March 2016 Volume 3 Issue 6 | usfcollegeweek.com
The area’s first 1 year MBA program is designed to “fast track” students’ careers.
Prepare Your Heart for Easter
Bible passages and conversation to get your heart and mind ready for the Easter season.
Constant Rebirth
A deeper look at the work of artist, adjunct professor, Gallery Director at the University of Sioux Falls, and cofounder of The Local Artist, Jeff Ballard.
Resume Tips
Get a jump on internship and summer job searches with these resume tips.
contents
USF School of Business Offers 1 Year MBA
3 6 7 14
View more stories online at www.usfcollegeweek.com
2 | COLLEGE MONTHLY
Fast Track to
Professionalism Story by Jill Langland
Beginning Spring 2017, the University of Sioux Falls Vucurevich School of Business will offer this area’s first one-year, full-time Masters in Business Administration (MBA) in Organizational Leadership. This program is perfect for those in the early stages of their careers, and is designed to “fast track” students’ careers, provide them with a higher return on their educational investment and develop their leadership potential. Bruce Watley, the director of the new MBA program discusses how this is a tremendous program to benefit students in the business department. “For accounting students who desire to sit for the CPA (certified public accountant) exam and need 150 credits, what better way than to reach that goal by obtaining an MBA in organizational leadership rather than adding another major to their degree plan,” Watley says. Kateryna Snizhko, a sophomore professional accounting and business administration major, radiates with excitement when discussing this new addition. “I think it is beneficial because you have your MBA right away when you go into the work force,” Snizhko says. “The program is different from the standard four-year bachelors degree that most people do and it will let you stand out from the crowd,” Snizhko says. Students who have strong collegiate academic records, along with clear professional goals, should consider submitting an application. “This program is important because it is market driven. More employers are looking for qualified individuals who can hit the ground running and more students are entering a competitive marketplace. The MBA in Organizational Leadership provides them with a competitive advantage,” Watley says. Krista Jacobsen, a junior business and accounting major, has been working on getting students involved with the new program. “I have been trying to talk some people into it. And if I know people wanting to go into business or accounting I tell them that they should think about USF because of how great this new program would be for them,” Jacobsen says. MARCH 2016 | 3
According to Watley, this is a “one-of-a-kind MBA for students, with eight unique experiences that are embedded within the program.” These include: * A program that helps students develop as leaders and gain greater confidence in their ability to lead others. * Intense three-week courses that allow students to quickly complete their degrees. * Experience in transitional learning environments. These learning environments will mirror today’s work environments, including face-to-face, online and a mix of both. * The opportunity to demonstrate comprehension through applied learning assessments that will help prepare students for their capstone projects. * An integrated curriculum through which students will be able to build their competency through courses that link context from one course to the next.
* The opportunity for students to work with coaches and mentors in order to develop individual leadership styles by learning from the best. * Capstone projects that will provide the opportunity for students to demonstrate their mastery of the MBA content through a two-day, applicationbased learning assessment. * At the end of the one-yearprogram, a MBA Commissioning Ceremony that will celebrate the students’ achievements both as a leader and in their service to others. This program seems to have sparked an interest in students, especially since it is a one-year MBA program.
Your Vote Does Matter
By Whitney Fryer
A local high school senior named Briggs Warren is running for Sioux Falls City Council as a candidate in the Northwest District race, with the hopes of giving a voice to younger generations (argusleader.com). However, USF students do not have to run for a political office or major in politics in order to have a voice in their community. Drastic measures are not needed to make your voice count. By voting in local and nationally elections, students can add their voice to the world of politics. With recent controversies in South Dakota over bills regarding teacher pay and LGBT rights, your voice can matter now more than ever. After the last votes are casted and the decisions are final, if you think SD legislators are not voting in the best interest for their constituents, vote them out. In the summer of 2016, along with House Representative Kristi Noem (R) and Senator John Thune (R), 115 legislatures in the house and Senate are up for reelection (sdsos.gov/ elections). By voting, people can stand behind the politicians they support or replace them with someone they feel better represents their state. Use your vote to select legislators who represent your interests and will make sure your voice matters. This applies to everyone, no matter what state you are from.
