As you can see...

my blog posts are coming out far less frequently right now.  As many admission staffers will tell you, summer can sometimes be your busiest time of year.  On a daily basis, I'm working with multiple prospective students and their applications, along with many summer projects. I'll try my best to post a few more times this summer. I hope everyone has a great Memorial Day weekend and comes back refreshed.

I'm still here!

Wow, it's been two weeks since my last post, so I thought I better send an update so people don't start to wonder if I'm still around. :)  My conference in San Fran was great and I learned a great deal from it, but it's great to be back in central Iowa! Applications to our graduate program are starting to fly in so if you're planning to enroll this fall, please make sure to start the admission process asap.  As always, if you have any questions, please let me know.

Excited for San Fran!

Next week, I'll be traveling to San Francisco for the NAGAP annual conference. I always enjoy professional development conferences because I come away energized and full of new and exciting ideas.  It's great to see what colleagues from around the nation are going to develop their respective graduate programs.  This will be my first NAGAP experience since I had spent the past five years at a law school, so it will be fun to meet so new people, too.

Graduate School. Which path is right for you?

Grand View University has three graduate program tracks (business, education, and nursing) in the Master of Science in Innovative Leadership.  Click here to compare our business program to others offered.  Click here for Education and here for Nursing.  I'm not telling you one program is better than the other, but I am saying that one degree probably fits your carrer goals better than the others.

Thanks!

A big thanks goes out to our current graduate students and professors for making our first graduate program information session a huge success.  As I told the group of prospective students, "we're extremely proud of our graduate program and enjoy showcasing it at events like this."  The prospective students came away with a ton of information and seemed to be overly impressed.

Prospective Graduate Student Information Session

Just a reminder: Grand View University's prospective graduate student information sesssion is this Wednesday @ 6pm.  Click here to register.

**A Graduate Program Information Session will take place on Wednesday, April 7th, 2010 from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. at Grand View University in the Rasmussen Center for Community Advancement Professions, located at E. 14th St. and Grandview Avenue, Des Moines.


The Graduate Program Information Session is for anyone who is interested in the graduate program at Grand View to come explore the MS in Innovative Leadership for Business, Education, and Nursing. The curriculum is a 40 credit-hour program over 21 months and was developed with input from 30 employers. It is designed to create leaders in business, education, and nursing.

Nursing Track: Advanced Nursing Situation: Management of Clinical Outcomes

This course focuses on management of outcomes for individuals and populations. Nursing situations are analyzed at the point of care to assess client risk, identify patterns of problem occurrence, target areas in need of intervention and examination of cost. Skills are developed in the use of information systems and technology to manage data, document performance and monitor outcome efficiency and effectiveness. Outcomes related to quality, risk and cost are reviewed in relation to local and national benchmarks. Evidence-based possibilities for changes in practice for optimal outcomes are explored. This course includes a practicum of 45 clinical hours with a population consistent with the student’s practice interest.

Grand View University Graduate Studies: April Dates and Deadlines

As the month of April approaches, here are some important dates you may want to mark on your calendar:


Thursday, April 1: Online application fee waiver deadline. Submit your application asap to save $40.
Wednesday, April 7: Prospective Graduate Student Information Session @ 6pm: Click here to register.
Thursday, April 15: Jacobson Fellowship Application Deadline (Education students). Click here for details.

Education Track: The Scholarship of Teaching

Here's an example of a graduate course in the Education track in Innovative Leadership at Grand View:

The Scholarship of Teaching
This faculty-mentored seminar is designed to explore issues and reflect on the student's role development as a teacher leader.  Students will indentify researchable questions, create a project proposal, and present the proposal to the cohort.  Students will analyze feedback received to refine their proposal.  Students may choose to explore certification by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards during this seminar.

Learning Outcomes: The Common Core

With only four weeks of the graduate core courses left, I thought it would be beneficial to post the learning outcomes.  Basically, after 14 credit hours of graduate work, this is what our graduate students are expected to understand.

• Demonstrate knowledge of leadership theory, change, culture, and organization behavior
• Develop critical skills essential for interpretation and application of evidence for professional practice
• Apply relevant theoretical models of decision making in a professional context
• Demonstrate the value of diversity, equity, communication, ethical practice, moral leadership, and cultural competence in the workplace
• Demonstrate an understanding of innovation at the individual level as well as the organizational level
• Connect and apply knowledge of leadership, decision making, innovation theory, workplace dynamics and evidence-based practice to professional settings

Business Track: Team Building and Conflict Management

Here's an example of what our graduate students in business will take after completing the core courses:

Team Building and Conflict Management

This course will focus on developing the conceptual base and skill set that are used in building effective work teams. There will be particular focus on developing an understanding of the challenges and opportunities encountered in building effective culturally diverse teams. The course will explore the conceptual tools that team leaders find useful in managing work place conflict and ways to direct conflict to creative, constructive outcomes.


 

GV Grad Question of the Week

I’m currently in a master’s program at a different school, but I’m interested in GV’s program. Will any of my graduate credit transfer?

