CAREERS Have No Gender!

Shortage in a Nontraditional Career for Men

The ranks of male nurses remain slim. Just 5.4 percent of the nation’s 2.7 million registered nurses are men, according to the March 2000 National Sample Survey of Registered Nurses. Males account for about 8 percent of students enrolled in four-year college nursing programs.
Meanwhile, the nursing shortage in the United States is nearing crisis proportions.
In 2000, 30 states reported shortages of registered nurses, says the American Association of Colleges of Nurses, citing a federal report. And the shortage is expected to worsen over the next two decades, affecting 44 states and the District of Columbia by the year 2020.
Federal projections also state there will be more than 1 million vacant positions for registered nurses by 2010, due to a growth in demand for nursing care as the population ages and to anticipated retirements.
For more information on the nursing shortage, visit the American Association of Colleges of Nursing at www.aacn.nche.edu. For more on Nursing, see the National League for Nursing at www.nln.org.

Women – The Construction Industry Needs Highly-Skilled Workers

Jobs in the construction industry cover a wide range. Carpenters, architects, civil engineers, geologists, crane operators, project managers, drafters, concrete finishers, surveyors and more all have a place in the construction industry. All of these jobs are for men and women. Women are finding successful careers in increasing numbers in construction... where skilled workers are in demand!
According to Molly McCormick, Estimator/Project Manager of Northern Improvement Co., there are many good reasons for women to consider a construction career: good pay and flexibility of schedule during the winter months for family time or school functions are just two. McCormick estimates a starting range of pay from $10 for laborers to $25 per hour for high-end equipment operators, plus time and one/half for overtime pay. During the construction season in North Dakota, workers average about 65 hours per week....so do the math!
In Fargo, North Dakota, ten career women belong to The National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC), an organization whose core purpose is to enhance the success of women in the construction industry. Visit the NAWIC website at www.nawic.org, which is chock-full of information for women considering construction careers.

BSC’s Phoenix Program

The Phoenix program offers females an opportunity to explore, research, and prepare for higher-wage traditional and nontraditional careers. The program is particularly helpful for females who are undecided or who are unsure of their career choice. During the one-semester program, individuals develop an educational and financial plan based on values, interests, family needs, and capabilities. Night classes are offered to meet the needs of working women.

The curriculum has been adapted to serve special populations, including: economically challenged, single parents, displaced homemakers, dislocated workers, individuals with disabilities, and other females with barriers to education achievement. For more information, call Melba at 701-224-5477 or 800-445-5073, or visit our website at www.bismarckstate.edu/phoenix.

Scholarships, Scholarships, Scholarships, Scholarships

Women and Minorities Encouraged to Apply

BSC recently received a $400,000 National Science Foundation grant for a scholarship program to assist students majoring in computer science, computer support, engineering or mathematics.

The life of the grant is four years, with the first scholarships for BSC students awarded spring semester, January 2003.

A team of BSC employees worked on the grant proposal and identified these objectives:

• Recruit and support annually up to 30 students who meet the project criteria, including academic merit and financial need.
• Increase retention and success of these students.
• Facilitate seamless student transfer to a four-year institution to continue education in one of these fields.
• Provide job placement assistance to project participants.

The eligibility requirements and application form are available on BSC’s website at www.bismarckstate.edu/foundation.