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Careers in Criminal Justice...Rewarding Work...easy to get started Local community colleges in Pennsylvania have inexpensive AA degree programs for Criminal Justice Majors. Programs are transferable to state universities for a BS degree which may lead to federal employment. We recommend that you contact the admissions office of a community college and avoid the high cost of private institutions charging upwards of $30 K for an 18 month program. Most community college programs are available under $6,000 in the 2004-2005 academic year and credits are transferable. For those individuals willing to travel and relocate, the field of Criminal Justice is opening up since terrorism has become a national and global concern in recent years. Positions for Secret Service Agents, FBI Agents, DEA Agents, and other Dept of Justice careers are obtainable and now considered demand occupations due to the attrition rate. Federal Marshall positions for those interested in travel are on the rise. In addition, many, many openings are available in the Dept of Justice for agents in the US Border Patrol. Border Agents are employed along the Mexican border in California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. Pay scales are awarded based on background. A college graduate with a 3.0 or higher GPA may enter the field at a higher rate than a HS graduate. Requirements for border agents include a high school diploma, bi-lingual ability (English/Spanish), a clean criminal background ready for an extensive check and a year’s worth of work experience beyond high school. Applications for federal jobs can be obtained online by searching at: www.USDOJ.GOV to find out about an initial application. Or, contact a local Careerlink to investigate careers in criminal justice at the state and local levels. Skills obtained during a 2-year academic training in the field of CJ include: the ability to describe & explain the functions of law enforcement, the courts and corrections systems; the ability to describe and explain the historical perspective of the principles, theories and challenges in the criminal justice system; the ability to explain and analyze the legal and ethical issues in criminal justice and juvenile justice systems. Call the Educational Planner in your area to find out how easy it is to get your Criminal Justice Career started. No military service background is required. Call us today. What Questions Should I Ask Before Choosing a College Before deciding on a college, there are some basic questions that a prospective student should ask: Do I meet the admissions requirements? What are the job placement rates for students that have recently graduated? What is the wage at placement? What is the academic quality of the education offered? Does the school offer the program that I want to take? Does the school offer classes at the time that is convenient for me? Are classes offered at a variety of times? What is the tuition? Does the school offer support services such as tutoring, counseling, advising? Is the location (s) convenient? Do I feel comfortable on the campus? Can I Still Apply for Financial Aid? Yes! Although our state deadline has passed us by, you may still file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA); and, you may still qualify for a Federal Pell Grant. The FAFSA may be completed online or on paper. The web address is: www.fafsa.ed.gov. If you would like a paper copy, you may contact an EOC office, or the college of your choice. Items to gather before filing the FAFSA: Your Social Security Number; If you are filing online-you should have a pin number. You can apply for one at www.fafsa.ed.gov- - just click on the register for a pin button; and, you will receive a pin in about a week; A copy of your 2004 Income Tax Return. If you are a dependent student, you will need your parents’ Income Tax Return; You will need to know the net value of your investments, including the value of a rental property (if you are the landlord). If you are a dependant, you will need the same information for your parents; The balance of your savings and checking accounts. If you are a dependant, you will need the same information for your parents; If you received cash assistance in 2004 or non-taxed Social Security benefits, you will need to know the total amount received for all members in your household; The total amount of child support paid and received in 2004. If you would like assistance in filing the FAFSA, please contact the EOC office closest to you, and an Educational Planner will be happy to help you through this process. Remember, all of our services are free! Nursing Shortage According to the Pennsylvania State Legislature, there is a significant nursing shortage in our state. According to a recent article in the Pittsburg Gazette, "Pennsylvania has nearly 4,000 full-time equivalent nurse vacancies in hospitals and health systems. According to projections, the state will conservatively need 5,000 new registered nurses each year through 2010 to meet the growing need created as baby boomers age and retire." It might seem like an obvious answer, you should go to school to be a nurse; however, you need to be accepted into a nursing program. And according to the same article, "There's also a shortage of nursing school instructors across the nation, especially those with a master's degree." So, if you want to be a nurse, now is the time to apply. If you are already a nurse, you may want to consider getting a master’s degree and helping to educate the next population of nurses. The Pennsylvania Higher Education Agency (PHEAA) has a nursing loan forgiveness program for those students that need to take out loans in order to complete their education. For more information, go to: www.pheaa.org and you can review the eligibility guidelines as well as download an application. You may also want to contact the hospitals in your area to see if they are offering tuition reimbursement in return for a commitment to work at the facility upon completion of your degree. If you have always wanted a career in health care, it may be the time to explore your options. "People have more options than they think, but they spend more time planning a vacation then they do planning what they want to do with their lives." Interview Tips Preparation is the key to a good interview; Keep in mind that the interviewer will control the flow of the dialogue- -you control the content; Remember that you are selling yourself; Learn about the product or service that the company/organization offers; Don’t ask questions for the sake of impressing your interviewer; Be yourself!
