You may be thinking, “Does anyone really go to college dreaming about majoring in industrial organizational psychology?” While it may not seem like an obvious choice, there is no doubt that industrial organizational psychology plays a distinct role in business.

“I hadn’t really considered I-O psychology when I was researching doctoral programs,” reveals NCU PhD candidate, Mary Keysor. “It was suggested to me by the NCU admissions counselor as a possible good fit given my background in employee benefits and human resources consultation.”

Keysor is a human resources strategist and currently runs her own consulting company, élanBenefits, which provides training, education and consultation services to small businesses in Tucson, Arizona, in the areas of employee management, regulatory compliance and organizational development.

“Indeed, it is a perfect fit,” she continues, “as it addresses the various psychological and behavioral components of the organizational context, or to put simply, human behavior in the workplace.”

Northcentral University’s School of Psychology offers a Master’s and PhD in Industrial Organizational Psychology, as well as a post-master’s and post-bachelor’s certificate. The School of Business and Technology Management also offers a PhD and DBA in Industrial and Organizational Psychology due to the interdisciplinary nature of the subject.

Specifically, this specialization explores the application of industrial and organizational psychology and management theory to the understanding of people in a work environment. Students examine small group theory and team processes, dynamics of leadership and management, and the structure and procedures of organizational development. Students also learn the application of tests and measurements, and the interpretation of their results as applied to employee selection, performance appraisals, and training evaluations.

“With the PhD in Industrial Organizational Psychology, I am able to transfer the theoretical knowledge learned at NCU to the workplace through my consulting endeavors with clients, training presentations, problem-solving assignments and organizational development activities,” Keysor explains. “A great example of this is the assistance I provide employers interested in establishing worksite wellness programs. By helping them understand how employees engage and participate, implement the types of activities that encourage behavioral change, and embed wellness into their organizational culture, I provide my clients with the tools and understanding necessary to build a successful wellness program.”

Potential outcomes for students who specialize in industrial organizational psychology vary by degree level, interest and skills. However, graduates may choose to work in industry, government, consulting and education in various fields, such as research, coaching, human resource development, consumer behavior analysis, workplace planning, market strategy, personnel specialist, and talent acquisition.

In fact, the Society for Industrial & Organizational Psychology (SIOP) has its own job board (JobNet) where you can see current job listings for industrial organizational psychologists. You can search by state, category, keyword, and even degree level.

Doctoral degree programs are a very different world from undergraduate and master’s degree programs, and require different skills in order to be successful. With each milestone, you are challenged in new ways as you work to create information that informs your discipline while maintaining high levels of academic thought and scholarly writing.

The hard truth is that only about 50 percent of students who enroll in any doctoral program actually finish their degrees. Some get stuck on the comprehensive exam (COMPS); others struggle with identifying a gap in research or filling that gap during the dissertation process. So how do people get through it? When some crash and burn or simply stop swimming, what is it about others that enables them rise above and live to synthesize another day?

To answer these questions, we turned to some of Northcentral University’s best and brightest minds. If you didn’t already know, all of NCU’s faculty members hold doctoral degrees. They’ve been in the doctoral race and they know what it takes to finish. Here’s what some of them had to say:

“Honestly, two of the most important characteristics a successful doctoral candidate needs to have are tenacity and flexibility. In a doctoral program, you must select and complete a long-term research agenda. This means you have to learn how to do research and all that entails, including working closely with your chair, communicating results, finding your way around obstacles, dealing with some anxiety, and sometimes navigating academic politics. The hard truth is that a dissertation usually takes a few years to complete and often requires candidates to work through problems that arise, change their plans, and stick with it when things get tough. If you are not tenacious about working on the dissertation and overcoming unexpected challenges and obstacles, or flexible when it comes to making changes that are designed to increase the academic quality of your dissertation, you won’t finish.”      

–Dr. Greg Bradley, Dean, The Graduate School

“One needs to be driven, relentless, tenacious, and have a passion for research. Research should be viewed as necessary vs. a necessary evil to get a PhD for the sake of getting a PhD. If you don’t like research, then you will not enjoy the journey.”  

–Dr. Greg Hickman, Full-Time Dissertation Chair

“I believe the most important trait is humility. Simply put—the ability to accept criticism and then learn and grow from it.”  

