Exciting News for Higher Education in Westchester County

If you decide to take the path of higher education it can be a struggle. Fresh out of high school you may not know exactly what you want which is very normal. It could become an issue when you enter a college and then transfer to another college. We have heard some transfer nightmares that can add up to an additional year of classes to receive a degree. The partnership between WCC and The CNR is providing a great opportunity for local students to pursue their dreams. Check out their press release below for more details!



The College of New Rochelle Signs Articulation Agreement with Westchester Community College,  Addresses National Call to Action Seeking  to Expand Access to Higher Education

Four-Year Degree Becomes More Attainable and Affordable  for Local Residents Through Enhanced Transfer Process, Scholarships


VALHALLA, N.Y. (March 30, 2016) – The College of New Rochelle (CNR) and Westchester Community College (WCC) today signed an articulation agreement that formally enhances the transfer process for eligible WCC students into CNR with advanced standing. The agreement, which will strengthen higher education in Westchester County, will begin in fall 2016.


The agreement will provide transferring full-time students who have successfully graduated from WCC and meet eligibility requirements with an annual scholarship equal to $10,000, to be credited against CNR’s standard full-time tuition. This financial benefit will be known as The College of New Rochelle/Westchester Community College Transfer Pathways Scholarship.


This collaboration by two longtime Westchester institutions is designed to provide students with a solid education and access to the real-world experience critically needed upon graduation. It also addresses a national call to action by President Obama seeking to broaden access to higher education, in part by fostering stronger relationships among community colleges and four-year colleges and universities.
The agreement, as presently constituted, applies to students transferring to CNR’s School of Arts & Sciences, which recently became coeducational. CNR and WCC are working to develop similar pathways for nursing and health care programs to address critical workforce needs in Westchester County and the health care professions.
“By partnering with Westchester Community College, The College of New Rochelle seeks to address a national, state, and regional issue that is challenging everyone: diversity, equity, and access to higher education,” said Judith Huntington, President, The College of New Rochelle. “This articulation strengthens both institutions but, more importantly, it empowers the students and families we serve and supports the economy of Westchester County.”


One particularly unique aspect of the agreement is that the colleges will also work together on a reverse transfer process, ensuring that all WCC students who transfer to CNR’s School of Arts & Sciences also earn an associate degree from WCC. Even if students transfer to CNR before completing their coursework at WCC, through this uncommon but especially important collaboration, academic credits for applicable coursework completed at CNR will be transferred back to WCC.

CNR will grant junior standing and accept a minimum of 60 credits for students transferring from WCC into the School of Arts & Sciences. Credits that do not count toward a student’s major will count as elective credits toward a four-year degree. Additionally, one student each year who transfers from WCC to CNR’s School of Arts & Sciences will receive a full-tuition scholarship. Eligible students, to be nominated by WCC, must have completed their associate degree and earned a GPA of 3.5 or better.


“This partnership will help our graduates achieve a seamless transfer to The College of New Rochelle,” said Dr. Belinda S. Miles, President, Westchester Community College. “This is an important agreement that focuses on student success. We are always pleased to build new bridges toward four-year institutions and to assist our students in moving on toward advanced degrees.”


The articulation agreement and scholarship program respond to student and industry needs, by offsetting the rising cost of obtaining a four-year degree and bridging the gap between academic and employer expectations. Addressing the kind of change needed in higher education, the agreement is a concrete response to the often prohibitive cost young people face to obtain a four-year degree, as well as industry concerns that college students nationwide are not graduating with the skills necessary to succeed in the workforce.


This initiative is yet another example of CNR’s longstanding dedication for 112 years to innovation and lifelong learning and to responding to the current needs of society. Since its founding by the Ursuline Order in 1904, CNR has been committed to providing its students with a rigorous education that effectively positions them to succeed professionally.


WCC graduates interested in enrolling in CNR’s School of Arts & Sciences for the fall semester may apply at any time. Transfer applications for the 2016-17 academic year will be accepted through the summer.