Recipients of the Dr. Jesse A. Bryan Scholarship from EOC: CONGRATULATIONS to the recipients of the 2004 EOC Scholarship in memory of Dr. Jesse A. Bryan! This award, based on academic performance, school and community activities, and a written essay, is awarded to participants of the EOC Program who have made significant achievements as adult students. The Scholarship Committee is pleased to announce the following worthy recipients of this year’s awards: VALERIE BEECROFT of Avoca is majoring in Court Reporting at Luzerne County Community College. REBECCA ROVENOLT, Millmont, is enrolled in the Practical Nursing Program at Mifflin-Juniata Career and Technology Center. GERRY KOTSKO, Hazleton, is a Social Science major at Luzerne County Community College. ESLY DUBON of Macungie is majoring in Accounting at Lehigh Carbon Community College. KRISTOPHER HILL, Throop, is enrolled in the Welding and Fabrication Engineering Technology Program at the Pennsylvania College of Technology. MICHELLE KURILLA, Larksville, is majoring in Journalism in the General Studies Program at Luzerne County Community College. DONNA WILLIAMS of Wilkes-Barre is a Nursing major at Luzerne County Community College. THOMAS LEDENT, Hanover, is majoring in Human Services at Luzerne County Community College. LEE CRAWFORD, Edwardsville, is enrolled in the Building Maintenance/Electrical Construction Program at Luzerne County Community College. BARRY REINMILLER of Exeter is majoring in Electronics Engineering Technology at Luzerne County Community College. What do I want to be when I grow up? Exciting careers...which group thinks big? Kindergarten students or adults? Today’s young students have some grand plans for the future it as been written. Kindergarten students know a lot about proper career selection by virtue of their lack of inhibition. They know what they like and they spend time doing it. So, what can a kindergarten student show an adult about the career selection process? Kindergarten students were "polled" at the Hanover Elementary School last year and asked the proverbial question: "What do you want to be when you grow up"? Students had no trouble answering that age-old question. What were some of their responses? The number one response was: Teacher. Other responses that came up included: police officer, fire fighter, astronaut, Spiderman, Superman, spy, Football player, Baseball player, Basketball player, ice skater, dancer, Princess, singer, doctor, dentist, pediatrician, dolphin trainer, veterinarian, architect, airline pilot, movie star, Navy SEAL, scientist, store owner and pool installer! Imaginative—Yes! But, what happens along the way? Once an individual is placed in "the system", influences and the laws of supply and demand kick in. Can you remember back to kindergarten or elementary school? Clues to a good career choice lay in the games you’ve played, the roles you took upon yourself in games and the amount of time you spent either socially or alone. A real-life example is a young man who graduated from Moravian college with a BA degree in Business Management and Finance. His childhood love was the game Monopoly. You guessed it; Donald Trump has been his role model. Since graduation from college in 1997, he began his career owning real estate beginning with a 2-unit apartment. Today, he owns three such units and has purchased a 4-tract piece of land..all in the same city. For this young entrepreneur, Monopoly was more than a childhood past-time...it was the driving force behind his career choice. Take a moment to remember your childhood games, ideas, TV shows or sports activities. Did you somehow lose sight of your passion? Your dream? If so, contact an educational planner today, take a career survey, explore some old career choices and perhaps realize your childhood dream. Call a planner today and bring the child-like zest back into your life. (Incidentally, the Hanover School students scored the highest in PA in the PSSA tests!)
