Posted by Centura College on Nov 16, 2018 in Centura College, Centura Newport News, Health Information Technology, Spotlight Feature
Centura College Newport News graduate Mary Majette.
Prior to her time at Centura College, Mary Majette had over 20 years of experience in the Human Services field. In 2010, Mary decided to move to the Hampton Roads area. Upon continuing her career path in Human Services, Majette quickly realized that she needed to go back to school if she was to improve her career prospects and earning potential.
With that realization in mind, Mary began to look into potential educational options. She chose Centura College because she could obtain her diploma in Health Information Technology in less than a year. On top of that, the Newport News campus was conveniently located near her home.
Mary completed her program in eight months. During her time at Centura College, she became a Centurian Ambassador and participated in several community volunteer opportunities. Majette maintained and graduated with a 4.0 GPA. She is now a member of Centura College’s Program Advisory Committee (PAC).
Centura College grad Mary Majette poses for photo op infront of Hampton University Proton Therapy Institute.
We are proud to announce that Mary is currently working full-time in her field at the Hampton University Proton Therapy Institute. Way to go Mary!
About Centura College
Centura College has been part of an organization dedicated to helping men and women develop careers since 1969. By training working adults in healthcare, technology, business, and trades, they connect communities with some of the fastest growing career fields in today’s marketplace. The school offers professional facilities, knowledgeable instructors, day or evening classes, job placement assistance and is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC). To learn more, visit www.CenturaCollege.edu or like them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/centura.edu
Posted by Centura College on Aug 31, 2018 in Centura Newport News, Health, Massage Therapy, Spotlight Feature
Centura College Graduate Spotlight – Carissa Chalsma
By Lisa Pinson, Massage Therapy Coordinator, Centura College Newport News
Carissa Chalsma began her Massage Therapy career at Centura College in Newport News on October 17, 2017 and c ompleted her coursework on June 18, 2018. She was a diligent and engaged student, which resulted in her achieving a 4.0 grade in her coursework.
Currently, she is employed with Williamsburg Neck and Back Chiropractic in Williamsburg, Virginia as a Massage Therapist. Through her work there she uses a variety of trigger point, orthopedic, myofascial, and stretching techniques that are designed to treat injuries, ease muscle tension, reduce muscle spasm and pain. Her favorite work focuses on sports/trigger point and neuromuscular massage techniques that enable clients to regain and maintain healthy well-moving bodies.
Carissa has a passion for helping people through hands on healing. She intends to pair her Massage Therapy diploma with a degree in Physical Therapy that she is currently pursuing at Old Dominion University.
In her free time, Carissa spends most of her time furthering her education in the healing arts. She is dedicated to her craft and excels at it. She also enjoys her family, friends, and boyfriend and loves to travel when she has time.
Even as busy as she is, Carissa still comes back here to Centura to assist other students who are about to graduate. She serves as a Licensed Massage Therapist during clinicals and gives constructive feedback. She is a true mentor.
Carissa is one of our best and brightest. She is a true success story!
Posted by Centura College on Mar 6, 2018 in Adult Education, Campus Connections, Career Change, Career Services, Centura Chesapeake, Centura College, Centura Columbia, Centura Newport News, Centura Norfolk, Centura Richmond, Centura Virginia Beach, Financial Aid, GI Bill Benefits for College, Lifestyle, Military Friendly School, Spotlight Feature
By: Esperanza Poquiz
The faculty that forms the Student Services Department plays a key role in helping you through your college journey. Student Services includes different branches of a campus to aid you in addressing specific needs. Below you can find information on the departments that help maintain order on campus:
- Career Services – If you are a graduate, or you are about to graduate, Career Services can provide assistance when it comes to searching for jobs. They help with writing resumes and will coach you on proper interview attire and etiquette. They will even performing mock interviews in preparation for the real thing. Career Services arranges opportunities for employers to come to the campus to encourage you to meet with them face to face.
- Bursar – The Bursar Department assists with billing, monitoring your account balances and collecting balances due.
- Financial Aid – The Financial Aid Department breaks down the specifics on your financial aid options. They will also provide information on grant or scholarship opportunities.
- Librarian/Learning Resource Center Assistant – A Librarian, or Learning Resource Center Assistant, provides tools, books and other reference materials that can help you with studying or assignments.
