1. Email Blast Example:
Dear Graduates,
Congratulations! We are very pleased and honored that you have chosen us to achieve
this major milestone. This day marks an incredible academic achievement in your
education. One that is sure to take your understanding of your profession and the world
to new heights. For all your sacrifices, dedication and determination in reaching this
goal, thank you. We also want to acknowledge your family and friends for all the support
and understanding they demonstrated during this academic journey. You are an
inspiration to all of us in the NCU community, and we wish the best as you turn the page
toward a new chapter in your personal and professional life.
Sincerely,
Dr. Peter Bemski
Dean, School of Business and Technology Management
Email Blast and Press Release Example:
Hi Jan,
I thought your readers would be interested to know that Dr. Dale Spurlin, Assistant
Professor, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College and Chair for the Combined
Arms Center-Education Institutional Review Board, was named Northcentral
University’s 2015 “Dissertation of the Year” award winner. Spurlin successfully
defended his dissertation entitled “When Learning Could Hurt: A Case Study of Student-
Veterans and their Combat Experiences in the Classroom” and completed his PhD in
Education with a specialization in Curriculum and Teaching. He will accept his award
and speak about his research at the Academic Recognition Reception on July 18, which
will be held prior to NCU’s 2015 commencement ceremony in Phoenix, Arizona.
Below is the news release which provides additional information. I’ve also attached the
release, as well as a photo of Dr. Spurlin. If you have any questions, please contact
Susan Sears via email at ssears@ncu.edu or on 480.253.4683 (o)/602.321.8515 (c).
Thank you for your consideration.
Best regards,
*********************************************
Northcentral University Announces the 2015 Dissertation of the Year Winner
Dr. Dale Spurlin, Assistant Professor, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College and Chair
for the Combined Arms Center-Education Institutional Review Board, to Receive Award on
July 18, 2015
2. SCOTTSDALE,AZ,(July15, 2015) – Northcentral University (NCU),aglobal online
graduate-focuseduniversity,todayannouncedDr.Dale Spurlinwasselectedasthe 2015
Dissertationof the Yearaward winnerforhisdissertationentitled“WhenLearningCould
Hurt: A Case Studyof Student-VeteransandtheirCombat Experiencesinthe Classroom.”
Spurlinsuccessfullydefendedhisdissertationandcompletedhis PhDinEducation witha
specializationin CurriculumandTeaching.He isan AssistantProfessoratthe United
StatesArmyCommandand General Staff College(USACGSC) inLeavenworth,Kansas,
and alsoservesasChair forthe CombinedArmsCenter –EducationInstitutional Review
Board.
Spurlinchose hisresearchtopicasa resultof hisownexperience asanadulteducator.“Afterteaching
student-veteransforseveral years,Icame tothe realizationthatourpractice andtheoryfor adult
learningmightnotbe facilitatinglearninginthe classroom.Isurmisedthatourmethodswere driving
themawayfrom learninginsteadof promotingit. Iwantedto know whyandwhat to do aboutit.”
WithNCU’s one-to-oneteachingmodel,Wade W.Fish,PhDandDirector,NCU Graduate School,worked
closelywithSpurlinduringthe writingof hisdissertation.“Dr.Spurlin’swinningdissertationwas
selectedbasedonthree criteria:presentationquality,methodological rigorandscholarlycontribution,”
saidFish.“AsDale’schair forhisdissertation, Ibelievehe will continue hisstudent-veteranadvocacy
effortsthroughhiscontinuedresearch.NCUcongratulatesDale onthissignificantachievementand
honor.”
Spurlinwill acceptthe 2015 Dissertationof the Yearaward andspeakabout hisresearchat the
AcademicRecognitionReceptiononJuly18,whichwill be heldpriortoNCU’s 2015 commencement
ceremonyinPhoenix,Arizona.
