Winter 2011

THE RASWIRE Published by Rasmussen College Online

In This Issue: • Interview with Your Campus President • Student Spotlight • Rasmussen Learning Academy
• Future Tech at Rasmussen • Financial Aid Webinars • Calendar of Events
• Resume Tips for the New Year • Dear Rassy • RasMall
• Tip of the Term • Faculty Spotlight

DON DEVITO Why did you decide to continue your

Campus President education?

“My education has proven day after day to be

extremely valuable. I regularly find myself doing
something or applying a concept that I learned in
one of my courses of study. Earning your degree is
about more than just having the piece of paper;
it’s about applying the lessons you learn. Like
most students, I sometimes found myself asking,
‘when will I ever use this,’ but I promise, you
will.”

Have you ever taken an online course?

An Interview with Your
Campus President
Si nce our students are located all over
the country, you don’t often have the
opportunity to meet them. If you were to
meet one of our students, what would you
say to them?
“I would take the opportunity to personally
congratulate them for taking a step to further
their education, and I would encourage them to
continue their pursuit of a higher degree. Having
earned a degree as an ‘adult learner’ myself, I
know the difficulties of balancing life and higher
education. It’s not an easy task, but I would tell
them that they will find it to be a rewarding one,
once completed.”
“Yes, I have. In fact, I took a few years off after
high school before continuing my education, so I
know how challenging it is to attend college while
working full time and taking care of a family. It can
be challenging to find the time, energy, and attention
to successfully complete your degree.“
You say it’s challenging to find the time,
energy, and attention to complete your
degree. How did you do it?
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Anticipating Tomorrow’s
Needs Today
A peek inside the evolving
technology and design
program at Rasmussen College
By Hap Aziz, Director of the
School of Technology &
Design
Predicting the future is not an easy task
Even for those engaged in the industry, it’s
difficult to foresee the future of technology.
For example, few people foresaw the decline
of vinyl albums when thousand-dollar
compact disc players were introduced in
the 1980s and most didn’t see the potential
of Yahoo!® when it started as a personal list
of favorite web links by a couple of college
students.
Preparing for tomorrow
At Rasmussen College, we work to anticipate
the tools and technologies of the future in
order to best prepare Rasmussen College
students for careers in technology and design,
which, in many cases, do not exist yet. Our
process involves several key steps:
1. Rely on the expertise of our faculty
practitioners. One of the great strengths of
our faculty is their professional experience.
Faculty members regularly engage in
conversations and activities that focus on
new developments that might lead to new
programs.
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Hap Aziz
Director of the School of
Technology & Design
2. Follow the latest trends through journals,
blogs, and other industry news sources. We
are constantly scanning and reviewing the
leading industry publications and reports.
In fact, we are often in direct contact with
the authors and industry experts, soliciting
their feedback regarding our programs.
3. Consult regularly with our industry
advisors. Rasmussen College advisory
boards are comprised of respected
industry professionals. Rasmussen
College curriculum developers meet with
these advisors to discuss ideas and get their
feedback on our programs.
4. Attend and participate in industry-wide
conferences and exhibitions. At these
conferences, industry professionals from
around the world—including some of our
own faculty members—gather and present
some of the latest topics in technology and
design.
What does the future hold?
Based on the ever-increasing need to move
information around the world, we know
computer network communications will
continue to define much of our world. A
large part of what is driving the need for
network bandwidth is the data-dense media
files that are being uploaded and downloaded
in tremendous numbers every day.
Movies, animations, and interactive media
are in great demand, so people who can help
create all this new content will be highly
sought after. Also, people who can create this
type of content for new consumer devices,
such as the latest smart phones, will find great
opportunities.
In the most fundamental sense, our programs
are about implementing and maintaining
the amazing networks that facilitate the
movement of information around the world
in a blink of an eye. They are also creating the
stories and media that consumers around the
globe wish to experience.
Whether it is 3D television, gesture-based
computing, or a future generation of the
Internet, the faculty and staff at Rasmussen
College are already thinking about how to
build it into the curriculum and prepare our
students for what the future holds.

