education

Virginia Tech Focuses on Working Professionals

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

Virginia Tech has been making local headlines lately with the announcement of its Innovation Campus in the newly-designated neighborhood of National Landing.

While the new campus will help cement the university’s regional footprint, Virginia Tech has been quietly providing graduate education opportunities in the D.C. area since 1969.

Virginia Tech’s Pamplin College of Business has offered its MBA programs in this region for decades and more recently made the decision to narrow its focus to working professionals in urban centers across the commonwealth.

“What we did at Virginia Tech a few years ago was to say that we really want to focus on the working professional — someone who wants to enhance their career or make a change in the direction of their career, but not at the expense of continuing to be a business professional,” says Pamplin Dean Robert Sumichrast. That allows those students to come into the classroom, he adds, “and use what they’ve learned as part of the experience of the MBA program.”

Arlington is home to the Executive MBA program, an 18-month, cohort-based option for mid-career professionals. The curriculum is centered around experiential learning modules that provide students with hands-on experience in topics like business analytics and leadership and governance.

The nationally-ranked Evening MBA program is based in Falls Church and designed to provide maximum flexibility. Students can change their course load each semester to balance work and other commitments. They also have the option to focus their degree in one of 10 specialization areas, including traditional business topics like finance and management, and some more niche areas like healthcare information technology.

The Professional MBA program is a 24-month hybrid option with once-per-month in-person classes that rotate between Richmond, Roanoke and Newport News.

Visit mba.vt.edu to learn more about Virginia Tech’s MBA programs, or register to attend an upcoming information session.

Organizations Sponsor Supply Drives for At-Risk Kids

By Ashley Hopko

It seems like summer break just started, but some local organizations are already pitching in to help at-risk students prepare for the upcoming school year.

Arlington-based Offender and Aid Restoration and Verizon Wireless retailer TCC are two of the organizations that are setting up drives for backpacks and other classroom necessities in Arlington.

TCC’s program, School Rocks Backpack Giveaway, first started in 2013. The program has donated 950,000 backpacks stocked with school supplies since its founding. TCC asks that on July 24 from 1 p.m-4 p.m. community members drop off backpacks and supplies at participating stores, including a store at 3141 Lee Highway

Offender Aid and Restoration, which works to improve the lives of the incarcerated population through educational programs, community service opportunities and reentry services into society, is also organizing a backpack drive.

Until August 12, Project Backpack, sponsored by OAR, will collect school supplies for children and deliver them with a note of encouragement from their incarcerated parent.

“It is so crucial to maintain strong family bonds while a parent is incarcerated for both the child and the parent,” said OAR’s executive director. “Incarceration not only affects the person going through the system, but everyone closest to them as well.” 

Anyone interested can also donate to the Project Backpack cause online. Community members may also drop off items physically or mail them to OAR’s Arlington office at 400 N. Uhle Street, Suite 704, Arlington, VA 22201. 

File photo

The Goddard School Plans a Pair of Childcare Facilities on Lee Highway

By Vernon Miles
1/2

The Goddard School — a private early-childhood education franchise — is planning to open a pair of linked childcare facilities 350 yards apart on Lee Highway.

A decision on permits for the facilities at 5328 and 5222 Lee Highway are docketed for the County Board meeting this Saturday, July 13.

The larger of the two projects is a childcare center and school at 5328 Lee Highway, which will host up to 208 children.

“The child care center will serve children ranging from two (2) to five (5) years of age, in addition to before/after school services for school age children ages five (5) to ten (10) years,” says a county staff report. “The applicant proposes to reconfigure the existing office space to create 14 classrooms, one of which can also operate as an indoor gymnasium, as well as several ancillary rooms, including a pantry, teacher resource room, and two offices.”

A portions of the building, which most recently served as an office building, had previously been approved as a child care facility in 2017, but the staff report noted that the proposed facility never opened. The property is attached by a breezeway to United Bank, which the report says is expected to continue operating alongside the school.

Meanwhile, the proposed childcare facility at 5222 Lee Highway will have up to 60 children, ranging from 6-weeks to 2-years-old. The building will replace the former Chevy Chase Bank and drive-thru, which has been vacant for two years.

Under local ordinance, the larger of the two facilities would be required to have 26 parking spaces, but only 18 are available in the parking lot behind the building. The staff report says The Goddard School is asking to have the additional parking be provided off-site at the 5222 Lee Highway location. That proposal has been met by concerns from neighbors.

