What are key benefits of being a university alumni?

At http://www.helium.com/items/2330654-what-are-key-benefits-of-being-a-university-alumni

by Christy Birmingham

Created on: May 27, 2012   Last Updated: May 28, 2012

There are many benefits to being the alumni of a university. Aside from being able to frame and hang the associated degree, alumni now have many perks at their fingertips. Services offered by universities to its graduates can save them money and provide other useful perks too.

Campus Events

One key benefit that is offered to many university alumni is the inclusion at many campus events. Alumni who provide their universities with current contact information often receive invites to events for the university. Events include openings of new campus areas, awards ceremonies and presentations. While some events are free, alumni often receive discounted admissions ones that are not. Universities want to maintain the support of its graduates and recognize these people represent them in the community.

At these events, there are often food and beverages. Alumni can speak with current university staff and make helpful business contacts too. Alumni may even be approached to speak at the events, which looks great on the resume and provides them a chance as well to give back to the facilities.

Discounted Pricing On-Campus

Another key benefit of being a university alumni is the discounted pricing on many activities based on-campus. For example, alumni are often offered discounted rates at the university gym. The universities offer lower prices as an effort to keep the graduates' close ties to the university and maintain their support. These benefits can certainly help graduates to save money!

Alumni also often receive lower prices than members of the general public at campus gift shop purchases.  Many universities also allow its graduates to use the library and its services at no cost as a reward for being a member of the alumni.

Discounted Pricing Off-Campus

Off-campus, many alumni also get discounts on products and services of companies who have partnerships with the university. For example, SFU offers its members discounted rates for extended benefits from Manulife Financial. Some universities represent credit card companies and give alumni special rates or offer them rewards that are university-related for card usage.

There are many benefits of being a... ( more at http://www.helium.com/items/2330654-what-are-key-benefits-of-being-a-university-alumni )

The difference between PhD programs in America and Europe

At http://gmat.learnhub.com/lesson/4846-the-difference-between-phd-programs-in-america-and-europe?id=4846-the-difference-between-phd-programs-in-america-and-europe

by Tiffany

PhD Programs in America

While PhD programs in both America and Europe are highly distinguished levels of education, there are some differences you should be aware if you are planning on applying to any universities within these two continents. Admissions, funding and the length of a PhD program vary from university to university, as well as from country to country. Here is a comparison of programs in the United States and the United Kingdom.In the United States, the Ph.D. is typically the highest academic degree awarded by universities. In some cases, a master's degree may be required for a Ph.D. program - in other cases, a bachelor's degree is sufficient.

Firstly, a student must usually complete a comprehensive examination or a series of exams which focuses more on breadth of knowledge than depth. Some programs require the candidate to complete successfully requirements in pedagogy (the study of teaching) or applied science (e.g., clinical practice or predoctoral clinical internship for programs in clinical or counseling psychology).

2 to 4 years are usually required for the creating an original thesis/dissertation. In the social sciences and humanities, it is typically 50 to 450 pages in length. The candidate then judged by an expert committee.

Admission

Universities vary widely in their criteria. Usually, PhD programs require applicants to have:

• a Bachelor's degree in a relevant field
• reasonably high grades
• several letters of recommendation
• 
  
• relevant coursework
• a statement of interest/purpose in the field of study
• 
  
• satisfactory performance on a graduate-level exam (e.g. GRE, GMAT)

Some programs in well-regarded universities (for example, Research 1 universities: universities that engaged in extensive research activity) admit less than 5% of applicants and require an exceptional performance on the GRE along with near-perfect grades, strong support in letters of recommendation, substantial research experience, and academically sophisticated samples of their writing.


Completion of the program usually takes four to eight years of study after the Bachelor's Degree, or 2 years or less for those with a Master's Degree. Ph.D. programs lack the formal structure of undergraduate education, so how long it takes you to complete a degree depends on you, the individual. Many US universities have set a 10-year limit for students in Ph.D. programs. 57% of students who begin a Ph.D. program in the US will complete their degree within 10 years, 30% will drop out or be dismissed, and 13% of students will continue on past 10 years.

Funding

Doctoral students are usually discouraged from engaging in external employment. Ph.D. students at U.S. universities typically receive a tuition waiver and some form of annual stipend. The source and amount of funding varies from field to field, and university to university. Many U.S. graduate students work as teaching assistants or research assistants while studying.


In Canada, a PhD program is very similar to that of the United States. Admission may require completion of a Master's degree in a related field with high grades and experience. In some cases, a student may progress directly from an Honours Bachelor's degree to a PhD program.

