“Change How You Learn” Tutorials Provide Tips for Students New to Online Learning Because of COVID-19

BOSTON— August 17, 2020 – As COVID-19 forces more schools to pivot to online or hybrid instruction, Cengage, an education and technology company, is providing college students with free tutorials to help navigate online learning. The “Change How You Learn” tutorials are included with a Cengage Unlimited subscription. Cengage Unlimited gives students affordable access to more than 22,000 products, including eBooks, online homework access codes and study guides.

“Many students who had intended to take classes in-person had a difficult experience with online learning this spring when campuses closed and learning quickly moved online,” said Fernando Bleichmar, EVP and General Manager of Higher Education and Skills, Cengage. “Online learning can be intimidating and many students worry if they can be successful in an online environment. They are also worried if they can afford their education because of the financial impact of the pandemic. Cengage Unlimited helps by giving students the flexibility they need, along with affordable access to quality learning with supports to be successful in any environment.”

The “Change How You Learn” tutorials provide quick skills-based learning activities for successful online or hybrid learning. Some of the topics covered include:

• “Best Practices for Online Learning”

• Teaches students to evaluate strengths so they can tailor online learning best practices to fit their style.

• “The Challenges of Online Courses”

• Students can gain awareness of the challenges faced when taking an online course in order to understand the need for discipline and identify methods to succeed in the online learning environment.

• “Tips for Online Test Taking”

• Helps students take charge of their online testing experience by presenting strategies for before, during and after the test.

• “Connecting with Your Peers”

• With remote learning making it hard for students to connect with their peers, this tutorial looks specifically at approaches to connect with peers through online classes.

Students actively looking for a job or currently working can also access “Changing How You Work Tutorials” in the “Career Success Tips” section of their Cengage Unlimited dashboard to find helpful tips to prepare them for the global shift to remote working including tutorials like these:

• “How to Do a Video Interview”

• Student’s next job interview is likely to take place online, so it is imperative they learn to present themselves to a prospective employer in front of the camera.

• “Working Remotely”

• Student employees can learn how to evaluate their strengths and what makes them most productive during remote work in order to tailor best practices to fit their style.

Beyond academic support, students can also find support for Self-Care, including guided meditations, exercise demonstrations, and tutorials about “Managing Feelings of Loneliness” and “Maintaining Social Connections.”

A Cengage Unlimited subscription includes additional college success and career support activities to help with things like time management, financial literacy, studying techniques, health/wellness and resume building.

Since Cengage Unlimited launched in August 2018, more than 2.2 million subscribers have saved more than $200 million.

For more information on offerings within Cengage Unlimited, visit https://www.cengage.com/unlimited/ or https://www.cengage.com/unlimited/instructor/

About Cengage
Cengage is the education and technology company built for learners. As the largest US-based provider of teaching and learning materials for higher education, we offer valuable options at affordable price points. Our industry-leading initiatives include Cengage Unlimited, the first-of-its-kind all-access digital subscription service.  We embrace innovation to create learning experiences that build confidence and momentum toward the future students want. Headquartered in Boston, Cengage also serves K-12, library and workforce training markets around the world. Visit us at www.cengage.com or find us on Facebook or Twitter.

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Media Contact
Jessica Kravet
Cengage
857.329.5416
Jessica.Kravet@cengage.com

ATT: Students, Job Seekers, Educators and Media Industry Professionals:

Join Newhouse School, Howard University and UVA Deans, Plus blacklist100 Founder Kai Wright for “Jack Myers Leadership Conversation” on the “Future of Education for Media, Marketing, Advertising & Journalism” on August 13

NEW YORK, NY (August 13, 2020) ─  On Thursday, August 13 at 1:00pm ET, leading media ecologist Jack Myers, founder of MediaVillage and AdvancingDiversity.org, moderates the next “Leadership Conversation” on the “Future of Education for Media, Marketing, Advertising & Journalism  – for Industry Professionals, Educators, Students & Job Seekers,” with Dean Gracie Lawson-Borders, Howard University Cathy Hughes School of Communications; Dean Mark Lodato, S.I. Newhouse School of Communications at Syracuse University; and Andrea Press, Media Studies Department Head, University of Virginia.  The webinar is complimentary but to attend one must register at MediaVillage.com here.

Kai Wright, Founder & Curator of blacklist100 and Columbia University lecturer will join Myers for a keynote conversation to open the 90-minute live “Media Education Summit.”

“Whether you are a student, job seeker, parent, educator or media professional, you will gain valuable insight on both the short and long-term future of media education during this 90-minute webinar with leaders in the world of academia and social justice,” said Myers, an education and diversity activist for the media and advertising community who has spent decades researching and reporting on the media, marketing and advertising landscape.

