Spring 2011

THE RASWIRE Published by Rasmussen College Online

• Time Management for Single Moms • What Does Plagiarism Mean • Graduate Spotlight
In This Issue:
• How to Land an Internship to You? • New Programs at Rasmussen
• Scholarship FAQs • Graduation Updates • Calendar of Events
• Get Involved: Clubs & Organizations • Dear Rassy • RasMall
• Tip of the Term • Faculty Spotlight

AMY CRUMP STORCH calendar, your phone, a journal, or the white

RASMUSSEN COLLEGE CLASS OF 2010
AAS HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNICIAN board on your refrigerator—just make sure
that your list is always located in the same
spot (so you don’t misplace it), and make
sure that you complete your list on the same
day each week (this consistency will help
you remember to make the list each week).
Amy Crump Storch, a recent graduate of
Rasmussen College and mother of three,
found this tip especially helpful. Each week,
she made a ranked list of her weekly tasks
and then set deadlines for them in order of
importance. As she completed each task,
she checked them off the list. When you’re
setting deadlines, make sure they’re realistic,
TIME MANAGEMENT FOR SINGLE MOMS and add extra time to each deadline for those
unexpected distractions that will inevitably
By Cassandra Campfield, Academic Advisor & Lisa Knox-Aquino, Admissions Manager pop up.

Being a parent is a non-stop, no rest for the
weary, full-time job. Couple parenting with
attending school full time, and you’ve got a
recipe for disaster. That is, unless you can
master the art of time management.
This task is not as easy as it may seem. All
parents know that plans can quickly go awry
when children are involved. What was to be a
fun craft or short outing can turn into bruised
knees, accidents, forgotten schoolwork, and
trips to the ER. To help you manage your
time most efficiently—even with all of your
daily distractions—keep the following tips
in mind:
PRIORITIZE - At the beginning of
each week make a list of what you absolutely
MUST accomplish that week. It doesn’t
matter where you keep this list—on a
PLAN - It’s important to anticipate what’s
on the horizon and plan for it. For instance,
check the syllabus for each of your classes at
the beginning of each quarter against your
children’s school and daycare schedules. If
you have an exam scheduled for the same
week that you’ve agreed to volunteer at your
daughter’s school, you will not only need to
make advance arrangements for childcare,
but you will also need to reschedule your
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THE RASWIRE - Published by Rasmussen College Online 1


