A Letter To My Friend

By Tamara Strupp

To all my fellow students, no matter if you are already at VIU or planning to go to VIU soon. I wanted to share my personal story, which might give you some thoughts or motivate your future success.

I am originally from Germany.  I came to the United States in 2008 as an au pair. I had a very interesting year with many ups and downs and decided I wanted to continue my life in the States as a student. Generally, I love to speak English; it is almost easier for me now than my own language. The first semester was a bit tough, since I had never gone to a university before and it was all new to me. After the second semester I started achieving straight A’s, of which I am very proud. I graduated in December 2011 with my Associates Degree in General Studies. I had mainly taken hospitality classes but wasn’t sure if that was what I wanted to pursue later on. In order to find out what I wanted to study, I applied for an OPT, which I pursued from January 2012 to December 2012. I worked at an animal hospital as a receptionist and nurse. I loved the experience. I learned how to draw blood, how to hold pets safely, and I followed the manager around learning her responsibilities. At the end of my year, I took over the manager’s responsibilities when she was not at work. I learned a lot, got more confident and professional and figured out what I wanted to study: International Business. With International Business I can basically work in any field, anywhere in the world. I applied and started studying at VIU in the spring of 2013.  I really like my experience at VIU. The teachers and students are very nice and I feel like they actually care about the students and not just the money as a non-profit university, which is the opposite of so many other universities.

My future goals are to travel the world, make enough money to live comfortably, find the love of my life and have a successful career. For now, I want to graduate from VIU with a high GPA and learn as much as I possibly can. I am thinking about maybe opening my own animal clinic or pet-friendly hotel one day. After I graduate, I would love to work for a German-American company like Audi or BMW. I would love to be a communications manager that is responsible for communication between Germany and the USA.

My family does not have that much money, they are helping me with what they have but I have always been independent and relied on myself. Most universities do not provide scholarships for international students, especially not from Germany. But VIU does. Prove you are worth being supported and show it with hard work and dedication. VIU believes that everybody deserves a fair chance no matter where they are from. It values students’ ethnicities and is proud to be an international university which supports their students financially and by assisting students like me. I received a scholarship for the Fall 2013 semester, which helps me to achieve my goals. Now I am so close to graduating, and I am proud of what I have achieved so far. I will continue showing how determined I am to be a successful student at my university, VIU.
I did it and so can you. It’s your turn!

From your friend,
 Tamara

VIU Scholarships: Our Students’ Success is VIU’S Success

                It is well-known that students feel more motivated when they are recognized for their effort and hard work, and as a result, they are more likely to be engaged in activities proposed by their professors and university. Thus, the question is: what is the best way for a university to acknowledge and promote student accomplishments and support students on their dreams at the same time? The answer is: SCHOLARSHIPS!

                Virginia International University has a history of supporting its students. Since it was founded, VIU has been awarding scholarships to full-time undergraduate and graduate students as a way to recognize students who have special talents, demonstrate academic excellence, or actively participate in on-campus activities. VIU has been offering different types of scholarships throughout the years, always expanding in order to benefit more students. Right now, there are seven types of scholarships which are available for eligible prospective and current students: fresh start (for transferring students); student activity (for students who are strongly engaged in on-campus activities); campus employment (for those students who work on campus); special achievement (for students who demonstrate a special talent); new horizon (for students who come from countries which face economic and political problems); and deans and presidential (for students with exceptional academic results). Scholarships are available for both on-campus and online students. Over the years, more and more students have been granted scholarships at VIU. When students receive scholarships, they tend to exceed their own expectations by putting more efforts into achieving their academic goals. And our students’ success is VIU’s success.

Scholarship Trends in US Higher Education

                For anyone considering a college degree from a school in the United States, the cost of tuition – and the means by which to pay tuition – is a primary concern. In our last issue, University Magazine examined the steady rise of the price tag on an American education. One of the best ways students can make college more affordable is by applying for financial aid in the form of scholarships and grants.

The Statistics

                Data available from the National Center for Education Statistics allows us to track financial aid trends over a number of years. In 2011-12, 59.1% of undergraduate students in the US received financial aid in the form of scholarships or grants. The average amount those students received was $6,200. In the same year, 37.7% of graduate students in the US received aid in the form of scholarships or grants. The average amount received by those students was $10,800. When compared with data collected about a decade ago, we see that the trend for this type of financial aid is improving, both in the percentage of students receiving aid and the amount of aid students are receiving.

                Paying for the rising cost of tuition will continue to be a concern for students attending colleges and universities in the United States, at least in the foreseeable future. While tuition assistance in the form of scholarships and grants has increased, it is not always rising quickly enough to match the astonishing speed at which tuition prices are increasing. However, statistics show there has been an increase in institutional grants to students. This is good news for American students, of course, but it is also good news for international students who may not have the same access to federal aid as US citizens.

                Scholarships are and will continue to be important to college students, especially in light of rising tuition costs. It is clear that scholarships are out there for the taking, but competition is fierce. A great source for identifying scholarship opportunities is your school; find out if your institution offers grants or scholarships, especially if you are an international student!

