Welcome to the October 2011 edition of the NACTEL Newsletter
The kids are back in school. Why don't you join them and go back yourself? Earn a degree of your own through NACTEL online telecommunications programs from Pace University. This is a great opportunity and a convenient way to make an investment in you and your career—100% of our grads agree!
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Coming soon! New NACTEL-sponsored master's degree program through Pace University. Stay tuned for more details to come!
Contents
Register Now
Meet the Partners
Advice from a Graduate
Industry News
"Fun Facts"
Techie Term
Student Story
Pam Syverson represents CenturyLink on the NACTEL Executive Board. We caught up with her this month for a quick conversation.
NACTEL: We know you're a member of the NACTEL Executive Board, but what do you do in your "real" life?
PS: In my real work life, I'm the Regional Markets Groups' Technical Course Development Manager for CenturyLink. In my real personal life, I try to stay active. I bike—that would be bicycle—ski, hike, fish, love to travel and, on a more creative note, I do stained glass and fused glass. I call this my sanity hobby; someday it will be my retirement "job."
NACTEL: What's new at the CenturyLink?
PS: Seems at this point for most people, everything is new. Since the Qwest-CenturyLink merger earlier this year, a lot of our management team has a new role in the "combined" company. As the legacy companies evaluate their processes, products, contracts, jobs, etc. there will be something new for everyone. For our customers, there is a new company with a "hometown" philosophy to keep everyone connected to their "neighborhood."
NACTEL: You've been a member of the NACTEL Executive Board for several years. Why have you stayed involved?
PS: It is very rewarding to see the impact of what this board, made up of both companies and unions, has been able to accomplish by supporting people in their endeavor to stay current and improve their knowledge in our industry.
NACTEL: Any advice for current or future NACTEL students?
PS: Keep learning! Our industry is one of the most rapidly changing industries with lots of areas available to grow into. Consequently if your goal is to GROW—keep learning.
NACTEL: Anything the world should know about you? (Here's your chance!)
PS: My passion is training; developing people and staying very close to the leading edge of what is happening in our industry. After 34 years in the business, I still love it!
"Don't be scared. If you have a question, even if you think it's a dumb one, ask it. The professors are really thorough, and they don't make you feel like you're asking dumb questions when they respond. Don't be afraid to ask."
- Austin Davis, Tech Coordinator at Verizon; A.S. - Networking Technologies
Industry News - Higher Levels of Education Linked to Higher Work Earnings
According to a new U.S. Census Bureau study, education levels had more effect on earnings over a 40-year span in the workforce than any other demographic factor, such as gender, race and Hispanic origin. For example, a worker with a professional degree is expected to make more than a worker with a eighth grade education or lower.
| • | By 2014 the U.S. wireless penetration rate will be 99.9%. |
| • | That's higher than the indoor plumbing penetration in the U.S. Really! |
| • | Each of the major carriers is introducing 4G services and will be significantly expanding their networks in the next few years. It's projected the number of cell sites will grow by an additional 42%. Forty-two percent!! All of that traffic going to all of those cell towers will require backhaul—every single one. |
Source: Connected Planet.
Hierarchical Cell Structure: the architecture of a multi-layered cellular network where subscribers are handed over from the macro to the micro to the pico layer, depending on the current network capacity and the needs of the subscriber.
Cellular infrastructure is covered in the Mobile Technology degree program through NACTEL and Pace University.
"The NACTEL program is designed in a way so that if you're dedicated, you will succeed."
Mike Anderson
Verizon
CWA Local 1101
Field Tech
New York, NY
A.S. - Networking Technologies
Mike signed up to earn his Associate's degree through the NACTEL program at Pace University after learning about it from one of his managers and an advertisement on the company bulletin board.
"What really helped make my decision was Verizon offering to pay for my continuing education." said Mike. "It's a great program."
When Mike started his degree, his daughter was 6 months old—she's now 6 years old. She joined him at his graduation ceremony in May 2011. "I wanted to be able to tell her to go to college," he said. "I hate to tell a child to do something I wouldn't do. I wanted to reinforce with her how important education is not only for a child, but also for an adult."
Mike said he basically spent his first year in the program figuring out how many hours he needed to put aside to do the work, what with juggling work, school, and raising his daughter. "I was in the program for six years, and I probably got used to the regimen around year two."
He said success in the program is dependent on setting a schedule that works for you. "I was changing diapers and feeding my daughter while studying, but I was able to get it done. Anyone can do this—you just have to be dedicated."
Mike really enjoyed the bonding aspect of working with other students online. "Unlike at a traditional school where you might have one classmate you bond with, when you're online you can build a bond with many people through the discussion boards."
He said what he learned in the NACTEL program will help him explore a management job in the future if that's where he needs to go. "I have an open mind. We're in a recession—right now it's less about what I want to do and more about what I might have to do."
His advice for prospective students is to always try to stay positive. "Try not to get overwhelmed by the work," said Mike. "Help is always there."
NACTEL News is brought to you by the National Coalition for Telecommunications Education and Learning.
NACTEL is administered by CAEL, the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning.
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