HOW TO LAND AN INTERNSHIP
By Rasmussen College Online Career Services
It’s no secret that employers like candidates who
have completed one or multiple internships.
Landing an internship is a great way to gain
experience in your field, to network with peers
and other professionals, and to potentially
transition into a full-time position within
an organization. It’s the “landing” part that
can overwhelm or even deter students from
pursuing internships. Occasionally internships
seek out students in the form of being posted on
major job boards—especially in metropolitan
areas—but in many cases, students must seek
out the internships. Here are some tips to help
make your internship search more efficient and
effective:
Become an Industry Expert. Learn all of
the local companies within your field of study.
Then, make a list of the top 10 organizations
where you would be interested in working
and learn the ins and outs of each of them.
By narrowing your search and showing the
SCHOLARSHIP FAQS
A scholarship is a gift of financial aid for a
student to further their education. Scholarships
are awarded on various criteria, which usually
reflect the values and purposes of the donor or
founder of the award.
Tips for Your Scholarship Search:
Apply for the 2011-12 FAFSA (Free
Application for Federal Student Aid) at www.
fafsa.ed.gov. Many scholarship programs will
require you to have completed the FAFSA
before applying.
2 THE RASWIRE - Published by Rasmussen College Online
companies that you’re interested in how much
knowledge you have of their company, their
market, and their business plans, you will help
increase your chances of landing an internship,
and you will help make your internship search
a more efficient use of your time.
Get Your Resume in Gear. Applying
for an internship with an outdated resume is
like choosing to take a swim in shark-infested
waters—not only is it poor decision-making,
but it’s likely to leave a lasting impression
on you, and it won’t be a good impression.
Update your resume before you begin your
internship search so it is ready to be submitted
to potential employers the minute you find an
opportunity that you believe is right for you.
To help make your resume shine, check out a
free service available to all Rasmussen College
students, Optimal Resume: https://rasmussen.
optimalresume.com/.
Update your resume and have it available.
Research local organizations within your
community to find out if any scholarship
programs are being offered. Be prepared to
volunteer in order to qualify for these programs.
Check with your friends to see if they know
anyone who has received a scholarship and get
their advice on how to be successful.
Be prepared to write an essay, provide a letter
of recommendation, or an academic transcript.
Utilize Your Network. If you stop for a
minute and think about everyone you know,
where they work, what their job entails, and
who they may have connections to in the
working world, you may be surprised at how
many people you could contact to help you
find an internship. If you’re looking for a
career in healthcare, and your best friend is in
pharmaceutical sales, you could ask your friend
to speak with some of the clinics they visit
about open positions for you. If your friend’s
cousin works for a hospital’s HR department,
you could ask your friend to introduce you to
their cousin and talk to them about potential
internship opportunities at the hospital. Take
advantage of who you know—it’s one of
the most effective means of obtaining a job
or internship. If you need to build a bigger
network, you can always join a professional
organization and start attending their meetings
or schedule informational interviews with your
companies of interest.
Don’t Be Afraid to Ask. There are some
companies that may never have considered
hiring an intern—that is, until you asked.
Contact the hiring manager at a company, tell
them why they should not only hire an intern,
but more importantly, why they should hire
you. Don’t just read your resume; use your
knowledge of their company, their market, and
their business plan to showcase your knowledge
and skills and what you can do for them. You
may be surprised what a well-spoken and
thoughtful argument can do for your internship
prospects.
Have additional questions?
Contact career services at:
CareerServicesOnline@Rasmussen.edu
Websites to Get You Started:
www.fastweb.com
www.finaid.org
www.thesalliemaefund.org/smfnew/
scholarship/index.html
www.militaryfamily.org
 GET INVOLVED: CLUBS & ORGANIZATIONS
School of Technology and Design –
Clubs Forming Today!
The International Game Developers
Association is the largest non-profit
organization for game developers. This is
a great opportunity to network with other
students; discuss platforms, software, game
development, techniques, and just have a
good time. You will also have the opportunity
to work on developing games for submission
to contests and building your portfolio.
Association of Information Technology
Professionals members have access to IT
educational opportunities, forums, and
