California University of Management and Sciences
Pulse
Virginia Campus
Fall Quarter 2 0 1 6
CLASS of 2016
CONTENT 03 DIRECTOR’S WORD Be what you want to be.
06 04 WHAT’S GOING ON
A Halloween party, chocolate turkeys, an upcoming anniversary and much more.
2016 COMMENCEMENT It’s that time of the year again, and we could not be more excited. Class of 2016 is CalUMS’ biggest to date.
12 A NEW HOME
C A LU M S P U L S E 14 MAGAZINE
We hosted our first events at the new CalUMS campus in Fairfax, which will open its doors in 2017. Read this article to find out more about our upcoming new location.
WRITE A GREAT RESUME First impressions count also on paper. Some useful advice to build a strong resume.
EDITOR Giomar Silva GRAPHIC DESIGNER Sara Corral STAFF WRITER Ana Cecilia Deustua PHOTOGRAPHER Maria Merkulova CALIFORNIA UNIVERSITY OF MANAGEMENT AND SCIENCES VIRGINIA CAMPUS 4300 Wilson Blvd., Suite#140 Arlington, VA 22203 www.calums.edu/va
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ADVICE WITH STYLE Tatiana Dolottseva and Anastasia Barmina share their experiences as CalUMS Student Advisors, and a little bit of their lives out of campus.
20 ACADEMIC CALENDAR
Last but not least, it is always a good idea to keep the Academic Calendar at hand in order not to miss important dates. Here’s one with your PULSE magazine!
DIRECTOR’S WORD Be what you want to be
Dear CalUMS Family, We are just days past the event that we consider the most important of the academic year: our annual Commencement. This ceremony is an opportunity to not only celebrate our students during their transformation into CalUMS graduates, but also to reaffirm our values and beliefs as an educational institution. We akcnowledge that our role as educators is essential in the formation of young professionals and human beings who are meant to contribute to society. But a big part of this work is in the student’s own hands, which is why I would like to encourage our newly minted graduates to always ask these questions to themselves: What do I want to achieve, and what am I doing to get there? Am I considering all the available options? Am I letting myself be influenced by others, or am I thinking with my own mind? Am I being honest with myself regarding the place where I am now and the place where I want to be? Do I have realistic expectations? Be what you want to be. If it is worth it, it will probably be hard to achieve; so are all good things in life. Be ready to fight and do not settle for less. Congratulations to all our graduates. Now, go and make us proud! Khulan Och CalUMS Virginia Campus Director CalUMS Executive Vice President
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WHAT’S GOING ON News
&
Events
THE JOB HUNT BEGINS
CALUMS VIRGINIA IS TURNING 10
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n June 2017, CalUMS Virginia will be celebrating 10 years of activity in the Commonwealth. Yes, we started operations in 2007, and our first campus was in Falls Church, VA. Get ready for the celebrations and enjoy our special commemorative logo.
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ur second Job Fair took place at CalUMS Learning Center.
Wearing professional attire and with resumes in hand, our students and future job seekers met with representatives from the companies Luzon Technologies, Logical Paradigm, IT Excel, Collabora IT, Techligent Systems, Satnam Technologies, Xceltech, and Techpoint. In addition, CAlUMS Professional Development Services helped students to prepare resumes and gave them valuable job-interview tips.
ANOTHER BEAR VICTORY
T
DOUBLE PARTY
his year Thanksgiving was celebrated twice at CalUMS. On Monday, November 21, we visited Circle Towers in Fairfax to bring this celebration to the students and tenants living in this apartment complex. Two days later, the traditional holiday was celebrated again on campus. Our students participated in candy and balloon games, and in two raffles for a life-size chocolate turkey.
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ast November, the CalUMS Bears won the 2016 College Cricket Challenge and brought the trophy home. The award ceremony took place in CalUMS’ new campus in Fairfax, where the players enjoyed a lunch buffet. VIU and George Mason also took part in this tournament.
I
BOO!
nstead of monsters and ghosts, Halloween brought laughter and fun to the CalUMS campus. Students demonstrated their skills in a pumpkincarving contest. After the competition, the winners received their prizes, and all the carved pumpkins were displayed for pedestrians to admire. In addition, the students answered trivia questions related to our university, while horror films were projected in the background.