About Northcentral University
Founded in 1996, Northcentral University is a regionally accredited, private, online and
graduate-focused university serving professionals globally. Northcentral University
offers doctoral, master’s and bachelor’s degrees in business and technology
management, education, and psychology, as well as doctoral and master’s degrees in
marriage and family therapy. Courses are taught one-to-one by a member of NCU’s 100
percent doctoral faculty, without physical residency requirements. Northcentral
University is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North
Central Association of Colleges and Schools (HLC). For more information, visit
http://www.ncu.edu/ or call (888) 628-2078. For program disclosures, please visit
http://www.ncu.edu/program-disclosures.
3. Email Blast Example:
Title: SAVE BIG AT NCU!
As an NCU student, you’re eligible for many outstanding offers and deep discounts at
the new Student Technology Resource Center! Not only do you get direct feedback
from our doctorate faculty while earning your degree, but now you also get discounts
from leading technology companies and access to free software. Yes, free!
Access the Student Technology Resource Center within your my.ncu.edu portal (a.k.a.
CourseRoom). Within the top navigation bar under “The Commons and Other
Resources,” there will be a new menu item. It’s labelled the Student Technology
Resource Center. Just click that tab and voila-you’re there!
Enjoy exclusive offers:
Microsoft –You’re probably familiar with using your Office365 NCU email
account. Now you have access to Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote in
the cloud. Additionally, because you now have access to Office365 ProPlus, you have
the ability to download these industry-leading applications directly to your PC (up to 5
machines).
Dell – Take advantage of your Dell discounts. Time for a new PC or need
accessories? Follow the link in the Student Technology Resource center and discover
a whole new level of savings.
Apple – Are you an Apple user? Apple has made student only discounts available to
you. Time for a new Mac? Treat yourself to something new at a discounted price.
Check it out and let us know what you think. These discounts and free software aren’t
available to everyone, just you. We built this for you and it’s just the beginning…
4. Email Blast Example:
The Writing Process
Join us for a webinar on Jul 11, 2015 at 11:00 AM MST.
Time: 11 AM PT and Arizona / 2 PM ET
Registernow!
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6658741741526553345
Writingstylesandgenresare the ideasof those whowrite them.Solidwritingmakesitsmeaningand
purpose clearto itsintendedaudience.AtNorthcentral University,academicwritingisajourney
throughvariousdevelopmental stages.Joinusaswe explore the writingprocessanddiscussfour
developmentstagestohelpyouwrite acompellingpaper.
Afterregistering, youwill receiveaconfirmationemail withinformationaboutjoiningthe webinar.
View SystemRequirements
See what time it is in Arizona right now
5. Here’s Why You Should Pursue an MBA
We all knowthat earninganMBA is no easytask.The cost, the time and the overall life sacrifices
that oftengohand-in-handwithachievingsuchadegree can be discouragingformanyprospective
students.Also,the thoughtof havingtotake a GRE® or GMAT® examcanbe dauntingformany
students.Nottomentionthe factthat mostgraduate schoolsrequire acertainscore onthese examsfor
studentstoevenhave the chance of gettingintothe school’sMBA program.
The cost of such a degree isalsoa bighurdle formanyscholarsto overcome.Tuitionandbook
costs can oftenthrowa “monkeywrench”intosomeone’splansof pursuinganMBA.
Aftertakingall of thisintoperspective,it’simportanttoconsiderwhatthe employment
atmosphereslooklikeforMBA grads. That way,you’ll know whatmightbe instore for youafter
graduation.
Recentresearchshowsthatthe U.S. MBA graduate hiringoutlooklooksprettygood.Nineoutof
10 companiesthatplanto bringMBA candidatesaboardsay they’ll addasmany,or more,qualified
candidatesthisyearthantheydidlast year,accordingto a 2014 surveyof 169 employersfrom33
countriesbythe Graduate ManagementAdmissionCouncil (GMAC).