Is Social Media Ruining Your View of Reality?

I recently read an article about a woman who ruined her own vacation by using Instagram. Yea, sounds extreme. What she meant was that while posting pictures she was thinking of the "better" vacations that her friends had been posting and felt inadequate. 

Keeping up with the Jones' has filtered into all areas of our lives thanks to social media.What other areas of your life do you find yourself trying to compete with others in? Is everyone really that happy and living such amazing lives? The answer is most likely no. Would you ever post a picture of your termination letter or devastating news of a sick family member? We get to choose what others get to see on social media. No one has a perfect life, the perfect job, the perfect partner and the most fun social circle.

Don't get me wrong I LOVE social media, hell its my job! It is a amazing way to communicate in a technology focused era but it is good to keep reality in perspective. Don't think you life pales in comparison to others because there is someone out there who thinks you life is better than theirs. Challenge yourself to have a night out every now and then without documenting anything. You'lll be surprised how invigorating is it to just enjoy yourself without worrying about taking the perfect selfie or the funniest snapchat. Be present, have fun, and keep it real.

Dealing with work stress

I recently read an article sent to me from Monster about work stress. When your passionate about what you do and driven to reach your goals it is inevitable to have times of stress. The way you deal with the stress is what gives you a healthy work/life balance or turns you into a crazy work-a-holic. Here's the full article:

By Jenny C. Evans, author of THE RESILIENCY rEVOLUTION: Your Stress Solution For Life 60 Seconds at a Time (Wise Ink Creative Publishing; November 2014)

It’s quite likely this year held some challenging moments for you professionally, personally or both. It’s also possible the tools you used to cope actually made things worse, not better.

Perhaps you found yourself staying up late or waking up early to get work done. In an attempt to create time in a hectic schedule, you might have skipped meals or workouts. There were long stretches of time where you had to sit motionless and maintain concentration in a meeting, at your desk, on an airplane or in a car.

It’s time to say goodbye to workplace stress in 2015. For real this time. The key to dealing with your stress successfully, having better energy, and becoming more productive this year will hinge on looking at stress in a new and different way. It’s not something that’s just in your head -- it’s in your body.

Stress is a physical event that radically changes your chemistry and physiology. Understanding these changes helps prevent and mitigate its negative side effects.

Here are some of our typical responses to stress, why they make things worse, and what to do instead.

1. You sacrifice sleep to get things done.
It’s tempting to trade sleep for extra hours of productivity, but lack of sleep arouses the area of our brains responsible for the fight or flight response. It also inhibits portions of the brain relating to restoring balance and calm. (McEwen, B. 2002) Sleep deprivation also increases hunger and body fat levels, specifically around the body’s mid-section.

Not only can this abdominal fat be psychologically stressful, it also increases our risk of diabetes, heart disease, obesity, and even premature death. (Epstien, L. 2008.) And unfortunately these disease states make our stress even worse. 

Resiliency Remedy: Keep to a regular sleep cycle and aim to get between 7-9 hours each night. We can “get by” on less, but sleep is one of the best tools we have for the body to recover from stress.

2. You skip meals because you’re too busy to eat.
When we skip meals or go too long without eating, blood glucose (a form of sugar the body uses for energy from many of the foods we eat) drops. When there’s not enough glucose, the body thinks a famine is occurring, the stress response is stimulated and the body secretes cortisol.

Cortisol puts us into food seeking mode to get much needed energy into the body, and makes us eat large amounts of high-fat, high-sugar foods. It stores much of this extra energy in the fat cells around our abdominal regions for the next glucose emergency.

Resiliency Remedy: Keeping blood glucose levels in the ideal range stops the stress response from being stimulated. Minimize stress by eating about every 3 hours.

Alternate between moderate sized meals (breakfast is a must) and small snacks high in fiber, healthy fats and/or lean protein.

3. You skip your workout because you don’t have time.
When the demands of our lives increase, we look for things to cut to reduce our levels of stress. Exercise is often the first to go. Unfortunately this is one of the worst coping strategies we can make.