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PhD Programs in the United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom, PhDs are distinct from other doctorates. It is not necessarily the highest level of degree - there are higher doctorates such as DLitt (Doctor of Letters) and DSc (Doctor of Science). These degrees are granted on the recommendation of a committee based on a large portfolio of published research.

Admissions

In principle, a university is free to admit anyone to a Ph.D. program. In practice, however, admission usually requires the completion of an undergraduate degree with at least upper second-class honours or a postgraduate Master's degree.

Ph.D. students from countries outside the European Union or European Free Trade Association are required to comply with the Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS). This involves undergoing a security clearance process with the Foreign Office for certain courses in Medicine, Mathematics, Engineering, Natural Sciences and Material Sciences. This requirement was introduced in 2007 due to concerns of terrorism and other illegal... ( more at http://gmat.learnhub.com/lesson/4846-the-difference-between-phd-programs-in-america-and-europe?id=4846-the-difference-between-phd-programs-in-america-and-europe )

Apple iOS 6 Maps warning from Australian police

At http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/apple/9734121/Apple-iOS-6-Maps-warning-from-Australian-police.html

Australian police have warned against using Apple's iOS 6 Maps after having to rescue six people in two months who became lost while trying to find Mildura in Victoria.

The actual location of Mildura (purple pin) is more than 40 miles from where Apple places it (red pin). 

By Shane Richmond, Head of Technology (Editorial)

10:10AM GMT 10 Dec 2012

Instead of directing people to Mildura, Apple Maps sent them to a wilderness more than 40 miles away. With temperatures in the area reaching up to 46C, Victoria police are concerned that lives could be at risk.

In a warning on its website, Victoria police said: "Some of the motorists located by police have been stranded for up to 24 hours without food or water and have walked long distances through dangerous terrain to get phone reception."

Police said they had contacted Apple about the issue. Police said: "Anyone travelling to Mildura or other locations within Victoria should rely on other forms of mapping until this matter is rectified."

Apple released its new Maps application earlier this year with iOS 6, the latest update to the operating system that runs the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad. The new operating system dropped Google Maps, which had been on the iPhone since its launch in 2007, and replaced them with a mapping service created by Apple.

Errors and omissions were soon noted by users around the world, who pointed out landmarks that appeared in the sea, railway stations that were missing entirely and towns, like Mildura, that were plotted miles from their real location.

Tim Cook, Apple's chief executive, was forced to issue an apology, saying that the company had fallen short on its commitment to "deliver the best experience possible to our customers".

Cook's apology added: "While we're improving Maps, you can try alternatives by downloading map apps from the App Store like Bing, MapQuest and Waze, or use Google or Nokia maps by going to their websites and creating an icon on your home screen to their web app."

Apple encouraged users to report problems with Maps and revised the layout of the application to make the 'report a problem' feature more prominent.

At the end of October Apple announced that Scott Forstall, the executive responsible for iOS software, including Maps, would be leaving the company in 2013.

Nokia recently launched its own maps application for iOS devices, called Nokia Here, while... ( more at http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/apple/9734121/Apple-iOS-6-Maps-warning-from-Australian-police.html )

Apple Maps 'is life-threatening' to motorists lost in Australia heat

At http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-20663447

10 December 2012 Last updated at 12:13 GMT

In this picture posted by Mildura police, the purple pin shows the actual location of the town

Inaccuracies in Apple Maps could be "life-threatening" to motorists in Australia's searing heat, police have warned.

Officers in Mildura, Victoria, say they have had to assist drivers stranded after following the software's directions.

Some of the drivers had been without food or water for 24 hours.

Apple's software was heavily criticised by users when it was released in September.

Last week, chief executive Tim Cook admitted Apple had "screwed up" and was working to improve the program.

'No water supply'

In a press release, Victoria police's acting senior sergeant Sharon Darcy made her force's concerns clear.

"Tests on the mapping system by police confirm the mapping systems lists Mildura in the middle of the Murray Sunset National Park, approximately 70km [45 miles] away from the actual location of Mildura," she said.

"Police are extremely concerned as there is no water supply within the park and temperatures can reach as high as 46[C], making this a potentially life-threatening issue."

The force advised travellers to use an alternative mapping service until the issues had been fixed.

In September, Apple dropped Google Maps from its iOS software in favour of its own mapping program. However, users were quick to complain it contained many inaccuracies, poor imagery and unreliable directions.