--CONTINUED FROM FRONT PAGE
“Self-discipline is a primary requirement when
you are taking courses 100% online. College
students may traditionally be thought of as less
than disciplined, but that’s not a luxury an adult
learner can afford. From my own experience and
in working with students over the years, I know
that student success comes from good planning
and time management.”
What advice do you have for Rasmussen
College students taking courses online?
“Make a plan and stick to it. As I mentioned,
balancing school, work, and family responsibility
is not easy, and if you don’t make a plan and stay
with it, something is likely to fall off the plate.
With that in mind, a support system can also
play a powerful part in your successful pursuit
of a degree. Make sure your family, friends, and
colleagues – including your employer – know
what you are doing and understand the level of
commitment required. More often than not, you
will find the people close to you will be supportive.
Also, remember your Rasmussen College support
system. We are all committed to doing whatever
we can to help you be successful, so take advantage
of the support and resources offered.
Finally, stay focused on the end goal and how
proud you will be when you achieve your goal of
graduation. In the end, it’s your degree, and it’s
up to you to earn it.”
Resume Tips for the
New Year
By Kelly Wittrock, Career Services Advisor for
Rasmussen College Online
Be Honest
College education is the most common area
on a resume where people will stretch the
truth. Even if you have not yet completed
the degree, it’s important and easy to
highlight your education prior to graduation:
B.S. – Criminal Justice. Rasmussen College
Expected Graduation Date: June 2011
Highlight Involvement
This year, resolve to obtain an internship
or volunteer so you can learn, grow, and gain
experience. Include any and all experience
on your resume, whether you were paid or
not.
Edit, Edit, Edit
Time spent proofreading your resume
is time well spent. Before you submit your
resume for a job opening, ask friends, family,
and your career services advisor to review it.
Errors are often found in resumes, and those
resumes are often promptly disregarded.
For resume samples and templates, visit:
https://rasmussen.optimalresume.com
For more career advice, contact your career services advisor:
careerservicesonline@Rasmussen.edu
(888) 5-Rasmussen | www.Rasmussen.edu 3
 Tip of the Term
As a Rasmussen College student, you are provided an e-mail address that you can
use to communicate with fellow students and staff members. It is important to
check this e-mail regularly as this is where we send information that can help you
Student E-mail be a successful student. Please follow the e-mail account login instructions, and
contact the Personal Support Center at (866) 693-2211 with any questions.

STEP 1
Login to the Student Portal at
http://portal.rasmussen.edu.

STEP 2

Click on Student Email/Web Mail on the left-hand side under

Campus Tools, which will open a window asking for your username and password.

STEP 3
Enter your username and password. Your username will be your first name.last name and the
password will be your first initial, last initial, and last four digits of your social security number.

For example John Doe with1234 as the last four digits of his social security number:

Username: john.doe
Password: jd1234

You have now accessed the Student Portal and your student e-mail, and you are connected to the rest of the Rasmussen College online community.
Please be aware that this e-mail system is separate from the e-mail you use for your courses. The e-mail for your courses is only used to communicate
with your instructors and fellow classmates.

If you have a Tip of the Term you would like to share, please contact Jeffrey Laing at Jeffrey.Laing@Rasmussen.edu.

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Student Spotlight
Currently working as a self-employed
personal trainer and fitness instructor,
Deb is excited to start working as a
paralegal. With laws constantly evolving,
Deb believes her new career will be a
continuous learning experience that will
allow her to help others through difficult
times in their lives.
When she isn’t studying, Deb enjoys
spending time with family and friends,
Financial Aid
1. Meet your Student Finance Officer
January 12, 2011 at 10:30 a.m. CST
Suggested attendees: Second quarter
students and continuing students
»» Meet and build a relationship
with your student finance officer
»» Discover our processes
»» Set expectations for
communication
»» Get an overview of the FAFSA
application
»» Learn about aggregate loan limits
Deb Shearer
Rasmussen college student
PROGRAM: AAS Paralegal
expected graduation: july 2010
knitting, reading, attending her
grandchildren’s sporting events, walking her
dog, and taking pictures of nature.
Deb’s advice to other students: “Don’t
procrastinate—do something every day
so it doesn’t overwhelm you. If you see a
seminar that the library or learning center
is offering—login to it, listen, take notes,
and ask questions. The tools are available to
students and you just need to utilize them.
To increase the lines of communication with our students, the Department of Student
Financial Services offers a series of quarterly webinars. Take advantage of these great
opportunities!
2. What You Should Know About
Federal Student Loans, but Don’t Dare
to Ask
February 16, 2011 at 10:30 a.m. CST
Suggested Attendees: First quarter
students
»» Get a refresher on your student
loans
»» Learn the source for your loan
history
»» Receive a brief overview of
repaying your loans
(888) 5-Rasmussen | www.Rasmussen.edu
“Don’t procrastinate—do
something every day so it
doesn’t overwhelm you.”
Never be afraid to contact your instructor,
the librarian, or academic advisor—they are
there to help, but you need to reach out and
ask. Never lose sight of your dream!”
E-mail RasWire@Rasmussen.edu to be
considered for the next student spotlight.
3. The Great Balancing Act: The Ins and
Outs of Student Loan Repayment
February 9, 2011 at 10:30 a.m. CST
Suggested attendees: Students who are
one month away from graduation
»» Learn how to obtain your
graduation code
»» Review student loan repayment
options
»» Discover your repayment support
system
»» Learn how to avoid the
consequences of not paying your
loans
5
Dear Rassy
I have some tough courses lined up next quarter, and I think I may need some
additional help. Where can I get a tutor, and how much will it cost?

