If you have been to our Web site recently, you will notice that the home page has changed. Like this newsletter, it bears our new logo (the shield, which you can see on the top left-hand side of this page) and colors (blue and gold). We are still in the process of updating the rest of the Web site, but in a few weeks you will see a consistent, fresh look throughout the site, as well as easier navigation.

There will be several other changes in store for Blackstone students in the coming months as we seek to provide even better service to our students as well as control costs and become more environmentally-friendly. Some of these initiatives you can look forward to are as follows:

• We will be transitioning from paper-based communications to e-mail for student services notices, invoices and more. Those of you reading our newsletter are already onboard since you have provided us with an e-mail address, but we will be asking all of our students for e-mail addresses in the coming weeks. By reducing traditional mail communications and replacing them with e-mail, we will be saving time, money and trees! E-mail also provides an opportunity for greater interaction between staff and students.

• Online bill payment is coming: many of you have asked for this feature and we are working towards offering this service on our new Web site.

• Check by phone will be offered: for those who don’t use credit cards, this will be a convenience that will enable you to receive shipments faster since we won’t have to wait for your check to arrive by mail.

We are sure these changes will make communications, bill payment and delivery of study materials even more efficient and effective. Read about another new initiative in the article below. If you have any other suggestions that you feel will improve our programs, we welcome your input. Just contact us at info@blackstone.edu. 

This summer, Blackstone Career Institute is working hard to expand and improve our presence on the Internet to keep Blackstone students connected and up-to-date. Of these online projects, BCI’s Facebook group and page are the first to launch. Facebook is one of the premier social networking sites online, and Blackstone students are already there! Now you can be one of the first to get onboard with the brand new, official Blackstone Career Institute group to talk to your peers and school alumni, read breaking news from the staff, and ask questions about the program and materials. We encourage you to show your school spirit and become a fan by checking out and adding the Blackstone Career Institute page. Help us to make Blackstone on Facebook a network that benefits you. If you are not already a Facebook member, now would be a great time to join so that you can become a part of the Blackstone group: we welcome students, prospective students and alumni.

In six weeks you can learn a new software program or language, improve your writing, math or communications skills, or explore any of over 300 other topics that can help you in your career or personal life. Blackstone Career Institute Ed2Go online courses are fun, informative and highly interactive. And now through November, each time you enroll in an Ed2Go course, you will become eligible for a chance to win an iPod touch! Each month, three Apple iPod touch devices will be awarded to the 100th, 1,000th and 10,000th student to enroll.

Ed2Go courses are instructor-led and feature lively discussion areas, informative lessons, self-assessment quizzes, hands-on assignments, supplementary links, and more. They are also moderately priced (most are $99) and include all online lesson materials, which can be printed out for reference at a later time. Each week, two new lessons are released to the student, for a total of 12 in six weeks. If you are going on vacation or have other time conflicts, a two-week grace period is granted at the end of the program to give you extra time to finish.

All courses start monthly: it’s not too late to enroll in the July 16 session, or you can wait until the August 20 session if you need more time to choose a course.

To learn more about the courses offered, including the syllabi and information on the instructors, visit our Web site. 

Is the warm weather making you procrastinate when it comes to studying? Are vacation plans taking the place of study sessions? While the summer months bring many challenges to distance education students, you can successfully overcome these obstacles if you set reasonable goals for yourself.

With the many distractions that summer presents, you may be tempted to put aside your studies for a couple of weeks and plan to resume at a later date. Our instructional staff advises that rather than delaying your school work, just set a more reasonable pace for yourself: for example, complete one exam every 10 days instead of once a week. It’s important to develop a study schedule in the summer as well as throughout the year.

One challenge for many students that may be extremely disruptive is having children off from school. If you are accustomed to studying during the day, you may have to rearrange your study sessions for the evening when a spouse is home to take over the child-care duties. Another possibility is asking a relative, friend or teen to help out by watching your children for a few hours. Depending on the age of your children, you may also be able to set up activities for them to do and guidelines for them to follow during your study sessions.

It is also important to reward yourself when you have met a study goal, and the summer months offer many opportunities to do so. A walk, a swim or other outdoor activity can energize you after a few hours of reading and answering exam questions, so it is important to take study breaks and pursue fun activities, such as a favorite hobby, or get together with family or friends.

Lastly, if you are taking a vacation, allow yourself a true break from work and your studies, but make a concrete plan as to when you will resume. Whether you take a day trip or week-long excursion, what’s summer without a little rest and relaxation?