Armed Forces Day is tomorrow, May 18, 2013, and we would like to thank and honor all military personnel, especially those who are our students. This holiday was first observed in 1950 and is now celebrated annually on the third Saturday of every May to recognize and honor the five military branches: the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Coast Guard.

At Argosy University, Online Programs, we want to recognize the commitment of those who serve. Here are three ways in which we currently serve those of our students who are affiliated with the military.

1. Experience in Working with Military Students

We ensure that all military students and spouses have a team of dedicated admissions, financial aid and advising representatives focused on meeting your needs as a military student. Argosy University is a member of the Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges (SOC). We have also been recognized by GI Jobs as a Military-Friendly School (http://www.militaryfriendlyschools.com/), an honor reserved for only 15% of schools nationwide.

2. University Credit for Your Military Experience

We'd like to recognize your extensive military training and experience. Once you submit the paperwork, we’ll review your experience and training to determine your eligibility for credit toward your academic program. This transfer of credit could help you to cut expenses and graduate in less time.

For more information, visit http://online.argosy.edu/military/.

3. Military Aid & Benefits

Complete information on our military aid and benefit programs can be found at http://online.argosy.edu/military/military_aid.aspx, and you can speak with a Military Admissions Representative by calling 1-877-800-8412. Before you do, here’s a quick overview!

For Active Duty Military Personnel: We are pleased to offer an Active Duty Scholarship to eligible service members. For undergraduate programs, the cost of tuition is $250 per credit hour when the scholarship is applied. For graduate level programs, Argosy University offers a military tuition scholarship of 20%.

For Spouse of Active Duty Military Personnel: We are proud to extend the military scholarship of 20% to spouses of Active Duty Reserve, and National Guard personnel that are enrolled in our graduate level programs. For undergraduate level programs, the cost of tuition is reduced to $250 per credit hour through the Spouse of Active Duty Scholarship.

For Veterans: For undergraduate and graduate programs, we offer eligible veterans the Veteran Scholarship of 20%. We also participate in the Post 9/11 GI Bill and Yellow Ribbon Program. Furthermore, veterans using the educational benefits provided under the Montgomery GI Bill will find that a significant portion of their tuition expenses will be covered or reimbursed.

The tuition deposit is also waived for Active Duty, Reserve, National Guard and Veteran personnel as well as for spouses of servicemembers.

Read more at http://online.argosy.edu/military/military_aid.aspx, or get information on the following programs.

In today’s economy, it makes sense to think about how you can boost the value you bring to any company.

That’s as true for those who are happy in their current positions as for those who will soon be looking for jobs elsewhere. Although it might not be possible to be a perfect employee, there’s no denying that some traits are seen as desirable to most employers. People with these traits appear to be hired more often, receive the best promotions and earn more than their counterparts.

Pay attention to the traits that count, and do what you can to improve in those areas. Here are five sought-after employee characteristics that anyone can improve upon.

1. Active

Active employees aren’t afraid to get the job done. They’re willing to risk failure and criticism in order to solve problems, and often, that’s exactly what they wind up receiving. However, in the quest for solutions, they also stumble onto methods and developments that wouldn’t have happened otherwise.

You can become an active employee by looking for ways to solve problems before you’re asked. You don’t need special skills to be the first person to offer to put your ordinary ones to work.

2. Detail-Oriented

Double-checking to make sure that you have your facts and methods right is an easy way to get a reputation for being reliable. Employers care whether they’re wasting time dealing with problems an employee could have easily prevented the first time around. When it comes to employees who repeatedly overlook details, employers are less enthusiastic in their recommendations and look elsewhere when new opportunities to advance come around.

Most workers get into the habit of assuming they’ve done things correctly. Do the opposite. Double-check your work assuming you might have made a mistake.

3. Confident

Employers like confidence because it’s a tell-tale sign of former success. It means you’ve learned to trust yourself through proving you can handle your responsibilities. Confident employees tackle their responsibilities without needing someone to hold their hands. It speaks to reliability, determination and work ethic--all qualities that bosses find invaluable.

There’s a distinct difference however between believing in your abilities and believing you are better than other people because of them. Arrogance holds you back at work, and doesn’t impress many people during interviews. 

4. Upbeat

Staying positive and being willing to work when you’re on the clock will make you an immediate resource. If you help the people around you feel motivated, they’ll enjoy being around you. If you’re dragging your feet and holding others back, they’ll hate having to rely on your help.

It can be very hard to turn a negative attitude around. Half of the work, however, is just keeping a smile on your face. Studies on facial feedback have proven that while we often smile because we feel happy, we can also feel happy because we smile.

5. Presentable

Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder, but a professional appearance is cut and dry. Your public speaking skills are not all that will be considered when you present to clients or your own company; looking put together in the boardroom makes a difference and is one of the easiest ways to improve your reputation.

Resources & More Information

http://www.forbes.com/sites/kensundheim/2013/04/02/15-traits-of-the-ideal-employee/
http://www.waspbarcode.com/buzz/characteristics-solid-employee/
http://www.inc.com/jeff-haden/the-8-qualities-of-remarkable-employees.html 

At Argosy University, Online Programs, our Student Finance Counselors talk a lot about financial planning and responsible borrowing. But, what do we mean by responsible?

Responsible borrowing entails detailed planning and analysis of your finances and your financing options to decide what is right for you. If you choose to take out loans, responsible borrowing means only doing so after looking at alternative options and only borrowing what is necessary. While students sometimes limit their search to federal sources, federal financial aid often means loans and doesn't necessarily cover all of your expenses.