The newsgetsevenbetterforbusinessschool graduates.The surveyshowsthatthese
graduatescan expecttosee base salariesrise over2014. In addition,nosurveyedemployersplanto
lowerMBA salariescomparedtolastyear.And47% of these employersalsoforecastaspike in
compensationthatmirrorsthe rate of inflation.While 18% predictMBA pay wouldbe higherthanthe
inflationrate,the restof the participatingemployerssayMBA compensationwouldremainflat.
Besidesthe optimisticdata,it’simperativethatyou’re alsocognizantof whatemployersare
reallylookingforinaglobalizedeconomythat’sconstantlychanging.“Earningagraduate degree shows
employersandpotential employersthatthe studenthasdeterminationtotake onthe challengesof
earningan advanceddegree,whichopensthe doorforpromotionor a new career,”explains Dr.Jennifer
Scott,facultymemberforNCU’sSchool of Businessand TechnologyManagement.
Choosingthe rightMBA program can alsopropel analreadyworkingprofessional’scareer
forward.Dr. Scott says,“Regardlessof the reasonstudentsare enrolledinthe MBA program, students
learnaboutreal eventsthrougha number of venues,andthenapplytheirlearningintheirreal worldof
work.Timesare changingand to be marketable (forapromotionora career) one mustbe innovative,
flexible andreadyforupcomingchallengesandopportunities.”
At Northcentral University, GREandGMAT examsare non-existent.All youneedtogetthe ball
rollingare yourcollege transcripts.StudentsatNCU can geta headstart at earningtheiradvanced
degree rightoff the bat.
You may alsofinditnecessarytoleave yourcurrentprofessiontobe able tohandle the course
loadsand time constraintsinvolvedwithearninganMBA at brick and mortar campuses.AtNCU,none of
thistrue.Withour flexible approach,workingprofessionalshave the freedomtoaccomplishcourse
assignmentsandprojectsontheirowntime.Andwhenitcomestoearninganadvanceddegree,time
managementiseverything.
“NCU’s MBA coursesare 100% online andstudentsmayworkontheircourseworkwhenitis
convenientforthem,aslongastheyhave access to an Internet connectionandacomputer.NCU’s
facultymembersworkindividuallywitheachstudent.Groundcampusescanhave anywherefrom30 to
several hundredstudentsinone class.Time issavedcommutingtoclass,because there isnocommute!
NCU MBA studentsare all around the world!”explainsDr.Scott.
But whendeliberatingonanygraduate school,it’simperative totake intoaccountflexibility,
qualityof faculty,accreditationandcost.It’salsoimportanttokeepinmindthe longlistof benefitsthat
6. graduate degreescanafford.Asthe oldsayinggoes,“investinginyouisthe bestinvestmentyoucan
make,”so toothenis a graduate degree thatcan pay dividendsbothprofessionallyandpersonally
throughouta lifetime.
Recognizing and Overcoming LGBTQ Discrimination in a University Setting
Too oftenLGBTQ (Lesbian,Gay,Bisexual,TransgenderandQuestioning)studentsfall victimto
discrimination –simplybecause of theirsexualorientationorgenderidentity.
Justbecause youhaven’tseenityourself,doesn’tmeanitisn’thappening.Unfortunately,
blatantdiscriminationagainstLGBTQstudentshasprovennotto be isolated.Infact,it happensmore
than youthink.Accordingto a 2014 reportby the Gay, Lesbian&StraightNetwork,awhoppingseventy-
fourpercentof LGBTQ studentsexperiencedverbalharassmentlastyearbecause of theirsexual
orientation.Anotherfifty-five percentfell victimtoverbal abuse basedontheirgenderexpression.
While manyof us wouldagree thatthis type of behavioristotallyinappropriate,nottomention
hurtful,itstill continues.Andkeepinmindthatthe abuse doesn’tjustpotentiallyhurtanLGBTQ
student’sphysical ormental well-being,butitcan alsobe detrimental totheiracademicperformance.