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Photos: MARIA MERKULOVA 2016 COMMENCEMENT
OUR PROUDEST
MOMENT
Cover Photo: Maria Merkulova
2016 COMMENCEMENT
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n Sunday, September 18, the astonishing Warner Theatre transformed into the perfect backdrop for a day of joy and triumph. The CalUMS Family knows that our Commencement is the most important event of the year, and what better place to celebrate it than the same stage where giants like the Rolling Stones and Frank Sinatra once performed. The stars of the event, our graduates, were joined by their families, friends, and professors. It was a day to honor them and their achievements. But before the celebration comes preparation, and for a ceremony of this proportion, that’s a lot of hard work. By 7:30 in the morning, the theater was buzzing with CalUMS staff and student volunteers divided in teams and sectors, with tasks ranging from getting the stage ready— including the 43 flags of the nations represented within the CalUMS Family—to audio and video setup, sound check, backstage managing, welcoming of guests, signage, etc. The soothing voices of singers Anzhelika Zadorozhnaya and
Osarelin Blessin Emofonmwan, rehearsing the Star Spangled Banner one last time, would rise above the hubbub while giving
It was a great reminder of what CalUMS stands for, and who CalUMS stands by.
purpose to everyone’s duties: this would be a day to remember. At 9:00 AM the first graduates-to-be arrived to the theater. As planned, CalUMS staff designated to help them put on their caps and gowns got into action. Pins and needles were used to keep the hood and tassel in place. After a quick check in the mirror, the honorees were directed to the lower level, where they would wait for the ceremony to begin. It was a moment to reconnect with old friends, remember good times and take pictures and selfies. This was
2016 COMMENCEMENT the moment many of them were looking forward to when they made the decision to study at CalUMS. Jay Satish Shah, MSCIS graduate and recipient of the Academic Merit Award, thinks of his time as a student and staff at CalUMS: “I learned to respect everyone. It’s nostalgic. It was a once-in-a -lifetime experience that I wanted to achieve. Now it’s time to move forward,” he said. Sunil Kumar Bobba, also from the MSCIS program, could not believe the day of his graduation had finally come: “I’ve seen a lot of movies about these ceremonies and I feel so excited today to see and be part of my own graduation.” He was also thankful for the support CalUMS gives to its students. “If you work hard, you will succeed,” he says. Another standout student, Shourab Munshi, was bursting with pride: “Our university is very good, I will miss it a lot. Our professors are very cooperative and openminded.”
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COMMENCEMENT BY THE NUMBERS 18 STUDENTS volunteered as staff for the ceremony. 19 MINUTES was the duration of the speech given by Honorable Guest Speaker David J. McCowin, Ph.D. The shortest speech, by class representative Svetlana Goncharenko, lasted 2 MINUTES & 28 SECONDS. 200 STUDENTS graduated from CalUMS VA. The ceremony lasted 2 HOURS & 45 MINUTES. 43 NATIONS were represented among CalUMS graduates. 1,847 is the capacity of Warner Theatre. 17 FACULTY MEMBERS attended the ceremony.
