Welcome to Issue 25 of NACTEL News – May 2008
with news, info, and insights from the National Coalition for Telecommunications and Learning

2008 Graduation | Registration Information | Techie Word
Online Learning Tip | Today's Chuckle | Partner News | Student Story

2008 Graduation

Where were you on May 20, 2008? You could have been part of the largest NACTEL graduating class to date.


On May 20, the graduates from the NACTEL program at Pace University were honored at a banquet in New York City. The graduates celebrated with their family and friends at the event, which was also attended by representatives from the NACTEL partners – AT&T, CWA, Frontier/Citizens, IBEW, Qwest, and Verizon. The next day, the NACTEL graduates joined the rest of their fellow Pace University graduates at the commencement ceremony at Radio City Music Hall.

This year saw NACTEL’s largest class ever with 154 NACTEL students from across the nation graduating with an Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree from Pace University. Congratulations to this year’s NACTEL graduates, as well as graduates from previous years.

 

If you haven’t started your classes yet, remember that this could be you in a few years!

Registration Information

Get ready to register for the early Fall 2008 term. Registration at Pace University opens June 12. Classes start in early September.

Become a student!

Online Telcom Education -built by the industry for the industry

Online Student Learning Tip – Advice from the Graduates

Share Your Goal to Gain Support

"If people understand your goals and dreams, they will to help you achieve them. I made it a point to inform my support group about what was going on with my studies; what courses I was taking, upcoming assignments and tests, etc. My goal of earning a degree became their goal too."

Thanks to:
Christian Da Costa
2007 NACTEL Graduate
B.S. in Telecommunications

Find out more about online learning.

Today’s Chuckle

You Might Be a Technician if...

• you have ever tried to repair a $9.00 radio

• you think of the gadgets in your toolbox as "friends"

• you think your computer looks better without the cover

• you have ever purchased electronics in "as is" condition

• you have ever saved the power cord from a broken appliance

• you think jokes about being unable to program a VCR are stupid and out of date

• while visiting Circuit City, you answer more questions than the salespeople

• the microphone at a meeting doesn't work and you rush up to fix it

• you have a neatly sorted collection of old bolts and nuts in your garage

• you own a set of itty-bitty screwdrivers and you actually know where they are

• you just don't have the heart to throw away the 100-in-1 electronics kit you got for your ninth birthday

• you have never sat through an entire movie without having at least one device on your body beep or buzz

In an effort to provide customers with products and services while minimizing the environmental and energy impact, 100 percent of AT&T's deployed U-verse receivers meet ENERGY STAR efficiency requirements.

ENERGY STAR is a voluntary program run by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Department of Energy that sets strict energy-efficiency specifications and promotes qualified products to help American consumers reduce their carbon footprint and save money. "We applaud AT&T for their commitment to deliver ENERGY STAR qualified set-top boxes to their AT&T U-verse TV customers," said Robert Meyers, principal deputy assistant administrator for EPA's Office of Air and Radiation.

Read the article

"College degrees are a plus. A degree makes a difference in the way you are perceived by your peers, it elevates pay and promotes job security."

Julie has always understood the importance of earning a degree but a Bachelor's remained elusive for many years. She'd enrolled in college several times only to switch gears mid-stream. Then a colleague told her about the NACTEL program. "I wanted to finish my degree in an area that would complement my work. Typically, local community colleges consider 'communications' to be more broadcast focused. When I learned about NACTEL's telecom focus, I knew this was the program for me."

In addition, NACTEL's online delivery was perfect for Julie's busy lifestyle. "Online learning gave me the flexibility to study when my workload and family life allowed. With two high school aged boys, there was always a lot going on. Sometimes I'd come into class at 3 am. The incredible flexibility of the NACTEL/PACE program definitely contributed to my success."

Julie attributes another part of her success to NACTEL’s collaborative environment. Her advice to prospective students, "Be organized; dedicate specific time each day to study, and most importantly communicate with instructors and other students regularly. This program is designed with a myriad of support mechanisms to facilitate student success."

After graduating Summa cum Laude, Julie is now encouraging her husband to return to school to complete his Master's degree. "Degrees showcase dedication, motivation and the ability to stay focused. My degree gives me a personal sense of satisfaction and assists me professionally."

Read more student stories on the NACTEL website.