As we commemorate Veterans Day and honor our veterans and military members this month, Blackstone would also like to recognize the spouses of these brave men and women. Many military spouses put their career goals on hold because of the unique challenges faced by military families. For many years, Blackstone Career Institute has provided career education and training that is flexible and adaptable to the military spouse’s lifestyle. A new program is making it even easier for military spouses to train for a new career. Blackstone is proud to be an approved school for the Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts Program (MyCAA). This program allows military spouses to receive up to $6,000 for training in target industries that represent portable careers. All of Blackstone’s Career Diploma programs are eligible for MyCAA funding. For more information, please visit our Military Family webpage, e-mail us at info@blackstone.edu or call us at 1-800-826-9228.

Today’s legal world depends on computers for research and sharing information. Nationwide searches can be completed in seconds using computerized databases. Blackstone paralegal students explore legal research and writing through two study units, Legal Research and Writing, Parts I and II. Students gain practical experience through writing exercises and they also learn about the various online systems that are available.

Many Blackstone students take their education one step further by signing up for a LexisNexis student membership. By enrolling, they can familiarize themselves with the array of resources available and gain real-world experience that will be invaluable when they are seeking a job. The LexisNexis online research system provides access to state and federal case law; codes and statutes; court documents; over 3.5 billion public records (the most available anywhere online); business, legal, and regional news; expert commentary on the law; Shepard's® Citations Service; and much more.

Students receive a step-by-step LexisNexis learning guide as well as access to a 24-hour helpline. They pay only $85 for a year-long student membership. Many students enroll in LexisNexis just before graduating, so that they have the knowledge-base to use it and time to spend working with it once they have concluded their studies. But only currently-enrolled students are eligible for the special student rate, so don’t hesitate to sign up if you are near the end of your course!

Students can enroll by phone or mail. Call us at 1-800-826-9228 for a brochure/enrollment form or to enroll with a credit card over the phone.

Expand Your Mind and Beat the Winter Blahs!

As the days turn shorter and the weather keeps many of us indoors, sometimes it’s hard to get motivated to try new things or be productive. We may all do a little too much web surfing or TV viewing at this time of year. Why not do something fun and educational for yourself this winter? With online courses from Blackstone and ed2go you can learn a new hobby, upgrade your computer skills, or acquire knowledge that can improve your career prospects.

Courses are available in hundreds of subjects, from cooking and photography to management and computer programming. They feature lively discussion areas, informative lessons, self-assessment quizzes, hands-on assignments, supplementary links, and more.

Ed2go courses are 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, 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 begin monthly, with upcoming start dates including December 9, January 20, and February 17. For more information, including curriculum content and instructor biographies, visit our Web site.


