Vox was most deserving of some quality one-on-one time away from CCHS. Michelle told me that Vox came in as a stray in November 2013. She mentioned that Vox was a little shy and skittish around new people and new places, but he was an extremely loving, sweet hound dog just looking for someone to love him back. When I got to the shelter, one of the workers was outside in a run with Vox, explaining to him what was taking place. I entered the kennel slowly so as to not overwhelm him, sat down, and let Vox work his way over to me with a little coaching from his caretaker. When we established that I was going to be his roomie for the weekend, we loaded a kennel and Vox into my car and headed home.  My New Roommate Skittish was somewhat of an understatement. He was afraid of almost everything he encountered when I coaxed him out of the car. He was warmly welcomed by my rescue cats, Max and Macy, but he had difficulty establishing eye contact with me. However, he was willing to allow me to sit next to him and pet him.    It took some time and many baby steps, but Vox grew more comfortable and confident. By late Friday afternoon, he had warmed enough that we sat side by side on the floor and watched some TV. By late Saturday afternoon, Vox was more comfortable in his surroundings and ventured upstairs to nap among the blankets on my bed. By Sunday, he was comfortable enough to roam the house and even venture on to the couch where I was doing homework.  Sunday night, I spent an hour or more answering the questions on the questionnaire for the shelter as well as writing up a little additional information about his demeanor and character. He was fascinated when my cell phone rang and seemed to really enjoy sleeping right next to the bed. Monday was bittersweet. I knew he had to go back to the shelter, but I also knew he was a very gentle, wonderful dog who would certainly give me the unconditional love that dogs are known for. At the shelter, the loving volunteer staff that mentioned they had really missed him over the weekend. I gave them all the written information I had and gave Vox another hug before heading to work. Vox’s Next Adventure I learned a lot about Vox and how he would adjust to a new home during our weekend together. Never once during the entire time he was a house guest did he lift his leg, bark or give any indication he would not be a wonderful pet for a quieter family. At the end of the weekend, Vox was comfortable hanging out with Kerry while she studied. I knew Vox would be a great companion for some lucky human, so I continued to check the CCHS website to see if he had been adopted. I sent Michelle an occasional email to inquire as to how he was doing and tell her that I would consider taking him again for a long weekend. She stated he was going great. He seemed a little more relaxed and less skittish than he had been.  Then, one day I checked the website, and did not see his picture. I immediately worried something had happened to him. I contacted Michelle only to find out that he had just been adopted by a very loving family that had also taken him on a sleep over and decided he was the dog for them. A few days later, his picture appeared on their website with his new "furever" family. Tears welled up in my eyes. This is what it is all about. This is why I did this and this is why people volunteer. It is that feeling of doing something good, and now there is one less dog in a shelter waiting to be adopted.  The Sleep Over I am so pleased to have been a part of this exciting new program, and excited to be able to share this story. I was able to talk to both Michelle and April about the Doggie Sleep Over. Michelle said that they had noticed the same questions being asked again and again by people interested in adopting. They weren’t able to give good answers to the questions about behaviors that couldn’t be observed in the adult dogs in the shelter situation, but they did have that information about puppies that were with foster care families. It occurred to Michelle that they could perhaps try to do something similar to the foster situation on a smaller scale for their adult dogs to help them be more adoptable. Michelle said that the program has been successful. "We are very happy that a few of the dogs were adopted by their sleepover families; we are just as happy to welcome the dogs back to our care, armed with tons of information we did not have before. The program has been a win/win for us and especially for our shelter dogs. It was simple to implement and has had lasting effects. We are proud of our dogs and happy to be their stop over point on the way to a better life." April agreed, especially about Vox in particular. "The Doggie Sleep Over really showed that Vox would do well in a home. It was a great feeling when I found out my interest in Vox and the slides I made are what lead to his first sleep over, and even better, that on his second sleep over, he was adopted. I really feel that even small acts like these can make a big difference." If you are able, I encourage you to donate time, supplies or money to a shelter. If April had not volunteered at the Clark County Humane Society and posted the slide about Doggie Sleep Overs, I may never have met Vox and had the opportunity to do something that really gave me a "warm, fuzzy feeling." I intend to do this again soon, and who knows, I may just end up being someone’s "furever" home in the future.