Alumni and friends of Linfield College’s Adult Degree Program have generously donated funds to establish scholarships specifically for students in the program.  Awards are based on academic merit and financial need and do not require repayment. Linfield’s Adult Degree Program has recently announced their 4 scholarship winners and would like to take this opportunity to share their experience.

Arthur Lind Memorial Scholarship

An endowed scholarship established in memory of Arthur Lind, a lifelong learner, is awarded annually to a minority student showing financial need. Recipients are to be earning a degree through the Adult Degree Program, with preference given to seniors.

Carmen Roman is the recipient of the Arthur Lind Memorial Scholarship.

“Attending Linfield has been great thus far, as a working mother, I am grateful that Linfield is able to offer me the education I desire, within the flexible format I need.   I have very much enjoyed the courses taken thus far and am grateful for having Instructors who are well versed within their fields and committed to staying connected, even within the online format. Defy the odds and be proud when you do.  As a teen mom that was also a high school drop out, someone once read me a statistic that only 1% of ‘girls like me’ actually go to college and complete.  I am proud to say that despite such as “statistic,” I not only graduated from high school, but am about to complete my undergraduate degree, and am also serving other non-traditional students within higher education, so that they too can defy the odds,” Carmen Roman, Social & Behavioral Sciences degree.

Adult Degree Program Alumni Scholarship Fund

The fund was created in 1994 and continues to grow with gifts from ADP graduates. Proceeds are awarded annually to students with demonstrated financial need. Recipients may receive the award only once and must meet the scholarship’s minimum GPA and enrollment criteria for eligibility.

Paula Love is a recipient of the Adult Degree Program Alumni Scholarship Fund

“My experience with the Adult Degree Program at Linfield, has been one of significant success in my life. When I graduated from nursing school with my ADN in June of 2003, it was always my goal to go back and finish my education. Linfield provided this opportunity in a way that I could work full time, provide for my family as I am a single parent, and finish my education in a very focused and progressive manner. The program is definitely set up for success for its students, and is a very rewarding experience.

My advice to anyone wanting to finish their education, or to even start their education with Linfield is to find the time, and make the commitment to yourself to do it. It is a program designed for the working professional, and it is a very attainable goal to set for yourself. I am very excited for graduation, and feel that I have met a lifetime goal with Linfield’s help,”

Paula Love, RN to BSN degree

Erika Williams is a recipient of the Adult Degree Program Alumni Scholarship Fund.

“My experience with Linfield ADP has been great! The staff has always been helpful and encouraging. They want to see the students succeed in school and in their future endeavors,” said Erika Williams.  Any advice, “it is never too late to pursue an education”. Erika Williams, Accounting degree

Danielle Holten is also a recipient of the Adult Degree Program Alumni Scholarship. She is pursuing the Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting, and was unavailable for this article.

                          

Familiarize yourself with the employer before the interview. Research the healthcare organization to learn about their goals, values and structure. You want to discover all you can about the specific anticipated nursing job as well. The more knowledge you have before you arrive for the actual interview, the more confidence you will have during the interview, resulting in the ability to demonstrate to the employer that you are the best candidate for the job.

Prepare your credentials and professional resume that outline relevant coursework, clinical experiences and any other important accomplishments. It’s a good idea to ask your nursing advisor or clinical practice mentor to review your resume for grammar and important information. The more information you can provide your potential employer, the more they will understand what you will bring to the position.

You may also want to make a list of your immunization and identification documents. Make sure to include your nursing license, notice of passing board scores (if applicable), BCLS/ACLS card and additional certificates from any advanced training programs completed. Bring two or three copies of each to give to the human resources department, but also have the original documents on hand in case they prefer to make photocopies.

Bring a list outlining your clinical experiences. This outline of skills can assist employers when finding the right position for you. This is important whether or not your hands-on nursing experience is limited to your associate degree clinicals or you are highly experienced and qualified by many years of nursing practice. It will show the potential employer that you are aware of your qualifications and are able to talk about each experience you have had in nursing, as well as help determine whether or not you are a good fit for the position being discussed. The employer may have additional opportunities that emerge through this discussion.

Prior to your interview, verify and update the names, titles, facilities addresses, telephone numbers and email addresses of your available references. Try to include both personal and professional references such as nurse managers, clinical practice mentors and nursing faculty. Reference letters are also helpful if you have them to supplement references provided.

Expect to be asked for permission to conduct a criminal background investigation. The permission form may require you to list all of your prior addresses for the past five to seven years, so keep this information with you.

