Today, I took my first CLEP test - Information Systems and Computer Applications. I passed! Not as well as I had hoped, but I passed.

I only studied for about 10 hours because I thought I knew a lot about computers. The test I took at TCC on Computer Concepts was easy - I took it with no studying and got 86. But the CLEP test was MUCH HARDER! It had more networking questions and even questions about programming that I was no way familiar with. The InstantCert tutor did help and was worth the $20 but it did not cover all the topics included on this CLEP. 

After I got home, I looked on CollegeBoard.com and discovered this list of topics covered in each test. I will review this before taking the next one!

I’m relieved that I passed and I saved about $400 and 3 months of work doing this. So for that I’m grateful. I wish I could have gotten a higher grade, but my husband says that’s just my perfectionism coming out. CLEPs are pass/fail! 

The Chronicle of Higher Education seeks interns for the fall 2008 session, which will begin in September. The internships are full-time in our Washington, D.C., office and will last through mid-December 2008. In addition to a $500 weekly stipend, academic credit can often be arranged.

The interns’ primary responsibilities are reporting and writing daily news articles for The Chronicle’s Web site (which usually appear subsequently in print), contributing brief features to the “Short Subjects” section, writing news articles for other sections of the newspaper, and doing research for special projects. There is very little grunt work. Interns who prove themselves as reporters and writers are often asked to write full-length features.

For more information and to apply, check The Chronicle Web site.

I got A’s in both Public Relations and Comparative Justice Systems. Now, I’m in the CLEP mode. I have to CLEP American History and American Government this summer and then I am done my Associates Degree!

I’m going to CLEP Information Systems and Computer Applications first, as practice and to meet a requirement for my Bachelor’s degree. I think this will be easier for me to CLEP. I’ve been using that InstantCert site and it’s helping a lot. 

That will leave me only one class at TCC - Advertising and the remainder of my classes at OSU. I will have 30 credits left after summer - all in my major. I can only do two a semester as my retired husband wants me home more. I have to cook a special diet for him as he is allergic to milk (just got the news). I have a home business to run. So, it will be May 2011 when I’m done! 

IF I can do it, so can you!

Have to turn in my Comparative Criminal Justice Systems paper on India and take a final in public relations and I’m done! 

I have been so busy I just could not write. Test, papers, power point presentations, signing up for next classes . . . but, it’s almost the end of this semester. After May 5th, I’ll be writing more about what I learned (and didn’t learn) during my year at college! Stay tuned!

The Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture announced two openings for interns at its Stewardship Ranch, near Poteau, Oklahoma, beginning June 2008 and ending December 2008.

Our final project for Introduction to Public Relations is a PR Plan for an organization that has currently been in the news. We are to use the Single Use plan discussed on pg. 113 of our Textbook, Public Relations: The Profession and the Practice. Here’s how I am going about it. I will add to this as I complete the plan. Any suggestions are welcome!

Step 1: My first step was to decide on a current organization or issue that I would use. I did a search on local news websites and came up with about five different topics in which I was interested. Eventually, I decided on doing my plan using Tulsa Academic Center (TAC) as the organization and issue. There has been a lot of controversy about this school in the recent news relating to a lawsuit filed by the principal and issues about student safety.

Step 2: My next step was to do some research on the school and the issues. I used the internet to locate several local news articles on TAC and the recent controversy. I went on the Tulsa Public School Web site to find a mission statement and any press releases they had on the issue. Unfortunately, none were posted and there was no postings at all about the TAC controversy. I did download some board meeting notes related to TAC; however, none included recent information about TAC. I have put both Web sites in my RSS feed so that I can continue to monitor them for new information. I then went on the OK State Department of Education Web site and downloaded information about TPS test scores. Not sure if I’ll need these.

Step 3: My next step was to read through all this information and figure out where to go from here. After reading through the press releases and news articles. I found one press release from TPS. I’ve started some notes with a section for a timeline of events, a list of schools involved, a list of people involved (and potential stakeholders), notes on the original goals of the TAC program, and a list of improvements that the board has suggested in light of this controversy.

Step 4: Keeping in mind the goal of public relations is to build positive relationships with consumers, suppliers, competitors, and other publics, my next step is to determine the goals in relation to TAC’s mission statement and think about objectives for my campaign. I am also going to research more legislation and advocacy groups that are going to affect TAC. I discovered in my research that there are some legal issues arising from this crisis.

Note from my teacher on my plans so far: Cindy, sound like you are being thorough. The keys to a strong public relations plan are research, selecting the audiences and creating effective and/or creative strategies and tactics for each. As you work on this plan, keep in mind the students, they are probably the key audience. (emphasis mine - to keep in mind!)

Step 5: I wasn’t sure what a good plan looked like so I went to the PRSA Web site. I don’t have a membership so much of the site is not available; however, I was able to search the Silver Anvil winners and discovered a great place to look at winning PR plans. I read through these and jotted down some ideas that I am going to incorporate in my plan.

Step 6: Finished it and sent it off! Waiting for my grade now.

Later posting: I got my grade - 96! Hooray!

Interns are provided an opportunity to observe and participate through a variety of activities in Mayor Kathy Taylor’s Office. Applicants must be at least a college sophomore. Application Deadlines:

Summer 2008 (May 15 – Aug. 15), applications due
Fall 2008 (Aug. 15 – Dec. 15), applications due July 1
Spring 2009 (Jan. 15 – May 15), applications due Dec 1

For more info or to apply, see the City of Tulsa Web site.

Now that I’ve decided to try to CLEP some classes, I have begun looking for CLEP study resources. Here are some I have found:

Instant Cert - an online test prep.

Pink Monkey - a study guide.

If you have used these, let me know what you think of them. Do you have any other resources you’ve used with success?

I went to my advisors and discovered that I have only three courses keeping me from getting my Associates Degree: Political Science, American History, and Biology (or some science). I have to do these without skipping a semester or I will be placed on a different graduation plan, which would add two more humanities to my requirements. I was not going to try for an Associates Degree but this is SO close!

My goal was to have no classes this summer and take only journalism classes this fall. So this is my plan - I’m going to try to CLEP out of these three courses! Can I do it?