Winter Newsletter 2004 I Doubt I Qualify for Aid. Should I Still Apply? Yes, you should! Never assume you don't qualify for financial aid. Many adult students believe they don't qualify and miss out on many sources of aid, including grants and low interest loans that are offered regardless of grade point average, financial need, or credit history. Most federal and state aid programs don't have age limits, although some scholarship programs might. For financial aid based on low income, all that is necessary is to demonstrate financial need, and some of the most eligible students are single parents. Also, it isn't necessary to be admitted to a college or university before you can apply for financial aid. Submit the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) form as soon as possible after January 1. The successful distance learning student should:
HAZLETON OFFICE RELOCATES
This is to notify anyone interested in EOC services in the Hazleton area that the office has relocated to 75 Airport Road, Suite 108, Hazleton, PA 18202. If you are not familiar with the address it is located on what is commonly known as the “airport beltway” between Wal-Mart and the Laurel Mall in the Sunset Beltway building. The phone number is still (570) 454-6161. There is plenty of free parking and we look forward to continuing to provide free services to those seeking higher education. Financial Aid Checklist: The following summarizes the steps necessary for your financial aid to be processed and made available to you in a timely manner: Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by the priority deadline for your school The application can be found online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. File your federal income tax return early to report actual income figures on your FAFSA. Use estimated figures if your return is not filed by the application deadline. Submit Student Aid Report (SAR) corrections to the FAFSA processor promptly. Respond to requests for additional documentation promptly. (A signed tax return, verification of Selective Service registration, Social Security card, Statement of Assets, etc. are documents most often requested.) Complete and sign the Financial Aid Award Letter to accept the aid offer. Return a copy to the Financial Aid Office. Complete and sign the Master Promissory Note if necessary. The MPN is completed on line at http://dlenote.ed.gov after June 1. (The promissory note is usually signed only once for loans issued while attending AU.) Complete Loan Entrance Counseling online at: http://www.dlssonline.com/entrancecounseling/main-entc.asp This requirement must be satisfied by first-time borrowers and new students. Apply for private loans by June 1. Refer to “Types of Aid – Alternative Loans” of the web site for lender information. Obtain a copy of your credit report and review for potential problems if you are considering private loan assistance. Information may be obtained from either of the following credit bureaus: Experian (www.experian.com), Equifax (www.equifax.com) or TransUnion (www.tuc.com). Organize and keep a record of all documents and correspondence related to your financial aid. Pay particular attention to notices from your lender(s). Scholarship Scams- Beware! A good rule to remember: If you are required to pay money to get money-its probably a scam! There are many worthwhile scholarships; however, there may be just as many scam artists looking to capitalize on your desire for a low cost education. According to the Smart Guide to Financial Aid, thousands of parents and students fall victim to these thieves costing them more than $100 million annually. Rules of Thumb
1. If you must pay money to
get money, it might be a scam. Computer Sites: Public Libraries in your area offer computer usage as well as basic computer classes. Berks County: 100 South Fifth Street, Reading, PA 19602 Phone: (610) 655-6350 Columbia County: 225 Market Street,
Bloomsburg, PA 17815
(570) 784-0883
Hazleton Area:
55 N Church Street,
Hazleton PA 18201 Phone
570.454.2961
Lehigh Valley:
Easton:
Easton Public Library
515
Church Street Easton, PA Phone:
610.258.2917
Allentown:
Allentown Public Library
Main Library: 1210 Hamilton
St., Allentown, PA Phone: 610.820.2400
Lackawanna County:
Lackawanna County Library System
520 Vine Street, Scranton
Phone: 570.348.3000
Lycoming County:
North Central
Library District
19 East Fourth Street, Williamsport, PA 17701 Phone: 570-326-0536
Pike County:
201 Broad Street, Milford, PA Phone: 570.296.8211
Wilkes-Barre Area:
71 South Franklin Street,
Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701
Schuylkill County:
Schuykill Haven Free Public
Library
104 Saint John Street Schuylkill Haven, PA 17972
Wayne County:
Public
Libraries of Wayne County
1406 Main Street,
Honesdale, PA 18431
Wyoming
County:
220 West Tioga Street,
Tunkhannock, Pennsylvania
Phone: 570.836.1677
The ACADEMIC PASSPORT is a transfer program
designed to facilitate the transfer of
students from Pennsylvania community
colleges to State System of Higher Education
universities, and to support the transfer of
undergraduate credits earned by students at
other State System of Higher Education
universities. Students who meet the
established criteria will be granted an
ACADEMIC PASSPORT which guarantees admission
to the university and the fullest
consideration of transfer credits.
Some basic regulations determine which and
how many credits you can keep when you
transfer to your new university. If you are
unclear about any of the following
regulations, you may contact the State
System or the university to which you are
transferring. Visit
www.sshechan.edu/passport/index.htm for
more information. • To be eligible for
an ACADEMIC PASSPORT, you
must have a grade point average (GPA) of at
least 2.0. If you’re a community college
student with an Associate of Arts or
Associate of Science degree, you must have
earned at least 30 credits in liberal arts
courses. • If you’ve earned an
associate degree, the first 45 credits will
be used to meet lower division general
education requirements. A course by
course match will not be required. The
additional 15 credits will either be applied
to the major or accepted as electives. You
will not be required to retake general
education or liberal arts credits
already successfully completed. • You may transfer
credits from courses in which you received a
“D” only if your overall GPA at that school
(or those schools) is at least 2.0.
Universities that require a “C” or above for
specific courses will continue to do so. • You may not transfer
remedial, developmental, or study skills
courses. • When you transfer,
credits from occupational and vocational
courses usually won’t be accepted. Courses
in certain technical fields may transfer,
depending on the program. Contact an adviser
for more specific information. • The university to
which you transfer will determine whether to
apply the acceptable credits to your general
education requirements, apply them toward
your major, or count them as electives. • You’ll receive an
evaluation of your credits before you enroll
and pay tuition and fees. • If you’re a community
college or State System student, the
ACADEMIC PASSPORT guarantees
that you can transfer to any System
university, but it doesn’t assure your
admission into specific programs. The
universities maintain control over the
admission process, especially in programs
with limited openings for students and for
which there are additional admission
requirements. |
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