- Catherine

Dear Catherine,

That’s a great question!

find the best support for

shou ld talk to you r academi c advi sor about your concerns—they will help you
First, you s you can use,
need s and how to use Rasm ussen Col lege tutoring services. There are several tool
your particular course
ussen College students.
and they are all available at no cost to Rasm

e, as well as test-taking and

The Onl ine Learning Cen ter prov ides live faculty tutoring and writing assistanc
»»
time management resources.
resources for research papers
Beth Mar ie Goo ding , the onli ne cam pus librarian, can help you find scholarly
»»
writing and formatting techniques.
and answer your questions about proper
r, ask questions via a live
h Sma rthinking, an online tutoring service, you can e-mail questions to a tuto
»» Wit rter, and if
it a pap er for editing. You are prov ided with 10 hours of tutoring each qua
web chat, or subm
your academic advisor.
you need additional tutoring time, just ask

you will have a successful quarter.

confident that if you use these resources,
Good luck in your courses, Catherine. I am

Sincerely,

Rassy
Rasmussen College Mascot Do you have a question for Rassy? E-mail it
to RasWire@Rasmussen.edu!

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Faculty Spotlight
A s an online Learning Center coordinator
and Success Strategies online course
instructor, Jennifer Stoker enjoys helping
students change their lives through
education.
Jennifer appreciates the solid time
management skills required to successfully
complete a degree when you have family,
work, and other obligations as she is an adult
LEADERSHIP ACADEMY
Are you looking for a new way to
get involved? Are you enjoying your
coursework, but would like to strengthen
your professional skills outside of the
classroom?
Starting January 2011, Rasmussen College
online will implement the first quarter of
the Rasmussen Leadership Academy (RLA).
The purpose of the RLA is to identify and
strengthen your leadership skills for use in
college, the workplace, and your community.
It is also a great way to network with other
successful Rasmussen College students.
While participating in the RLA, students will
learn about personal strengths through the
Jennifer stoker
Online learning center
coordinator, instructor
learner herself currently working towards her
Master’s degree in Organizational Leadership.
For this reason, Jennifer continually
emphasizes to her students the importance
of taking advantage of the numerous student
support services at Rasmussen College.
Although earning a degree can be stressful,
Jennifer encourages her students to continue
their journey because the reward of a college
results of the StrengthsQuest 2.0 assessment.
Additionally, students will be able to recognize
various types of leadership and learn how to
utilize their skills throughout different facets
of life. Professional speakers will also share
advice and their individual leadership stories.
To be eligible to participate in the RLA, you
must meet the following criteria:
• Successfully completed two or more
quarters at Rasmussen College
• GPA of 3.0 or higher and no pending failed
courses
• Commit 2-3 hours every other week during
fall quarter
• Enrolled in two or more online courses
The RLA is open to students of all academic
programs.
(888) 5-Rasmussen | www.Rasmussen.edu
degree is one that will stay with them
throughout their lives, emphasizing once
again to “Follow your dreams. We are here
to help you achieve your goal of earning
your degree. It will be challenging but very
rewarding as well.” Aside from the tangible
accomplishment of having a college degree,
Jennifer fondly recalls that having her parents,
husband, and daughter watch her walk across
the stage to accept her college diploma was
one of the greatest moments of her life.
In her free time, Jennifer enjoys visiting the
beach with her husband and daughter. She
also enjoys travelling and plans to visit every
state, having already visited 20! She is very
active in her community and volunteers for
the Special Olympics and Autism Society of
Greater Orlando. She is also very active in
her daughter’s elementary school and enjoys
watching her participate in activities such
as running club and cheerleading for flag
football.
“Follow your dreams. We are here to
help you achieve your goal of earning
your degree. It will be challenging but
very rewarding as well.”
Qualified students will receive information
in their Rasmussen College e-mail account,
which is accessed through the Student
Portal. We hope you are as excited as we are
about this great opportunity to further your
education, develop your leadership skills, and
network with other Rasmussen College online
students!
Please direct questions to:
Cassandra Campfield
Cassandra.Campfield@Rasmussen.edu
(866) 967-7042, ext. 3854
Erin Lasley
Erin.Lasley@Rasmussen.edu
(866) 967-7042, ext. 5092
7
(888) 5-Rasmussen
www.Rasmussen.edu

Calendar of Events
January January 3 – Start of winter term
January 18 – Justice Studies meet & greet and program orientation

»» 6:30 p.m. CST

»» Leslie Palmer meeting space: http://67.202.211.39/launcher.cgi?room=00_RAS_lpalmer

January 19 – Schedules released for early spring term

January 24 – Start of book shipment for early spring term

February Week of February 6 – Mid-term week for winter term

February 7 – Start of early spring term
Week of February 27 – Mid-term week for early spring term
February 23 – Schedules released for spring term

March Week of March 13 – Final week for winter and early spring term
March 15 – Start of book shipment for spring term
March 18 – End of winter and early spring term
March 19-April 3 – Break
March 25 – Grades become available

April April 4 – Start of spring term

April 19 – Justice Studies meet & greet and program orientation

»» 6:30 p.m. CST

»» Leslie Palmer meeting space: http://67.202.211.39/launcher.cgi?room=00_RAS_lpalmer

April 20 – Schedules released for early summer term

April 26 – Start of book shipment for early summer term

RasMall
Looking for Rasmussen College apparel and
gear? Visit www.RasMall.com to order yours
today!

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