In fact,recentresearchshowsthat victimsof suchabuse are more prone to have theirgrade point
averagestake a dip – byas much as nine to 15 points,comparedtootherclassmates.
Withthese alarmingstatisticsinmind,we soughtdirectionfrom Dr.Valerie Glass,faculty
memberforNCU’s School of Marriage and FamilySciences.Dr. Glass,a formerpresidentof acampus-
run LGBTQ organization,waskindenoughtoprovide uswithalittle advice onhow toaddresssome of
the challengesthisgroupfaceswithinthe academicatmosphereandhow youor someone youknowcan
overcome some of those difficulties.
Because manyU.S. universitieshave some type of student-runLGBTQgroupon campus,these
dedicatedgroupscanbe beneficial forLGBTQstudentswhoare tryingto cope withdiscrimination
amongsttheirpeersinandout of the classroom.“Ifrequentlywouldhearhow student-run
organizationswere life-saving,’’explainsDr.Glass.She alsosaysthat byhavingthese typesof
organizationsthe universitiesare sendingapowerfulmessagetotheirLGBTQ students.A message that
says,“we care about you.”
As a formerpresidentforacampus-runLGBTQ organization,Dr.Glassis well-versedonthe
discriminatoryinjusticesthatthese studentscanface all too often.She alsowarnsthatdiscrimination
can come inmanydifferentforms.“Students attimeswere bulliedorstruggledwithwhattheyheardin
classor readintheiracademicmaterials,”Dr.Glassremembers.
In orderto helpovercome these feelings,she recommendsthese studentstofindanadvocate
or mentor.These dedicatedindividuals canhelpthose afflictedbyharassmentlearnhow tobettercope
withthose typesof issues.“Ihave found,inmentoringLGBTQstudents,thattheyopenupto me
because of my willingnesstobe theiradvocate,’’she says.
But besidesthe LGBTQorganizations andmentorsupport,some universitiesare alsoworkingto
developandimplementnewwaystohelpassistthissegmentof the studentbody.
7. Accordingto Dr. Glass,the Universityof WashingtonandOhioState Universityhave introduced
an LGBTQ inclusivenesscourse intheirfreshmanseminars.Some schoolsare alsointhe processof
developing“allyprojects”thatcan assisttheminbattlingbullyingamongstthe LGBTQstudentbody.Still
otheruniversitiesare workingtorevamptheirpoliciestomake theirphysical campusesmore gender-
friendlyforthe transgenderpopulation.Thesechangesinclude:genderneutral bathrooms,locating
comfortable livingarrangementsinresidence halls,preferrednamesandpronounsforstudentrosters
and helpingtoenlightenthe studentbodyasa whole.
Dr. Glass saysthe use of language inthe classroomcan alsobe improved.“I,personally,have
foundthat muchof the language beingusedinclassroomsorinstudentlife focusesonheteronormative
assumptionsthatall individualsare seekingopposite sex partnersandadheringtospecificgenderroles,”
she says.“These symbolsandimagescanbe overwhelmingtoLGBTQ students.Certainly,thiscan
disrupttheirabilitytolearn.’’
Dr. Glass alsoprovidedanotherhelpfultip –sex educationcanhelpLGBTQ studentslive
healthierlives.AsDr.Glasspointsout,“Studentsthatare engaginginsame sex relationshipsshould
have comprehensive knowledgeof sex educationthe same astheirheterosexual counterparts. Opening
up the conversationstobe inclusivewouldallow LGBTQindividualstoleadmore safe andsexually
informedlives.’’
Are you experiencingdiscriminationorjustneedaplace to go withquestions,commentsorjust
an opportunitytoventaboutanythingyou’re dealing with?Contactthe gendernetworktofindLGBTQ
supportservicesandinformationinyourarea.
Interestedinlearningmore aboutgenderdiversityandeducation?NCU’sSchool of Marriage andFamily
Sciencesoffersmaster’s,doctoral andcertificate programsthatmayhelp.