TIPS FOR SCHOLARSHIP APPLICANTS

Do Your Research

  • There are search sites which pull scholarships from many sources. Find a site that you like and create an account! Check back often for new and updated scholarships.

  • Find out what department is responsible for scholarships at your school and become familiar with the scholarship offerings, requirements, and deadlines.

  • Never pay to apply for a scholarship. If you are asked to pay a fee in order to apply, it’s probably a scam!

Know What Makes You Unique

  • Find your niche and maximize on it; you would be surprised what types of scholarships are out there. What are your scholastic interests? What are your hobbies? Do you have a unique family situation? Have you overcome an obstacle? Use your experiences to your advantage!

Start Early

  • Do not procrastinate when you’re working on a scholarship application. Build plenty of time into your schedule to complete applications, write and revise essays, and meet deadlines!

Persevere!

  • Don’t give up! If you don’t receive one scholarship, keep trying for others.

Ali Iqbal Murshed, MBA in Global Logistics

                Never considering myself an “A” student, I always struggled with academics. However, since coming to VIU, the supportive learning environment has consistently inspired me to regain interest in learning, which has reflected in my recent academic successes. My professors were generous enough to write some excellent recommendations for me and my past experiences certainly did pay off by adding much needed credentials for the selection committee to consider. Receiving this scholarship has boosted my confidence to a whole new level and motivated me to continue to strive for excellence in the future. I must also mention that VIU has given considerable attention to providing financial support for international students whereas many other well known institutions surprisingly do not have such facilities.

Faria Islam, MBA in International Finance

                It came to me as a pleasant surprise when I realized that I was one of the proud recipients selected for the Special Achievement scholarship this year. As this was my first semester at VIU, I really did not expect to be awarded a scholarship.  As an international student I have gone through lots of challenges, one of them being financial challenges. This scholarship has really helped me by reducing some of the pressure. Moreover, this is the first time studying and staying outside of my country and I was expecting it to be tough. But with VIU, the transition has been very smooth, as I have been helped by the university at every step. Everyone has been a great support to me.

New in Online Learning

Some readers may be familiar with any of a handful of online learning platforms. Websites like edX, Coursera, and Udemy allow users to enroll in online courses for free or for a small fee. Current trends on these sites seem to focus on courses in computer science (e.g., “Learning Oracle 12c” and “Pattern Oriented Software Architecture”), self-improvement (e.g., “Becoming a Resilient Person” and “Double Your Productivity), healthcare (e.g., “Fundamentals of Immunology”), business (e.g., “Supply Chain Management”), and ethics (e.g., “Social Science of Wrongful Conviction”). For anyone who has not taken an online class, trying out one of these free courses is a great way to test the waters and explore. Experienced and novice online learners who are ready to pursue a degree can take their online learning to the next level by enrolling in courses with VIU Online (online.viu.edu). Courses recently offered include “International Marketing,” “Web Development Methods,” “Teaching with Technology,” “Business Ethics & Law,” and dozens of others in the fields of business, computer science, education, public and international affairs, and ESL.

Logo Power

It is often said that “a picture is worth a thousand words,” and this statement also rings true when it comes to corporate logos. Who among us doesn't recognize Apple, Nike, Coca-Cola, or McDonald’s from just their logo?

In their truest sense, corporate logos are a type of shorthand, allowing consumers to instantly recognize the company and its product. However, logos do not act alone but are part of a company’s visual brand identity program which includes the logo, the design, the colors used and the marketing message. As an example, consider the company that, in my opinion, is the most widely known company brand in the world: Coca Cola.

From its inception more than 120 years ago, the Coca-Cola logo has used the stylistic handwriting of Frank Robinson – no relation to the author – as part of the logo. The wavy red letter writing over a silver background is instantly recognizable whether it is on a can of soda or the cardboard packaging.

Color is everything

So, what components make up a powerful logo? At their most basic, logos are made up of color and design. An image shown in vivid reds and oranges gives a completely different feel and meaning (excitement or anger) from the same image shown in pale blues and greens (restfulness and peace). Depending on the product, black typically indicates a premium product which allows the company to charge a higher price for the product when compared to competing brands that use a different color.

Choosing the logo

Perhaps the most expensive activity in creating the logo is hiring a professional graphic studio. The studio can help in choosing the right colors, the right design, and the right marketing message. The typical cost of hiring a professional design studio is between $40,000 and $50,000. Today, it is not uncommon to have a logo created for you by an Internet company in as little as 24 hours costing only $19!

Logo Lawsuits

Wherever creativity is involved, lawsuits over logos, corporate trademarks, and other forms of intangible intellectual property are not far behind. One of the largest lawsuits involving logos involved Apple Computer (now Apple Inc.) and Apple Corps (the holding company owned by the 1960's British rock group, the Beatles).  Between 1978 and 2007 there were numerous legal disputes between the organizations over competing trademark rights: an apple.