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Families were also present at the Warner Theatre. Excitement and pride were in full display. Some were dressed in formal Western-style clothes, while others wore the traditional formal clothes from their own cultures—like the sari or the cheongsam—to mark the significance of this celebration. Parents, children, spouses, and friends took their seats in the auditorium. The ceremony started. After the opening remarks, the audience fell silent with the powerful a capella rendition of the U.S. Anthem by Anzhelika and Osarelin—weeks of practice came to fruition in the best of ways. The ceremony was attended by distinguished guests, such as Dr. David Park, CalUMS President and SBU Board Chairman; Dr. Jason Shin, CalUMS Vice President and SBU President; and Dr. John Rosich, chairman of CalUMS Board of Trustees; and Khulan Och, CalUMS Executive Vice President and CalUMS VA Campus Director. Professor David J. McCowin, from Mount Ida College, was the Honorable Guest Speaker. His heartfelt speech was also a wise piece of advice to students for
CALUMS H O N O R STUDENTS 2 0 1 BOARD OF TRUSTEES AWARD JOHN KPENTEY PRESIDENTIAL AWARD CHAITANYA SURAPANENI ACADEMIC MERIT AWARD RAJKUMAR BARKAM JAY SATISH SHAH STUDENT LEADERSHIP AWARD GIOMAR SILVA
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their post-graduation future: to be respectful of others, honor their own roots and to continue to pursue their education. Two beloved CalUMS professors also addressed the audience. Ms. Nikeyta Mullen reminded the soon-to-be graduates that knowledge is power, and to use that power to do great things. Mr. Fernando Seminario congratulated them for powering through the challenges and the success achieved: “This is your day, embrace it. You did it!” Speaking for the students, BSBM representative Svetlana Goncharenko thanked CalUMS for providing her with strong foundations to face the future, and MSCIS student Sharandeep Madamshetty said that life is a journey where they will never stop growing. Jay Satish Shah, class representative and recipient of the Academic Merit Award, thanked his family—who had come all the way from India to attend the Commencement—for supporting the little boy who dreamed of studying for a master’s degree in the U.S. just like his big brother had done. He finished his speech with
the lyrics from his favorite song. Kai-Fu Chang was SBU’s Class Representative Speaker. One of the highlights of the ceremony was the video “A CaLUMS Experience”, featuring staples of the CalUMS identity— the cricket team, Spirit Week, daily student life—mixed with interviews with the future graduates in which they pondered the importance of the University in their own lives, both personal and professional, and how much they learned on their path to reach their own American Dream. It was a great reminder of what CalUMS stands for, and who CalUMS stands by. Congratulations to all our new graduates!
A GOLDEN STAGE CalUMS’s 2016 Commencement was held at the Warner Theatre. A Washington landmark, just two blocks away from the White House, it started operating in 1924 as the Earle Theatre. Its beautiful architecture is a well-balanced mix of Louis XV and Late Empire styles. When it first opened, it presented vaudeville shows, featuring its own dance troupe—just like the famous Rockettes—called the Roxyettes. Ten years later, Warner Bros. acquired the space and changed its name to The Warner Theatre. On June 15, 1978 The Rolling Stones performed a secret show there, which sold out in minutes. In the early 90’s, the theater began a $10 million restoration and was reopened in October 1992 with a performance by Shirley MacLaine and Frank Sinatra—the crooner’s last DC performance before his death. The Warner Theatre has a “Walk of Fame” with names such as Prince, Tony Bennett, Liza Minelli, Johnny Cash and other celebrities who have performed on its stage.
WATCH this event on Channel: CalUMS Virginia Campus
CalUMS VA acquires a new campus in Fairfax
NEW HOME S
trategically located on Fair Lakes Parkway; plenty of room for classrooms, labs and other spaces; free parking; just off of Route 66. What else could we ask for? In 2017, CalUMS Virginia will be opening its new headquarters in a four-story campus in Fairfax. Sister School South Baylo University (SBU) will also operate in the building, which will be remodeled to suitably accommodate the needs of our students, professors and staff. The transfer will probably take place during the 2017 Fall Quarter, after almost 10 months of work. Location and availability of parking indicate that driving will be the best way to commute to school; however, public transportation will also be available, with CalUMS officers already in conversations with the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) to create bus stops for our students’ convenience. This new campus is, so far, the most visible indication of CalUMS’ embrace of a sucessful future. Some events have already been held in the new location, including a student party that also served as an open house for everyone to take a look at the new facilities. Stay tuned for more updates regarding CalUMS’ new home, as well as upcoming events.
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10 TIPS
For Writing an Incredible Resume 1
Your resume should only have one or two pages.
Use a professional email in your header. No matter how good your skills and qualifications, do not present a resume that has a nickname; it makes you look like an amateur. Such a simple detail can make the difference between a successful job hunt and permanent unemployment.
2
3
List your education first. If you don’t have the degree that the job application requires, the recruiter won’t even bother to read through the rest of your resume. If you put your education first, the recruiter will know right away that you cover the first requirement for the position. Write your institution, location, degree, graduation year and GPA if it is above 3.0.
4
Under each job title you have held, use bullets to specify your activities and accomplishments in your work experience. If possible, quantify your accomplishments. Example: “increase of 30%”, “trained 100 people.”
If you don’t have any work experience, then you have to make your education section stronger. Add courses you took or projects your were involved in; for example, the MS611 project course.
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All work experience counts. Even if it doesn’t show the same technical skills as the job position you are applying for, it can show communications, management, and interpersonal capabilities, which are also very valuable for recruiters.