Topics discussed by Wright and the Deans in conversation with Myers include:

• Recommendations for advancing relevant educational connections and collaboration between the media community and academia;
• How can we successfully attract diverse new majority talent to media and advertising professions, especially from non-traditional sources;
• How can academic institutions help feed diverse leaders into senior positions of responsibility in media, advertising and journalism;
• What are the best models for assuring that diverse students see themselves reflected in the professional ranks of the media community;
• How can we hold the media, advertising and marketing community responsible for delivering on ambitious talent development goals and what are those goals;
• What are the realities confronting college students as they enter or return to school and what are the different models being tested;
• What are college communications, journalism and advertising programs doing to adapt their curriculum to the new realities of the fake news, social media, commercial-free environment.

To quote a section of Wright’s introduction of the “blacklist100”: “Sorry, but not sorry, this isn’t a message of hope; it’s a message to stay woke. Because education, representation, and talent development are all critical components to building a healthy work environment & community for all, we cannot allow leaders to stay asleep at the wheel any longer.”

Dean Lawson-Borders is a member of the advisory board of BlackPast.org, and the editorial board of the International Journal on Media Management. Her book Media Organizations and Convergence: Case Studies of Media Convergence Pioneers focuses on convergence of technologies in media organizations.

Dean Lodato is making his first public appearance since joining the Newhouse School in July from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University, where he established partnerships between the school and such major media outlets as NBC News, CBS News, ABC News, Univision, Fox Sports Arizona, Pac-12 Networks, E.W. Scripps Co., TEGNA and Meredith Corporation. Lodato’s career in broadcast journalism preceded his academic career, working at network affiliates in Phoenix, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., and Ft. Myers, Florida, as an investigative reporter, political correspondent, and anchor.

Andrea Press is the William R. Kenan, Jr. Professor of Media Studies and Sociology at the University of Virginia, where she founded the Media Studies Program. Professor Press is internationally known for her interdisciplinary scholarship on the media audience, on feminist media issues, and on media and social class in the U.S. She has authored the forthcoming US Media-Ready Feminism and Everyday Sexism and Women Watching Television: Gender, Class and Generation In The American Television Experience.

Jack Myers Leadership Conversations support the MediaVillage Media Industry Advancing Diversity & Economic Relief Fund efforts. Ten organizations were selected as recipients of the Relief Fund by the Advancing Diversity Council, an organization of 45 industry diversity and inclusion leaders focused on advancing diversity from advocacy to activism.  The 10 beneficiaries are: 4A’s Foundation, ADCOLOR, Advancing Diversity/Mentor’s Playlist, American Education Foundation (AEF), AAF AdCamp for High School Students, Institute for Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University, International Radio & TV Society Foundation (IRTS), Jacaronda Foundation College Loan Relief,  John A. Reisenbach Foundation, and TD Foundation for Children of Wounded Warriors and Fallen Heroes.

For interviews with Jack Myers, who is author of the best-selling 2013 book Hooked Up: A New Generation’s Surprising Take on Sex, Politics and Saving the World and recently wrote “The numbers don’t lie, diverse workforces make companies more money,” for MarketWatch’s Opinion page; to learn more about MediaVillage’s and AdvancingDiversity.org’s diversity and education programs; or to get a copy of Myers’ white paper on “The Case for Education & Diversity as Tools for Business Growth in Marketing & Media,” contact Diane.Stefani19@gmail.com.

About MediaVillage:
MediaVillage is the media and advertising community’s leading education and diversity activist. Through our collective impact approach, we implement effective and cost efficient B2B growth solutions. For the past decade, MediaVillage, in collaboration with partners across the marketing ecosystem, has been developing innovative strategies for generating growth through education and diversity programs. Today, more than 150 companies, organizations and industry leaders are members of the MediaVillage Knowledge Exchange, a B2B Solutions Marketplace and Center of Excellence for Advancing Marketing Solutions, Diversity and Education. Follow @mediavillagecom @advdiversity

About Jack Myers:
For more than 40 years, MediaVillage founder Jack Myers has been singularly dedicated to identifying, developing, and introducing solutions to the challenges confronting media companies. As the world’s leading media ecologist, he’s a noted expert on generational and gender shifts, the impact of technological advances on business economics, and the dynamics of business growth and decline. His background includes executive roles at CBS Television, ABC Radio, Metromedia Outdoor, Television Production Partners, and UTV Cable Network. Follow @jackmyersbiz

Media Contact:
Diane Stefani
diane.stefani19@gmail.com
(917) 519-8130

Sponsored by Alkermes, Inc.