As always dress appropriately in professional attire. A first impression can only be made once.

Keeping the above mentioned items in mind should lead to a successful interview and hopefully, to the next step in a rewarding career in the nursing field.

If you are looking into earning a bachelor’s degree in nursing online, the Online RN to BSN program of study is Linfield College’s BSN degree completion program for registered nurses who have completed the associate degree. It is provided by the Linfield-Good Samaritan School of Nursing in partnership with the Linfield Adult Degree Program. The curriculum is based on the high quality on-campus Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree established in 1982. We offer a visionary, innovative and holistic program that focuses on diverse populations, provided wherever health care occurs in the community.

                          

There is no questioning the benefits of a college degree from a reputable school such as Linfield College Adult Degree Program. Those who hold a degree are more likely to earn a better-than-average income and have the satisfaction of being more competitive in the job market with the attainment of their college education. This being said, higher education contains significant costs and for those adults looking to complete a degree while maintaining a family, career and busy life, any breaks can help.

Below are some of the most popular tax credits and deductions that students can take advantage of while in school or after graduation.

Breaks for Paying

American Opportunity Credit.Students are eligible to claim up to $2,500 for the first four years of post-secondary education and many will receive this full amount. Tuition and fees, course related books, supplies and equipment all qualify for this credit.  The full credit is available to individuals whose modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) is $80,000 or less, or for couples filing jointly who earn less than $160,000.

Lifetime Learning Credit.  For the tax year, you may be able to claim a lifetime learning credit of up to $2,000 for qualified education expenses paid for all students enrolled in eligible educational institution such as Linfield’s Adult Degree Program. There is no limit on the number of years the lifetime learning credit can be claimed for each student. The lifetime learning credit may be particularly helpful to graduate students, students who are only taking one course and those who are not pursuing a degree. For students earning less than $60,000 (single-filers) or $120,000 (married, filing jointly), they can claim up to $2,000 in education-related expenses.

Tuition and Fees Deduction

Students may be able to deduct qualified education expenses paid during the year for yourself, your spouse or your dependent. This deduction is not applicable if your filing status is married, filing separately or if someone can claim you as a dependent. The qualified expenses for this deduction must be for higher education.

The tuition and fees deduction can reduce the amount of your taxable income by up to $4,000. You can claim this deduction even if you do not itemize deductions. This deduction may beneficial you if you cannot take the lifetime learning credit because your income exceeds the limit.

Break for repaying loans

Student loan interest deduction: This tax break allows people repaying college loans to write off as much as $2,500 in interest costs, but starts to phase out for those earning more than $60,000 when single or $120,000 when married. It’s gone completely once adjusted gross income exceeds $75,000 single or $150,000, when married, filing jointly.

“Understanding how tax credits and deductions can benefit you is part of financial literacy. For students who want to pursue a finance related career, the degrees in Accounting and in Management offered online by Linfield’s Adult Degree Program enable you to seek professional positions in accounting and financial services,” stated Janet Gifford, Associate Director.

While these student tax breaks may be available to most students, keep in mind that you cannot take all of them. The IRS states, “You may be able to take one of the education credits for your education expenses instead of a tuition and fees deduction. You can choose the one that will give you the lower tax.”

You can find more detailed information on the IRS website http://www.irs.gov/uac/Tax-Benefits-for-Education:-Information-Center and other trusted sources on the web, and from the Linfield College Office of Financial Aid.

                          

A management degree or human resources management certificate empowers its graduates with the knowledge and skills necessary to positively impact a business whether as a department manager, business owner or team member. Whatever role you play in your company, Linfield will properly educate you to meet the demands of your field. Linfield College graduates have found opportunities in both the for-profit and non-profit sectors. Linfield offers one of the most convenient, affordable online management degrees available, with generous transfer credit for previous college courses.

The Management Degree builds knowledge for leadership roles in business. The saying, “knowledge is power” applies to the Management Degree, because the graduate with a  Management Degree has gained knowledge in key areas so important to business success, such as economics, accounting, business law, management, marketing, human resources and finance.

Linfield College Management graduates distinguish themselves in business with their combination of people skills and analytical skills. This combination allows for strategic thinking to be easily communicated. Whether the CEO, or a valuable team member, these traits allow you to exhibit leadership skills within your company.

