Week 8: Outline

USM Work Study Program Proposal

PowerPoint Presentation
I. Introduction
a. Group members
b. Why we selected USM WSP
c. Our proposal envision
II. History of Work Study Program (WSP)
a. Basic Facts
b. Date started at USM
c. Benefits of WSP both students, campus, and future employers
d. Qualifications and restrictions of holding a USM WS job
III. USM Vision and Mission of WSP
a. Vision
i. student employees important to Southern Miss
ii. Why? provide valuable services to campus departments and offices
b. Mission
i. Southern Miss Goal: to provide student workers with economic and social benefits
ii. Benefits: provide student workers with professional employment skills and behavior
IV. Financial Situation of USM WSP
a. Money allocated for USM WSP (PowerPoint slide with this number typed on it, with some type of animation to draw attention to how much is spent on WSP)
b. Compare WSP allocation to other allocations allowed on campus
c. How money is used (charts and graphs)
d. Pros/cons of USM WSP financial standing (presented in a chart or table, blue writing for pros and red writing for cons)
V. The Problem: Students working WS jobs that are not linked to their major
VI. Solutions to the Problem
a. Assign jobs within students major
b. Draw attention to USM WSP
c. Create fliers advertising USM WSP (word document of flyer)
d. Advisers help push the USM WSP (sample booklet of WSP jobs in each major)
VII. Generate more money for USM WSP
a. More money = more WS jobs
b. Benefits of MORE WSP jobs
i. Students learn valuable skills that will be used in future jobs (video clip of a former student saying how WSP job helped him/her at their current job)
ii. Better students create a more valid USM credibility rating
iii. Increases the value of an USM education (quotes from former students or bosses of former USM Students)
c. Fundraisers
i Ideas (ex: t-shirt sales, raffles, bake sales, etc.)
II. How money will be disbursed (chart/graph)
VIII. Conclusion
a. Long term effects of this proposal on the university
b. Brief summary of the USM WSP Proposal

This is the outline for our group project. Some of the topics were not fully researched because of time constraints. If we were able to revise anything it would be better research for topics such as History. I also thought it would be interesting to see what changes have been made to work study in the past to make it better and what if other schools have made any changes that are similar to the idea we propose here.

More time and with more group members collaborating this project would have gone really well.

Week 7: Editorial

http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/cycling/news/story?id=5405134

http://msn.foxsports.com/cycling/story/Armstrong-LeMond-claim-about-payoff-is-nonsense-23739943

In the media in general you are going to find drama and a lot of bickering. This is a story I thought was important because it exposes some of the corruption within U.S. competitive sports.

Lance Armstrong is a well-known sports icon who has inspired many with his record breaking winning streak in the Tour de France. The Tour de France is a famous bike race that requires an amazing amount of training and physical athleticism to complete. Lance competed as he was battling severe cancer. A person like this is hands down recognized as an inspiration to persevere.

Lance Armstrong has continually been accused of drug use and blood doping, which are illegal means of enhancing an athlete's performance. In the first link posted Lance is accused by a former teammate, Floyd Landis, of using drugs. In the second, he is accused of paying someone money to say that one of his competitors was using illegal drugs. The things with competitive sports is that there are all kinds of things going on behind the scenes. Anything that can make an athlete compete better and can be hidden well is used. I don't know if Lance Armstrong blood dopes or not but I do know that the men that race in the Tour de France are put on IV's when they sleep at night to get the nutrients and calories they need to race how they do. Blood doping by means of blood transfusion wouldn't be hard to accomplish during the race.

No one wants to see great men exposed or fall short. The American population place men like this in high places in their hearts, but when great men are placed under high expectations, and they don't meet those expectations; it can be very harmful to their careers or credibility. One slip and its off the deep end. This is not the first case though, in all professional athletics there are allegations and there are abusers. People who regulate things like this would like to ban all substance abuse but it is hard to test and account for some things. No one wants to believe athletes are cheating, but don't get your hopes up

Progress Report: Week 6

Introduction
Our Proposal was directed toward the work study program at USM, with purpose to develop a system to assign students more work study jobs in areas specific to their major and interest. This creates the opportunity for a student to learn the practical sides of their career field as well as cost benefits for the university. The more money is paid out to students the more it comes back through tuition. This is only the surface of the idea. The deeper aspects of the proposal reached into the idea of creating better students which validates USM's credibility, thereby increasing the value of education received at the university.

Facts and Discussion 

Though this proposal put forth a good creative idea it was not as developed as we would have liked it to be. It was difficult to find information concerning the universities current budget and the costs of work study. This can cause it to be less credible so we had hoped to find some more details regarding costs. It was difficult getting everyone together and communicating; we still have not really coordinated information back to each other so the proposal remains incomplete. We did not expect for the different events in our personal life to come up, one group member was on holiday and another was dealing with a loss in the family. I also had family plans I was trying to work around on top of other work that needed to be completed, but these all are perfect examples of things that can happen when you are working with several people on different schedules. I personally recommend getting started early. One way you can do this is effective brainstorming. Brainstorming is not just thinking of good topics; it is taking a topic and seeing how far you can go with it by picking it apart and organizing a plan of action. This will help you have plenty to talk about and research. It always better to have more aspects in the beginning because you can always use less than you started with instead not having enough to begin with.