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted almost every aspect of our lives and the way the world operates, including the higher education system.¹ Campuses closed, classes moved online, vacations postponed, and carefully cultivated student support networks disabled by distance. ^1,2 Our typical routines have changed completely—and all within just a few weeks.

The COVID-19 pandemic has created a new environment with unexpected and unprecedented obstacles that may pose new mental health challenges for students.^1,3 Under normal circumstances, the transition to college and the college years can be difficult with many changes, including newfound freedom and unexpected pressures. Mental health challenges among the collegiate population are common and, in many cases, increasing.⁴ College-age students are often exposed to circumstances that can place them at risk for serious mental illnesses.⁵ These mental illnesses usually first appear in a young adult’s early 20s,^6,7 often coinciding with the college years, and by their mid-20s, 75% of those who will have a mental health disorder in their life have experienced their first onset.⁸

As we continue to navigate new challenges during this time, students and families should be aware of the impact on a person’s mental health. What can be done to differentiate between expected stressors or mental health challenges as the result of the pandemic and what could be signs that a more serious mental illness is developing?

Here are a few things to consider:

• Consider taking a mental health screener. Online screening is one way to determine if you may be experiencing symptoms of a mental healthcondition.⁹Screeners are anonymous, free and easily accessible online.¹⁰ Mental Health America (MHA), a national mental health advocacy organization, saw an increase in screening between January 2020 and May 2020. This increase represents thousands of people whose lives and health may have been affected by mental health concerns at the onset of the COVID-19 crisis.¹¹ Other organizations offering mental health screeners include MHA, MindWise and PsyCom.

• Access digital educational support resources. An entire community of mental health professionals, advocates and individuals living with mental illness are available to help. Treatment locators, which help people find local treatment programs and facilities, can offer guidance on how to access support in your own community. Educational guides and resources are available online from several organizations, including MHA, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) or the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).¹²MHA has resources for Mental Health Month 2020 that families and those living with SMI may find useful during this time.

• Consider telehealth services, such as tele-counseling. While many of these services have existed for some time, the COVID-19 pandemic prompted many healthcare providers, including psychiatrists, to transition to using more tele-psychiatry and tele-counseling services and platforms to continue consistent health care delivery for patients while following social distancing and other quarantine guidelines.¹³ There are many telehealth resources available for students and their families that can offer support.¹⁴ A recent study suggests that some patients may be willing to engage with tele-counseling. These results suggest that patients studied reported similar levels of satisfaction for both telemedicine encounters and in-person interactions and that those who engaged in telemedicine interactions appreciated their clinician-patient relationship experiences and overall user experience.¹⁵ The move to more virtual interactions may extend beyond the pandemic. Ask your doctor or school counselors how to best take advantage of these resources now and in the future.

• Together with your HCP, research your treatment options. Online support groups and healthcare providers can help guide decisions on the treatment options that may be the best fit for your health, condition and lifestyle.¹⁶ There are many different types of medications for mental illness, including pills or capsules, taken daily. Some can also be available as liquids, injections, patches or dissolvable tablets.¹⁷Each person and diagnosis is unique and will likely require an individualized care plan. Always speak with your healthcare provider to better understand all available options and work with them to choose the option that is best for your specific needs.¹⁸

• Consider an online group. Online mental health support groups can also help. Others’ perspectives can offer a sense of comfort and self-empowerment as you navigate a diagnosis and the treatment landscape. Groups can encourage empathy, productive discussions, and a sense of community, all within a confidential setting.^19,20 Programs can also direct members to additional tools and resources that may be helpful.

Remember, you are not alone. Don’t be afraid to seek more information or support as you navigate this challenging time. As our entire world adapts to the many changes brought on by the global pandemic, it is important to actively monitor your mental health and wellness. Support is available.

This is intended as informational only and not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health condition.

References

¹ Anderson, G. (Mar 31, 2020) Coping With a Pandemic. [online] Available at: https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2020/03/31/mental-health-support-systems-coping-pandemic

² Lipson, S. (2020). COVID-19’s mental health effects by age group: Children, college students, working-age adults and older adults. Healio. [online] Available at: https://www.healio.com/psychiatry/practice-management/news/online/%7B250e2c9c-e510-4109-bb84-024660539c08%7D/covid-19s-mental-health-effects-by-age-group-children-college-students-working-age-adults-and-older-adults

³ ActiveMinds.org (2020). The Impact of COVID-19 on Student Mental Health. [online] Available at: https://www.activeminds.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Student-Survey-Infographic.pdf

⁴ Pedrelli P, Nyer M, Yeung A, Zulauf C, Wilens T. College Students: Mental Health Problems and Treatment Considerations. Acad Psychiatry. 2015;39(5):503–511. doi:10.1007/s40596-014-0205-9

⁵ Blanco C, Okuda M, Wright C, Hasin DS, Grant BF, Liu SM, Olfson M. Mental health of college students and their non-college-attending peers: results from the National Epidemiologic Study on Alcohol and Related Conditions. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2008 Dec;65(12):1429-37. doi: 10.1001/archpsyc.65.12.1429.