–Dr. Heather Frederick, Vice President of Academic Affairs

No matter where you are in your doctoral journey, you’ve probably already faced a challenge or two. But remember, if earning a doctorate was easy—everyone would have one! Your level of responsibility and accountability will only continue to increase throughout your career, and the dissertation process is your opportunity to begin that transition to scholarly independence.

In your experience, what trait has been or was the most important for you during your doctoral journey? Share with your fellow candidates, alumni and prospective doctoral students in the comments section! 

Below are some tips for a successful work-from-home arrangement.

Eliminate distractions.

Children, pets and other family and friends must respect that during 9-5 you are working just as you would if you were on-site in an office building. This means children should either be in daycare or you should establish another method of childcare during your work hours.

The same goes for other family and friends. You wouldn’t be taking multiple personal calls if your coworkers were sitting in a cubicle next to you. That should also apply as a telecommuter.

Be sure to draw a line with your pets, too. Just because you are home all day, doesn’t mean you and your dog have an eight-hour play date. Keep your pets in an area that won’t distract you. That way, you’ll avoid the embarrassing dog bark while you’re on an important conference call with your client or boss.

And, while we’re talking about distractions, don’t turn on the TV. By keeping your TV off, you’ll avoid the temptation of getting sucked into Dr. Phil or watching your favorite DVR’d shows when you’re supposed to be working. Let’s face it, daytime television isn’t very good anyway.

Stay connected with colleagues.

Since you’re not able to see your coworkers face-to-face on a daily basis, it’s important to stay connected in other ways. Instant messaging, video conferencing, and phone calls are important for keeping the communication window open and nurturing your work relationships.

Take a lunch break.

It’s important to avoid falling into the workaholic trap. Be sure to manage your time as if you were working in an office. In other words, take the time to step away from your desk and grab some lunch.

Get out of the house.

You’re probably thinking, “Get out of the house? Isn’t this article about working from home?” What we mean by getting out of the house is this: Working solo can be a bit lonely at times, so it’s important to continue to maintain some form of human contact. This can mean heading into town to meet your friends for lunch or happy hour, joining a professional organization, attending a networking event, or simply being around other people at the gym. The point is it is easy to become a hermit being at home all of the time, so make a concerted effort to get out of the house once in a while.

Don’t become a workaholic.

With your home as your office, the line between personal and professional can become blurred. It’s important to disconnect after the work day is over to enjoy some leisure and spend time with your family and friends. Relationships can suffer if your attention is always on work, so be sure to set boundaries so your work mode switch isn’t always set to “on.”

There are many benefits to working from home.  As long as you’re able to focus on your work, manage your time, meet deadlines, and separate your work life from your home life, you’ll enjoy home office bliss!

Do you work from home and have advice on how to do so successfully? Share your tips in our comments section below!

Below are some tips for creating a professional home office.

Establish your space.

If you are fortunate enough to have an entire room to dedicate as your office, consider yourself lucky. You’ll have more flexibility when it comes to furnishings and things of that nature. However, if you don’t have the square footage luxury, you can still make do. Declare your office space by sectioning off a room in your home with a screen or curtain to create a separation between your personal and professional space.

Furnish and decorate.

Furnishing and decorating your home office can be fun even if you’re on a limited budget. Often, you can use things that you already own, like that lamp that’s been in your attic for ten years or that old table you picked up at a garage sale but never use. Don’t be afraid to ask your friends and family if they have any furniture they’re willing to part with, or check out Craigslist or your local thrift shops for great items on a budget.

Remember: Comfort is key. You’re going to be spending a lot of time in your office, and will need furniture that is comfortable and isn’t going to cause any strain or health issues. It is worth it to invest in a nice office chair, gelled wrist support pads and other ergonomic equipment.

And, if you work for a company, be sure to ask if you can expense your furniture and equipment!

Get the requisite office supplies and equipment.

Make a list of items that you’d normally find in an office, and start with the basics. You may not need a fancy three-hole punch machine, but you will likely need things like post-it notes, pens, notebooks, a calculator, paper clips, and a stapler.  Once you’re telecommuting for a while, you’ll be able to determine if you need to pick up additional items.

When I first started working from home, I started with the basics, going without some of the luxuries found in my previous office jobs like a printer/scanner and an additional monitor to create that “dual” monitor, multi-screen work station. That didn’t last long once I realized that I’d have to snail mail my onboarding documents to our human resources department and my productivity was diminished by not having an additional computer screen.

