Belhaven University School of Nursing

Belhaven University’s School of Nursing received approval from the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL) for its Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) on Thursday, June 19, 2014.

Belhaven nursing students will have access to quality health care training at a university level and be part of a program that has a deep commitment to faith. According to Belhaven University President Dr. Roger Parrott, nursing students will have access to new state-of-the-art facilities on the third floor of the recently renovated Irby Complex. “We have gathered a remarkably gifted group of faculty, built new facilities and provided the foundational quality of a stellar science program to put behind our new nursing school. I believe this is one of the most significant advances we have ever taken and I look forward to our first nursing students enrolling in August,” said Dr. Parrott.

Here are some photos of the new facilities.

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TCL Belhaven nursing 01.jpg

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National Financial Literacy Month – Avoiding Identity Theft

Avoiding Identity Theft

Identity theft is a growing problem and can be as simple as someone stealing your mail or peering over your shoulder while you’re at the ATM. As technology has improved more complex methods such as skimming and phishing are being used which create an even greater risk for people who shop online or use their debit or credit cards for purchases.

Skimmers use an electronic device to steal credit cards or bank account information and this device is used when you’re making a purchase at a store or gas station. Phishers create websites similar to legitimate businesses and then send emails to people luring them into using their personal information on the website.

One of the best ways to keep an eye out for identity theft is to look over your bank or credit cards statements for any unusual charges and check your credit once a year for errors. It’s important to try and catch identity theft in its early stages and some ways you can reduce your risk are:

  • Protect your mail – cancel your mail delivery when you go out of town and to reduce the amount of pre-approved credit card and insurance offers you receive by going to https://www.optoutprescreen.com.
  • Protect your trash – be sure to shred any documents that might have sensitive information like bank statements, receipts and credit card or insurance offers.
  • Protect your social security number – never carry your social security card around with you and be careful who you give your social security number out to.
  • Protect your credit/debit cards – write “photo ID required” in place of your signature and be sure to have your credit and debit card numbers written down in a secure place in case your wallet is stolen so you can cancel everything quickly.
  • Protect your computer – never give your personal information out via email and change your passwords frequently.
  • Protect your deceased relatives – be sure to notify all financial institutions, loan holders, and credit card and insurance companies when a loved one has passed to avoid their identity being stolen.

Identity theft can be devastating and could take years to clear your name and build your credit back. Knowing about the problem and ways you can reduce your risk is important, so stay informed and do whatever you can to protect your sensitive information.

For more information check out these links:

National Financial Literacy Month

In an effort to better educate our Belhaven students about managing their finances we recognized the importance of National Financial Literacy Month and will be posting helpful articles concerning credit, financial aid, identity theft and personal finance.

Check out this helpful article about credit.

Keeping Good Credit

No matter how old you are, you’ve probably heard people talk about their credit score. Car commercials often mention it and you may have had your credit checked when you signed a cell phone or cable contract. What exactly a credit score and why is it so important?

Your credit score is like your financial reputation and you begin establishing a credit score whenever you first sign a cell phone contact, buy a car, rent an apartment, or take out credit cards. Lenders, insurance companies, landlords and even employees may be interested in your credit score since it is a record of your financial history, and it shows how financially responsible you are. It takes no time to bring your score down, but can take years to work back up to a good score and having a low credit score can make it difficult to get certain jobs, be approved to buy a house or receive other loans.

Your credit score is made up of five main factors:

1. Payment history: this will show if you’ve been on time with payments and how reliable you are.
2. Amount of credit used: this can include mortgages, student loans and credit cards.
3. Age of credit: the longer you have accounts in good standing the better it is.
4. Types of accounts: having various kinds of credit, either through student loans, credit cards or car loans can show how you handle different kinds of credit.
5. New credit and inquiries: when a cell phone or insurance company looks at your credit score it doesn’t affect it however applying for a new credit card or loan can potentially lower your score.

If you don’t have any credit yet, getting a credit card is a good way to start however it’s vital that you make sure you are responsible and pay off the balance. Using a credit card can feel like free money since it’s not coming directly out of your account so be sure to track your spending so it will be easier to keep under control. Only use a credit card if you know you’ll be able to pay the balance off.

To maintain good credit make sure your payments are on time and avoid taking out too much credit. Retail stores love to tempt people with discounts and free items if you apply for a card, but the discounts may not be worth it if you already have a lot of credit cards or loans, and you run the risk of potentially lowering your credit score. It’s also important to check your credit score once a year so you’ll be aware of your current score and to check for errors. This is also a good way to catch identity fraud, which can destroy your credit. To find out what your credit score is go to www.annualcreditreport.com.

Having good credit is important so be sure to stay financially responsible and make sure you don’t overwhelm yourself with loans and credit cards and be sure to make all of your payments in a timely manner. Not only will this show others you know how to manage your money but it will also gradually build your credit score, which will benefit you in the long run.

International Students at Belhaven University

Marquis Browdy, a senior communications major who is interning with Belhaven’s Communications Department, wrote this Inside Belhaven blog entry after interviewing three of our international students.