photo courtesy of USF Marketing “I am going to do it because it seems like a great program and it’s only one year. I will get done ASAP and in the long run it will save me money.” Snizhko says. Students in the one year MBA program will take one class at a time, which will last for 3 weeks each. “As of now, I don’t think I will be partaking in it. But, I 100% would have gone that route if this program was available when I was a freshman. I believe that this is a great addition to have to our University regardless,” Jacobsen says. To learn more about this program, or to apply, visit www.usiouxfalls.edu/oneyearmba, or contact Watley at 605-331-6707.
It is no secret that many young people do not vote, and this is usually a result of them questioning if their voice matters. According to Pew Research Center, in the 2012 presidential election, only 41.2% of youth ages 18-24 voted, compared to 71.69% of adults, age 65 of older. However, if the youth population goes out and votes together, they can create change. On February 1, presidential candidate Hillary Clinton won the Iowa Caucasus over Senator Bernie Sanders. This is old news; however, it is important to note that Clinton won by a mere 0.3 percent - or about five votes. Your vote matters; it could even change the outcome of an election.
St. Patty’s Chow Ingredients 5 cups rice chex cereal 1 bag of green candy melts 3/4 tsp. peppermint extract 2 cups powdered sugar *Candy melts can be found at a craft store or at Wal-Mart’s wedding aisle.
Directions Add the rice chex cereal to a large mixing bowl with a lid. Set aside. Pour the candy melts into a microwave-safe bowl and microwave at 30 second intervals, stirring after each interval until they are melted. Once the candy melts are melted, stir in peppermint extract. Pour the melted candy melts into the large mixing bowl, mix the rice chex cereal with the melted chocolate. After the mixture is fully mixed together, gradually pour powdered sugar into the bowl and seal the lid. Shake the bowl thoroughly. Open to check the coverage. Repeat until you have reached the desired amount of sugar. MARCH 2016 | 5
Easter
Prepare Your Heart for
By Matt Harsch
I’m a Sinner, You’re a Sinner Mark 1: 14-20
| John 18: 12-27
Jesus is the only person to ever live who was perfect. That is a pretty significant claim to fame. Being perfect gives him the exclusive right to call sinners to “repent and follow” him. He promises us that following him is the only way to salvation. Not only that, but he desires to have a relationship with us. That is very good news. Our problem is that we regularly reject Jesus. It is called sin. It is so easy for us to feel as though our sin would make Jesus want nothing to do with us. The fact is that the opposite is true. Jesus desires to have a relationship with us. That is what Easter is all about. His death on the cross has made a way for us to be with him. Having a daily relationship with Jesus helps us to remember and embrace his call for us to repent and follow him.
Who Can I Trust? John 14: 5-6
| John 18: 33-38
We live in a world filled with deception. Think about it. Sometimes it’s hard to know what to believe anymore. Jesus invited us to ask the question, “what is truth?” His answer is that he himself is the “way, truth, and life.” Truly understanding what this means can be a lifelong journey.
6 | COLLEGE MONTHLY
A life of trusting Jesus has a lot of ups and downs. It involves deep questions, learning to give up our selfishness, and placing Jesus at the center of our thoughts. It means giving up control. As college students, this can be a difficult thing to do. We are in the process of working toward a bright and successful future and the God of the universe is asking us to give up control. He is calling us to a better way of life where he directs our steps. The best part is that he is a good God and he cares for us in ways unimaginable. Let’s focus on trusting him more and more.
