SBIT BITS
News for Students
Issue: December 2024
Newsletter for PG Business & Information Technology Students
SBIT BITS
News for Students
Issue: December 2024
Newsletter for PG Business & Information Technology Students
Find the Internship program just right for you!
"The School of Business and IT would like to remind you that we have an exciting internship opportunity available to business and IT students who meet the qualifications. Read more about the Benefits and the Requirements for participating in our Internship course. "
December Trivia
Why December’s Not the 10th Month
December is the 12th month (and last month) in our modern-day Gregorian calendar (as it was in the preceding Julian calendar). However, it was initially the 10th month of the Roman calendar (until 153 BC). Hence, “December” comes from the Latin decem, meaning “ten.”
In Roman times, the calendar only had ten months and began with March! The winter period was not even assigned months because it was not an active time for military, agriculture, or civil life.
The month of December originally consisted of 30 days. After January and February were added to the calendar (around 700 BCE), December was shortened to 29 days. Then, two days were added to December in the subsequent Julian calendar, making it 31 days long.
Odd Moments This Month in History
December 14, 1807: Space Invader
At 6:30 a.m. on this day in 1807, residents from Vermont to Connecticut looked up at the sky and saw a red fireball. About two-thirds the size of a full Moon, it raced across the heavens, broke apart, and fell to earth in at least six areas of Weston (now Easton), Trumbull, and Fairfield, Connecticut. Whizzing sounds were heard close to the impact sites, and three sonic booms were heard as far as 40 miles away. The entire event took about 30 seconds.
Upon hearing the news a few days later, Yale professor Benjamin Silliman and his colleague, professor James Kingsley, traveled to the impact area to talk to witnesses, examine impact sites, and collect specimens (including some that enterprising townsfolk were selling as souvenirs). Silliman confirmed it was a meteorite—the first officially recorded in the New World.
Meteorites, rocks that fell from space, were a concept slowly gaining acceptance in Europe, but their study was still a relatively new science. In an article in the Connecticut Herald published on December 29, Silliman and Kingsley described the Weston event. The news rapidly spread to other newspapers, and accounts were published in literary and philosophical journals. Later, Silliman performed a chemical analysis of the rocks and published a revised report. Notable scientific organizations in Philadelphia, London, and Paris discussed the findings. Still, there were skeptics about the idea of meteorites, including U.S. President Thomas Jefferson, who said, “It is easier to believe that two Yankee professors could lie than to admit that stones could fall from heaven.”
Winter Solstice
The month of December brings the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere. This is the shortest day of the year (the day with the least amount of daylight).
December Holidays
December 1 is the First Sunday of Advent, marking the beginning of the Advent season.
December 6 is Saint Nicholas Day. The patron saint of children is the model for Santa Claus and gift-giving.
December 7 is National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.
December 8 is Bodhi Day in the Buddhist calendar, celebrating Buddha’s enlightenment; it’s celebrated in a way that’s similar to how Christians celebrate Christmas to honor Jesus Christ.
December 13 is St. Lucia’s Day, which has long been associated with festivals of light. Before the Gregorian calendar reform in 1752, her feast day occurred on the shortest day of the year (hence the saying “Lucy light, Lucy light, shortest day and longest night”).
December 15 is Bill of Rights Day.
December 17 is Wright Brothers Day.
December 21 is the Winter Solstice—the astronomical day when the hemisphere is tilted as far away from the Sun as possible. Starting in ancient times, people celebrated the rebirth of the Sun event through Yule.
December 25 is Christmas Day, a Christian holiday commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ. Learn more about American Christmas traditions.
December 25 also marks the beginning of Hanukkah this year, the 8-day Jewish festival of lights.
December 26 is Boxing Day (Canada, UK) and the first day of Kwanzaa.
On the last evening of the year, December 31, kiss the person you hope to keep kissing! Discover New Year’s traditions from around the world.
Purdue Global Student Newsletter
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Hospitality and Tourism Student Spotlight- Lea Cruz Lopez
In recent editions of the SBIT student newsletters we have shared several articles regarding the tremendous career opportunities in hospitality, event planning and tourism. If you have been wondering what it would be like to work in the industry, continue reading about Lea Cruz Lopez, a current student earning her Associate of Applied Science in Business Administration degree concentrating in Hospitality and Tourism Services while being employed in a leadership role in a hotel. We asked Lea to share her thoughts by answering a series of questions.
Lea was first asked about her degree and why she chose it. “I chose a business degree specializing in tourism and hospitality because I manage a hotel in a tribal casino in Washington State. The property I work for has promoted me through the ranks from housekeeper to hotel manager over the last 13 years, and I realized that if I want to go higher, I will need a degree.”
She is currently a Hotel Guest Service Manager and finds the most rewarding part for her is the growth of her team members. “I spend a lot of time focusing on where each team member is shining and helping them connect those strengths with their positions and growing in that direction”.
When asked about who most influenced and supported her career path she shared “The property I work for has been very supportive in my growth. They are good at providing training opportunities and sending us to conferences to get us out into the world of hospitality and tourism.” Her two favorite classes have been Business Math & International Event Planning, “because they feel like they actually relate to where I am headed and what I want to do”.
Her dream job aligns perfectly with her current position of helping to run a hotel, which she has done for a long time and one day hopes to run one for herself. Her advice to others is to “know that customer service is the most important part of our jobs, so really digging deep and homing in your emotional intelligence and empathy skills are important in any hospitality role”.