Again, ask if your company will purchase these items for you or if you can expense them. If not, save your receipts. You can likely write them off as unreimbursed business expenses when you do your taxes, but be sure to check with a tax professional first.

Create a good filing system.

If your job requires you to work with a lot of paper, you don’t want it cluttering up your space. What’s the adage? Cluttered space, cluttered mind? Invest in a filing cabinet, folders and even a label machine if you’re really OCD and like things extremely neat and organized. Check out these Priority Paper Piling tips for more information.

Even if your work doesn’t involve a lot of paper, a digital filing system is just as important. If you’re going to be sharing documents with coworkers, use a cloud-based storage system like Dropbox so that you and your distance-based coworkers can all retrieve files quickly and easily.

Do you have or are you planning on using a home office? Leave your tips in the comments section below!

Be sure to check back for our next post, “How to successfully work from home.”

There are several components of university administration. Like other leading higher education institutions, Northcentral University relies on multiple leaders across the university to facilitate operations and make sure that our culture and values are maintained.

Board of Trustees

NCU is governed by a Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees is responsible for the establishment of broad institutional policies for operation of the University, with oversight responsibility for academics and academic policies. There are 14 members on NCU’s Board of Trustees including NCU’s President and Chief Executive Officer, who serves as an Ex Officio Member.

President and Chief Executive Officer

NCU’s President and CEO, George Burnett, is responsible for the overall strategic, financial and tactical leadership of NCU. With the board, his role is to guide and establish NCU as a leader in online higher education.

Provost and Chief Academic Officer

Dr. Scott W.M. Burrus serves as NCU’s Provost and Chief Academic Officer. As Provost, Dr. Burrus oversees academic operations and administration and works closely with NCU’s Deans to provide quality educational opportunities and programs.

Vice President of Academic Affairs

Dr. Heather Frederick, VP of Academic Affairs, works with our Provost to ensure academic operations, curriculum, instruction and technology adhere to NCU’s mission and values.

Deans

Northcentral University has a Dean for each school of study. Our Deans help with areas such as academic policy, faculty hiring, programmatic accreditation, and curriculum.

NCU’s Deans are:

• Dr. Gregory T. Bradley: Dean, The Graduate School
• Dr. Robert Haussmann: Dean, School of Psychology
• Dr. Branden Henline: Dean, School of Marriage and Family Sciences
• Dr. Cindy K. Guillaume: Dean, School of Education
• Dr. A. Lee Smith: Dean, School of Business and Technology Management

For more general information on higher education leadership or student affairs, check out resources on the Bureau of Labor Statistics or NASPA.

In the President’s 2013 State of the Union address, he called on Congress to reform the Higher Education Act to make education more attainable and affordable. In today’s increasingly competitive economy, adult workers need to differentiate themselves and stay current in their fields. To do this, they need options for continuing their education and gaining additional experience.

Here are some current trends for continued learning for working adults:

Employer-Sponsored Training & Tuition Reimbursement Programs

Many companies are offering their employees specialized training and are even paying for them to go back to school. Some employers offer tuition assistance vouchers or have partnerships with colleges and universities to provide discounted tuition rates. In a recent article for onlinecollegecourses.com, Northcentral University‘s Dr. Lee Smith, dean of the School of Business and Technology Management details the importance of providing employees with professional development opportunities.

“Supporting professional development initiatives during tough economic times makes more sense for most companies than not doing so,” says Lee. “To stay ahead of the game, it is incumbent on these organizations to ensure that their key employees are trained in areas that will advance company performance.”

Certification Programs

Certification programs are increasing in popularity among workers who’ve earned a college degree but want more specialized training in a given occupation. Skills can be developed at both the occupational and industry level. Individuals seeking certifications can look to traditional post-secondary education at colleges and universities or find certification opportunities through industry and professional associations.

MOOCs

Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) are a hot topic in education today. Individuals with Internet access can take courses online for free at some of the nation’s top universities. While most MOOCS do not offer credit for course completion, there are circumstances that allow for a certificate of completion. If you want to enroll in a MOOC, be sure to check whether or not a certificate option exists, and whether or not they charge a fee.

Adult Internships & Volunteering

Adult internships and volunteering are on the rise. Short-term work and volunteer assignments can help adults gain experience and skills in areas they may be lacking or to get their foot in the door at a certain company or industry. Often, internships are unpaid, but they are a great way to determine whether or not you’ll enjoy a particular occupation or industry and can be great resume boosters as well.