“To serve, not to be served” from Matthew 20:28 is Belhaven University’s motto and Belhaven continues to be an institution that accommodates all people, denominations, and cultures. The University’s enrollment in Jackson includes 84 international students, up from 51 students a year ago. Students from 28 countries are studying on the Jackson campus with the largest groups from Brazil, South Korea, Columbia, United Kingdom, Africa, and France. International students attend Belhaven for many reasons, which range from degrees, sports, and the arts to the Christ-centered education and worldview curriculum.

Belhaven University recruits through sports, countrywide student exchange programs, an increasing web presence and even broadcasting. For instance, many of our South Korean students heard of Belhaven through the Far East Broadcasting Company (FEBC) where ads about Belhaven are played throughout South Korea. Other organizations such as the “Hendrix Consortium” allow African students from Rwanda to attend Belhaven through the Rwandan Presidential Scholarship program.

This blog entry focuses on the perspective of students and how they are adjusting to the U.S. customs and culture. In this interview I also discussed their adjustments to the U.S., the difference they have noticed between cultures and their plans after graduation.

 

Haeun Lee

She is a freshman and communications major from Seoul, South Korea.

How did you discover Belhaven University?

“We have a program for students called International Program Barom (IPB), where we can choose to go to any school in America. I chose Belhaven because I heard from a former students from Korea tell me it’s the best university and the students are really kind, and I think that they’re right.”

How has your adjustment been adapting to the U.S.?

“Actually I didn’t experience culture shock. I really like it here because there a lot of events that I can’t participate in Korea, like Homecoming, we don’t have that in Korea.”

How is Belhaven different from your school in South Korea?

“At Belhaven there is a lot of homework. We don’t have a lot of homework in Korea, it is just more hands-on in class. And we also don’t have events like homecoming or dances; also there are a lot of breaks here. We only have summer and winter break, along with “Chusuk”, it’s the Korean Thanksgiving.”

What has your experience been like at Belhaven?

“Since coming to Belhaven I’ve experienced my very first football game. I also love that Belhaven is a Christian university. I get to participate in RUF and I also get to help out in Chapel.”

How do you think you can benefit from attending Belhaven University in America?

“I want to be a producer, so I wanted to learn more in that field, I also wanted to meet new people. I want to experience a lot of new and different things that I couldn’t experience in Korea. In Korea there are only Koreans, but in the United States there are many people and many different cultures.”

What are you planning on doing after Belhaven?

“I have to go back to Korea and study one year to be a producer and I have to start my internship then my career.”

 

Daniel Duarte

He is a sophomore and a Mathematics/Pre-Engineering major from Bogota, Columbia.

How did you discover Belhaven University?

“I was contacted then recruited by the tennis coach Levi Patton to play here under scholarship.”

What is the most distinct difference between cultures from U.S. compared to Columbia?

“The food is the most different. In the U.S. people eat a lot of fast food and the rice and potatoes are very different. Also, all our juices are natural; here there are a lot of artificial juices.”

How has your adjustment been adapting to the U.S.?

“It’s been ok, all my friends from Latin America were here before I got started at Belhaven and they have helped me adjust to American culture.”

How has your experience been at Belhaven?

“I like it and the classes, tennis team, and the scholarship I’m getting here is good.”

Do you plan on going back to Columbia after you receive your degree from Belhaven or staying in the U.S.?

“I think I will go back to Columbia and work there.”

 

Jeanne Ishimwe

She is a freshman and Chemistry major from Kigali, Rwanda.

How did you hear about Belhaven University?

“I didn’t know about Belhaven before, but through a program called “Hendrix Consortium” (Hendrix College leads a consortium of 19 private and public institutions of higher education, hosting over 220 Rwandan students) I was selected to attend Belhaven University.”

How has your adjustment been adapting to the U.S.?

“It was kind of difficult for me because everything is totally different from back home. But the people are so friendly, so it was easier to get adjusted.”

What is the most distinct difference between cultures from U.S. compared to Rwanda?

“Everything is different because at home everybody is concerned with their own business. Here it’s friendlier. The culture, way of dress, and food, everything is just different.”

How have your teachers and peers at Belhaven made you feel at home?

“I feel in a way that I’m home because the school fits me more than I expected. The teachers are really different than back home, back home the teacher is like the king of the class. But here it’s like a brother teaching you, there’s a more personal relationship here where you can interact with your teacher. For example, you can’t say the name of the teacher in Rwanda; students would have to say professor or teacher.”

Are you homesick?

“Sometimes but not always.  It all depends, when I feel bored or get some news from back home I start to miss my family, but now I’m not homesick.”

Do you plan on going back to Rwanda after you receive your degree from Belhaven or staying in the U.S.?

“I will pursue graduate school, but if I don’t get in I would probably go back home.”

Do you have a host family and how has that helped you transition to American culture?

“Yes, I have a host family, Jenny; she’s a member of the faculty at Belhaven. It’s really helpful because I got familiar with their culture, finding stuff in the kitchen, and also exposed to other cultures in America. It’s also helpful for internationals because we usually don’t have cars, so our host family helps us get around.”