Stress hormones are specifically designed to fuel a short burst of intense physical activity -- fighting and/or fleeing.

When we get this type of activity, it burns them off and releases a new class of hormones that restore balance and neutralize the negative consequences of stress. When we don’t get this type of exercise, we’re stuck stewing in our stress hormones.

Resiliency Remedy: The good news is just 30-60 seconds of intense exercise produces the hormones that restore balance. (Brooks, S. et al 1988, Schwarz, L. et al 1990, Schwarz, L. et al 1992)

Sprint up a flight of stairs, or do a few jumping jacks or burpees. Shorts bursts hit the physiological reset button on stress and make a big difference when accumulated throughout the day. They also train the body to recover from stress more quickly and efficiently.

4. You sit for long periods of time.
Sitting is the new smoking. It increases risk of death, blood pressure, cholesterol, blood glucose and body fat. (Stamatakis, E., et al, 2011) Think a workout negates it? It doesn’t.

Sitting for most of the day cancels out the effects of an exercise session. (Matthews, CE. et al, 2012) Also, tension builds the longer we sit while energy and metabolism slow.

Resiliency Remedy: Several times during the day take a minute or two to move your body.

Set your laptop on a cardboard box to stand and type, do some stretching to release muscular tension and stress, on the phone = on your feet, or conduct walking meetings when in small groups.

It's official! We are one of the best & brightest companies to work for.

NEWS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For Further information:

Contact:  Sue Voyles (734) 667-2005

-or-           Jennifer Kluge (586) 393-8800               

National Association for Business Resources Names theBest and Brightest Companies to Work For in the Country For 2014

December8, 2014 – Warren, MI — For the fourth year running, the National Association for Business Resourceshas named the Best and Brightest Companies To Work For™ in the country. (See following list of winners.)

The 2014 winning companies were assessed by an independent research firmwhich reviewed a number of key measures relative to other nationally recognized winners. They include Compensation, Benefits and Employee Solutions; Employee Enrichment, Engagement and Retention; Employee Education and Development; Recruitment, Selection and Orientation; Employee Achievement and Recognition; Communication and Shared Vision; Diversity and Inclusion; Work-Life Balance; Community Initiatives; Strategic Company Performance and the Best of the Best Small Business.

Additionally three companies were named Elite winners. Elite companies demonstrated exceptional innovative human resource practices and set high standards for all businesses. Winners are selected based on their high scores and then named an Elite winner in their respective category which included: The Best of the Best Small Business,  The Best of the Best Medium Business and The Best of the Best Large Business. The three Elite winners are:

Category                                                                                Company

The Best of the Best Small Business                          TransTech IT Staffing (Itasca, IL)
Best of the Best Medium Business                             Peckham, Inc. (Lansing, MI)

The Best of the Best Large Business                          WOW! Internet Cable Phone(Denver/Englewood, CO)

With nearly 15 years of experience conducting Best and Brightest Company competitions, the National Association for Business Resources (NABR) have identified numerous best HR practices and provided benchmarking for companies that continue to be leaders in employment standards.

“Nationally recognized award recipients keep innovative human resource initiatives at the forefront of their company culture and make it a priority to consider their workforce as an essential aspect in their company success. Our Association is proud to recognize and honor these winning companies for this impressive achievement,” said Jennifer Kluge, NABR president.

The companies that have been selected to be recognized nationally as a Best and Brightest Company to Work For™ will be featured in the December 18^th online edition of Corp! Magazine.The winning companies will also receive additional recognition as a national winner at a Best and Brightest Companies to Work For™ awards symposium and gala at a location of their choosing in several U.S. cities.

The “101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For®” is a national program with annual symposium and award galas presented in Detroit, Chicago, Atlanta, Houston, Milwaukee, San Francisco, Grand Rapids and Dallas. Nominations are now being accepted for 2015. Visit www.101bestandbrightest.com to obtain an application.