8
Tailor your resume to each position you are applying to. Research the company, read the job posting carefully; match your responsibilities to the requirements they are asking for. Use keywords found in the website.
9
Check your spelling and grammar. Spelling mistakes suggest carelessness and not enough attention to details.
10
Send your resume in a PDF file with your name as the file name.
5
Start your bullet points with an action verb. If you are no longer employed in that company, the verb should be in the past tense. If not, write it in the present tense.
Don’t forget to visit us at the Marketing Office to help you revise your resume.
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MEET THE
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ADVISORS Tatiana Dolottseva & Anastasia Barmina, CalUMS Student Advisors Neither of them are teachers, yet they play a crucial part in the education of CalUMS VA students. Russian-born Anastasia Barmina and Tatiana Dolottseva might not impart course lessons, but they provide valuable guidance. As CalUMS Student Advisors, both officers are the main point of contact between students and the University, but also between them and the American way of life.
WHAT THEY DO AT CALUMS
THE DIFFICULT PART OF THE JOB
FAVORITE CALUMS MEMORIES
Anastasia: I work as an Enrollment Advisor. I come to work every day and meet with students to try to solve their problems and advise them. Most of their questions are about their studies, academics issues and their status. Because many of them are international F-1 students and have to follow certain rules to stay in the U.S., I have to give them the right advice to follow the regulations: keeping attendance, obtaining good grades and maintaining their GPA. I have to make sure that their academic performance is good every quarter; so I keep constant communication with them, they are receiving emails from me all the time!
T: The most difficult part of my job is that I have many things to do, and so little time. A day is not enough!
A: So far, my favorite memory at CalUMS is connected to the cricket team. Since its creation, I’ve become a big fan of cricket. When they won the tournament against VIU, that was one of my best days! We were tied, and then we won. It was a big day; Khulan and Jake were there. I think they [the team] knew they had no choice but to win. I was really nervous. It was the first tournament they won and you could see their passion. I felt proud because I saw the team from the beginning: the first tryout, the first practice. It’s also good to see the students in a different context. At school, you see them as students, talking about attendance and payments; in the field you see them talking about other things not related to classes. It’s good to see them making an effort for our school because this time they are the ones representing the University and working really hard for CalUMS’s success. Another of my personal favorite moments was the Commencement at Warner Theatre this year. I am a CalUMS MBA graduate, and standing on the stage and looking at those 200 students
Tatiana: I am CalUMS Students Services Advisor. I am responsible for any questions that students may have outside of academic activities: how to make their resumes, job applications, registering in classes, keeping in touch with graduates, making sure that all our graduates submit all their documents, receive their diplomas, etc. I also track things like work verification, employment statistics, etc.
A: I love my job; the only difficult part is when a student asks for a certain thing that can’t be done, and sometimes, mainly because of different cultural backgrounds, it’s hard to communicate and to prove to them that I am not trying to make their life harder, just trying to help them while following the rules. We have to follow the regulations and the academic policies. And we can’t make any exceptions. I like working with students; I’m just a little soft, so it is hard to tell them ‘no’ when you want to help them and offer valuable assistance. Terminations are the only part I really do not enjoy. T: We also help students follow the rules for their future if they decide to stay in the United States and apply for green card or H1-B visa. We try to assimilate them to this society, show them the way. It’s sometimes hard for some students to understand that the policies are very strict, but knowing this will also help them in the future.
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LEFT: Students Services Advisor Tatiana Dolottseva during CalUMS Spirit Week celebrations. ABOVE: Anastasia Barmina is CalUMS Enrollment Advisor, but also out-of-the field leader and supporter of the CalUMS Bears. She is the only nonplayer who has an official Bears jersey with her name on the back and never misses a game.
celebrating such achievement was an amazing feeling, and made me remember my own graduation and how much progress the University has made in such a short period of time. It was a very emotional moment and I felt proud not only of myself but also of my school. T: My favorite memory is from my birthday. It was so unexpected. All the staff members prepared a celebration for me. Khulan and Jake came to the office much earlier than usual in order to arrange everything and get the surprise ready. So I arrived to work and there was a giant poster blocking the way. When I took the poster out I saw flowers, birthday decorations, and a cake. They also made a scavenger hunt where I had to go to the marketing office, or to the library, or to different places in campus; a person there would give me a coupon for something they had to do for me: birthday wishes, dancing, singing. Jake sang “Happy Birthday” in Korean, Anastasia prepared my favorite traditional Russian food. I felt really appreciated by my CalUMS Family.
