Issue 13
Students Donate Time and Talent to Refurbish Computers for "Project IT"
Dallas Campus IT students are gaining hands-on experience while lending a hand to the Dallas Independent School District (ISD).
In late September, Westwood announced its participation in the district's Connect-A-Student to Technology (CAST) program and made donations of Netbooks, portable computer carts and interactive white boards to Skyline High School through the Partners in Education Program.
Starting in November, Westwood students will donate five hours at Dallas ISD's donation warehouse facility, which is set up as a computer lab to rehab and repair previously donated computers and equipment. In that time, each student will be able to completely refurbish one or two computers. From the warehouse, the equipment will either be placed into classrooms or go to the homes of students who don't have computer access.
"We're very excited about the partnership we're building with Dallas ISD and hope it will make a significant impact on the area's schools and families," said David Borofsky, associate provost, Westwood College. "Equally important is the outstanding opportunity this provides our own IT students. By donating their time to rehab and refurbish computers, they are gaining valuable work experience and making a real contribution to their community."
View video coverage of Project IT
Westwood College Update on Regional Accreditation
On November 1, Westwood College voluntarily withdrew its candidacy for regional accreditation with the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
This decision was not made lightly and is in no way a reflection of the quality and hard work of our faculty, staff or students or the high standards of our programs. In fact, we believe that all the work put into the preparation for regional accreditation has resulted in Westwood becoming an even stronger, more vibrant college with a better educational experience. You have affirmed these improvements through your positive responses in the latest Noel-Levitz research results. (Buzz issue 7, 4/10)
Based on the recent changes to the HLC's accreditation parameters and given the distinct change in their tone, processes and policies, we feel that, although we could continue to invest significant time and energy into the process of accreditation by HLC, the positive outcome of our efforts would be extremely difficult to predict.
Therefore, we came to the conclusion that there are other accrediting agencies more closely aligned with our students' and Westwood's goals. The agencies we are exploring, all recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, have equally tough but fair standards. They are committed to peer review and have transparent processes — all crucial to our decision-making process as we move forward.
As a student, the important thing to remember is that each Westwood College campus remains accredited by either the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC) or the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS), both of which are recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
These two agencies are aligned with our mission, and their measurements of student graduation and employment actually hold us to a higher standard than current HLC metrics. They regularly review and approve everything, from the qualifications of our faculty and the quality of education to our graduation and employment rates. We will continue to work with both the ACCSC and ACICS as we explore our other accreditation alternatives.
Our efforts will continue to be focused on fulfilling our mission of providing quality, career-focused programs that prepare students with the knowledge, skills and credentials they need to launch, enhance or change careers.
We realize you may have questions or concerns about regional accreditation. You can go to the Westwood Q&A page for answers to some of the questions you may have. And, of course, your academic dean or campus president will be happy to sit down and discuss any of this with you.
Graduate Profile
Bryan Looyenga, 2009 Business Administration Graduate
Before college, Bryan Looyenga was drifting through life working two jobs: one at Pizza Hut and one at Target.He was so consumed by work that he didn't have time for much else. Finally, he recognized the need to do something different, so he set his goal to complete a degree in business administration: concentration in marketing and sales at Westwood College Online.
The flexibility of online courses worked well for Looyenga. He was able to maintain a full-time job while still attending school. But finding the balance between work, school and his personal life was challenging. He even did schoolwork on his honeymoon!
Looyenga is now the director of operations for Fluent Edge Technologies, a small technology company in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. "The skills and knowledge I gained from my degree have helped me grow the business. Having the foundation has helped me keep Fluent Edge moving forward and growing through a recession," he explains.
"Before I joined Fluent Edge, there was no marketing strategy. That's changed, and we've delivered multiple marketing campaigns. My education at Westwood has proved to be invaluable.
Looyenga's advice to those considering college is, "Don't procrastinate! Three years is very little time in the grand scheme of things, and it is so worth it in the end."
Job Tip
Your résumé is usually the first impression an interviewer has of you, so good, precise writing and proofreading are crucial. Go to this link for a list of proofreading tips.
Campus Briefs
Chicago PD Recruitment Days at All Chicago Campuses
In a major change for the Chicago Police Department, they will now accept applications from Westwood students and graduates. Applicants meeting the age, education and residency requirements are eligible to take the police officer exam. During November, recruiters will visit all four Chicago campuses. For the dates and times of each campus visit, check with your Career Services department. For more information about the Chicago PD, go to the Chicago Police Department's CLEARpath site and click on "Answer the call — become a Chicago Police Officer" in the left column.
Los Angeles Interior Design Lab Receives a Makeover
Sun Chang, School of Design faculty at the Los Angeles Campus, and nine student volunteers recently organized and completed a remodel project for the interior design lab. The students volunteered over 100 hours to transform the lab into a beautiful space for interactive learning. See all the before and after pictures (posted 10/13/10). And while you're there, if you haven't already, sign up as a friend and join in on the Westwood conversations!
On the Net
Spotlight on Success Video Series
Every day, on every Westwood campus, lives are being changed by the power of teaching and learning. Over the next two months, we'll share some of those stories in videos by profiling graduates, faculty, staff and employers.
View The Westwood Experience featuring graduates, faculty and staff as they explain in their own words what makes Westwood College such a meaningful place for them.
The next video features Westwood faculty members talking about their passion and dedication to their students. As successful professionals and educators, they bring years of practical industry and academic experience to the classroom.
We'd love to hear your comments after watching. Just fill in the comment box underneath the YouTube video panel.
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