“Yorktown Civic Association which is adjacent to the subject site, is in support of the proposal, however, has concerns regarding circulation and turning movement around the site,” the staff report says.

The report said pick-up and drop-off would occur from the parking area, accessible via two existing curb cuts, and staff recommended that the County Board find the circulation and parking issues sufficiently addressed.

If approved, the facilities would be the first locations for The Goddard School in Arlington.

Another childcare center — VINCI Early Learning School — has been proposed for 3508 Lee Highway and is also on Saturday’s County Board agenda. Consideration of that facility, however, is expected to be deferred until September “to allow the applicant additional time to meet with the community and address any concerns that they may have with the proposed use.”

Local MBA Program Named One of Top 15 in Country

Virginia Tech’s Evening MBA program moved up three places to No. 14 in U.S. News & World Report’s 2019 rankings of the best part-time MBA programs.

The Northern Virginia-based program now ranks as the top public university part-time MBA in the Washington, D.C. metro area. The report assessed more than 300 part-time MBA programs across the country on factors such as student quality, peer reputation and the ratio of part-time to full-time students.

“This marks the fifth consecutive year that the Evening MBA has featured in the top 20 programs nationwide,” said Dana K. Hansson, director of MBA programs. “We believe the faculty expertise and high level of flexibility we offer are key factors in continuing to attract high quality students to our program.”

The Evening MBA is one of three MBA programs offered by the Pamplin College of Business. With many shared courses and faculty, the Executive and Professional MBA program options offer a similar academic experience to the Evening program, but with alternate formats and locations to better serve a range of students.

“What we did at Virginia Tech a few years ago was to say that we really want to focus on the working professional — someone who wants to enhance their career or make a change in the direction of their career, but not at the expense of continuing to be a business professional,” says Pamplin Dean Robert Sumichrast. That allows those students to come into the classroom, he adds, “and use what they’ve learned as part of the experience of the MBA program.”

This commitment to serving part-time students contributed to Virginia Tech’s highest ever overall score in the ranking. Another contributing factor was a strong appraisal by other programs.

“We’re particularly proud of the peer assessment score given the high quality of other programs in the nation,” said Dr. Parviz Ghandforoush, associate dean for graduate programs at Pamplin. “In part, we believe the high rating is due to our commitment to offering cutting-edge courses in areas like innovation and entrepreneurship, machine learning/AI and cybersecurity that aren’t available to students in more traditional MBA programs.”

Teacher Feedback Company Wins ‘Startup Arlington’ Competition

By Vernon Miles

Startup Monday header

Sponsored by Monday Properties and written by ARLnow.com, Startup Monday is a weekly column that profiles Arlington-based startups and their founders, plus other local technology happenings. The Ground Floor, Monday’s office space for young companies in Rosslyn, is now open. The Metro-accessible space features a 5,000-square-foot common area that includes a kitchen, lounge area, collaborative meeting spaces, and a stage for formal presentations.

EdConnective isn’t an Arlington startup, but starting early next year, it will be.

The Richmond-based company was chosen from 64 applicants as the winner of this year’s “Startup Arlington” competition. That means the firm will earn a temporary stay in the county, as well as some exclusive mentoring.

EdConnective’s mission is to provide virtual coaching and customized feedback for teachers. The startup launched in 2015 and has since worked in more than 30 schools throughout Virginia and surrounding states. More than 1,400 coaching sessions have been held with 70 coaches.

“EdConnective is thrilled to have been chosen as the winner of the Startup Arlington competition,” said Erik Skantze, Chief Operating Officer of EdConnective, in a press release. “Having a base of operations in Arlington will provide an enormous opportunity for us to grow our client base and to engage with investors. We look forward to an exciting and productive four months and beyond.”

According to the EdConnective website, participating teachers record a clip of their classroom instruction and share it with a coach, who shares feedback via Skype. These sessions are held twice a week for four to six weeks.

Pricing for the service ranges from $99 per session to $130 per session, depending on the package selected.

According to Arlington Economic Development, EdConnective will receive four months of rent-free lodging at Residence Inn Rosslyn and incubator space in Rosslyn at Spaces, a coworking space located in The Artisphere. The company staff will also receive transportation passes and exclusive mentoring.

The company is scheduled to start its Arlington operations next month.