When asked what else she would like to share with anyone interested in working in this industry she said, “The one thing I was never taught because I was not on a specific path when this journey began is how important networking is in the hospitality world. I remember my 1st year as a housekeeper, my manager pulled me in for an evaluation and asked me, “Where will you be in 5 years?” As a joke, I responded, “I will be in your position”. He laughed and said, “okay, I love that.” I was 19 and had no idea where I was going, but through hard work and dedication, I sent him an email 5 years later saying, “Can you believe I made it?”
Thank you, Lea, for sharing your incredible experience with PG’s School of Business and IT. We will be cheering you on as you continue your academic journey and career path.
If anyone is interested in learning more about the Hospitality and Tourism Services or Hospitality Sustainability concentration, feel free to reach out to us.
Mimi Gough, TH Course Lead (mgough@purdueglobal.edu)
Julie Dort, TH Course Lead (jdort@purdueglobal.edu)
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Looking for a Job?
Are you contemplating a job change? Join us as we address the job search process. Learn tips to improve your cover letter and resume, understand change and the job search process, and prepare for your interview.
Presented on behalf of the Purdue Global Student SHRM Chapter
Dr. Jack McCann and Dr. Carrie Stringham
Tuesday, December 17 · 1:00 – 2:00pm
Time zone: America/New_York
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Video call link: https://meet.google.com/pwr-ikfx-cek
Or dial: (US) +1 914-893-5893 PIN: 528 660 465#
More phone numbers: https://tel.meet/pwr-ikfx-cek?pin=2509211465238
Digital badges are visual representations of an accomplishment or credential you have earned that has been issued and endorsed by an organization in a digital, shareable format. As a student at Purdue Global, you may earn a digital badge for several accomplishments, including making the Dean's or Chancellor's List or earning a micro-credential. Micro-credentials are smaller groupings of courses that can “stack” into or fulfill the requirements of other degree programs (such as a bachelor's degree). With these accomplishments represented by a digital badge, they can be easily shared with and verified by others. PG issues digital badges through Credly, our digital badge platform. To learn more, visit this page. If you have questions about digital badges, you can send an email to digitalcred@purdueglobal.edu.
Partners with Office of Organizational Culture and Inclusive Excellence (OCIE)
Purdue Global: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Committee
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SBS Diversity and Inclusivity Action Committee (DIAC)
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Diversity and Belonging Action Committee (SBIT DBAC)
School of Nursing Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Committee (SON DEIB)
Graduation Information
Graduation Ceremonies
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COLLEGE WRITING
The Purdue Global Writing Center supports writers in college composition and across the curriculum with resources that cover a range of topics on college writing from audience and formality to assignment types and sample essays and argumentation and rhetoric. Browse the collection below or use the search tool to locate topics on college writing and more.
Achievement in Community Engagement and Services (ACES) is a free, university-wide, co-curricular, non-credit program designed to recognize the community engagement and service learning efforts of Purdue Global students.
ACES connects students to their local, national, and global communities, to foster relationships in and their commitment to community engagement and service learning.
Students earn points for their service, both inside and outside the university, toward digital badges that can be used on resumes as documented evidence of their dedication to service. Their achievement is also recorded on their permanent academic transcript.
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Academic Writer
Academic Writer is APA's authoritative solution offering you a complete digital environment for teaching, learning, and writing academic papers.
New to Academic Writer? Check out our orientation, Getting Started with Academic Writer, to learn how to navigate and use the site.
For more detailed guidance on using the Writing Center, visit our lesson on Writing in Academic Writer.
A student with a disability and/or temporary impairment that limits a major life function and is diagnosed by a health care professional can request accommodations. Accommodations can be permanent or temporary.
Who are they? SAS was once known as The Center for Disability Services (CDS). The department name was recently changed to Student Accessibility Services (SAS) to create a more inclusive environment that provides accessibility to all. Student Accessibility Services (SAS) at Purdue Global is the primary office responsible for the coordination of services for students with disabilities. Pursuant to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, Purdue Global will provide reasonable accommodations for students who have met the eligibility and verification requirements of SAS.
What do they do? SAS works directly with the student to provide accommodations that aid the student in being successful in their classes. SAS works as a liaison between the student and their instructors and notifies instructors of the student's approved accommodations each term. Students with temporary medical conditions can also request accommodations on a temporary basis.
How do you request an accommodation? Students with disabilities are responsible for requesting an accommodation. If you are a potential Purdue Global student, or already enrolled at Purdue Global, and are seeking accommodation(s) due to a diagnosed disability, you may request to be referred to Student Accessibility Services (SAS) through your university representative and/or contact SAS directly by telephone, or email. Actively enrolled students may also submit a self-referral to SAS through their student portal. SAS will then send an email to the student with information about requesting accommodations and will provide the required accommodation request forms attached to the email.
Purdue Global Contacts
Registration Issues: 866-522-7747
Textbook Inquiry: Student Support Desk or Academic Advising at 866-522-7747
Technical Issues: 866-522-7747-Support and Solutions
Student Accounts: 800-817-8272
Office of Student Support: 866-522-7747
Financial aid: 866-458-2008 option #2, or at fastudentsupport@purdueglobal.edu
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SBIT Student Resources: https://sites.google.com/student.purdueglobal.edu/student-resources-sbit/student-resource-home
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