News, Information and Career Advice	November 2009

Thanksgiving Greetings! The Blackstone staff wishes you and your family a healthy, safe and happy Thanksgiving! Our office will close at 4 p.m. (EST) on Wednesday, November 25 and reopen on Monday, November 30 at 9 a.m. (EST). If you have any questions or need assistance, you may contact us via e-mail (info@blackstone.edu) or phone (1-800-826-9228), leave a message, and we will respond as soon as possible when we re-open. Tuition Assistance Available for Military Spouses As we commemorate Veterans Day and honor our veterans and military members this month, Blackstone would also like to recognize the spouses of these brave men and women. Many military spouses put their career goals on hold because of the unique challenges faced by military families. For many years, Blackstone Career Institute has provided career education and training that is flexible and adaptable to the military spouse’s lifestyle. A new program is making it even easier for military spouses to train for a new career. Blackstone is proud to be an approved school for the Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts Program (MyCAA). This program allows military spouses to receive up to $6,000 for training in target industries that represent portable careers. All of Blackstone’s Career Diploma programs are eligible for MyCAA funding. For more information, please visit our Military Family webpage, e-mail us at info@blackstone.edu or call us at 1-800-826-9228. Paralegal Students Can Gain Real-World Experience Using LexisNexis Today’s legal world depends on computers for research and sharing information. Nationwide searches can be completed in seconds using computerized databases. Blackstone paralegal students explore legal research and writing through two study units, Legal Research and Writing, Parts I and II. Students gain practical experience through writing exercises and they also learn about the various online systems that are available. Many Blackstone students take their education one step further by signing up for a LexisNexis student membership. By enrolling, they can familiarize themselves with the array of resources available and gain real-world experience that will be invaluable when they are seeking a job. The LexisNexis online research system provides access to state and federal case law; codes and statutes; court documents; over 3.5 billion public records (the most available anywhere online); business, legal, and regional news; expert commentary on the law; Shepard's® Citations Service; and much more. Students receive a step-by-step LexisNexis learning guide as well as access to a 24-hour helpline. They pay only $85 for a year-long student membership. Many students enroll in LexisNexis just before graduating, so that they have the knowledge-base to use it and time to spend working with it once they have concluded their studies. But only currently-enrolled students are eligible for the special student rate, so don’t hesitate to sign up if you are near the end of your course! Students can enroll by phone or mail. Call us at 1-800-826-9228 for a brochure/enrollment form or to enroll with a credit card over the phone. Expand Your Mind and Beat the Winter Blahs! As the days turn shorter and the weather keeps many of us indoors, sometimes it’s hard to get motivated to try new things or be productive. We may all do a little too much web surfing or TV viewing at this time of year. Why not do something fun and educational for yourself this winter? With online courses from Blackstone and ed2go you can learn a new hobby, upgrade your computer skills, or acquire knowledge that can improve your career prospects. Courses are available in hundreds of subjects, from cooking and photography to management and computer programming. They feature lively discussion areas, informative lessons, self-assessment quizzes, hands-on assignments, supplementary links, and more. Ed2go courses are 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, 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 begin monthly, with upcoming start dates including December 9, January 20, and February 17. For more information, including curriculum content and instructor biographies, visit our Web site.	In This Issue Thanksgiving Greetings! Tuition Assistance Available for Military Spouses Paralegal Students Can Gain Real-World Experience Using LexisNexis Expand Your Mind and Beat the Winter Blahs! More News from Blackstone For more news from Blackstone as well as an archive of recent news items, visit our web site. Join Our Community Join Blackstone’s new Facebook group and connect with fellow students, alumni and prospective students! If you are not already a Facebook member, join now. Did You Know? As we sit down to our Thanksgiving feasts of turkey, sweet potatoes and pumpkin pie to commemorate the autumn harvest feast that took place between the Pilgrims and Wampanoag Indians almost 400 years ago, most of us assume our traditional menu is historically accurate. Although there are few records of that first Thanksgiving feast in 1621, many historians agree that sweet potatoes, corn on the cob and pumpkin pie were not on the menu, and it is even possible that turkey was not served! It was more likely that the first settlers and Native Americans enjoyed venison and water fowl such as goose and duck, seafood, pumpkin and other squashes, peas, beans, carrots and nuts. Colonists at that time did not have access to butter, eggs, milk, flour or ovens for baking. Ponder these other fun facts as you enjoy a holiday celebration with family and friends: • The largest pumpkin pie ever baked weighed over 2,000 pounds and measured over 12 feet long! • There are about 3000 calories in the average American’s Thanksgiving meal. • Americans will eat 535 million pounds of turkey on Thanksgiving. • The largest turkey ever raised weighed in at 86 pounds! • Abraham Lincoln declared Thanksgiving an annual holiday in 1863, over 200 years after the colonists and Native Americans shared a harvest celebration that lasted three days. • Congress declared Thanksgiving a national holiday in 1941. For Your Information Want to learn more about Blackstone programs? Use the links below to explore BCI’s career programs and continuing education opportunities: Legal Assistant/Paralegal Medical Transcription Medical Billing & Coding Medical Office Assistant Dental Office Assistant Advanced Legal Courses Professional and Personal Development Online Professional and Personal Development Courses Frequently Asked Questions Visit our FAQs page to learn more about enrolling in any of our programs. If you have additional questions, contact our friendly staff at info@blackstone.edu. Enroll Now Ready to enroll right now in a Blackstone program? Go directly to our online enrollment form. Pass It Along Know anyone who might be interested in our newsletter? Click here to forward this email to up to 5 friends at once.

Thanksgiving Greetings!

Tuition Assistance Available for Military Spouses

Paralegal Students Can Gain Real-World Experience Using LexisNexis

Expand Your Mind and Beat the Winter Blahs!

In This Issue

More News from Blackstone

Join Our Community

Did You Know?

For Your Information

Online Professional and Personal Development Courses

Frequently Asked Questions

Enroll Now

Pass It Along