resources, as well as the opportunity to exchange
on-the-job experiences, trouble-shooting tips
and tricks, and general industry knowledge
with peers.
If you want to be a part of either of these
new clubs, please contact Tony Guzman at
Tony.Guzman@Rasmussen.edu.
School of Education
Kelly Kist, ECE Program Coordinator, hosts two
ECE tutor and study groups every Tuesday from
10 am – 12 pm CST and 1 – 3 pm CST. Join
as often as your schedule permits—simply login
and learn! Access the study group through the
Kelly Kist Meeting Space in Wimba. For more
information contact Erin Lasley at Erin.Lasley@
Rasmussen.edu or (866) 967-7042, ext. 5092.
(Continued from front page)
study time so you are prepared for the exam.
It’s times like this when it’s beneficial to talk
with your family and friends about your
academic goals and your schedule, and ask if
they can lend a hand in providing childcare.
Lisa Knox-Aquino, Program Manager for
Rasmussen College online, says “while I was
in school, my brother would watch my son
at his house for a few hours on Saturdays
while I studied. It was a great way for me to
stay on schedule for my courses and for my
son to spend valuable time with my family.”
PATIENCE - Patience is a virtue, but it
is also easily forgotten. Remember to always
be as patient with yourself as you are with
your children. There is only one of you, and
you are not able to be in all places at once,
or accomplish all things on your to-do list
School of Allied Health
Join the Allied Health Club! This is a great
opportunity to meet your fellow School of
Allied Health classmates and hear from guest
speakers and faculty presenters on various topics
in the field of health care. Missed a meeting?
Visit the Online Learning Center to view
archives. All Allied Health students are invited
to participate. Meetings occur in Wimba during
weeks 2, 6, and 10 every quarter. Contact Erin
Lasley at Erin.Lasley@Rasmussen.edu or
(866) 967-7042, ext. 5092.
School of Justice Studies
The Justice Studies Club is open to all School of
Justice Studies students and graduates. This club
provides students with an opportunity outside
of the classroom to engage with other students,
discuss current justice studies issues, attend
club-specific presentations, participate in justice
at once. In fact, delegation is a key part of
strong time management skills. Think about
what chores your children can help with to
increase efficiencies throughout your day.
Whether it’s laundry, dishes, vacuuming,
or cooking dinner, any extra help can add
valuable minutes to your day for studying or
completing assignments. Plus, you can use
that time to bond with your children and
make accomplishments together.
PERSISTENCE - There will be times
when it will be very easy to get off track and
lose sight of your schedule and your weekly
goals. Be persistent! Don’t let your weekly
goals slip away from you. Even if you need
to completely readjust your schedule, keep a
persistent eye on your weekly goals to ensure
you can reach them and cross them off your list.
(888) 5-Rasmussen | www.Rasmussen.edu
studies events, and engage in multiple discussion
boards. For more information contact Leslie
Palmer at Leslie.Palmer@Rasmussen.edu or
(952) 230-5065.
School of Business
Learn how to excel in the classroom and in your
career by joining the Rasmussen College chapter
of Collegiate DECA. Gain the skills needed to
excel in areas of marketing, finance, hospitality,
management, and entrepreneurship. DECA
members can gain a competitive edge in the
global job market and will develop strategic
decision making and project management skills.
You will also have the ability to network with
business and industry experts and nearly 15,000
students and advisors. To join the Rasmussen
College chapter, contact Melany Wynn at
Melany.Wynn@Rasmussen.edu.
BALANCE - Although you have to
remain focused on your goals each week,
don’t lose sight of what is most important
in your life. Maintaining a balance of work,
school, and life is good for your mind, body,
and soul. Doing the things that you enjoy is
a great way to reward yourself for sticking to
your schedule and reaching your goals. For
example, Lisa noted, “I have a weakness for
banana splits, so my reward for completing
my tasks by their deadline was taking my
son to the local ice cream shop and sharing
a banana split covered in cherries and fudge.”
If you follow these tips and consciously focus
on your goals, you will be well on your way
to mastering time management.
3
 TIP OF THE TERM As a Rasmussen College student, you can easily track your grades and
assignment feedback from your instructors. It is important to check your
grades and feedback at least twice a week. This will help you identify areas where
CHECKING YOUR GRADE you have performed well and areas in which you many need improvement.
Checking your grades and feedback will help you successfully obtain your degree.
By Jeff Laing, Academic Advisor Please follow the instructions below and contact the Personal Support Center at
(866) 693-2211 with any questions.

