There is no escaping the fact that college costs are rising. The College Board reports that most students and their families can expect to pay, on average, from $95 to $1,440 more than last year for this year’s tuition and fees, depending on the type of college attended. Average College Costs for 2007-2008: Private four year $23,712 (up 6.3 % from last year) Public four-year $6,185 (up 6.6 %from last year) Public two-year $2,361 (up 4.2% from last year) Financing Options Families are encouraged to seek federally backed loans first, then shop for private loans, based in part on the recommend... view article details

We can Google a checklist for anything these days, and workplace diversity is no exception. Diversity checklists from numerous countries show up in the search, reminding us that workplace diversity is of global interest—we are working within a globalized economy and within a multicultural workforce. Organizations that do not have a strong diversity and inclusion culture may invite lower productivity, higher absenteeism, and higher turnover resulting in higher costs to the company, as well as lose-out on valuable diversity of thought and talent. Does your company have its own diversity and... view article details

Soul and Silicon "Imagine a world where the difference between man and machine blurs, where the line between humanity and technology fades, and where soul and silicon unite. This is not science fiction, but a very real possibility in a few short decades." Those words wouldn't command much authority if their author, Raymond C. Kurzweil, hadn't already proven himself as a high-tech visionary - an inventor who designs and makes the machines that will alter our future. Nearly everyone would like to create something unique, but Kurzweil has developed a remarkable system for doing it. "I do all my... view article details

Salespeople are a company's ambassadors to the world. They actively promote the company and its products and services. They are the front line between the company and its customers, and are typically the driving force of revenues - top-line company growth. These employees have a direct impact on how the marketplace perceives their employer and its products.The way salespeople conduct themselves is often a reflection of the company's sales compensation program; and how well the company does is often a reflection of the effectiveness of its commission program. A well designed sales compensation ... view article details

There are many advantages to online courses and degree programs. Not only does it offer an opportunity for those unable to take traditional full-time classes such as working professionals and parents, but it also offers more freedom and flexibility to students of all types. Online education is widely accepted as being just as valuable as the classroom experience. And many colleges, universities, businesses, and organizations worldwide, now offer their students fully accredited online degrees and continuing education programs. But there are still important questions and steps one should conside... view article details

Q. Our company has filed under Chapter 11 with no financial backing. The company is being sold. Our accounts payable supervisor got another offer and put in her notice, but the company countered with a pay-to-stay package. She gets six months of severance pay with three months up front.I am very angry, since I was committed to working until the end after taking a 10 percent cut in pay with hopes of staying on with whoever buys us. How do I confront the CEO who offered her this package to get the same deal? Currently we have no severance package.A. Companies can offer employees incentives to st... view article details

Paul Levy and Farzana Mohamed have written a book to help new arrivals to the job marketplace, college students and others who have been offered a position but are not quite sure how to negotiate the terms of their job with their new prospective employer. They start their book, How to Negotiate Your First Job, with this story:Karim, soon to be a college graduate, was stunned into inaction, paralyzed by an unforeseen opportunity. In the midst of a recession, with an unemployment rate topping 9 percent, he had been offered a job.The e-commerce company at which he had just spent the summer as a s... view article details

Educate Employees as to How Performance Reviews Affect Their Pay It's Performance Review Season. Is Your Process Working? Insight from Employees on Performance Reviews and Seven Tips for Everyone to Get More from the Process EMPLOYER MYTH #1:  Your employees "Get It." FACT:  Many employees don't understand how the performance review impacts their compensation. Generally speaking, the majority of employees don't have a clear understanding of how their employer links pay to performance. For managers who have been trained in the organization's performance management program and merit budg... view article details

Ever wish you could stay in school forever? Well you can - as a career. If you've checked out our 10 jobs that keep colleges and universities functioning, it's time to graduate to higher education leadership. Whether you aspire to be an alumni affairs director, a head coach, or even a college president, these 10 leadership roles are for folks passionate about giving back to the collegiate experience. Here are 10 jobs in higher education leadership worth looking at. We've included the average salaries and ranges based on Salary.com data. 1) Bookstore Director - Higher Ed. Average: $65,103 Salar... view article details

Gambling isn’t just for Las Vegas and Atlantic City anymore and that means the jobs aren’t confined to those two casino giants anymore either.You might say the casino industry is spreading the wealth.According to a 2013 study by the American Gaming Association, there are 39 states with some type of casino gambling whether its commercial casinos or Indian gaming. And there are other states, like New Hampshire, looking to deal themselves in.In 2012, the year covered by the AGA report, 332,075 people were employed in commercial casinos across the country accounting for $13.2 billion in wages. In ... view article details