You can complete a bachelor’s degree in management or a certificate in human resources management online through Linfield College.  All the courses in the bachelor’s degree in management and the certificate in human resource management are offered online by the Linfield Adult Degree Program. This allows you to achieve your educational goals via the technological innovations available to us.

A bachelor’s degree in management from Linfield prepares you to meet the challenges and complexities of the business world. Government research indicates that the value of a four-year degree has continued to increase. The United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics report of wage and salary workers by educational attainment released in April 2011 showed that adults 25 years and over with a bachelor’s degree earned an average of $59,800 annually, while those with a high school diploma earned $32,916.

The Linfield Department of Business believes that education is a life-long process in which higher education has an important part. The focus of the Department’s courses and programs provides you with a sound basic education in business, accounting, and management, within the broader context of a liberal arts education.

                          

The truth is that obtaining a degree is challenging and it takes a dedicated person to accomplish this feat. That being said, earning a degree does not automatically ensure that a job is waiting for you when you graduate. Some graduates may have an advantage over others. Those who obtain a marketing degree may have that extra edge. With many accredited marketing degree programs including classes on how to sell, network with other professionals and market goods and services, these future business leaders are ready for any challenge. These skills will not only help you in your career, but in the world of interviewing as well. The skills you learn in an marketing program will essentially teach how to take any given product, service, company or person and make it so appealing to another consumer that they must buy/use/join or align with that specific tangible. Marketing graduates are adept as listening and understanding the needs of their clients as well.

One significant advantage that many marketers have is their unique personality and drive to succeed that pushes them to take risks and meet challenges in the world of work. Persuasive personality and confidence in their knowledge and skills make these successful graduates excellent at both interviewing and networking, two essential aspects of career development. These skills will not only assist a person in getting a job, but will help them continue to grow in their career as well.

Networking is the art of generating and nurturing relationships. Most college graduates have some experience with this process and some have been doing it throughout their life without even realizing it, never thinking about it from a professional aspect. It is an essential function within job hunting and career advancement. Marketers by nature and by training are great at this. They enjoy meeting new people and recognize the opportunities associated with not only making new acquaintances but remembering the specific details about this person and possibly even keeping a connection with them for years to come.

When it comes time to interviewing, marketing degree students are often successful. They are familiar with the mental agility and rapport needed to make lasting impressions. They understand the need to research a company before applying for a position and understanding the business model before showing up at an interview. They already have great communication skills and the attention to detail needed for success.

If you are contemplating earning a degree, it may be best to go with your dreams and passions. However, if you are finding that you are at a crossroad between what field of study to emphasize, consider a business marketing degree. As discussed, a marketing degree can take you far and open doors to many career paths. Linfield College offers you an opportunity to earn your Marketing Degree online. All of the courses in the marketing major and the general education requirements are offered online to help you achieve your bachelor’s degree in Marketing.
At Linfield College, you have a choice between the online bachelor’s degree in Marketing or the Certificate in Marketing. For those who have earned a bachelor’s degree already, the online certificate is a good alternative. You will gain the knowledge of the marketing specialty through the courses in the certificate.

The Marketing Certificate may be combined with a Linfield bachelor’s degree in another field, such as the Accounting degree or the Management degree. The certificate consists of four specialized marketing courses, so it can fit nicely into a student’s overall graduation plan.

The accredited online marketing degree or the marketing certificate will help prepare you to excel in the fields of marketing, and you will have additional skills in interviewing that will be of benefit throughout your professional career.

                          

During the webinar, Gerardo teaches students how to write a winning scholarship essay, request the best recommendation letters, conduct personalized scholarship searches, as well as give feedback to strengthen individual scholarship essays. Following the webinar, Gerardo will continue to be available to coach students and share sources of scholarships through his extensive network of contacts.

In addition to the free webinar and student portfolio, Linfield’s Adult Degree Program will also award a $500 scholarship during the webinar to one lucky student who is registered in advance and is present in the online webinar at the time of the drawing. The scholarship is good for spring semester 2013 in the Adult Degree Program.

While the federal government makes low interest loans available, many students are finding that the loans do not cover the entire cost of their education when taking into consideration tuition, online fees, and books.

Date: November 3, 2012

Time: 8:30am – 12:30pm Pacific Time

When you complete the attached Registration form, Fax to the Adult Degree Program home office at 503-883-2369 or scan and attach to an email addressed to: dce@linfield.edu

When the Adult Degree Program home office has received your Registration form, we will mail you the portfolio, and email you the log in information so that you will be able to participate in the webinar. Participate from the convenience of the environment of your leisure on Saturday morning, November 3rd.