Image via Startup Arlington

More Than a Job: Millennials See Work as a Way to Do Good

Young people are idealistic: That’s as true today as it was 50 years ago.

But there’s one sentiment that sets millennials apart from earlier generations — from the silent generation, the baby boomers and Generation X. They are also eminently practical. Call them “realistic idealists,” if you will, or “idealistic realists.” Either term applies.

Take their attitudes toward work. Many young baby boomers were skeptical that businesses had the inclination to make the world a better place. But today’s young people feel differently — they expect to give back through their jobs, too.

According to the 2017 Deloitte Millennial Survey, “Many millennials feel unable to exert any meaningful influence on some of society’s biggest challenges; but in the workforce, they can feel a greater sense of control — [as] an active participant rather than a bystander.”

Businesses are responding to these attitudes — both to attract young workers and to make a difference themselves.

“Leading companies aren’t just redirecting profits by giving back to society through more traditional ‘corporate social responsibility’ tactics,” said Robert Haynie, an instructor at Georgetown University’s School of Continuing Studies. “They are figuring out how to address social and environmental issues while simultaneously advancing their business interests.”

And this mentality isn’t just limited to the business world. Before venturing into the professional world, millennials are seeking a practical way to integrate this desire to do good within their careers — without their success taking a backseat.

At Georgetown, coursework is designed to serve students who want to make money and make an impact. This approach is driven by the School’s Jesuit values, which emphasize community, social justice and service to others.

Whether you’re a millennial or a business that hires them, the landscape is changing. It’s more important now than ever that the work we do has a purpose and serves the greater good.

Here’s What Professionals Can Do to Keep up with the Changing Job Market

There used to be a widely accepted formula for career success: earn a college degree, land a job and work your way up.

That’s still good advice, but it doesn’t go nearly far enough. And that’s because today’s professionals, college-educated or not, are encountering a new age of job disruption that is perhaps more radical than anything before.

So what does this mean for today’s professionals?

In a world where competencies are becoming obsolete, adaptability helps you stay competitive. That means being able to regularly respond to and anticipate change by building upon existing knowledge, as well as expanding it to new areas.

“Education isn’t something that stops,” said Dr. Annie Green, a faculty member for the Artificial Intelligence Management Certificate at Georgetown University’s School of Continuing Studies. “It continues. Just like the continuous improvement of an organization, it’s the continuous improvement of a person’s knowledge, skills and abilities.”

More and more professionals today are adopting this “continuous learning” mentality. A smaller commitment, certificate programs offer an accelerated way for professionals to stay relevant. And the higher education world is responding to these shifting demands by making certificates more accessible. Today’s certificates are as varied as the needs of the professionals who earn them.

Take Moe Tun, an engineer who earned a Certificate in Cybersecurity Strategy. Cybersecurity impacts many aspects of Tun’s job, so he assembled the information he learned into a framework, similar to those his team members use to process complex technical information outside their areas of expertise. Earning a certificate in a new subject helped him adapt to evolving technologies.

No matter the industry, motivation, or career level, one thing is clear: maintaining the status quo doesn’t cut it anymore. Today’s professionals must adapt, embrace uncharted territory, and create new ways forward — wherever they may lead.

Setting the Pace of Global Education in Northern Virginia

1/8

What does it mean to prepare students to succeed in any challenge?

One revolutionary school in Northern Virginia sets out to answer this question through their comprehensive liberal arts and sciences program, which is benchmarked to the best educational systems in the world.

BASIS Independent McLean, a PreK-12 private school located in Tysons Corner, focuses on preparing students with the content knowledge and critical thinking skills necessary for success in an ever-changing world.

The Northern Virginia campus was opened in 2016 and is part of the lauded BASIS Curriculum Schools network, which includes six out the 10 top-ranked schools in the country, according to U.S News & World Report.

Centered on the belief that students can do more than what is typically expected of them, BASIS Independent McLean challenges students to reach the highest international levels and holds them accountable for mastering a wide breadth of subject material.

Each discipline is taught by passionate subject experts who have professional expertise or advanced degrees in their chosen field, and who help students become excellent problem solvers poised to confidently tackle whatever comes their way.

“Our school really stretches students’ expectations and requires them to strive for achievements that they previously didn’t think they could achieve,” says Mr. Sharp, English Subject Expert Teacher at BASIS Independent McLean.