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LIFE OUTSIDE CALUMS T: During my spare time, my husband and I like to go outside. We love nature and going to parks. We love traveling whenever we get
“I am very grateful for the opportunity to advise students, many of whom are starting their academic life in the U.S. ” the chance. I absolutely love flowers and floral design–I have lots of flowers at home. I would also like to get a dog. I like it when you have a dog and it comes to greet you when you get home. A: During the weekends, I ride my bike around the neighborhood. I like soccer; my favorite team is Real Madrid. Formula 1 is also something I enjoy; I would love
to attend a Grand Prix one day. In Russia, I used to ski. I also like music a lot, and play some guitar in my free time. I started learning the piano as well; perhaps someday I will be able to play in a band or create music. Actually, I have been trying to convince everybody at the school that we should have an official University orchestra or band. That would be a really cool extracurricular activity to offer to our students. Hopefully it will happen sooner than later. If it does, please all sign up!
WHAT THEY LIKE ABOUT CALUMS T: We love CalUMS because every day we receive so much support from our coworkers and management. Working at the school never gets boring; there is always so much going on. A: Yes, I really feel like management is looking after us. They believe in us. When I came here, I didn’t have much experience doing what I’m doing right now. But they gave me a chance to go for it, to see what
I’m capable of. I’m trying to learn as much as I can and always give my best.
Get Smarter Recommended Reads by CalUMS VA Library
T: They give us a job that is very meaningful; and after we finish it, our work is always appreciated. A: You can see the possibility of growth and the work environment is great. T: I am very grateful for the opportunity to work here and advise students, many of whom are starting their academic life in the United States.
My Name is Red Orhan Pamuk PL 248. P34 B4613 2002
A: Being a CalUMS graduate myself, I think that this is a very exciting opportunity and at the same time a great honor, to be able to guide students through the same experience I had, and to make it as good as possible. It is a good way of giving back, don’t you think?
The Metamorphosis Franz Kaf ka PT 2621. A26 V413 2009
One Hundred Years of Solitude Gabriel García Marquez PQ 8180.17. A73 C51 2006
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2016-17 ACADEMIC CALENDAR
WINTER QUARTER CLASSES BEGIN LAST DAY TO ADD AND DROP REGISTRATION FOR SPRING QUARTER ACADEMIC HOLIDAY FINAL EXAMS PERIOD WINTER QUARTER BREAK
OCTOBER 3 OCTOBER 12 NOVEMBER 7 - DECEMBER 5 NOVEMBER 24 & 25 / THANKSGIVING DAY DECEMBER 5 - DECEMBER 10 DECEMBER 12 - JANUARY 2, 2017 JANUARY 3 JANUARY 11 FEBRUARY 6 - MARCH 11 FEBRUARY 20 / PRESIDENT’S DAY MARCH 6 - MARCH 12 MARCH 13 - APRIL 2
SPRING QUARTER CLASSES BEGIN LAST DAY TO ADD AND DROP CALUMS SPIRIT WEEK REGISTRATION FOR SUMMER QUARTER ACADEMIC HOLIDAY FINAL EXAMS PERIOD SPRING QUARTER BREAK
APRIL 3 APRIL 12 APRIL 17 - 23 MAY 8 - JUNE 10 MAY 29 / MEMORIAL DAY JUNE 5 - 11 JUNE 12 - JULY 4
SUMMER QUARTER CLASSES BEGIN LAST DAY TO ADD AND DROP REGISTRATION FOR FALL QUARTER ACADEMIC HOLIDAY FINAL EXAMS PERIOD SUMMER QUARTER BREAK
JULY 5 JULY 12 AUGUST 7 - SEPTEMBER 9 SEPTEMBER 4 / LABOR DAY SEPTEMBER 5 - 10 SEPTEMBER 11 - OCTOBER 1
*DATES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE
FALL QUARTER CLASSES BEGIN LAST DAY TO ADD AND DROP REGISTRATION FOR WINTER QUARTER ACADEMIC HOLIDAY FINAL EXAMS PERIOD FALL QUARTER BREAK
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