Jesus’ Passion, My Passion Psalm 31: 1-7
| John 19: 16-30
A common phrase around Easter is “the Passion of Christ.” That’s a capital P in Passion. This word is meant to describe the suffering that Jesus endured for his people. This is a beautiful picture. Jesus’ love for people prompted his suffering on the cross for them. This should awake a major theme for our lives. If Jesus loves people, we too should love people. Obviously our love for others cannot save their souls, but it can do the next best thing. It can point them to the one who can save souls. Jesus gives us the desires of our heart. One of the desires that he gives us is a desire to love others. This is a powerful thing. It isn’t always easy and at times it can even involve different forms of suffering. However, the reward is worth every difficult moment. God moves in big ways when our hearts line up with his.
I Will Live Forever 1 Timothy 1: 16
| John 20: 1-18
Jesus saves sinners and gives them eternal life. What an amazing thing to do! I can’t think of any better news. This is only possible because he conquered death. Easter is not just about Jesus’ death on the cross. It is a celebration of his resurrection from the dead! And because he rose from the dead, we can live forever with him in paradise. Take some time to focus on eternity. It physically hurts my brain to comprehend what “forever” entails. When we are reminded of Jesus’ promise of eternal life, we are able to have a purposeful focus each day. What we say and do matters. It matters because it impacts us as well as the eternity of others. We possess the answer to eternal life. The Spirit of God moves through us. Let’s take opportunities to live with this kind of purpose.
MARCH 2016 | 7
a consta photo courtesy of Jeff Ballard
8 | COLLEGE MONTHLY
rebi
A Look at Local Artist Jeff Ballard by Ben Gertner photography by Christin Vander Pol and Jeff Ballard
We are constantly being whole and being made new. It’s all about this constant rebirth and growth that is happening.
As an artist, adjunct professor, Gallery Director at the University of Sioux Falls, and co-founder of The Local Artist, Jeff Ballard leads a busy life. In order to manage his lifestyle, Ballard has to budget his time so he can effectively channel his efforts into his different jobs and passions. If one is not careful, one may get swept away by a traditional job calendar. “You get wrapped up in emails, making sure you’re making it to meetings, preparing for class, and keeping up on the gallery schedule,” says Ballard, regarding his daily teaching schedule. “Sometimes, getting in the studio is really difficult. If you’re a creative person, I think it’s important to budget time for that and to make it a priority. Because if you don’t make it priority, it’s not going to be.” Ballard is in his studio a minimum of two hours a week.
ant
rth MARCH 2016 | 9
photo courtesy of Jeff Ballard
While in the studio, Ballard says his process depends on the work. Some of his most recognizable works focus on parts diagrams as art. When asked about his process in relation to this specific type of work, Ballard spoke about his personal experience and how it affects his art. “It kind of stems from my background: working with my dad and working on machinery. My dad owns a paving and contracting company in Sioux Falls; we’re always fixing broken-down stuff,” Ballard says. “I think about these pieces and these parts, and I think about those moments in life and how you are kind of assembling this timeline or this narrative in your life and whether that be relationships or events that happened to you; we are constantly being whole and being made new. It’s all about this constant rebirth and growth that is happening. So, I think the diagram is a really powerful metaphor for that. It’s this thing that’s always in flux, it’s always changing, it’s always evolving, and it’s always coming to fruition. It’s kind of this romantic thing that once it comes together, we understand the full picture, finally. But while it’s in pieces, we don’t understand.”
