Dr. Robert Kinsinger,former vice president of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and a former chair of the Regents College Board of Overseers, joins the podcast to discuss his pioneering work on nursing education in the 1950s. Dr. Kinsinger discusses his collaboration with fellow nursing visionary Dr. Mildred Montag, whether reality lived up to their vision, and his thoughts on the future of the recently launched Institute for Nursing Excellence named in his honor. 1:21 Encountering Dr. Mildred Montag and her ideas for a two-year nursing degree that would prove revolutionary. 3:27 Overcoming initial backlash from physicians and hospitals concerned with losing out on their “free labor”. 4:20 Joining the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. 6:45 The W.K. Kellogg Foundation’s role in expanding two-year nursing education. 8:01 Did reality live up to the vision? 8:32 Changes in nursing education over the decades. 9:30 How does Excelsior’s nursing courses fit into this new paradigm? 12:50 Vision for the Robert E. Kinsinger Institute for Nursing Excellence. Show Notes Dr. Robert E. Kinsinger Robert E. Kinsinger Institute for Nursing Excellence Dr. Barbara Pieper on the Robert E. Kinsinger Institute for Nursing Excellence

In this week’s special Commencement edition of the podcast, host Mike Lesczinski discusses this year’s graduating class and Excelsior’s upcoming Commencement ceremony on July 11. The episode ncludes a complete interview with 2014 nursing graduate Maria Malone, an administrative assistant who, wanting more out of life, headed back to school to pursue a nursing career and is now a clinical nursing supervisor. Malone talks about her decision to change careers, her educational journey, and her plans for the future. In addition, Hannah Elizabeth Arthur, the Charles W. Laffin Jr. Memorial Award winner, discusses applying what she learned in the virtual classroom to her everyday business and plans to co-found a learning center with her mother, a lifelong teacher. The show closes with Marvin Curling Memorial Award winner and US Navy veteran Jamie Rottman discussing why he decided to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Nuclear Engineering Technology. Listen to "Commencement Stories": 1:31 Class of 2014 At-a-Glance 2:34 Commencement Ceremony, Speaker, Awards 4:21 Interview with Maria Malone 11:52 Hannah Elizabeth Arthur, Charles W. Laffin Jr. Memorial Award winner 16:22 Jamie Rottman, Marvin Curling Award winner Show Notes Excelsior College Commencement Behind-the-Scenes: Graduating from a Distance Learning Institution 2014 “Commencement Stories” Archive Class of 2014 “At-a-Glance” Jamie P. Merisotis, president and CEO of Lumina Foundation President’s Medal Awards and Achievements Excelsior College Programs

Dr. Patrick Jones, vice provost and interim co-dean of the School of Liberal Arts at Excelsior College, joins the podcast to discuss why online courses are superior to face-to-face traditional classes. Dr. Jones, an assessment and course development expert, believes when it comes to access, faculty-student engagement, and assessment, online has the clear advantage. 0:50 Initial skepticism over whether a quality education can be delivered online. 3:29 Experiences teaching at a traditional college. 4:30 How does an online course increase access? 6:00 Why online courses have more effective instructor-student engagement. 8:02 What could compel traditional schools to move away from one-to-many communication? 11:59 The importance of “assessment events” and how they can be used to improve teaching and learning. 15:16 Where do we go from here? How will online education improve in the coming years? Show Notes Dr. Patrick Jones Expert Profile Faculty Connects: Why Online Courses are Superior to Face-to-Face ClassesExcelsior College Awarded Grant to Explore Adaptive Learning Excelsior Joins National Efforts to Expand Adoption of Competency-Based Education Across U.S. Tina Grant on Competency, Adaptive Learning and Higher Ed Innovation

Excelsior College’s Dr. Anna Zendell, MSW and Carol Shenise, MS, RN, join the podcast to discuss stress, including triggers, coping strategies, and developing a stress management plan. The conversation touches upon what employers can do to alleviate workplace stress and unique stressors for active duty military and veterans. 0:50 “Managing Stress” course 1:30 The three types of stress. 2:15 Physical manifestations of stress. 3:10 What can trigger stress? How do we identify our stressors? 5:05 Coping strategies. 6:45 Advice for employers looking to mitigate workplace stress. 8:55 Developing a stress management plan. 11:00 Unique stressors to military life. 14:00 Advice and further resources. Show Notes Excelsior College School of Health Sciences Troy Record – Live Chat – Tips on Tackling Stress Manage Stress Before It Manages You (Part 2) Lt. Col. Bryant A. Murray Veterans Center: Health and Wellness Resources

