

Welcome to Issue #19 of NACTEL News - November, 2006 - with news, info and insights from the National Coalition for Telecommunications Education and Learning. _________________ In this issue: o Registration Info o How Much is a Bachelor’s Degree Worth? o Online Learning Tip o Today’s Chuckle o Techie word of the day o AT&T named as one of the 2006 Top Companies for Minorities o Student Story ________________	Get a jump on a New Year’s Resolution! A recently published study has reinforced the value of a degree once again. Read on to find out more. Make it a New Year’s promise to yourself to take advantage of this opportunity to increase your telecommunications expertise and get that education you have always wanted with NACTEL’s online programs. Don’t wait, act now! Registration is now open for January 2007 classes! Find out more about NACTEL’s degree programs and how to sign up. Check the NACTEL web site today for details!
	___________________________________________________________________________
	How Much is a Bachelor’s Degree Worth? From the U.S. Census Bureau, October 2006 Adults 18 and older with a bachelor’s degree earned an average of $51,554 in 2004, while those with a high school diploma earned $28,645, a difference of $22,909! Just another indication of the value of a bachelor’s degree! The data is from the 2005 Current Population survey’s (CPS) Annual Social Supplement (ASEC). For the complete report, go to: http://www.census.gov/apsd/techdoc/cps/cpsmar05.pdf
	___________________________________________________________________________
	Online Learning Tip: Online learning is preparation for online working Online education mirrors what already exists in the workplace. More and more, we are all working in teams with members scattered in many locations. And online courses prepare students to work in that environment. Even students attending classes on campus are realizing the benefits of online technology and now use the tools first pioneered by their online “brothers and sisters,” including group-ware, threaded discussions, and e-learning libraries. Campus-based students cite such advantages as: removing the logistics of having to arrange busy schedules for students to meet, and giving a professor the chance to check into what the group is doing and, if necessary, provide guidance without waiting for the next class meeting. Once again, students in online courses are leading the way. So, when you’re in an online class, make it a point to take your “virtual teamwork” skills back to your job.
	___________________________________________________________________________
	Today’s Chuckle – Surgical Ranking Four surgeons were taking a coffee break and were discussing their work. The first said, "I think accountants are the easiest to operate on. You open them up and everything inside is numbered." The second said, "I think librarians are the easiest to operate on. You open them up and everything inside is in alphabetical order." The third said, "I like to operate on electricians. You open them up and everything inside is color-coded." The fourth surgeon said, "I like technicians...they always understand when you have a few parts left over at the end." From www.workjoke.com
	___________________________________________________________________________
	Techie word of the day – MGCP Ever heard of MGCP? It’s another acronym and it stands for Media Gateway Control Protocol. Think of it as “third generation Central Office” -- it’s a protocol for the control of Voice over IP (VoIP) calls by external call-control elements known as media gateway controllers, Softswitches, or call agents. Now, if you’re totally confused, you can learn all about MGCP in Pace University’s NACTEL Course AIT 382 - Voice Over IP Technologies. It’s part of the Certificate in Emerging Technologies, which is also part of the Bachelor’s degree in Telecommunications.
	___________________________________________________________________________
	Partner News - AT&T named as one of the 2006 Top Companies for Minorities AT&T has been named as one of America’s "Top Companies for Minorities" by the Diversity Network, a diversity recruitment and consulting service that recognizes best-in-class companies committed to a culturally and ethnically diverse workforce. This honor comes on the heels of several other recent diversity achievements, including a Corporate Citizenship Award presented by the National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering (NACME) and recognition by LATINA Style as one of the 50 Best companies for Latinas to Work For. For more about this award, click here to view the article.
	___________________________________________________________________________
	Student Story Bernadette Matthews – Center Engineer – Verizon Bernadette Matthews has 32 years experience working for Verizon but in that time never had an opportunity to go to college. "I’ve always wanted to get a degree, not only for my personal satisfaction but also to improve my chances of advancement." When she received an email about NACTEL from Verizon, she took the plunge and enrolled. This spring, after three years as a NACTEL student at Pace University, Bernadette graduated with her A.S. degree.. "I love the fact that I can take my courses online. I have a very busy schedule and this program has enabled me to get my degree." Since starting the program, Matthews has had strong supporters. "I give a lot of credit to my proctor who was always there for me and goes out of her way to make sure I get my test done on time. And I credit my husband because when I’d start stressing out, he was there to hold my hand. Without the Pace instructors to help via email and even phone calls, I think I might have quit a few times. I love the staff!" Though Bernadette has not changed positions yet, she does credit her newly acquired knowledge with helping her to get a recent raise. Bernadette recommends the program to co-workers and, after a couple of months of rest, she plans to enroll in Pace’s online B.S. degree program. "I’m a Center Engineer and what I’ve learned in the different classes has made a huge impact in my knowledge of the job. I order equipment for central offices, which entails lots of technical language. Now, as a result of my Telecom courses, I know what I’m ordering and what it’s used for."
	___________________________________________________________________________
Copyright© 2006 NACTEL All Rights Reserved	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. To unsubscribe or change your email address, please visit the NACTEL web site and use the Contact Us form.