Gain insights from an alumni's perspective of the Bachelor of Individualized Study (BIS) program at George Mason University. Discover the path taken, leveraging work experience, and making the most of a non-traditional student status. Explore how this program made a difference and inspired a successful career in IT and military leadership.
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Presentation Transcript
Alumni Perspective of the Bachelor of Individualized Study (BIS) Program March 18, 2015 Tuan Nguyen George Mason University BIS Class of 2012
Agenda About Me Path to BIS degree Making the best of the BIS program My BIS Concentration What difference does a degree make? Concluding remarks Questions 2
About Me Platoon Sergeant of Company HQ Platoon Founder of Veteran-owned Small Business Over 20 years of Professional experience in I.T. field Over 23 years of service in Army National Guard Over 13 years military leadership experience Over 13 years of Professional management experience Professional Management & I.T. Certifications Formal Military Leadership training 3
Path to BIS degree Graduated from J.E.B. Stuart HS in 1989 Undergraduate studies began at University of Virginia in the fall of 1989 Told to take a break from UVa by the Engineering School Joined Virginia Army National Guard in 1991 Told Seriously - take a longer break from UVa 4
Path to BIS degree Worked in Bosnia for NATO Peacekeeping mission 1998-1999 Returned to Corporate office and climbed the corporate ladder to Director of PM and QA by 2004 Founded Eminent Solutions, Inc. in 2005 Government Contracts supporting DoD Electronic Health Records information systems Mobilized Active Duty with US Army Four mobilizations (1 deployment to Guantanamo Bay, 3 mobilizations to Fort Belvoir, VA) 5
Path to BIS degree Mobilized Active Duty with US Army 7/2008 7/2009 Fort Belvoir, VA Associate of Science Information Technology (NVCC 2009) 7/2011 7/2012 Fort Belvoir, VA BIS Information Technology Operations (GMU 2012) 7/2013 8/2014 Fort Belvoir, VA Masters Cybersecurity (GMU School of Business Expected 2015) 2016 2016 6
Non-Traditional student Out of school for over 15 years Full-time job Years of work experience What is wrong with them? (NVCC example) 7
Making the Best of the BIS Program Blank canvas (sort of) Use work / life experience to design your BIS program Provide a solution to a problem at work Take advantage of your faculty mentor s knowledge and experience Keep at it. Life experiences may delay your degree, but you can do it if you stick with it Capstone presentations (classmate from 2 years ago) Your BIS professors are there to help guide you in the right direction, or get you back on track 8
Making the Best of the BIS Program Rigorous, Fair, and challenging Flexibility of pursuing a degree helpful in your career What if you don t have any idea what to do? There s still time, but not much time The longer you wait, the less time you have for research BIS 490/491: Students still wavering on a Capstone project were the most stressed students 9
My BIS Concentration I.T. + Ops Mgmt = Business Value through I.T. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY BUSINESS VALUE THROUGH I.T. OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT Lessons Learned I.T. Hardware Project Management I.T. Software Successful Projects Organizational Management Existing Technologies Failed Projects Personnel Management Future Technologies New Solutions 10
My BIS Contract Information Technology Operations INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT Mgmt of CONCENTRATION Technology Projects Analysis Design People and Organizations Info Systems Mgmt Operations Management Operating Systems Fundamentals BIS 300 Understand Interdisciplinary Studies Business & Professional Communications BIS 390 Research Process Database Management Systems BIS 490 Senior Project Data Communications/ Networking Principles Principles/Practice of Management BIS 491 Senior Project Presentation NON-CONCENTRATION Computers, Minds & Brains How Computers Work Public Speaking Technology, Aggression, Peace Intro to Computing Introductory Sociology Advanced Composition (Business) Programming Fundamentals Usability Engineering Child Psychology Intro to Info Technology Tactical Concepts II 11
Project Description Problem Weekend Warriors expected to be as trained and as effective as the active duty (full-time) component Lack of Management access to ARNG database systems Solution Centralized database of Soldier information Update information in one place Consistent data Standard reports Customized ad-hoc reports Minimize Soldier frustration of providing same information multiple times 12
What does a degree do for you? Much more than I previously thought Professionally You are now Legit Government / Corporate requirements Opens up additional job opportunities Personally Sense of accomplishment Motivating family and friends 13
Concluding remarks BIS program is rigorous, fair, and challenging Your BIS professors are there to help, not make your life miserable Try to get a good faculty member, but don t use that person as an excuse for lack of progress Stick with it, you can do it Rewarding - professionally and personally GOOD LUCK! 14