Jo Ann Webb, RN, MHA, Senior Director of Federal Relations and Policy for the American Organization of Nurses Executives (AONE), joins the Excelsior Life: Distance EDU on Demand podcast to discuss the Affordable Care Act and its impact on nurse educators, managers, and administrators. 0:45 How does the Affordable Care Act allow nurses to showcase their “true” value? 2:20 The ACA and the nursing shortage. 2:50 Does the ACA provide the resources to meet an increase in nursing demand? 3:54 Are nurses prepared for shifting paradigm? 5:00 A much stronger role for nursing schools? 5:50 More money in nursing education. 7:45 What question should nurses be asking when it comes to health care reform? 8:55 A growing role for nurses in primary care. 11:00 Does ACA impact the delivery of health care to military and veteran populations? 12:35 Student career planning. 13:40 How will the Affordable Care Act be viewed in 20 years?

Victoria Van Voorhis, CEO, Second Avenue Learning, joins the podcast to discuss the disruptive nature of educational games. Topics include how to interject “serious games” back into the educational process, the use of games to enhance traditional learning, and potential obstacles to mainstream expansion. The talk concludes with a discussion of the innovative work of Second Avenue Learning and her vision for the future. 0:57 Games, Disruptive Innovation, Efficacy, and Adoption. 3:00 Using games to enhance the traditional learning experience. 3:55 Games don’t replace a teacher, but extend their ability to engage. 5:10 Breaking down technical barriers to mainstream acceptance of serious games. 6:10 Teacher professional development, budgetary concerns. 8:00 Second Avenue Learning: Reimagining Learning. 10:15 Martha Madison, Funded by National Science Foundation. 13:00 Rochester, New York as a catalyst for growth. 14:40 Looking ahead. Show Notes Center for Game and Simulation-Based Learning Victoria Van Voorhis Second Avenue Learning Martha Madison

Dr. Barbara Pieper, director of the Robert E. Kinsinger Institute for Nursing Excellence at Excelsior College, joins the podcast to discuss the institute’s launch, objectives, scholarship agenda, support services, and future plans. 1:20 The mission of the Robert E. Kinsinger Institute. 1:48 Legacy of Dr. Robert E. Kinsinger. 3:17 A radical change in nursing education 1950s. 4:40 Serving students. 5:35 Faculty professional development. 6:08 Supporting faculty research. 6:45 Expanding collaboration. 7:21 Embracing the challenge of running a nursing institute. 8:23 The Institute in 2019. Show Notes Robert E. Kisinger Institute for Nursing Excellence at Excelsior College Excelsior College School of Nursing

Dr. Steve Ernst, vice president of Innovation at Excelsior, discusses competency-based education.

Tina Grant, executive director of the Center for the Assessment of Post-Traditional Learning at Excelsior College, joins the podcast to discuss how competency-based education and new technology such as adaptive learning can help turn many of today’s higher education challenges into opportunities. Grant also talks about her selection to the Next Generation Leadership Challenges (NGLC) Breakthrough Models Incubator Leadership Academy. Follow on Twitter: Tina Grant (@TGAlbany) Excelsior Life (@ExcelsiorLife) 1:15 Next Generation Leadership Challenges (NGLC) Breakthrough Models Incubator/Leadership Academy. 2:16 Turning higher education’s greatest challenges into opportunities. 3:23 Why brick-and-mortars and post-traditional schools must work together. 5:05 Adaptive learning and role of technology. 6:18 Growth of competency-based education – will it continue? 7:53 Securing employer buy-in on competency. 8:38 Tacking the student retention problem. 9:38 “Building Block Model” of competency-based education. Show Notes Beyond Business As Usual: The 2014 Breakthrough Models Incubator Tina Grant Expert Profile Tina Grant Thought Leadership Archive (Evolllution) Excelsior College Awarded Grant to Evaluate Adaptive Learning Software Steve Ernst, PhD Expert Profile

Dorcey Applyrs, faculty program director for the Excelsior College School of Health Sciences, joins the podcast to discuss her work in the HIV/AIDs field, institutionalized problems within the health care system, cultural competence, and other health care issues in culturally diverse populations. 0:58 Drawn to the field of public health. 5:11 Researching the socioeconomic root causes of HIV/AIDS. 7:20 Cultural diversity and delivering culturally competent health care. 9:30 The relationship between cultural practices and health. 11:20 Cultural competency: Rating the US health care system. 13:43 Demographic differences. 16:55 How can patients take more control over their health care? 19:00 What does reform look like?