Users have complained about the quality of satellite images in Apple's software

The company defended the software at first, telling users it was "confident about our map quality".

However, Apple soon backtracked, posting an apology notice on its website.

"We are extremely sorry for the frustration this has caused our customers and we are doing everything we can to make Maps better," said Mr Cook.

A specially created section on the App Store highlighted alternative mapping software. However, an app for Google Maps has yet to be made available - although some reports suggest one is in its testing phase.

The fall-out from Apple Maps saw high-profile senior executives leave the company.

GPS vulnerability

Apple's mapping woes come as researchers at Carnegie Mellon University warned about newly discovered vulnerabilities in the world's Global Positioning System (GPS).

The research paper suggested that just... ( more at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-20663447 )

Video. Nanotech Device Mimics Dog's Nose to Detect Explosives

At http://engineering.ucsb.edu/news/673

November 20, 2012

Inspired by the biology of canine scent receptors, UC Santa Barbara scientists develop a chip capable of quickly identifying trace amounts of vapor molecules

Concept illustration of the microscale free-surface microfluidic channel as it concentrates vapor molecules that bind to nanoparticles inside a chamber. A laser beam detects the nanoparticles, which amplify a spectral signature of the detected molecules. (Click for larger image)

(Santa Barbara, CA —) Portable, accurate, and highly sensitive devices that sniff out vapors from explosives and other substances could become as commonplace as smoke detectors in public places, thanks to researchers at University of California, Santa Barbara.

Researchers at UCSB, led by professors Carl Meinhart of mechanical engineering and Martin Moskovits of chemistry, have designed a detector that uses microfluidic nanotechnology to mimic the biological mechanism behind canine scent receptors. The device is both highly sensitive to trace amounts of certain vapor molecules, and able to tell a specific substance apart from similar molecules.

"Dogs are still the gold standard for scent detection of explosives. But like a person, a dog can have a good day or a bad day, get tired or distracted," said Meinhart. "We have developed a device with the same or better sensitivity as a dog's nose that feeds into a computer to report exactly what kind of molecule it's detecting." The key to their technology, explained Meinhart, is in the merging of principles from mechanical engineering and chemistry in a collaboration made possible by UCSB's Institute for Collaborative Biotechnologies .

Video and more at http://engineering.ucsb.edu/news/673

Book Launch & Interview with Collette Scott

At http://celebratingauthors.blogspot.ca/2011/11/book-launch-interview-with-collette.html

Monday, November 14, 2011

Let's welcome Collette Scott.  I originally met Collette on Facebook and we made quick friends so it is a true pleasure to be able to present her new book to you - IF WE DARE TO DREAM.

Tell us about you.

My name is Collette Scott, and I am an author. In addition, I am a married mother of three fabulous kids and a menagerie of pets that are considered members of the family as well. I've been a storyteller all my life (just ask my mom) and finally decided to put my stories out there after a myriad of various jobs ranging from the medical field to corporate America. I hold a bachelor's degree in English literature and a master's degree in education, but my love has always been the written word. 

What genre do you write?

I write a mixture of women's fiction and romance. My novels all have strong heroines and feature very realistic, very true issues that many of us face on a day to day basis. However, each one of my tales has a strong love story in it. As a naturally optimistic person, I prefer to end each novel on a vein of hope and survival, and I always focus on the value of support.

Tell us about your book.

My newest release, If We Dare to Dream, is the first of a series due out November 15, 2011. The series started on chapter one, when I wrote the sentence "Jamie Morton, formally Evans…" Surprise, surprise, I had a family member of Chuck Evans from my first book, Forever Sunshine. My characters seriously have a mind of their own!

I began writing this series in April of 2011 and am currently working on the fourth book. As I've been getting readers of Forever Sunshine begging me for a sequel, I have been integrating more of Cher's story into the series, and book four brings Cher back so my previous readers have some closure for my tenacious heroine. However, each book stands alone, with a different member of the Evans family. I'm planning on releasing them three to four months apart, so the second in the series should be out around Valentine's Day next year, and so on and so forth. 

What inspired you to write this particular story?

If We Dare to Dream came about in April after I spent some time veg'ing in front of the television. I don't usually watch too much TV, but I started in on The Military Channel and The Discovery Investigation Channel and got hooked for a little bit. As a pacifist, watching our poor kids going off to war was difficult, and having had firsthand experience with PTSD I felt inspired to write about how difficult it is for these kids to come home and pick up the pieces of their lives when they're feeling all these emotions that they can't describe let alone accept.