Webinars and Conferences

Other options for continuing workforce education are webinars and conferences. Webinars are seminars or lecture presentations conducted over the Internet, often sponsored by one or more companies looking to gain visibility and demonstrate thought leadership in an industry or occupation. They are a convenient way to keep up with industry trends since all you need to do is register, and you can listen from anywhere you have Internet access. On the other hand, conferences are carried out in person and can also be more costly (webinars are generally free), especially if travel and overnight accommodations are required.

Dr. Renee Aitken

Dr. Renee Aitken didn’t always want to be a teacher.  In fact, her initial interest in the profession (she thought about being a K-12 teacher after a brief stint of medical technologist training) was stymied when she couldn’t get into the program at Ohio State University.  Instead, she graduated with a BA in English and went to work for AT&T as a technical writer.

Twenty-four years later, Aitken had done just about everything at AT&T (now Lucent), including, instructional design, training, project management, travelling all over, and  taking advantage of AT&T’s great tuition reimbursement program to continue her education and fuel her passion for learning. Going back to school also marked her first experience with distance education.

“First I went back to Ohio State and got an MA in Organizational Communication,” she recalls. “Then in 1993, I was accepted into a special AT&T program with the University of Colorado at Boulder where I earned a MS in Telecommunications Engineering and Management through a distance education program. At the time, distance education was the equivalent of watching a video of the lecture and sending in our assignments via snail mail. When distance learning started to become more popular, I was selected to go back to school and get a PhD in Education (Adult and Higher Education) from Capella University.”

If that’s not impressive enough, the real beauty of Aitken’s wealth of knowledge and experience is the fact that she loves to share it!

“My career in higher education began as an adjunct online course designer at Franklin University in Columbus, Ohio, while I was still at Lucent. When Lucent made me a retirement offer I couldn’t refuse, I got into education full-time.”

It was during her time at Franklin that she was first introduced to the Sloan Consortium.

“I co-presented with one of the other instructional designers at Franklin University and was hooked on the forward-thinking, well-documented presentations from the SLOAN-C,” remarks Aitken.

Aitken’s latest achievement with the SLOAN-C comes courtesy of her third presentation with the organization. Her presentation–Using Knowles to Support ALL Online Learners—was accepted and added to the SLOAN-C website last year as an Effective Practice.

“My presentation was focused on considering how faculty members view students,” she explains. “There are definitions of traditional and non -traditional learners and most distance learning institutions insist their programs are geared towards non-traditional learners. However, my experience has indicated students are coming to distance learning from a variety of perspectives. From my work with Northcentral University, I have learned a student’s age and socio-economic background does not hinder their learning if faculty take the time and effort to support the student. The One-to-One teaching model at NCU helps facilitate this, and the Applied Experiential Learning process provides even the youngest of our students with the opportunity to “do” as they learn rather than just write papers.”

Effective practices, like Aitken’s presentation, are submitted by members of the SLOAN-C community for consideration and are peer reviewed to ensure quality. The five pillars of quality are: access, learning effectiveness, faculty satisfaction, student satisfaction and scale (cost effectiveness).

Aitken’s paper was accepted as an effective practice for learning effectiveness. She believes that using Knowles Characteristics of Adult Learners when it comes to course development and teaching ensures that students are served equally, and that by making learning part of life through experiences, students are more effective in applying their education to real life, which in turn, makes Aitken’s job more enjoyable, rewarding and effective.

“I like the way distance learning is structured and assures every student has the same opportunity to learn following the same syllabus,” she comments. “I love that teaching online means I don’t know much about my students and my students come without any preconceived notions about their abilities on my part. I also like the way Learning Management and Assessment Systems can help collect data to assure students are learning and meeting outcomes.”

Of course, course development and teaching are only part of the equation when it comes to student success. The students themselves must take responsibility for their learning in an online education environment. With all of her experience, Aitken believes the most critical factor of student success in an online program is time management.

“Online learners must invest in time management and make sure they schedule time for class every day,” she comments. “I was a single working mother with two teenagers when I started my PhD and I completed it in less than five years by working one hour every weekday night and four hours every Sunday.”

While not in school any longer, Aitken still considers herself a student.

“I believe the quote attributed to Tom Clancy, ‘Life is about learning; when you stop learning; you die.’”