⁶ Gogtay N, Vyas NS, Testa R, Wood SJ, Pantelis C. Age of onset of schizophrenia: perspectives from structural neuroimaging studies. Schizophr Bull. 2011;37(3):504–513. doi:10.1093/schbul/sbr030

⁷ American College Health Association. American College Health Association-National College Health Assessment II: Reference Group. Executive Summary Spring 2018. Silver Spring, MD: American College. Health Association; 2018.

⁸ Kessler RC, Amminger GP, Aguilar-Gaxiola S, Alonso J, Lee S, Ustün TB. Age of onset of mental disorders: a review of recent literature. Curr Opin Psychiatry. 2007;20(4):359–364. doi:10.1097/YCO.0b013e32816ebc8c

⁹ Mhanational.org (2020). Take A Mental Health Test. [online] Available at: https://screening.mhanational.org/screening-tools

¹⁰ Care for Your Mind (2013). How Can Mental Health Screening Help? [online] Available at: https://careforyourmind.org/how-can-mental-health-screening-help/

¹¹ Mhanational.org (2020).  Mental Health America Releases May 2020 Screening Data; 88,000 Have Anxiety Or Depression, And Results Point To Possible Epidemic Of Suicidal Ideation [online]. Available at: https://www.mhanational.org/mental-health-america-releases-may-2020-screening-data-88000-have-anxiety-or-depression-and-results

¹²  Nami.org. (2020). About Mental Illness. Treatments. [online] Available at: https://www.nami.org/About-Mental-Illness/Treatments

¹³Shore JH, Schneck CD, Mishkind MC. Telepsychiatry and the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic—Current and Future Outcomes of the Rapid Virtualization of Psychiatric Care. JAMA Psychiatry. Published online May 11, 2020. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2020.1643

¹⁴ Hilty DM, Sunderji N, Suo S, Chan S, McCarron RM. Telepsychiatry and other technologies for integrated care: evidence base, best practice models and competencies. Int Rev Psychiatry. 2018;30(6):292‐309. doi:10.1080/09540261.2019.1571483

¹⁵Elliot T, Tong I, Sheridan A, Lown B. Beyond Convenience: Patients’ Perceptions of Physician Interactional Skills and Compassion via Telemedicine. Mayo Clin Proc Inn Qual Out. Published online June 2020. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocpiqo.2020.04.009

¹⁶ Mhanational.org. (2020). Mental Health Treatments. [online]. Available at: https://www.mhanational.org/mental-health-treatments

¹⁷  Nami.org. (2020) Mental Health Medications. [online] Available at: https://www.nami.org/About-Mental-Illness/Treatments/Mental-Health-Medications

¹⁸ Nami.org. (2020). Mental Health Treatments. [online] Available at: https://www.nami.org/learn-more/treatment

¹⁹ Mhanational.org. (2020). Find Support Groups. [online] Available at: https://www.mhanational.org/find-support-groups

²⁰ Nami.org. (2020). Support & Education: NAMI Connection. [online] Available at: https://www.nami.org/Support-Education/Support-Groups/NAMI-Connection

ALKERMES® is a registered trademark of Alkermes, Inc. ©2020 Alkermes, Inc. All rights reserved. UNB-003068

Media Contact
Hope Buckner
Finn Partners
615-610-0312
hope.buckner@finnpartners.com

New service removes barriers between job seekers and recruiters, overcoming limitations and risks of today’s dominant “who you know” platforms

WASHINGTON, D.C.—August 5, 2020—PlumeBio, the personal bio hosting service for people with a university (.edu) email, has launched, reinventing social network for job seekers. PlumeBio offers a free public bio page with a short URL for users. The service is completely free of ads and the common “engagement traps” found on the dominant networking platforms. Users, envisioned mostly as students or recent graduates looking to showcase their skills to find internships/jobs, can take advantage of a spam-protected contact form to communicate with prospective employers and other professional connections.