In just two years as an established learning community, the school has already made an impact on the educational landscape, winning two state MATHCOUNTS competitions and participating in various national and state events, including the Washington National Youth Music Competition, Model UN and National History Bowl, just to name a few!

Register for an information session on September 29 to learn more about the world-acclaimed program and unparalleled learning culture at BASIS Independent McLean.

Applications are open for fall 2019. Visit our website for more details.

Learn About Marymount Grad Programs in Business, Tech and Cybersecurity on June 14

Thinking about a career or advancement in business, technology or cybersecurity?

Marymount University offers a unique mix of specialized masters, dual degrees and certificate programs that can help in fields of critical importance to the region.

Marymount’s ideal location and its faculty’s wealth of industry experience and deep industry connections takes learning and professional preparation to new levels.

Consider the options:

Graduate degrees in business and technology:

  • Master of Business Administration (MBA) — flexible program delivery in online and face-to-face formats
  • Human Resource Management
  • Healthcare Management
  • Leadership and Management
  • Information Technology
  • Cybersecurity — flexible program delivery in online and face-to-face formats

Dual degree options to enhance your expertise in targeted fields

  • MBA/MS in Cybersecurity
  • MBA/MA in Human Resource Management
  • MBA/MS in Information Technology
  • MBA/MS in Leadership and Management
  • MS in Healthcare Management/MBA
  • MS in Healthcare Management/MS in Information Technology
  • MS in Cybersecurity/MS in Information Technology

Certificate programs in specialized fields

  • Association & Nonprofit Management
  • Organizational Development
  • Human Resource Management

New for Fall 2018: Doctorate in Cybersecurity!

Have your questions answered at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 14 at Marymount’s Ballston Center, 1000 North Glebe Road in Arlington.

For more information and to register, visit www.marymount.edu/business-technology-info.

Marymount Hosting Information Webinar for Transfer Students

Still looking for the best place to finish your college degree?

Marymount University is accepting applications for the fall semester!

At Marymount, you can complete a bachelor’s degree in one of many high-demand fields such as nursing, information technology, interior design, criminal justice or business administration. You can even choose to maximize your existing credits and complete your degree in Liberal Studies.

MU also has opportunities to move seamlessly to your master’s degree from select bachelor’s programs.

At Marymount, you’ll receive one-on-one, personal attention during every step of the enrollment process.

No minimum number of transfer credits are required in order to be eligible for admission. Plus, it’s free to apply if you visit campus. And a special partnership guarantees transfer admission for qualifying Northern Virginia Community College students!

Learn more about Marymount’s application process, admission requirements and transfer scholarship opportunities during our free webinar at 6 p.m., Wednesday, June 6.

Sign up at www.marymount.edu/Transfer-Webinar.

Marymount Hosting Info Sessions on Advanced Nursing Degrees May 16 & 30

Do you want to make a positive impact on the nation’s health?

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics identified the profession of nurse practitioner as the sixth fastest-growing occupation and the Institute of Medicine (2010) called for doubling the population of nurses with doctoral degrees.

Marymount University’s Master of Science in Nursing and Doctor of Nursing Practice hybrid online programs offer flexibility for working professionals while providing advanced knowledge and skills in clinical practice, health policy, systems improvement and evidence-based practice.

Options:

  • Full and part-time MSN/Family Nurse Practitioner blends real-time online streaming with faculty and classmates and in-person, on-campus sessions.
  • Full and part-time DNP/Family Nurse Practitioner (for those with a BSN) uses a hybrid online model of real-time web-based sessions and periodic on-campus sessions with faculty and peers.
  • Post-Master’s DNP (for those with a prior Master’s in Nursing) uses the same blended online model as post-Baccalaureate DNP program.

If you don’t have your BSN, join our traditional four-year or Accelerated BSN cohort!

At MU, you can learn about leading health care organizations from Dr. Terri Gaffney, former ANA vice president. Analyze health care policy and nursing impact with Dr. Suzanne Miyamoto, chief policy officer for the American Association of College of Nursing and director for the national Nursing Community Coalition. Advance your clinical and organizational skills with Dr. Maureen Moriarty, the first nurse to be named a Fellow of the American Headache Society.

Learn more at one of our free upcoming information sessions in time to apply for the June 15 application deadline:

  • 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, May 16 (Webinar)
  • 6:30 p.m., Wednesday May 30 (Main Campus in Arlington)

For more details or to register for an information session, visit www.marymount.edu/Nursing-Info.

View More Stories