On that front, when she’s not at home walking her dog, feeding her five cats (“Don’t let your daughters adopt kittens unless you want cats!”), or sitting behind the glass at an Ohio State University hockey game (she has season tickets), Aitken loves to read (she still manages to read 2-3 books a week), write, think, and travel.

For this lifelong learner and passionate teacher, life is one of the greatest classrooms of all.

If there’s one thing we’ve learned during our 17 years in higher education, it’s that the education field is incredibly diverse. That’s why we’re so excited to join the NAFSA: Association of International Educators community at the NAFSA 2013 Annual Conference & Expo in St. Louis, Missouri, May 26-31.

As a graduate-focused online university serving students and working professionals around the world, Northcentral University shares the goal of providing diverse students with increased access to higher education opportunities. Not only is Northcentral University regionally accredited, but by not requiring physical residencies or in-person sessions, students have the opportunity to earn an advanced degree while working with highly credentialed faculty from all over the world.

“Online education can garner the best of professional minds who cannot gather in one place (Arizona), but can be reached easily through the Internet,” explains NCU Dissertation Chair Dr. Daphne Halkias.  “Most of last year, [my husband and I] lived in a remote location in the desert. Were it not for technology, I wouldn’t be teaching nor doing research.”

Alina O’Connor, senior director of business development at Northcentral University, will be on hand during the conference in booth #301 to share more information about building an alliance with NCU and the benefits of online learning from a global perspective.

“I’m really looking forward to presenting NCU to a global audience,” says O’Connor. “Every institution is so unique, and I enjoy learning what it is that each college or university needs from an alliance, and work with them to help fill those needs, whether it’s educating faculty members who want to earn a doctorate, professional training and development opportunities, and student and alumni benefits.”

This day holds special meaning because military spouses play such a huge role in supporting our dedicated men and women in the Armed Forces. They often have little control over things like their location and/or must take on additional responsibilities within the household, which could mean putting their own education and career dreams on hold. They do it willingly, supporting their spouses wherever their military life takes them. It’s an admirable quality, and one we here at Northcentral University admire so much.

Today, we thank YOU for your service.

If you’ve never read the poem The Silent Ranks (some people say the author is unknown, some say it was written by Shiela Gault), we’ve posted it below. It’s a great testament to military spouses and the role they play in the armed forces. Please substitute husband/wife, he/she, his/her, and man/woman as appropriate for your spouse (be advised it won’t rhyme quite the same)!

The Silent Ranks

I wear no uniforms, no blues or army greens.
But, I am in the military, in the ranks rarely seen.
I have no rank upon my shoulders. Salutes I do not give.
But the military world is the place where I live.
I’m not in the chain of command, orders I do not get.
But my husband is the one who does, this I can not forget.
I’m not the one who fires the weapon, who puts my life on the line.
But my job is just as tough. I’m the one that’s left behind.
My husband is a patriot, a brave and prideful man.
And the call to serve his country not all can understand.
Behind the lines I see the things needed to keep this country free.
My husband makes the sacrifice, but so do our kids and me.
I love the man I married. Soldiering is his life.
But I stand among the silent ranks known as the Military Wife.

At Northcentral University, we are proud to have a fantastic group of faculty, both adjuncts teaching from around the world, and our ever-growing number of full-time faculty who serve as curriculum developers, foundations faculty, research specialists and dissertation chairs. Our faculty come from all corners of academia and professional practice, and are united by two simple things: a sincere passion for student success and a commitment to lifelong learning.

Today, we honor our faculty and say thank you for all of your hard work. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to collaborate with such an incredible team of educators and administrators, and each of you plays an invaluable role in helping us fulfill our mission of educating professionals throughout the world, and mentoring students one-to-one to help them achieve academically and become valuable contributors to their communities and within their professions.

And to all of our students and alumni, if you haven’t already, we encourage you to take this opportunity to thank those faculty members who have made a positive difference in your NCU journey. Perhaps he/she was your dissertation chair and never wavered in his or her support, perhaps he/she encouraged you when you really needed it, or maybe he/she gave you some tough love on your writing with the goal of making you a better writer. Whatever it is, today is the perfect opportunity to #ThankATeacher, and we hope you’ll join us in saying thank you to all of the NCU faculty.

Finally, to those of our students and alumni who are teachers as well, we thank you for your service. As poet William Butler Yeats once wrote, “Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” Thank you for being torchbearers for your students in their pursuit of knowledge.