STEP 1

Click on the class you wish to access.

STEP 2
Click on the “Report” tab on the
top right of the page.

STEP 3

Click on the drop down box labeled

“Category” and select “Grades.”

STEP 4
Click “Run” in the bottom right
corner.

You should now be able to see your grades for each week and any feedback provided by your instructor. If you have any problems accessing this
information, contact the Personal Support Center at (866) 693-2211.

If you have a Tip of the Term you would like to share, please contact Jeffrey Laing at Jeffrey.Laing@Rasmussen.edu.

4 THE RASWIRE - Published by Rasmussen College Online


BETHMARIE GOODING
ONLINE LIBRARIAN AND INSTRUCTOR
WHAT DOES
PLAGIARISM
MEAN TO YOU?
By BethMarie Gooding, Online Librarian
and Instructor
Plagiarism is a growing concern and a hot
topic in the academic community. Many
time-pressured students rely on the internet
to locate convenient sources to fulfill their
writing assignments, sometimes committing
cut-and-paste plagiarism.
What would you say if I told you the statement
above is plagiarized? It is word for word from
the website www.plagiarism.org. I did not give
credit to the original source within the text of the
paragraph, and no quotation marks are included,
therefore leading you to believe I wrote it. This
can occur in any class at any time when a paper
is submitted without citation of resources used.
This can also occur in any professional setting
where work is submitted as original, but is taken
from an outside source or another’s original idea.
The consequences in college include failing the
paper, failing the course, and being dismissed
from the college. On the job, the consequences
can be more severe, including loss of reputation,
loss of credibility, and loss of job.
GRADUATION UPDATES
Check out the January 2011 virtual graduation ceremony featuring our 2009
September and December graduates at www.Rasmussen.edu/VirtualGraduation.
Do you want to be a part of the next virtual graduation ceremony? Want to travel
to an on-campus ceremony? Contact your Career Services Advisor or e-mail
VirtualGraduation@Rasmussen.edu today to learn how!
Before we continue, it is important to precisely
define plagiarism. You have heard the term
plagiarism many times, but you may not
thoroughly understand its definition.
Definition: According to The American
Heritage Dictionary of the English Language,
to plagiarize is: “1. To use and pass off (the
ideas or writings of another) as one’s own. 2.
To appropriate for use as one’s own passages or
ideas from (another)…To put forth as original
to oneself the ideas or words of another” (Pickett,
2000, p.1340).
What does this mean? It means that anytime
you use words or ideas from another source, you
must cite the source of that information. If you
do not cite your sources, you are stealing. It
does takes time, effort, and practice to become
comfortable with the paper writing process and
to become adept at integrating sources into your
papers by using proper citation methods.
Here are a few tips that may make this
process easier:
Use the resources at Rasmussen College when
you have questions. Your instructor, the
librarians, and the Learning Center Coordinators
are all here to help you when you have questions
about paper writing. Go to the Online Learning
Center to speak with a librarian or English
instructor about the correct way to paraphrase
and quote when writing a paper. Librarians are
also great resources for information on the proper
way to use parenthetical citation and format your
References page using APA style. The online
library webpage via the Student Portal also has
a sample paper written in APA style, sample
citations, formatting guides, video tutorials, and
links to the NoodleBib citation machine—all
of which can be useful when creating research
papers. Additionally, you should attend the
Library and Learning Center Live Webinar Series
which has topics ranging from proper citation to
(888) 5-Rasmussen | www.Rasmussen.edu
integrating resources into your research papers.
Check out News and Events on the Student
Portal, our Facebook page www.facebook.com/
RasLLC, and your Rasmussen College student
e-mail account for login details.
Strategy to Avoid Plagiarism:
Cite Every Source. Confirm that every
source cited in your text is listed on your
References page.
Cite Twice! Any content (including images,
charts, graphs, and statistics) that is not your
original idea or created by you must be cited
both in the body of the paper and on the
References page.
Paraphrase or Quote. All borrowed
information must be paraphrased or summarized
with in-text APA citation (author/article title and
year) or quoted (word-for-word original resource
content) and placed within quotation marks and
cited in-text (author/article title, year, p. or para. #).
Never cut and paste.
Use NoodleBib!
• Visit www.noodletools.com/login.php
• Username: firstname.lastname (example:
john.smith)
• Password: your Student Portal password
(example: js1234)
View the “Avoiding Plagiarism” video:
www.screencast.com/t/MzZhOWJkMz
Contact BethMarie Gooding at
BethMarie.Gooding@Rasmussen.edu or
call (866) 544-1793 with any citation and
research questions.
References:
Pickett, J.P. (Ed.). (2000).The American heritage dictionary of the English
language (4th ed.). New York: Houghton Mifflin Company
Plagiarism in the digital age voices from the front lines: What’s happening
on college campuses today? (20011). Retrieved from TurnItIn website:
http://www.plagiarism.org/ plag_webinar_college_campuses. html
5
 DEAR RASSY
I have a big research paper due in one of my classes this quarter
and I am feeling lost! How can I get some help sorting through the
organization of the paper and APA formatting?

- Mark

Dear Mark,

That’s a great question! th these

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Center at (86
A: Call the Personal Support

Sincerely,

Rassy
Rasmussen College Mascot
Do you have a question for Rassy? E-mail it
to RasWire@Rasmussen.edu!