10 | COLLEGE MONTHLY
photo courtesy of Jeff Ballard
Parts diagrams are just an example of what Ballard draws from for inspiration. When it comes to creativeness and generating artwork, he believes that drawing from experience is the best form of creativeness. “I try to pull from my own experience,” Ballard says. “I think that at the end of the day, what’s going to make you successful is pulling from your own experience and capitalizing on those things and what makes you, you. That’s where my background comes from—trying to pull from my own experience and trying to use the vocabulary that I have been given to communicate to other people that maybe have the same vocabulary or can look at this and understand some visual cues and try to understand where I’m coming from. Images are great for that.” As a professor, Ballard helps many young minds discover what helps them in their creativity and in what ways they can best access their artistic vocabulary. The value of academia and art is something that is appreciated by Ballard as both an artist and as a professor. He feels like being a professor not only helps young artists, but also assists his own process. In reference to his teaching, Ballard says, “While I’m trying to teach young people who are trying to be creative individuals, I’m able to pull from my own experience. I’m able to work with fresh ideas and people that are a lot younger than I am. Keeps me young, keeps me sharp, keeps me focused on trends that are happening, and it keeps me focused on my creative process.” Ballard stays involved with the art scene by working with younger artists, but also is involved in the community because of his magazine, The Local Artist. “I really like to be involved, so it’s part of the same thing with teaching: keeping a sharp eye and participating,” Ballard says. “I think that it’s important to engage in what’s going on here. I think there’s some great stuff going on and I feel like you’re doing the area a disservice if you’re not participating—even if you’re not getting a lot of encouragement or support—I think it’s still worthwhile because I think that it’s important to spread the news about art and what’s going on.”
MARCH 2016 | 11
It’s this thing that’s always in flux, it’s always changing, it’s always evolving, and it’s always coming to fruition.
Ballard has been a part of the local art scene for years now, and he has seen the art community thriving in recent years. “Arts are growing in Sioux Falls. In the last 10 years, it’s been growing significantly,” Ballard says, regarding the art scene. “It’s always this steady growth. Sometimes it takes a couple steps back, but it’s about who stays in the area. If people find success, they often go elsewhere. It’s important to have people in the community who value it and support artists.” Ballard stays involved in the community by participating in shows and by his involvement in The Local Artist. The Local Artist’s next issue will be released on April 1st. His next shows are at Ipso Gallery in April and at Exposure Gallery in May. photo courtesy of Jeff Ballard
photo courtesy of Jeff Ballard
12 | COLLEGE MONTHLY
Resume Tips By Emily Stahl
The first contact with potential employers is usually through a piece of paper: a resume. It can impress and earn a job interview, or its lack of appeal can send it straight to the trash. If an applicant wants an interview, their resume has to stand out.
Carlson says a resume should be listed in chronological order and divided into a few sections. Typically, the contact information should be on top, followed by education, work and professional experience, and lastly, volunteer and extracurricular activities. Although ASC provides sample resumes under their tab on MyUSF, Carlson suggests students don’t use a pre-made template.
Student Success Specialist Jessica Carlson explains, “The resume is really the thing you use to market yourself to employers and to make an impact when they’re looking She says, “You want to format it yourself to make sure it through tons of them. If they’re not interested in it or stands out amongst others.” wowed by it in those 10 seconds, they’re moving on to the next one.” Students should begin their resumes sooner than later, according to Carlson, and use them as a working This is especially true for highly sought after jobs. document as they gain experience. Resumes should not Employers have an idea of what they want and may only remain static for all jobs a student applies for; they need to have time to scan over a resume. be tailored based on the position. Carlson emphasizes the need to relate experience with what the employer is asking Director of Admissions Aimee VanderFeen says, “It’s a very for. competitive environment in admissions or business. You might get 100 resumes; If you make me dig, I give up.” She says, “This is really your one shot to sell yourself to them, so really use it as your opportunity to tell them Having a concise and polished resume is essential for about you and what you can bring to such a position. That students. However, they are not alone in the process. way you’re not just listing things you’ve done, but what The University of Sioux Falls provides lifetime services to you’ve gained from those experiences.” students and alumni in the Academic Success Center that can prepare them for the application process. Among However, don’t make the mistake of adding too much other things, ASC will counsel on resumes, cover letters information. A resume should be bulleted, with only and provide mock interview sessions. Carlson works in relevant skills and experience listed. If the reviewer likes a this office and VanderFeen oversees it, so they are both resume, they’ll move onto the cover letter, where students familiar with the common mistakes made on resumes. can go more in depth. VanderFeen says a typo makes the impression that the applicant may not be qualified, and she will move on. She has also viewed resumes where students have included their photo or a college logo. These may catch the reviewer’s eye, but in a negative way. VanderFeen explains that mistakes like these give the impression that the applicant did not take the time to research what should and shouldn’t be on a resume. Her suggestion for students is to dig into what the employer wants. “Really look at the job description, figure out which qualifications you meet and make sure those are highlighted as the first one to two bullets under proficient, because you might not get them to read bullet number 10,” VanderFeen says.