About the Best and Brightest Programs

The Best and Brightest Companies to Work For® is a program of the National Association for Business Resources that provides the business community with the opportunity to gain recognition, showcase their best practices and demonstrate why they are an ideal place for employees to work. This national program celebrates those companies that are making better business, creating richer lives and building a stronger community as a whole.  There are numerous regional celebrations throughout the country. 

The National Association For Business Resources based in Warren, Mich. boasts a sphere of influence that no other organization of its kind can claim, leveraging a depth of programs and community initiatives that positively impact more than 150,000 businesses.

National Association for Business Resources

27700 Hoover Rd.

Warren, MI48093-6306

(866) 321-1822

2014 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For™ Winners

2313 Inc

7Summits

Accruent

Acoustics By Design, Inc.

Acro Service Corporation

ADS, Inc

Advanced Resources

Aerotek

ALL4 Inc.

Allied Business Services, Inc.

alligatortek

Altair Business Consulting

American Academy of Pediatrics

Andy J. Egan Company

AnnieMac Home Mortgage

Applications Software Technology

Corporation

Applied Imaging

Ashton Staffing

Asset Plus Companies

Assurance

Audiology Systems, Inc.

Austin Benefits Group

Axios

Baudville, Inc.

BDO USA, LLP

Bel Brands USA

Benenson Strategy Group

Better World Books

Billhighway

Birkman International, Inc.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan

Bounce Exchange

Brad’s Deals

Brightwing

Brilliant™

Broder & Sachse Real Estate Services

bswift

Buckhead Business Consulting, Inc.

Burwood Group, Inc.

C-4 Analytics

Care Communications, Inc.

Carson Health

Celergo LLC

Citra Health Solutions

City Of Atlanta

College Works Painting

Commune Hotels + Resorts

Community Counseling

Centers of Chicago

Computer Generated Solutions

Computer Systems Institute

Computerized Facility Integration LLC

Connectivity Wireless Solutions

Consumers Credit Union

ContextMedia, Inc.

Conway MacKenzie, Inc.

Coretek Services

Corporate Visions, Inc.

Crane Worldwide Logistics

Credential Check Corporation

Credit Acceptance

Crowe Horwath LLP

Crown Motors LTD

CSM Group

Daugherty Business Solutions

DFCU Financial

DIAG Partners

DigitasLBi

DMC Atlanta, Inc.

Domino’s Pizza

Dynamic Marketing Group

Easter Seals - Michigan, Inc.

Edlong Dairy Technologies

Educational Data Systems, Inc.

Elzinga & Volkers

Construction Professionals

EMKAY Inc.

Employer Flexible

Enesco, LLC

Epitec, Inc

EPMA

EVC Scottsdale

Farbman Group

Flexfab

FONA International

Futurewave Systems

Gables Residential

Garden City Hospital

Geneca

GiftCard Partners

Grand Prairie Services

Grand Rapids Label Company

Greeley and Hansen

Greenleaf Hospitality Group

Greenleaf Trust

GreenStone Farm Credit Services

Harley Ellis Devereaux

HealthLink Dimensions

Henry Ford Health System

Hitachi Consulting

HNI

Holland Hospital

Honigman Miller

Schwartz and Cohn LLP

Hooker DeJong, Inc.

HRsmart

HUMANeX Ventures

Ifbyphone

imageOne

Impact Networking, LLC

Inktel Contact Center Solutions

iVision, Inc.

Jonathan Wesley, Inc.

kCura

Kelco Industries

Kelly S Mathews LLC

Kent Companies

Keystone Resources

Lake Michigan Credit Union

LaSalle Network

Legal Copy Services, Inc.

Life EMS Ambulance

LNE Consulting Inc

Longnecker & Associates

LTG Marketing & Development, Inc

Mastery Technologies

Maven Wave Partners LLC

McGraw Wentworth, a Marsh &

McLennan Agency LLC company

Medicus Solutions, Inc.