6 THE RASWIRE - Published by Rasmussen College Online

 FACULTY SPOTLIGHT
CHARLI WEATHERFORD
INSTRUCTOR, SCHOOL OF TECHNOLOGY
AND DESIGN
“Never give up on your dreams! If you want to be a Pixar designer, gain the education and skills you need to be noticed by Pixar!”
GRADUATE SPOTLIGHT
Prior to becoming a student at Rasmussen
College, I was a veteran in the hospitality
industry. I spent the past 20 years working
as a club manager and a food and beverage
manager at resorts, restaurants, and private
country clubs. Although I had years of
experience, I was facing job instability
and a declining pool of job prospects. I
decided I had no choice but to pursue a
career change.
When I made the choice to return to
college and earn a degree, I spent a great
deal of time researching careers and
online degree programs. After much
Charli Weatherford is a full-time instructor
with the School of Technology and Design and
teaches Introduction to Computer Graphics,
Digital Production, and Typography. She lives,
breathes, and loves everything technology and
everything online.
Charli earned a Master’s degree online and
is a strong believer in the benefits of online
education for working students and those
with family obligations. She has been with
Rasmussen College since 2004, and has been
teaching collegiate-level digital design courses
since 1998. With more than 14 years of
industry experience in the digital design field,
Charli also serves as a subject matter expert
for several of the courses in the School of
Technology and Design.
MARK THAGGARD
RASMUSSEN COLLEGE CLASS OF 2011
AAS HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNICIAN
consideration, I decided that the Health
Information Technician Associate’s degree
at Rasmussen College would provide me
with the greatest opportunity to enter the
healthcare industry.
With only one year of college courses
under my belt, I applied for and landed
a student job in the Family Medicine IT
group at the University of Colorado School
of Medicine. Shortly after starting my
job, I became a member of the team that
was developing a new electronic medical
records (EMR) system, Epic. Today, I am
one of ten Epic Implementation Specialists
(888) 5-Rasmussen | www.Rasmussen.edu
“I laugh at myself because back in the early
’90s, I said I would never be dependent on a
computer or technology for any reason. Well,
after I bought my first Mac in 1995, I ate
those words! I do everything online now. I
even earned my graduate degree online while
working full time and being a single parent,
so I know first-hand the struggles of many of
my students.”
Charlie’s advice for students is “never give up
on your dreams! If you want to be a Pixar
designer, gain the education and skills you
need to be noticed by Pixar! Your education is
an investment in you that can never be taken
away, so even if your dreams change over the
years, the foundation for reaching your dreams
will always be there for you.”
“Mark is a very conscientious
student who submits all his
assignments on time and
contributes excellent insights to
class discussions.”
- Judy Johnson, Mark’s Instructor
working to launch the system, as well as
train all of the clinicians in 25 ambulatory
clinics, the University Hospital, and the
School of Medicine.
Without the strong curriculum and student
support services at Rasmussen College, I
don’t think I would be in the position I am
today. My Health Information Technology
education helped me to get my new job,
and I am confident that my new career
in the healthcare industry is off to a solid
start. In March 2011, I will graduate with a
Health Information Technician Associate’s
degree. I am thrilled to finally hold that
paper in my hand and display it proudly
on my wall.
7
(888) 5-Rasmussen
www.Rasmussen.edu

CALENDAR OF EVENTS
APRIL April 4 – Start of spring term
April 20 – Schedules released for early summer term
April 26 – Start of book shipment for early summer term

MAY May 8 – Mid-term week starts for spring term

May 9 – Start of early summer term
May 29 – Mid-term week starts for early summer term
May 25 – Schedules released for summer term NEW PROGRAMS AT
RASMUSSEN!
JUNE June 7 – Start of book shipment for summer term
June 12 – Finals week starts for spring and early summer term Rasmussen College introduces several new
June 17 – End of spring and early summer term programs, offered completely online! Do
June 18 – Break starts you know someone who is looking to go back
to school? Contact your program manager or
visit www.Rasmussen.edu/Referral to refer a
JULY July 4 – Break ends friend today!
July 5 – Start of summer term
School of Nursing
• RN to BSN
Watch for an e-mail from the Online Learning Center with upcoming workshops and
live learning sessions! School of Allied Health
• Health Information Management
Bachelor’s Degree
• Pharmacy Technician Certificate

RasMall Looking for Rasmussen College apparel and gear? • Medical Administration Diploma
Visit www.RasMall.com to order yours today!

8 THE RASWIRE - Published by Rasmussen College Online