Why You Should Strive To Be On The Dean's List

As we have come to rely more and more on computer systems for our daily lives, the issue of security has become a more widespread problem. From the original fear over a "Y2K" bug that could wipe out entire financial records when the calendar changed to the rising concern over a variety of terror threats, our country is on the search for highly trained cyber-experts that protect our precious computers from whatever ills might befall. The result is a growing demand for cyber-security training – a challenge that many community colleges across the country have been more than happy to accept.

The Role of Community Colleges

According to a blog on Bank Info Security last year, community colleges are beginning to offer cyber-security training in hopes of tapping into funds President Obama has released to spend on strengthening IT security. While this blog has voiced concern over the quality of training some students may receive, other reports are attesting to the fact that community college education in this area can be high quality, affordable and practical.

Finding the Best Schools

To help students find the best schools for their needs, the National Security Agency has designated a few institutions as National Centers for Academic Excellence, according to a report in the Baltimore Business Journal. When an institution boasts this label, students can rest assured the cyber-security training program has been sanctioned by federal agencies.

Currently, there are 106 colleges and universities across the

Security guards are hired in a wide range of venues, from upscale retail stores to casinos and nightclubs. This industry offers stable employment for fewer training hours than many other professions. Because some states now require security guards to complete training before landing positions, community colleges are opening their doors to security guard training, providing state-mandated courses and licensure where applicable.

The Job of a Security Guard

According to Education-Portal.com, some of the duties of a security guard might include:

• Protecting property from arson, burglary or damage
• Contacting proper authorities (police, fire department) in the event of an emergency
• Writing reports regarding observances and occurrences during shifts
• Acting as property law enforcer
• Interviewing witnesses or victims of crimes
• Testifying in court

The job is a diverse one, based on the type of venue in which you work. For example, security guards in a retail store may remain stationary throughout their shifts, while those patrolling a larger piece of property may travel the perimeter of the property multiple times in a single shift. Some will monitor their environment using surveillance equipment from behind a desk, while others work on their feet all day.

Job Prospects

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for security guards is mostly favorable, due to the growing demand for security officers and the need to replace experienced workers who leave the occupation. More and more companies and individuals are seeing the need to protect property and possessions, and they are hiring

Students who enter community college today might be dismayed to find that hefty tuition payments are just the beginning of a potentially expensive college career. In addition to the annual tuition costs, textbooks have become a significant expense for many students, with some books easily costing more than $100 to bring a total for a single semester well into the $500-$1,000 range.

Cash-strapped students are often looking for affordable solutions to the textbook issue; fortunately, help is available. Through various programs offered on community college campuses and across the Internet, students are finding they can save a bundle on the textbooks they need.

Affordable Options

A report last year on U.S. News and World Report cited several options students could explore to save money on college textbooks, including:

• Using textbook rental services
• Borrowing textbooks from libraries
• Participating in textbook exchanges
• Getting textbooks for free or nearly free online
• Finding used textbooks at a reduced price

While these options offer advantages and drawbacks, using various methods to secure all the textbooks you need for any given semester can reap serious rewards for saving money. In addition to the tried and true savings programs, some college professors are getting involved in the affordable textbook cause to find resources for students that provide them with the information they need to ace a class without going into the red to do so.

Freebies

Someone once said that "the best things in life are free," especially when it comes to college textbooks.

The current economic slowdown has displaced many American workers, but that doesn't mean there are not any jobs available today. In fact, numerous industries are hard-pressed to find employees who are trained and ready to work in their fields. The solution has been presented by many community colleges across the country: accelerated job training programs that get displaced workers off the unemployment line and back to work in new industries with better potential for stability and job growth.

Program Cost and Requirements

Some of the programs charge a nominal fee to complete, while others are completely free to participants because they are supported by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). The ARRA is the stimulus package signed by President Obama, designed to combat the effects of the current recession. Part of the ARRA budget is used to retrain workers for other fields when they have lost their jobs because of the economic slowdown. If a program falls into the guidelines of the ARRA, the courses may be offered free of charge to the student, since the federal government picks up the tab.

This video explains how the ARRA works.

Courses not covered by the ARRA may also be offered for a nominal fee. Depending on the program and the community college in question, costs may range from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars. Some programs are completed in