6 Things You Should Know About Your GI Bill
Northcentral Universityhasmilitarystudentsaroundthe worldwhoare usingtheirhard-earned
GI Bill® benefitstopayforhigherlearning.Andwithourflexible approach,NCUishelpingstudentstake
full advantage of theirbenefits,makingusaveryGI Bill-friendlyatmosphere.Butunderstandinghow
these benefitsworkcanbe challenging.Sohere are six GIBill factsto helpyouachieve youracademic
goals.
BenefitsTime Frame
Are you worriedaboutyour GI Bill benefitsrunningout?If so,here’ssome goodnews.Active
dutyservice membersandveteransmayhave 10 yearsto use all of theirGI Bill benefitsfromthe time of
separationfromservice.AndforPost-9/11benefits,the time isevenlonger.Addonfive more yearsand
you’re lookingat15 yearsto take advantage of your benefits.
Your GIBill is More Flexible thanYou Think
Oftenlife hasaway of throwinga “curve ball”in our plans,whichiswhyit’sgreatto knowthat
your benefitshave some flexibility,dependingonthe school andprogramyou enroll in.
The bill will alsohelpyouclimbthe educational ladderof higherdegrees.Youcanuse it to earnyour
associates,bachelorsandlater,mastersanddoctorate degrees.
8. EntitlementMonths
Didyou knowthat the VA allowsfora service membertouse a total of 36 monthsof
entitlementunderone chapterof the GI Bill,andup to 48 monthsundermultiplechapters?Thatmeans
if you runout of entitlementunderone chapter,youshouldbe sure to checkwiththe VA to findoutif
youhave furthereligibilityunderanother.
Credits& GIBill Payments
So youhave your classesandcreditstalliedupandpickedout.That’sgreat!But wait!Here are a
fewthingsyou’ll wanttopayclose attentionto whenitcomesto creditsandGI Bill payments.
Remembertopayclose attentiontoyourcreditload.It’sthe biggestfactorthatdeterminesyourGIBill
paymentrates.Yourenrollmentstatus - full-time,half-time,orpart-time –may impactyourbenefits.
Anddon’tforget - GI Bill paymentratesmaybe raisedeveryyearor as needed.However,the
paymentratescan alsostay the same.
Also,if you’re usingthe Post-9/11GI Bill,take note thatit paysbasedon the numberof months
servedonactive duty and the numberof creditstaken.
YellowRibbonProgram
Choosingaschool that participatesinthe Yellow RibbonProgram canendupsavingyousome
moneylateron.The program may helpstudentsavoidout-of-pockettuitionandfeesassociatedwith
educational programsthatmightsurpassthe Post9/11 GI Bill tuitionbenefit.
As a YellowRibbonProgramparticipatingschool,NCUwill contribute upto$2,000 fortuition
and feesafterastudentexhauststhe annual fundinglimit.The VeteransAdministrationmatchesthat
amountand issuespaymentdirectlytoNCU.
Get startedusingyourbenefitstodaybyfillingoutandfollowinginstructionsonthe VA Form
22-1990, ApplicationforEducationBenefits.
Dependent& Spouse Benefits
The U.S Departmentof VeteranAffairsalsoprovideseducationbenefitsforspousesand
dependentsof service membersandveterans.Forinstance,aservice membercouldbe eligibleto
transfertheirPost9/11 GI Bill benefitstoa spouse ordependent.
Post9/11 GI Bill Transferability,SurvivorsandDependentsEducational Assistance Programand
the Marine GunnerySergeantJohnDavidFryScholarshipare some of the benefitsthatare offeredtoa
spouse ordependentof service membersandveterans.
Are you lookingformore informationabouthow yourbenefitswillapplytowardanadvanced
degree atNCU? Contact our VA Educational BenefitsSpecialistat VeteransBenefits@ncu.edu.