Conclusions

In preparing for this project difficulties should have been expected and avoided, but there is no going back-in-time with learning experiences like these. We do however plan to complete the project and get all the details worked out. Our timeline has been pushed around a bit, as some valuable time has been spent waiting to hear from group members (I too being a member waited on). I know that the members in this group are all focused individuals, and once we pull together, the project will not be as difficult and we can discuss how to get back on a progressive path to success.

Recommendations

It would have been helpful had I known whether to ultimately finish the project alone, and if I continued to wait on group members how that would effect my grade. I have been anxious to complete this project, but have not received any notice to do so and have been waiting because I was advised at first to wait on my group members. I am not placing any blame because this project should have been anticipated to a greater extent and the course requires a lot of work so it is difficult not only for the students but for the teacher, especially in making exceptions here and there. I find my discussion leader to be very helpful with great ideas and an encouraging attitude; I just think that the summer class is a hard one to contend with.

Week 5: Jobs and Internships

The week 5 blog assignment is pertaining to internships, professional job opportunities, and other career based programs. Interestingly, I received an email a few weeks back from one of the HPR directors that informs students about such opportunities. I did not have a link to the website but below is a description of the internship. As you read, you will notice that among the many activities, there are multiple chances to become well-rounded in outdoor recreation, fitness and health.

* You make your internship at Fort Campbell your own! A significant time at our
program involves working closely with the Challenge Course and with Adventure
Programs. Beyond that there are many routes that can be taken based on your
interests. Outdoor Recreation offers instructional programs in rock climbing
(actually outdoor climbing and climbing wall), mountain biking, high and low
ropes courses, hiking, canoeing, youth camps, paintball, and much more. Each
intern is expected to familiarize themselves with each activity, but you can direct
your focus toward any area. Each intern will be required to create and implement
a special project which will benefit Outdoor Recreation.
- This internship requires some strenuous activities which may require working in physically demanding situations in various weather conditions. A good majority of your internship will be spent outdoors. Interns will be susceptible to cuts, bruises, and strain type injuries. Interns will work on all stages of programs delivery meeting the basic duties fulfilled by an NF-2 position which include planning events, marketing, implementing, program review and clean up, etc. As students show more initiative and responsibility the Outdoor Recreation staff may turn programs over to interns from start to finish with little to no direct supervision.
Qualifications:
Students pursuing a college degree and
need an internship/work study as part of their curriculum
Students pursuing degrees in recreation related fields or recreation therapy
Must be able to lift and carry objects weighing 75 lbs or more
Must possess a valid CPR/First Aid

http://www.jobsearchusa.org/job.php?id=100069272

Orthotics & Prosthetics Tech Trainee
Good hand skills
Creativity and problem solving abilities..
Aptitude to implement new skills and concepts
Knowledge of hand tools and power equipment is beneficial.

http://www.connect-123.com/south-africa/internships/overview/
This website features interning abroad. Most individuals you would be interning with are well trained and experienced.

http://www.usm.edu/hpr/master%27s%20programs/exercise_science.html
This is the master's program at USM for Exercise Science. Its requirements emphasize more academic based criteria.
-- A bachelor's or master's degree
--GPA of 2.75 or higher on the last 60 hours of course work
--Acceptable GRE score or TOEFL minimum score of 550 (Internationals).
--Three (3) letters of recommendation
--Official transcripts from all institutions of higher learning attended
--Current resume

These websites all provide professional training and great opportunities to learn and apply valuable tools for my career interest or fields related to my field. Any experience in Health or recreation will benefit my job outlook and opportunities and make me a better applicant for future jobs.

I have never been that interested in joining any kind of military based organization and the first internship described most likely implements this kind of attitude.However, it especially, but also other jobs, requires the ability to motivate yourself. With any job this is a "must have", but I know that it is a skill I possess. I have always been able to stay focused and not give up, even under high stress conditions. One way I can display this on a resume is through my references. My experience in work thus far This is a foundational contributor to many other qualifications and therefore is a valuable asset to encompass. I also meet all of the physical fitness qualifications that apply in the jobs addressed. As for any jobs in health related fields, CPR certification is a preferred skill, luckily I have had a chance to take this class in my Undergraduate Career.

I feel like I would be most qualified for the first internship. I have done outdoor activities like the ones described and think I would enjoy learning more about them. Even though I don't prefer the idea of a military based atmosphere, I do understand the roles of leadership and discipline that this type of job would most likely require. The study abroad program is definitely a great opportunity to interact with experienced persons in the field of Exercise Science. Thankfully, my lifestyle matches my career interest, so I believe I would be qualified for most of these great opportunities.