In 1978, Apple Corps, the Beatles-founded holding company and owner of their record label, Apple Records, filed a lawsuit against Apple Computer for logo / trademark infringement which involved the use of an apple as a logo. The suit was settled in 1981 with an undisclosed amount being paid to Apple Corps. This amount had been estimated to be US$50–250 million. As a condition of the settlement, Apple Computer agreed not to enter the music business, and Apple Corps agreed not to enter the computer business.

In 1991, another lawsuit and another settlement involving payment of US$26.5 million to Apple Corps were reached. Outlined in the legal settlement were each company’s respective trademark rights to the term “Apple.” Apple Corps held the right to use Apple on any “creative works whose principal content is music,” while Apple Computer held the right to use Apple on “goods or services ... used to reproduce, run, play or otherwise deliver such content,” but not on content distributed on physical media. In other words, Apple Computer agreed that it would not package, sell or distribute physical music materials.

In 2010, the parties reached a final settlement that included the launch of the Beatles’ music catalog being made available on the iTunes platform. It is hard to believe that after almost 20 years of legal action, the central issue of the case involved the use of an apple as a corporate logo. This is why it is so important to protect one’s corporate logo through legal means.

What is the value of a corporate brand logo?

While it is difficult to separate out is the actual monetary value the logo adds to the company’s profitability, Interbrand, the global brand consultancy, conducts an annual ranking of the value of the corporate brand, which includes logos. After excluding all of the company’s physical assets such as office space, real estate, manufacturing plants, etc., what is left over is the intangibles such as logos, trademarks, and other intellectual property.

Conclusion

Other than the mission, vision, and core values, the corporate logo is perhaps the most important weapon in a company’s visual identity arsenal. Using the appropriate design, color, and marketing message.

Bad Apple: DEALING WITH A DIFFICULT EMPLOYEE

Every employer’s ultimate goal is to attract and retain valuable employees in their workforce through acquisition of the right talents that would help them attain their strategic objectives. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Some employees may end up exhibiting counterproductive behavior, which could hinder the company’s productivity as well as interfere with interpersonal relationships with fellow employees. So what should an HR Manager do in such a situation?

If you look at this list, you would agree that some of them may appear to be difficult depending on the circumstances. Since dealing with difficult employees is not as simple as it sounds, we would need to look at several factors, which will help us shed some light on steps that will result in a positive outcome for the company, the employee, and the co-workers.

Address the situation using the following steps:
1. Open a line of communication with the employee to investigate fully the nature of the problem. At this point, the policies of the organization will be revisited to ensure that the employee is on the same page with acceptable behavior, rules and regulations, as well as the strategic goal of the company. Employees may become unhappy if they are not linking their responsibilities to the goals of the organization and also their responsibilities are not challenging or their talents not fully utilized. This may result in boredom and we know that an idle mind is a devil’s workshop. Should such a situation arise, the HR Manager should address it right away so that it doesn’t get out of hand. It would be good to have a one-on-one with the employee. Also, the employee may prefer to discuss the issue with their own peers, and there has been proven success in engaging a respected co-worker to speak to a difficult employee.

2. Plan a course of action based on the findings in the first step. One of the actions would be to assign a mentor to the employee that seems to be struggling with work or interactions with his/her team members. A mentor should also be able to assist the employee with both personal and company goals. An employee may engage in counterproductive behavior due to inadequate knowledge and experience required to successfully complete their daily tasks. If this is the case, the employee should be assigned to take appropriate training programs to enhance their skills and competencies.  The HR manager would need to properly look into the circumstances surrounding the situation and address them, making sure to separate opinion from actual behavior.
3. Reach a positive outcome/resolution that will benefit the company, the employee, and co-workers. The decision has to be closely monitored to ensure desired results. If after applying the interventions mentioned in step #2 above the problem still persists, disciplinary action may be considered.

If the employee’s misconduct is considered serious in nature, it may lead to immediate discharge.  Otherwise for minor offenses, HR may impose several levels of penalties as follows:
- First offense—oral warning
- Second offense—written warning
- Third offense—second written warning and suspension without pay
- Fourth offense—termination

In summary, the key is not only to address the person’s behavior but also what may have contributed to the employee acting in an unfavorable manner. Often times the so-called “difficult employee” may actually be the most creative in the company. Companies want to retain their most valuable employees, and employees, on the other hand, do not wish to lose their jobs.

TYPES OF DIFFICULT EMPLOYEES:
- The hostile worker, who is verbally abusive and destructive
- The whiner, who complains just about everything
- The pessimist, who never believes there will be any good outcome and at such can affect others with his negativity
- The sniper, who constantly criticizes others
- The impatient, who doesn’t care about policies and procedures
- The know-it-all, very smart and an expert in his field but can be very exasperating
- The arrogant worker, who will never admit that he doesn’t really know anything
- The indecisive worker takes too long to make a decision, thereby causing unnecessary delay in productivity
- The silent employee takes an offensive position and simply does not contribute to any decision
- The “yes” worker that will agree to anything without really intending to carry it out