- Registrar – The Registrar Department maintains order when it comes to things like: attendance and student records, grades, transfer/transcript information, and class enrollments.
- Student Services – A Student Services Coordinator establishes relationships with the community as resources for you. Using their connections, they will help you in finding housing information, transportation and daycare options, as well as, part time jobs options to have while attending school.
- Veteran Services– Veterans Services equip veteran students with information on what educational benefits are offered to them. They accommodate veterans to help create a smooth transition from military life to civilian life.
Equipped with the proper knowledge of what each Student Services Department does, you now know which department to turn to for the proper guidance.
Posted by Centura College on Oct 17, 2017 in Adult Education, Centura Chesapeake, Centura College, Centura Newport News, Centura Virginia Beach, Computer Network Management, Computer Networking
The world of digital technology can be confusing. Many organizations fail to understand the clear distinction between various platforms within the digital technology. Do you need an IT specialist, a web developer, or a website designer? And who does what exactly? Digital service providers have a different set of skills and areas of expertise.
This is how it works: you don’t take your car to a collision shop when you want it detailed, or to a tire store when you want the oil changed. The same thing applies to information technology and web development. We are going to dissect the distinction between web development and information technology to help clear confusion and help you better communicate about the different roles.
What is Information Technology?
Information Technology (IT) has to do with the implementation and maintenance of your organization’s computer network. An IT specialist is the person handles the company’s software, hardware, email systems and security systems.
In the Web Industry scope, IT encompasses storage, transfer, reception and manipulation of data using computer networks. It may not be clear at a first glance, but IT represents the technology behind the standardization and coordination of the organization’s information.
What is Web Development?
Web development refers to the creation and development of websites and hosting them on the internet or intranet. This should never be confused with web design, which typically focuses on the aesthetics of websites. To draw a clear distinction, web designers create designs for a website before it comes alive, while a web developer will utilize the design to carry out the actual coding of the website, bringing the ideas to life.
Web developers work on anything as simple as plain text pages, to more complex social networking sites like Twitter or Facebook. During the development, the web developer engages the web designer and the client through critical thinking, planning, and discussion.
If you look at it from the technical perspective, a web developer builds the functionalities of the website, or simply making the website to perform the tasks you want it to perform. An experienced web developer will integrate various coding languages like CSS, HTML, jQuery, JavaScript, and any other digital technologies to bring out the desired outcome.
The Comparison Between IT Administrator and Web Developer
You can now see that these two fields are totally different, but the case may not be immediately clear when you first walk into a web company’s office. Here’s an analysis of the job description for an IT Administrator and a Web Developer:
IT Administrator
An IT Administrator’s roles and duties include:
- Configuring computer networks in the organization for easy communication among the coworkers.
- Setting up and managing existing network infrastructures in the organization and ensuring a seamless flow of data and consistent internet connection.
- Managing all software and hardware used by the organization and keeping all the software licenses up to date.
- Managing software and hardware purchasing.
- Proper keeping of organizations data and information with backups.
- Troubleshooting any computer hardware failures of the organization.
Web Developer
The Web Developer’s duties and responsibilities include:
- Developing websites using the most prominent coding languages and technologies.
- Fixing bugs on the existing websites.
- Interacting with clients to clearly understand their goals and needs.
- Maintaining websites.
- Collaborating with web designers to bring their concepts into reality.
- Handling domain names and hosting configurations.
- Creating technical documentations that accompany websites.
It’s pretty clear now that the two jobs have very little similarities. Training in each area is needed to be successful in either role and being able to explain the difference to companies will make sure you exceed employer expectations in a more defined success plan.
Posted by Centura College on Oct 14, 2017 in Adult Education, Campus Connections, Centura College, Centura Newport News, Press Release, Spotlight Feature
The Newport News campus of Centura College will be hosting its 5th annual Fall Festival on the 21st of October. Event will feature a variety of seasonal activities for the whole family, including a trunk or treat.
By Brian Stauss
Centura College will be holding its 5th annual Fall Festival on Saturday, October 21, at its campus located at 616 Denbigh Blvd., Newport News, VA. The festivities begin at 10 a.m. and will continue until 2 p.m.
This family-friendly event will feature music, refreshments, games for all ages, seasonal arts and crafts, a haunted house, as well as a trunk or treat for children. Complementary chair massages and medical vital checks will also be available for attendees.
