SFC Bonita Owens

Sergeant First Class Bonita Owens has been a Soldier for 19 years. She began her career with the Army in October 1987 and since then has served tours of duty in Friedberg, Germany; Fort Carson, Colorado; Redstone Arsenal, Alabama; and is currently stationed at Camp Zama, Japan. Most recently, from 2000 – 2005, she served with the American Forces Information Service, Office of the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs. Currently, she is stationed at the US Army Garrison in Stuttgart, Germany.

“Attending Grantham University is one of the best decisions I have ever made for myself,” commented SFC Owens. “With every course completed, I feel a sense of accomplishment.”

Grantham’s flexible distance learning model allows SFC Owens to set her own study schedule no matter where in the world she is stationed, all without any out of pocket expenses. Since attending Grantham, SFC Owens has received her Associate degree in Business Administration and is well on her way to earning her Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. “As a result, I have become better at researching Military and Civilian Regulations, Policies, and Directives in my current job as Assistant Inspector General,” said SFC Owens.

As a leader, she is dedicated to teaching and training Soldiers in her unit and within the Stuttgart Community about the importance of higher education. Today, six Soldiers from US Army Garrison Stuttgart have enrolled at Grantham University.

Event Recap:

On September 26th, Grantham University took students in the Washington, D.C. area out to the ballgame. Students, their families and Grantham staff enjoyed hotdogs, sodas and cracker jacks while watching the Washington Nationals beat the Philadelphia Phillies.

On Tuesday, September 26, 2006, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s (DOC) Federal Employed Women’s Council held a Lunch and Learn Workshop focused on “A College Degree: Closer Than You Think.” Valerie Beall of Grantham University was invited to participate in a panel discussion with Patricia Wolfe, President of the Federally Employed Women’s Education and Training Foundation; Dr. Fred M. Lang, Director of the Office of Training and Knowledge Management (DOC); and Jack Kenner, ACECARNET. The presentation was simultaneously webcast to over 3,000 DOC employees across the country. Grantham also had an exhibit booth set up the DOC lobby, along with Graduate School USDA, Skillsoft, Thomson Netg, Strayer University and Potomac College.

On October 9 – 11th, Grantham University exhibited at the AUSA’s 2006 Annual Meeting and Convention. This year’s meeting, “Call to Duty – Boots on the Ground,” kicked-off with an opening ceremony featuring The U.S. Army Band, “Pershing’s Own,” and the 3rd U.S. Infantry (The Old Guard). The exhibit hall in the convention center was taken over by companies displaying products like tanks, helicopters, Strykers, and new prototypes.

On September 18, 2006, Grantham University officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Federally Employed Women’s Foundation for Education and Training (FEW-FET) which provided the Foundation a full 4 year Grantham scholarship for 2007. Pat Wolfe, FEW-FET President and past FEW National President; Edna Harvin Battle, FEW National Executive Vice President; Christine Shelly, Executive Vice President of Grantham Education Corporation (GEC); and Valerie Beall, National Director of Business Development (GEC), participated in the signing ceremony. The Few Foundation was established in 2006 with the purpose of providing education and training opportunities to current, past and potential members of Federally Employed Women through workshops, training sessions, and classes on a variety of subjects and issues important to the federal workplace. The event took place at the American Council on Education in Washington, D.C.

Upcoming Events:

• Tuesday, November 14th, 2006 – The Education Center at Fort Myer is hosting an Ed Fair from 10 am until 2 pm at the Spates Community Club.
• Wednesday, November 15th, 2006 – Fort Belvior’s Education Center is hosting a College Fair.
• Thursday, November 16th, 2006 – Joanna Jones and Johanna Altland from Grantham University will be at the Andrew’s AFB Education Center on Arkansas Road from 11 am until 2 pm to assist current and prospective students with any questions they might have.

Article from About.com

Online courses are an excellent way for busy professionals to gain advanced training and certifications or switch career paths. They can also be very effective for first-time job seekers who need specialized training. However, before signing up, here are a few factors that can ensure an online student's success.

Time Management

Time management may be the biggest factor in succeeding at your online course. Successful online students have to be very proactive in their studies and take responsibility for their own learning.

To master time management, first determine what time of day you think you will be most focused on your studies. Are you a morning person or a night owl? Do you concentrate best after a cup of coffee or after lunch? Once you narrow in on a time of day reserve a designated allotment of time to dedicate to your course.

Stay committed to that reserved time and treat it like an appointment that can’t be budged.

Balancing Personal Obligations

While there are many reasons to take an online course – one of the most frequent reasons students choose these courses is because of the convenience. Whether you have a full-time job, don’t want to fight traffic or are raising a family – balancing school and personal obligations can become a juggling act.

The beauty of self-paced, online courses is that you can study around your schedule – so be sure to set study time during your down time – even if that means 11 p.m.

Study Environment

An ideal study environment is just that – ideal. Some students need absolute silence while others can’t seem to concentrate without noise in the background. No matter what your preference is, a well-lit place that is free from distractions is recommended. Note that you’ll make much better use of thirty minutes of disruption-free study than an hour’s worth of commotion-filled learning. If you can’t escape in-home interruptions, try the library or a coffee shop. Schedule your designated study time when you can be in a distraction-free environment and your chances for success will increase and the time you need to devote to your course will decrease.

Questions

Don’t be afraid to ask questions. As an online student there are several ways to get the answers you are seeking. If your course offers instructor support (and I would recommend courses that do), you can always direct inquiries to your teacher. Top-notch courses tend to provide first-class support so that students never feel lost or alone during the e-learning process.

However, online chat rooms, if provided, are another great resource for students seeking answers. Online chat rooms give students a forum to meet other students taking the same course and ask questions or discuss assignments. More than likely another student taking the course has had or will have the same question.

If you need an immediate answer – do your best to find the answer yourself. You’ll likely satisfy other lingering questions in the process and often times the journey to the answer teaches you more than the answer itself.

Get What You Give

Remember that noncredit, continuing education and certificate courses are designed to provide the skills necessary to acquire professional caliber positions for in-demand occupations. The more effort you put forth in these online courses to comprehend the lessons taught the more likely you are to succeed after the course is finished. Extra effort during the course will lead to an easier transition in your new positions or with your new responsibilities.

E-learning has a lot to offer students who dedicate the time and focus to extracting everything the course has to offer.