Students, who participated in the scholarship webinar last year, have now been successful in winning scholarships totaling an average of $3,000 per student.

For a link to the Registration form for the Free Path to Scholarships webinar, and to see a short video where Gerardo Ochoa talks about the scholarship workshop, go to the Adult Degree Program website.

                          

The appeal marketing experience has to employers is another reason to consider a degree in marketing. Many companies employ a marketing person or team of marketing professionals and for good reason, people who hold a bachelors degree in marketing tend to be commercially and organizationally intelligent as well as highly proficient. These are highly sought after qualities in an employee and when you add a diverse list of skills and punctualities that many marketing candidate possess, you find a successful addition to any employer

Lastly, career opportunities are endless. Many seasoned marketing professionals find that career paths can lead beyond marketing jobs, into industries and sectors as diverse as retail, financial, leisure and tourism, ­consumer goods and so on. The options are endless for a person with the skills to successfully market a product, service, business or organization.

In the economic climate we live in today, which maintains a highly competitive job market, people with marketing talents and capabilities are increasingly important to businesses on all levels. Helping organizations identify and satisfy customer needs using strategic planning and creative thinking are the core foundation of many companies. This may very well be the reason that there continues to be a demand for marketing experts, despite economic fluctuations.

If you are like many people that live a fast-paced, busy life, Linfield College Adult Degree Program offers you an opportunity to earn your Marketing Degree online, an ideal solution to many people who may have families and careers. All of the courses in the marketing major as well as general education requirements are available in an online format to help you achieve your Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing.

At Linfield College, you have a choice between the Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing or the Bachelor of Arts degree in Marketing, so you can make the degree what you want it to be. The BS degree is earned through the two math courses that accompany the major. The BA degree is earned through two semesters or three quarters of elementary college level work in a single foreign language. Students whose native language is not English and wish to earn the BA degree are exempt from the foreign language requirement.

The accredited online marketing degree will help prepare you to excel in the fields of marketing, as well as help prepare you to meet the challenges and complexities the business world offers.

                          

Though there may be some preconceptions that accounting is only for bookworms and mathematicians, there are actually many people flocking to the industry for many reasons, including a stable career, high paying salary, positive job outlook and of course the desire for the career path. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the accounting profession is expected to grow by 16 percent from 2010-2020, which is an additional perk, and substantial attraction for those pursuing an accounting degree. When evaluating between public, private and non-profit accountants, there isn’t a clear-cut difference in job growth, though the professional differences between them are distinct.

Public accountants do a broad range of accounting, auditing, taxes, and consulting tasks. Their clients include corporations, businesses and individuals, working with financial documents, tax forms and balance sheets. Many public accountants become  Certified Public Accountants (CPAs), and as such, are required to sit for the CPA exam in order to be licensed in the state in which they reside. . The CPA license means that the public accountant carries the trust of the public in the work they do.  Whether they own their own business or work for public accounting firms, they help corporations prepare balance sheets for potential investors, serve as advisors on tax advantages, or prepare individual income tax returns. Depending on the type of work and size of the firm, starting salaries for public accountants range between $46,250 and $72,500.

Private accountants record and analyze financial information of the organizations for which they work. Also known as management accountants, the information they prepare is intended for internal use by business managers and is often used for budgeting and company performance evaluations. Those in private industry accounting may help organizations plan the cost of doing business, including working with financial managers to plan and select financial investments such as stocks, bonds and real estate. Much like public accountants, corporate accounting has a wide pay scale based on the size of the firm and type of work, earning a starting salary between $38,750 and $64,500.

Governmental and not-for-profit accounting provides many opportunities for adults with accounting degrees, and may actually include the greatest number of positions; including city, county, state, and federal agencies, K-12 public and private school districts, public and private non-profit colleges and universities, most healthcare organizations, charitable organizations as well as other foundations and religious organizations. Governmental accountants must follow governmental regulations, while monitoring the appropriation of funds and awarding of contracts to private companies and public agencies. Non-profit accountants typically start out at a salary in the high $30,000’s.

Many accountants concentrate in a specific area, depending on the particular type of organization they work for. Some organizations specialize in providing critical information for decision makers, risk management or other specific industries such as healthcare or education. Public accountants do a wide range of accounting, auditing, tax, and consulting duties. Management accountants record and analyze financial data for organizations in which they work. Governmental accountants maintain and access the records of governmental agencies as well as audit private businesses or individuals whose activities are subject to government regulation.