Students admitted to graduate study at Grand View may submit a request for up to six hours of previously earned graduate credit to be accepted as transfer credit.

Previous graduate work must:
• Have been earned at an accredited college or university
• Have been completed within the last five years prior to admission to Grand View
• Have been awarded a grade no lower than a B-
• Be reviewed and evaluated at the time of admission to the graduate program at Grand View

All requests for transfer credit must be accompanied by:
• An official transcript
• A course description
• A course syllabus

Spotlight on Nursing: A Student Perspective

Steve Orazem is the manager of the inpatient oncology unit at Iowa Methodist Hospital. He’s responsible for the operation of Powell 3, a 28-bed nursing unit with a large staff. The patient population is adults with all different types of cancer, including leukemia, lymphoma, sickle cell disease and other blood disorders. Because many of the patients are very ill, they and their family members have significant needs.

Steve comments, "I'm fortunate to work with a very dedicated staff, many of whom have committed many years to caring for people with cancer. Some people say 'your work must be very sad'. That's not the case. This is one of the most hope-filled places that I've ever worked. Sometimes the goal is cure and going home. Sometimes the goal is being pain-free and having the best quality of life possible. My work is very energizing."

He hopes this degree will help him be better at his work, especially as a change agent, because change is a big part of life in organizations.

As he contemplated returning to school, he focused on his love of learning. "I enjoy reading and thinking about things that I've never thought about before. I enjoy meeting and talking to people who have perspectives different from my own. I've been a nurse for only 10 years and was a teacher before that, so I'm looking for a way to combine the things that I enjoy and get satisfaction from in both nursing and education."

Before enrolling in Grand View's program, Steve had been thinking for several years about going back to school. He investigated a number of different programs and decided Grand View had several advantages from his perspective.

"I got my BSN at GV and know some of the faculty, and it's close to home. Probably my strongest reason was my prior experience here. I've seen that the focus here is on good teaching. The faculty are committed to that. Some schools are focused on other things – research, service to the community etc. At Grand View the focus seems to be on teaching and learning. I appreciate that."

Asked about his impressions based on his first semester, Steve says, "So far, I've been very happy with the program. I feel like it was a good choice for me. There is a good deal of reading, but much of it is very relevant to my practice. Having the three tracks (education, business and nursing) together for the first two semesters is a real strength of the program. The different perspectives of people in these areas make our discussion richer. Working full time and having a young family, I really need to spend my time and energy wisely. So far, this program has worked well for me."

One Month Left for Fee Waiver

Considering applying to Grand View University's graduate program?  Apply online through our website to receive an application fee waiver (saving you $50), but this offer ends April 1.  In addition, the priority deadline for scholarships is the same day!

Charity Soccer Game: Tuesday, March 9th

Grand View University's women's soccer team will be hosting the second annual Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Faculty and Staff vs. the Women's Soccer Team charity soccer match.  The match will be played on March 9th at 6pm in the Wellness Center Field House.  Free will donations will be accepted at the door the night of the game.

Somebody's Always Listening

I'm lucky enough to have a nice office in the Rasmussen Center, Grand View's newest building (opened in fall 2008).  But the location of my office is, well, interesting.  I'm not in one of the faculty bays, no, that would be too easy.  I'm actually at the end of the second floor surrounded by classrooms and the north stairway.  So my office entrance doesn't lead into a lobby, like most offices...it leads into the hallway.  I have students passing my door on an hourly basis and I've become immune to the chatter, but an interesting conversation will undoubtedly peak my interest.  You see, most students don't realize that I'm sitting in my office, so they aren't cautious of what comes out of their mouths.  I have heard stories and language that would make Bob Knight turn as red as his sweater.  So remember, whether you're in the Rasmussen Center on Grand View's campus or any place else for that matter, you never know who's listening to your conversation. 

Upcoming Radio Show Guest

I've always been told I have a face for radio, so I'm excited to be a guest on next Tuesday evening's YP Live Radio Show with host, Mike Banasiak.  The show airs live from 9-10pm every Tuesday on DesMoinesLocalLive.com.  We will be discussing the benefits of graduate school for young professionals and the questions they should be considering prior to making the committment. 

Mark Your Calendar

Grand View University's Graduate Studies program will be hosting an information session on Wednesday, April 7th starting at 6pm in the Rasmussen Center on campus.  This will be a great opportunity to learn more about our master's degree in business, education and nursing.  Detailed information will soon be posted on our website.

GV Grad Fact Friday

Have a question about our graduate program?  It might be on our FAQ list.  If not, call or email and I'll be glad to help. #515-263-2830 or mnorris@grandview.edu.

Graduate Course Schedules

There are many ways to structure graduate course schedules and this flexibility is a great benefit to prospective students considering going back to school.  At Grand View, we offer a unique course structure.  Our students meet once a week, but are actually taking two classes at once by alternating weeks.  Check out this spring's schedule for a closer look.

GV Grad Fact Friday

14 credits of our 40-credit hour program are common core courses with the remaining credits in each individual track (business, education, and nursing).  Here's the list of core courses that everyone takes regardless of the individual track.