Andrew's false accusation came after watching a story about a man who was sent to prison for almost 18 years due to a false witness statement. A common theme in all of my books is that it is possible to heal and live life to the fullest, so this story is about Andrew gaining his release and moving past his traumas. While he'll always have his scars, he does not allow them to cripple him forever.

What can readers expect when they open your book?  Give us something that isn't on the book blurb. 

My characters are very human. I know that I mentioned that I write a mixture of women's fiction and romance, and that is true. Where I classify myself as writing women's fiction is that the problems my characters face are very real. I don't have greater-than-life, over the top suspension of disbelief. I write about people we can relate to, someone who could live next door to you. The Evans family is a tight-knit family, but they are all very human and potentially flawed people, too. 

How old were you when you started writing?

I started writing pretty much as soon as I was able to write. My first 'book' was completed when I was eight-years-old, and I've written stories ever since. I've lost all of my early writings, but I would have to say that I've written at least a dozen full-length books over the years.

Do you stick with one genre, or have you branched out to others?  Which ones?

I would have to say that I pretty much stick to one type of writing style, and that is a blend of women's fiction and romance. However, that being said… my new series has suspense in it, so I admit that I am branching out a little bit. Once again, it happened on its own - my characters always have the final say! J

Do you think you would ever branch out into another genre?  If so which one(s)?

My stories come to me through my characters and sometimes through dreams, so I would never say that I wouldn't branch out. If a character wants me to write in a different genre, who am I to say no? I do what my voices tell me to do, and I write what they want me to write.

Where do you get your ideas?

I have been inspired on a couple of occasions by something I've watched on the television (e.g. Forever Sunshine came to me in a dream after watching a live funeral on the TV, and If We Dare to Dream came after my stint of watching educational programs), but I have also been inspired through settings as well. At the risk of sounding a little nutty, anything can trigger a story.  :)

Who is your greatest inspiration?

Personally, there are a few that I admire greatly for their courage, one of whom is Martin Luther King, Jr. He was a man who was not afraid to speak out against what he saw as injustice, and he paid the ultimate price for that.

In my writing, I would have to say my greatest inspiration stems from the Victorian Gothic period. I tend to write along those lines, with strong heroines and heavy subject matter.

What are you reading right now?

I am diligently editing my November release, so I'm in the process of reading that right now. I probably won't pick up another book until that it complete.

Who are your favorite authors?

There are a lot of authors that I admire and enjoy reading, but I would have to say that my all-time favorites are still the classics. As a literature major in college, I read so many different types of stories from different time periods, and they have influenced me the most and held my attention the best.

What is your current project?

Aside from editing If We Dare to Dream, I am in the process of finishing up the fourth book in that series. 

What do you feel is your greatest accomplishment as a writer?

Originally I would have said that just publishing my work was my greatest accomplishment. But since I put out my first novel, Forever Sunshine, I have had so many survivors of domestic violence contact me and say that my book is a true inspiration to others. That spurred on my idea to donate most of the proceeds to The National Domestic Violence Hotline, so to date I think that has been my greatest accomplishment as a writer. To be told that your story moved someone to the point of inspiration is the highest compliment, in my opinion. I hope I can keep that up! :)

Have you experienced any setbacks for your writing along the way?  If so, will you share with us.

Setbacks? Well sure! Who hasn't? I guess my largest setback came when I had an agent for Hannah's Blessing, which was actually written prior to Forever Sunshine. My agent's wife developed cancer, and he took an extended leave. I ended up shelving all projects for years!

How did you overcome these setbacks?

This year I took matters into my own hands and decided to move forward on my own. I re-edited and updated both previous novels, releasing them this year while I was working on my new one.

Do you believe in writer's block?

Absolutely! I went for years working for a job that literally 'sucked the creativity out of me'. I used to complain to my family about that, too. Haha. I was unable to even dream of novels during that time, and it was a sad period for me.

What is the best writing advice you've ever received?

Edit, edit and edit some more. If your book is not as polished as possible, you can seriously turn others off even if you have a great story.

What is more important to you, plot or character?

I think both are very vital aspects of a story. While I tend to focus more on characterization and the inner development of my characters as they grow and change throughout the story, the plot sets the tone. 

Without a strong plot, any characterization becomes stilted and boring. After all, without a plot where's the motivation to... ( more at http://celebratingauthors.blogspot.ca/2011/11/book-launch-interview-with-collette.html )