Student News B.I.T.S.

Official Student Newsletter of Purdue University Global’s School of Business and Information Technology

August 2022 Issue

Celebrate Graduation Week August 8-14

Check out the activities open to all: Virtual Photo Booth, Last Lecture and Virtual Toast, Shout Out Board, and more! Activities specifically for the graduating class include Virtual Bingo and a surprise message! You can also visit the Commencement Showroom for more information.

Purdue Global Commencement Showroom

Purdue Global C-Track Is Switching To Zoom

We at Purdue Global hope you are as excited about the transition to Zoom as we are. If you need help:

Contact Support & Solutions 24/7 by chat in PG Campus or by phone at 866-522-7747
See the Seminar Guide in the “Help” menu in your Brightspace classroom.

Zoom Student User Guide

C Track students, effective with your 8/03/2022 term start, there will be two changes related to your class seminars at Purdue University Global. Students on A and B tracks as well as Concord Law School students will follow at a later date.

1. Purdue Global is switching to Zoom

The Zoom platform contains the same features for engaging communication as Bongo:

chat with students and the instructor
use of microphone and webcam by “share” request to the instructor
status- setting such as “Thumbs Up,” “Happy,” and “Confused” and more
recorded seminars in Zoom are available in the seminar archives

Zoom also brings some new features to your seminar experience:

a mobile app
closed captioning
live transcription
webcam availability for all participant
virtual background options for webcam users

2. Joining a (Zoom) seminar does not register official attendance

Coinciding with the introduction of Zoom, joining a live seminar will not post official attendance but you will continue to earn academic credit for joining a live seminar. All of the other means of posting attendance in the Brightspace classroom still apply. As a reminder, if you do not post attendance for 21 consecutive days you will be withdrawn from your program for nonattendance.

NEW Education Abroad program: Business in Berlin in April 2023

Purdue Global Education Abroad would like to invite eligible School of Business and IT students to join the next virtual or in person trip to Berlin in April 2023!

Official registration for Berlin opens on September 1, 2022. If you’d like to receive additional information and verify your eligibility prior to registration, please complete the Business in Berlin interest form. Interested participants are also invited to attend the next Education Abroad information session on Monday, August 29, 2022 at 8pm ET.

Click dropdown to learn more

There are several ways to participate, depending on degree plan:

Undergraduate business students on C-track may enroll in BU329: Exploring Global Competence (2302C), a 1-credit hour Education Abroad elective

MBA students may enroll in GB602: MBA Capstone-Global Option (2302E), a NEW alternative to the traditional MBA capstone course (GB601).

MBA and MSML students who would like to delve deeper into the study of Global Business may enroll in the four course Global Business concentration. There are limited annual entry points into the concentration, with the next cohorts beginning with GB525: Global Business Environment in October (2207E) or January (2208E). This cohort will participate in the Berlin experience during the final concentration course, GB528: Global Strategy (2302E).

Upon satisfactory completion of all coursework requirements, all Education Abroad participants are eligible to receive the Global Competence Certificate (GCC) and digital badge, an internationally recognized mark of the ability to employ principles of intercultural awareness in professional and social settings.

In order to participate in an Education Abroad experience, applicants must have space for the course in their degree plan, be in good academic and financial standing, have completed three terms at PG, and be on an eligible C-track (undergrad) or E-track (grad) program.

All interested participants are encouraged to apply, but please note that space is limited on each trip. Successful applicants will be notified whether they have a place after the registration deadline of November 16, 2022 has passed and eligibility has been verified. Course fees associated with the field experience may be eligible for financial aid, depending on a student’s individual aid package and degree plan.

Check out the PG Education Abroad Handbook for more details, including other upcoming locations, dates, pricing, and policies, and contact PG Education Abroad with any questions.

Excel Track Student Resources

NEW ExcelTrack Student Resource Site

Please take the time to check out our new ExcelTrack Student Resources Page. This site gives all of the information you need to know while participating in the ExcelTrack Program and answers many common questions when getting started. Take advantage of being in the know of your program and what the policies and requirements to maintain enrollment are.

Purdue Global Spotlight

How to Improve Your Project Management SkillsProject managers require a number of skills to complete projects on scope, on time, and within budget constraints. Learn how to succeed as a project manager.

Purdue Global Announced as Presenting Sponsor of 2022 Purdue Football Season - Purdue BoilermakersPurdue Global, Purdue University's online educational solution for working adults, will be the presenting sponsor of the 2022 Boilermaker Football season.

Alumni Spotlight

Read more about Billy's Story

Patrick “Billy” Thompson always dreamed of attending Purdue University, but grew up in an environment that could not support this goal without hard work, self-determination, and a scholarship. Billy was determined to achieve his goals, so throughout his life he excelled in academics and in sports. This was, until a tragic incident occurred with his father leaving him with no choice but to start working early to support himself. Rather than letting this situation hold him down, Bill worked diligently in the years following and was able to make a name for himself. Eventually, he built his own business, establishing sales internationally, and consulting for Fortune 500 companies.

Even while climbing to the peak of success in his entrepreneurship, he began to see gaps in information between himself and his workers who were recent graduates. At this point, he seriously started to consider the value of earning his degree. Finally, he would be able to attend his dream-school Purdue which just added an online branch in Purdue University Global (PG). After getting in touch with a PG advisor, he realized that the Business Administration program would be a perfect fit for him. In the beginning of his collegiate journey, Billy anticipated trying out a few classes, accepting that his demanding work schedule would not allow him to complete his degree. Fortunately thanks to PG’s student resources, ExcelTrack offering, well organized online campus, and class structure he was able to complete his degree. According to him, Purdue University Global met and exceeded his expectations.

Billy found himself able to apply theory and teachings to his business and even has been able to analyze his mistakes in the past in order to avoid them in the future with a wiser lens. Billy’s experience is unique in that a degree wasn’t necessary for a raise, promotion, or career change since he is already the president/CEO of several companies. It did, however, add value in the lessons he has learned, theories which are already being applied to his approach in developing current ventures. While developing a second business, Billy is also looking at a master’s degree in Business and another bachelor’s degree in Psychology confident that he will be able to achieve this goal even with his packed schedule thanks to the resources that Purdue University Global provides.