Below are some of alternatives to federal aid that could help you reduce your tuition and student loans.

Cash Payments

Establishing a monthly tuition payment plan can greatly reduce the cost of your education. Your contribution doesn’t need to be large, but every bit you pay now is something you won’t have to pay later or pay interest on down the road.

Military Financial Aid

If you or a family member has served in the military, you may be eligible for military financial aid, including our school’s military scholarship. We also participate in the Post 9/11 GI Bill and the Yellow Ribbon program. Don’t miss out! Visit http://online.argosy.edu/military/military_aid.aspx, or call 1-877-800-8412 to speak with a Military Admissions Representative for more information on these programs.

Employer Partnerships

We partner with a number of companies to offer employees incentives for continuing their education—from corporate rates to the waiving of select fees. See our list of partners here. If your employer isn’t listed, you may still qualify for financial assistance through your company.

There are two common types of employer assistance programs. Employer reimbursement programs require you to pay tuition up front. You then provide documentation to your employer stating how much you paid and showing that your coursework is relevant to your career. Your employer pays you back for your tuition and expenses. Employer sponsorship programs, conversely, involve your employer paying the school directly for approved coursework. If you aren't sure what educational benefits your employer offers, ask your manager or your human resource representative.

Scholarships and Grants

Many organizations (including local, national, private and non-profit groups) offer scholarship opportunities or grants to students who meet specific criteria. Many people think scholarships are reserved only for students with superior grades or athletic ability. However, this is not necessarily the case. For example, many scholarships exist for students pursuing careers in specific industries. Plus scholarship criteria can sometimes be quite idiosyncratic. For example, scholarships exist for left-handed students or students whose last names start with Z! So make a list of everything unique about you and start searching.

Learn More About Financial Planning

If you want to go to school (or you’re already here), don't limit yourself to relying only on federal loans when there are other ways to make school affordable and reduce your future debt.

Request more information today, or talk with your Student Finance Counselor to discuss your financial plan.

Celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week, and tell us about one of your favorite faculty members at Argosy University, Online Programs!

From May 6 to 10, 2013, log on to Connections and visit the Student Community department page. In the forum labeled Teacher Appreciation Week 2013, upload your video or written response to the following question:

Albert Einstein once said, “It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge.” 

Name an instructor at Argosy University, Online Programs that has helped you discover your passion and explain what that has meant to you. Has it changed the way you think about your future or career path? Please be specific in your examples.

One entry per person will be accepted. You may enter online through Argosy University, Online Programs Connections site via the Campus Common. Entries must be inserted into the Student Community department forum labeled Teacher Appreciation Week 2013.

An entry consists of one short essay of at least 150 words but less than 500 words or a video essay no longer than three minutes. Video essays must be less than 100MB and be saved as the following file formats: mov, avi, mpg, mpeg, wmv, mp4, flv.

One entry will be chosen as a winner by a panel of judges. Both the student and the nominated faculty member will each receive a $20 Amazon.com gift code! Plus, we may feature selection from your essays next week on the blog (with your permission, of course). We look forward to hearing from you!

If you are having trouble finding the forum, please contact your Academic Counselor or Technical Support.

Learn more about the faculty at Argosy University, Online Programs.

Watch the 2012 Teacher Appreciation Week video featuring 2012 student entries!

If you're already taking classes or you've been to college before, you are probably somewhat familiar with the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), which allows you to apply for federal aid. Along with cash payments, employer partnerships, military aid and scholarships, federal aid (in the form of loans, grants, and scholarships) is one of the many options students may use to finance their education.

Whether you need a quick refresher or this is your first time applying for federal aid, here's how to complete the FAFSA in four simple steps.

1. Get Your PIN

First, if you don’t already have one, you’ll need to apply for a Personal Identification Number (PIN). In the case of a forgotten or compromised number, request a replacement. It’s important to remember this number for future filing purposes. (Find out what to do if you forgot your PIN.)

2. Gather Relevant Documents

To fill out the FAFSA, you should have certain information on hand. FAFSA will ask about the following:

• Your identity (including your social security number)
• Your savings and earnings
• Your family
• Your educational plans and status
• Your tax return numbers
• Our Federal School Code (021799)

If you are a dependent, the above information will also be needed for your parents.

3. Complete Your FAFSA

You’ll need to complete the FAFSA every year you are in school. For the 2013-14 school year, you can apply at www.fafsa.ed.gov until June 30, 2014. The site offers a fast and easy way of entering your tax return information by using the secure IRS Data Retrieval Tool that imports information from the IRS database into your application. The website also offers live, online help and instant access to estimates of how much federal aid you may receive. For additional assistance, contact your Student Finance Counselor.

4. Determine Your Financial Plan

We typically receive your FAFSA information within a few weeks of you completing the online application. Once we review your information and determine your eligibility for aid, you will be informed of the grants, scholarships and loans for which you qualify. Your Student Finance Counselor will work closely with you to establish your financial plan, taking into account your federal aid as well as any other means you are using to finance your education.

For More Information

• Argosy University, Online Programs Financial Aid Programs
• Argosy Unversity, Online Programs Financial Aid Guide [.pdf]
• Learn More about the FAFSA: http://studentaid.ed.gov/fafsa
• Complete the FAFSA: http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/