“The local community is the lifeblood of Centura College,” says Greg Daniel, Campus Executive Director at Centura College’s Newport News campus. “Our Fall Festival is an opportunity for us to open our doors to the community and have folks come see what Centura has to offer, all in a relaxed, fun, and family-friendly atmosphere.”
This event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Centura College’s Newport News campus at (757) 874-2121 or go to the event page on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/events/120668051926682.
About Centura College
Centura College has been part of an organization dedicated to helping men and women develop careers since 1969. By training working adults in healthcare, technology, business, legal studies and trades, they connect communities with some of the fastest growing career fields in today’s marketplace. The school offers professional facilities, knowledgeable instructors, day or evening classes, job placement assistance and is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC). To learn more, visit www.CenturaCollege.edu or like them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/centura.edu.
Posted by Centura College on Jul 11, 2017 in Business Accounting Degree, Business Management, Centura Chesapeake, Centura College, Centura Columbia, Centura Newport News, Centura Norfolk, Centura Richmond, Centura Virginia Beach, Tips & Tricks
By Jul DeGeus
Some might argue that professionalism is one of the keys to success in the business world. Knowing the rules of business etiquette can set you apart from other employees, but one of the most commonly abused etiquette rules is the use of cell phones. While you should refer to your company’s rules and regulations for instruction regarding cell phone usage, these are some best practices:
Cellphone Volume and Ringer/ Ringtone
There’s nothing worse than sitting at your cubicle, working on a report in a silent office and having your phone ring. Anxiously, you bustle around through your personal items, quickly trying to hush it. You apologize for disturbing everyone and, red-faced, you get back to work hoping you won’t be made fun of later for your choice of ringtone. Two main rules of etiquette can be learned in this situation:
- Always remember to silence your phone- Make turning your phone to “silent mode” part of your morning routine to save you some shame. Breakfast, shower, brush your teeth, check your phone, grab coffee and head to work.
- Pick a professional ring/text tone- While you might know all the words to “Baby Got Back,” and even have a choreographed dance paired with it for special occasions, your ringtone reflects your professionalism. Keep it generic to keep it professional.
Also keep in mind that setting your phone to “vibrate” is not the same as “silencing” your phone. While it is harder for some to pick up the sounds, vibrations are audible, especially if sitting on a tabletop surface.
When and Where to Use Your Cell
Prime Time
Lunch time is the perfect time to take or make personal calls. Most lunches are “off the clock” which is the ideal time to make your calls. Just be aware of your surroundings and understand that in a cafeteria or restaurant setting, others have the opportunity to hear part or all of your conversation. A personal or secluded space, such as your car, will allow for more privacy.
Be Cautious
Most companies allow you to use your phone on break, but take into consideration how long you use your phone. Generally, breaks are 15 minutes. If you exceed this time, it is likely that your boss will notice and could result in discipline.
Avoid Usage
It’s not the best idea to use your phone when in your cubicle. A neighbor can pop their head over the separator and gaze your screen or overhear a chat you are having. Additionally, you do not want to interrupt your peers’ concentration by carrying out a loud, disruptive dialogue.
People often use restrooms to have conversation on their phone. While this seems private, voices can carry through the buildings ventilation system. Not to mention, if your office shares a single or limited number of stalls, you could be holding up someone who needs to use the restroom.
There’s always an exception to the rule and when it comes to cell phones, emergencies are the exception. If there is some sort of emergency that causes your phone to ‘blow up,’ communicate this with your boss so they are aware of why you are on your phone.
Avoid Rudeness
Say you are in a meeting and someone vaguely refers to information you know you have access to via your cell phone. In situations like this, it’s ok to use your phone to access the information, so long as you announce that that is what you are doing. Something as simple as, “I’ll get those exact numbers for you,” or, “I have that email, let me pull it up,” will let everyone in the meeting know you are using your phone to enhance the meeting, rather than ignore it.
When interacting with people, give them your full attention. Try not to use your phone as a timepiece and avoid your smart watch; if you spend too much time looking at your smart watch, people will assume you are checking a text message and ignoring them. Finally, as sneaky as you may be, don’t read text messages under the table, behind a coffee cup or in back of portfolio or clip board.