“Your cover letter is really your opportunity to put it in paragraph form to further sell yourself to the employer,” Carlson says. According to Carlson, there are many steps beyond perfecting a resume in order to get a job. These include creating a cover letter and preparations for interviews. Additionally, students need to be conscious of their contact information and keep their email address and voicemail message professional. Carlson encourages students to seek assistance from ASC with the process, saying, “Don’t be afraid to use our services. That’s what we’re here for, to be able to help you with that process to make sure you’re in the best situation possible to be prepared for applying for jobs.” MARCH 2016 | 13
Tips and Hints 1) Keep it clean and concise-make sure important information is easily found and readable. 2) Avoid pre-made templates. 3) Proofread! 4) Start early and edit when experience is added. 5) List the important things first. 6) Relate professional and personal skills to tasks you’ve done in work experience. 7) Don’t just list what you’ve done; say what you gained from the experience. 8) Have an appropriate email address and a professional voicemail message.
Create a header with your contact information and personal logo.
USF College Monthly
1101 West 22nd Street . Sioux Falls, SD . 57105 605.331.6776 usfcol
Experience
College Monthly . Editor . Photographer September 2014 - Current College Monthly is the University of Sioux Falls student led magazine. Editorial tasks include organizing and brain storming story ideas, communicating stories to writers, content coordination and layout designs, organizing photoshoots, contacting printing services, using FTP servers and online uploading practices as well as connecting with media studies students, staff and writers. College Week . Anchor September 2012 - May 2014 College Week is a student led newsroom production. Anchoring tasks include professional camera appearance, strong TV personality skills, bantering, reporting on live breaking news, and news pack reporting. College Week . Reporter September 2012 - December 2013 Reporting tasks for College Week include video interviews, stand up reporting, cover footage, video editing, voice-overs, group coordination, writing story synopsis.
Add a pop of color!
What NOT to do 1) Have it cluttered. 2) Put a college logo. 3) Put a photo of yourself. 4) Use the same resume and cover letter for every job - tailor it to the job description and what the employer is looking for. 5) List jobs or activities from high school that aren’t applicable to the job you’re applying for. 6) Be vague on tasks within a professional experience or the skills you’ve gained.
14 | COLLEGE MONTHLY
1) Contact Info
List your name, contact information, and email address at the top of the page. You should center or right align the contact info and be sure to bold and CAPITALIZE your name.
2) Skills
usfcollegeweek.com usfcollegeweek.com
ain
s.
Skills Journalism Photography Videography Adobe Suite
List specific skillsets that pertain to your job and industry of interest. This is a high level overview of your qualifications and industry knowledge.
3) Experience
List your experience first if your education is not the strongest component of your resume. Start with your most current job or internship first. Be sure to list all of your responsibilties involved.
TV Personality Project Management Strong written and oral communication Self Motivated Marketing Consultation
4) Education
Clearly state all of your education, starting with the most recent institute you have attended. Include all of the dates, locations, and certificates received.
ce,
ws,
Education Bachelor of Arts University of Sioux Falls Media Studies Major Journalism Concentration Art Minor Graduate May 2016 GPA 3.8
Write all of your degrees and the dates they were awarded. If you have an impressive GPA, it’s your time to show it off.
MARCH 2016 | 15
march Madness NCAA Divison1 Men's Basketball
Final four
tehto win $50! 5 2 ch chanc
marFor your
Due
CHAMPIONS!
Can you predict which teams make it to the final four? Who’s taking home the 2016 Wooden NCAA National Championship Trophy? Finish this bracket and turn it in to the Student Development office or email a photo to usfcollegeweek@gmail.com with your name and email for a chance to win a $50 cash prize!