Leading for Change I: Intro to Innovative Leadership (1 credit)
Evidence-Based Practice (3 credits)
Leadership and Decision Making (3 credits)
Interpersaonal Workplace Dynamics (3 credits)
Innovation (3 credits)
Leading for Change II: Reflection and Transition (1 credit)

Click here to check out the descriptions of the core courses and all the courses within the individual tracks.

Graduate Question of the Week

"My life is already hectic, how much time will I dedicate to graduate school?"


In graduate school, the time commitment is significant, especially for part-time students who are putting in a full week at work. As a rule of thumb, many professors will say for every hour of class, you can expect at least two hours of work outside of the classroom. Once you have a feel for your time commitment, you have to determine what “non-school” activities to give up to accommodate for your schedule. Most importantly, if you have a family, you need to prepare them for the sacrifices that will be made by everyone involved. With that being said, a graduate degree is certainly attainable and well worth the time and money. Grand View has an excellent support structure which is very important when looking at graduate schools.

Jacobson Fellows - $2,000/year Education Track Scholarships

The Jacobson Institute for Innovation in Education was established in 2008 by a gift from Richard O. Jacobson. A significant portion of the gift will endow scholarships to be used to support graduate students in education.  Mr. Jacobson joined the Grand View Board of Trustees in 1997 and continues to serve. His leadership and philanthropy at Grand View, and throughout and beyond Iowa, has helped numerous organizations improve education, build community and prepare for a better future. The vision of the Jacobson Institute for Innovation in Education is to identify innovative strategies that improve the quality of teaching and learning and to put them into practice.

Scholarship Announcement

Hey teachers - I'm excited to announce that Grand View is now offering a new scholarship in our Education track of the graduate program.  3.0+ undergraduate GPA, letter of recommendation from your principal or other administrator, and acceptance into the program equals a $2,000 renewable scholarship. It's that easy!

Detailed information will be posted on our web site in the coming weeks.

Grad Question of the Week

Recently, I've visited with numerous prospective students who have signed up for either the GRE or GMAT and are very anxious about taking the test.  I try my best to ease their minds, but never know if they're any less horrified! So I have decided to repost a graduate question of the week from back in early November.

"I have never been a good standardized test taker, so I’m very nervous about taking the graduate entrance exam. What should I do to prepare for it?"


Whether you’re taking the GRE, GMAT, LSAT or MCAT, most graduate admission experts will encourage applicants to study for the exam, but how you go about the process should be based on your personal study habits. At a minimum, I believe all applicants should purchase a study guide with prep tests. You can go to your local bookstore or order new and/or used study guides online (Amazon.com is a great resource). Using these test prep books enable you to take simulation tests which helps assess your strengths and weaknesses and also allows you to gauge your time management. Too many times, I hear stories of applicants who say they ran out of time and guessed on the final questions of the section.
Some applicants need a structured study plan and because of this, many will turn to a company that assists clients in studying for graduate exams. Some of these courses can be expensive, but are proven to be extremely helpful for many test-takers. For a low-cost prep course, I recommend contacting DMACC in Ankeny to see if they have a class that fits in your schedule.

Please keep in mind that the standardized test is only one component to the application. Graduate admission committees also consider the personal statement, resume, letters of recommendation, undergraduate gpa and any other components the school requires. So don’t get too stressed about taking the test!

GV Grad Fact Friday

Grand View's graduate courses are scheduled on Tuesday evenings from 5:30-10 p.m. Our students take two classes per semester (typically 6 credit hours), but only have to meet once a week. So how does that work, you ask? Although our students are attending class every Tuesday evening, they alternate the specific classes every week. Click here to see our course schedules in detail.

Spotlight on Business: The Organizational Leader

As we developed the Master of Science in Innovative Leadership, our business advisory council, made up of representatives of about 30 central Iowa employers, stressed the importance of what they called "soft skills." Members observed that it is becoming increasingly difficult for them to find candidates for management positions who are truly proficient in the organizational, managerial, communication and team-building skills they need to move their organizations forward. As a result, Grand View developed the Organizational Leader curriculum, with significant input from those employers.
In the business track, you'll study the relationship between threat analysis and organizational failure ... become competent in conflict management, team-building, and interpersonal dynamics ... learn project management, including budgeting and resource allocation ... explore creative entrepreneurial thinking, including innovative positioning strategies for an organization ... and understand of the role of leadership in shaping organizational culture and social responsibility.

You'll be equipped to contribute innovative strategies and new perspectives to your organization, whether it's a for-profit company, an entrepreneurial endeavor, a government agency, a not-for-profit organization or a military unit.

Courses in the business track stress the competencies strong leadership requires:

• Change: Failures and Successes
• Leadership: Applied Systems Thinking
• Project Readings
• Resource Management
• Motivation
• Team Building and Conflict Management
• Strategic Thinking and Sustainability
• Leadership: Accountability and Social Responsibility
• Leading for Change III: Innovative Leadership Capstone