Metro Health

Michael Page/ Page Group

Michigan Financial Companies

Michigan First Credit Union

Michigan Office Solutions

Modern Business Concepts, Inc

Mortenson Construction

MotherG

Motivate, Inc. dba EPMG

MSU Federal Credit Union

Mutual Trust Financial Group

National Futures Association

Navigate Research

Navint Partners LLC

NCSA Athletic Recruiting

Nemeth Law, P.C.

Nichols Paper & Supply

NOW Foods

Obsidian Learning

OLN Inc

Omni One

Omron Automation & Safety

One Source Provider

Open Systems Technologies

OpTech, LLC

Orthopaedic Associates of Michigan

OxBlue Corporation

PBD Worldwide

Pcubed Inc

Peckham Inc.

Plastic Omnium Auto Inergy

PM Realty Group

Potestivo & Associates, P.C.

Prominence Advisors

Protiviti

PSI Repair Services, Inc.

Purchasing Power, LLC

Quest Healthcare Solutions

Ranir

re:group

Red Frog Events

Regal Financial Group, LLC

Rise Interactive

Rockford Construction Company

RSG

Ryan, LLC

Sachse Construction

Scarlet Management Group

Schupan & Sons, Inc.

Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores, Inc.

Seco Tools, LLC.

Service Express Inc.

Shamrock Financial Corporation

Shoemaker Financial

Shure Incorporated

Sikich LLP

Sonoma Partners

Southwest Michigan First

SpartanNash Co.

Spot Trading LLC

Springthrough

Sun Coast Resources, Inc.

SunCoke Energy

SWC Technology Partners, Inc.

Takeda Pharmaceuticals

Taylor’s Special Care Services Inc.

The Futures Company

The Intersect Group

The Mannik & Smith Group, Inc

The Marketing Store

The SMB Help Desk, Inc.

Total Quality Logistics

Total Technology

Solutions Group, Inc.

Transportation Solutions Enterprises

TransTech IT Staffing

United Shore Financial Services, LLC

University of Michigan Athletic

Department

w3r Consulting

Walbridge

Willis Law

WOW! Internet, Cable and Phone

Xcution, Inc.

Zen Planner, LLC.

 National Association for Business Resources

(866) 321-1822 * www.nationalbiz.org

Don't let the holidays put you in a spiral!

With the holidays approaching stress can be at an all time high. Life gets crazy regardless and we have to be aware of when we are pushing ourselves too far. Recognize when your at at good level of stress (cause hey, its healthy to challenge our brains) or if your overdoing it before you get sick. Your working memory can only hold seven pieces of information. Dump out your brain, get everything onto paper, and prioritize whats important to you. Choose to do a few things each day instead of bogging yourself down for a whole day or weekend. Take time to pause! Know what's important to you and make time for it. (If you have to ponder whats important to you, its time to stop and think about your core values). Everyone deserves to have leisure time, so don't feel guilty when you do. Go ahead have some fun!

Set Goals and Reach Them!

A goal can seem daunting if you focus only on the end results, so break down the goal into more achievable milestones. Hitting smaller goals along the way is much more motivating. Pick a date and commit to it! Having something specific makes your goal more concrete. Make a visual of your goal to focus on, it will them become more powerful. Tell everyone about your goal! It makes you more accountable and your loved ones will help you work towards it. Set realistic yet challenging goals. Get scared, shoot for something big.

Top 5 Pieces of Advice We Have Received

1. Do things now! Do the things that people don't want to do because they seem hard. You'll be able to do things later that others can't.

2. Make decisions but never when you are emotional. Before you make a decision think if its coming from an emotional standpoint. If its, table it and come back to it.

3. Why. Always know it! When you know the why you can endure the how.

4. Be very careful who you get advice from. You wouldn't take financial advice from a person who just claimed bankruptcy so make sure the person you are taking business advice from is qualified to give it.  

5. It's not easy. If it was easy to be successful everyone would be so new flash its hard work.