Aside from the job descriptions, all three sectors require many of the same skills. Because public accountants serve many types of companies, having excellent people and communication skills is valuable. Private accountants work for one client, emphasizing the need to have an interest in business decisions and company growth. Governmental and non-profit accountants serve those subject to regulation, which means great attention to detail in accordance with laws.

With such a wide scope of responsibilities, it may seem overwhelming trying to decide in which sector you would find the best fit for your skills and interests. However, with the strong demand for accountants across all industries, you’ll be sure to find a compatible organization, agency, business or corporation to work for. Whether you choose to pursue an accounting degree or a post baccalaureate accounting certificate, both programs prepare you for professional opportunities in all sectors.

With opportunities for accounting positions projected to continue growing, now is the time to start working toward the next step in your career. Find out how an online degreecan help you achieve your educational goals with Linfield College Adult Degree Program.

                          

“It’s never too late to finish your degree,” says Kent, who now works at Walla Walla Community College in a management role with the Information Center.

He attended Linfield College in the 1970s, and again in the 1990s, and then returned three years ago to finish his bachelor’s degree in management through the Linfield College Adult Degree Program. Kent credits his father with encouraging him to complete his degree, and Linfield’s online courses made degree completion possible.

Online programs offered by Linfield College Adult Degree Program include an online management degree, accounting degree, online marketing degree, social sciences degree, arts and humanities degree, RN to BSN degree and international business degree and certificates in accounting, human resource management and marketing.

Linfield College’s home campus, in McMinnville, Oregon, holds special significance for the Van Cleave family. Overlooking the commencement green is Pioneer Hall, built in 1882, only 24 years after the college was founded in 1858. The building is emblematic of Linfield’s pioneer heritage. In the 1940s, Kent’s grandfather, Carl Buebke, worked on Pioneer Hall, doing structural steel work. He told his daughter Carol about the beautiful campus and she enrolled at Linfield.

Al Van Cleave lived in Pioneer Hall as a Linfield student, and also met his wife Carol at the school. Their son Kent was born the year his father graduated from Linfield College. When Kent enrolled, as a theatre major, the campus theatre was located in Pioneer Hall, and he spent most days and many nights there. Al recalls that in the 1950s after college football games, he and classmates would climb up into the Pioneer Hall cupola and ring the bell, “both in victory and in defeat.”

Kent and Al both graduated with degrees in business. Al pursued a long career in the purchasing field, in the northwest and in the midwestern states. Now retired, Al says that Walla Walla is a great place to live, and so does Kent. On that subject and the value of their Linfield College education, father and son agree wholeheartedly.

Why wait? Now is the time to take that next step in your education. Contact the Linfield College Adult Degree Program today to take the next step in achieving your dream of a college education.

                          

Many students considering going back to college are looking to student loans as an option to help them afford college in order to achieve the higher education they desire, whether they are looking to advance their career or to pursue a new career path. In addition to using a portion of their earnings and savings to finance their education, many colleges help students to explore the resources of scholarships.  Some employers provide educational benefits for employees and for dependents of employees. With all of these resources, there will still continue to be a demand for student loans. Financial aid options can be as unique as the students seeking them, which has encouraged potential students to do their research when determining the best options available to them.

When seeking student loans, the first step is to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).  A valuable source of free information about the Federal Direct Stafford Loan program is found through the U.S. Department of Education. The Federal Direct Stafford Loan funds are awarded to students and the funds are directed to the college from the federal government. Students must be admitted and attending on at least a half time basis per semester or term.

The Office of Financial Aid at Linfield College works with the individual student to make sure that the financial aid offered is the maximum amount possible they can receive. Student loans can cover a variety of college-related expenses, including tuition and fees, room and board, books and school supplies, even transportation and personal expenses.

The Linfield College Adult Degree Program is able to help answer financial aid questions, striving to provide the best service for each student, with a simple step-by-step process. The financial aid counselors are able to help each Linfield College student to learn what financial aid and student loan options they qualify for. Federal Direct Stafford Loans are administered by Linfield College and have advantages over private education loans made through banks or credit unions.  Making the decision to go back to college is difficult, but Linfield College wants to help students alleviate some of the financial concerns surrounding the achievement of a higher education.

Why wait? Now is the time to take that next step in your education. Contact the Linfield College Adult Degree Program today to take the next step in achieving your dream of a college education.