“The major social networking sites are failing job seekers,” said a spokesperson for PlumeBio. “I think we all know this, intuitively, but there have been few alternatives, until now. We are keeping things simple and focused on helping people network on their terms, not according to practices that maximize shareholder value at the expense of actual site users.” He added, “In the pandemic moment, we already have so many barriers between job seekers and recruiters. Our service breaks these down, enabling open, productive connections.”

Dissatisfaction with established “who you know” platforms is increasing, with users expressing frustration with relentless sales pitches and pressure to upgrade to premium memberships. Indeed, research is now revealing that such practices are counterproductive for job seekers. A recent research paper from the American Psychological Association found indications that using LinkedIn actually lowers one’s job search prospects. It noted, “an increase in job search behavior on LinkedIn was found to lead to poorer job search self-efficacy,” for example. The report also found the more individuals use LinkedIn for job search, “the more they become depleted, and the poorer their ensuing job search success.”

PlumeBio offers its users an easy-to-use template for writing a personal bio. In addition to job seeking, sample use cases include academic researchers looking to disseminate publications, people looking to connect with like-minded colleagues and people wishing to build a personal brand. Each user benefits from a contact form with advanced spam protection that is linked to their personal email address. Site visitors never see the user’s email or phone number, which mitigates the risk of abuse, spam and fraud.

Users need to submit a valid .edu email address to be permitted to use the site. PlumeBio will display that the email address has been verified. After setting up a bio page, the user can share their PlumeBio URL with others. The bios are discoverable on search engines. Users can modify their contact emails. The site also enables the use of emojis, which allows for personal style and a bit of levity in an otherwise serious context.

As of now, the service is only for individuals. Corporations are not currently able to create profiles of themselves on the site. However, employees of a business can post personal bios.

For more information, visit www.plumebio.com.

Media Contact
support@plumebio.com

Cengage Unlimited eTextbooks Gives Students Access to 14,000 eTextbooks, Study Guides, Test Prep and College Success/Career Support for $69.99 a Semester

BOSTON— August 4, 2020 – Whether students are heading back to school in-person or virtually, they have another option for affordable textbooks with the commercial launch of Cengage Unlimited eTextbooks. Following the success of the Cengage Unlimited subscription, which has helped 2.2 million college students save more than $200 million on textbooks and course materials, Cengage Unlimited eTextbooks gives students access to 14,000 eTextbooks, study tools and more for $69.99 a semester.

“You don’t have to look far to see that the pandemic has widened education disparities and put higher education out of reach for more students simply because they cannot afford it,” said Michael E. Hansen, CEO of Cengage. “While at the same time, more than 40 million adults are out of work and many will need to enroll in some post-secondary education in order to reskill and find sustainable employment. Expanding Cengage Unlimited to provide another affordable option for course materials helps remove one barrier for current and prospective students.”

For less than the average price of one print textbook, Cengage Unlimited eTextbooks includes thousands of eTextbooks and free access to college success and career support, as well as free resources from Kaplan, Quizlet, Evernote and Dashlane. In addition to the eTextbooks and other tools, students who prefer print can rent up to four free hardcopy textbooks, with a $7.99 shipping fee per book. Students may upgrade to a full Cengage Unlimited subscription that includes online homework access codes/courseware.

With Cengage Unlimited eTextbooks, students can also access all of their Cengage eTextbooks offline via the free Cengage Mobile App. Available on iOS and Android devices, the app provides offline e-reader capabilities, allowing students to download entire eTextbooks to their smartphone. Once downloaded, students can highlight, make notes, search and bookmark material, regardless of whether they are connected to the internet or working offline. In addition to e-reader capabilities, the Cengage Mobile App provides organizational tools, study materials and push notifications to help students stay on track.

Professors also benefit from the easy integration of Cengage eTextbooks directly into their campus’ Learning Management System (LMS), and access to thousands of eTextbooks to customize their course.

Students can purchase Cengage Unlimited eTextbooks through Cengage and at online or campus bookstores. Students can also use financial aid to purchase a subscription.

For more information about Cengage Unlimited eTextbooks, view the video here or visit: cengage.com/unlimited/etextbooks.

About Cengage

Cengage is the education and technology company built for learners. As the largest US-based provider of teaching and learning materials for higher education, we offer valuable options at affordable price points. Our industry-leading initiatives include Cengage Unlimited, the first-of-its-kind all-access digital subscription service.  We embrace innovation to create learning experiences that build confidence and momentum toward the future students want. Headquartered in Boston, Cengage also serves K-12, library and workforce training markets around the world. Visit us at www.cengage.com or find us on Facebook or Twitter.

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Media Contact

Kristina Massari
Cengage
203-965-8694
kristina.massari@cengage.com