Your Student Gateway to the US Government ISSN 1536-559X
Volume III, Issue 9 - October 2004
students.gov InfoSource provides useful tips and info for college students and their
families. Published periodically, students.gov InfoSource is sponsored by the US
Department of Education, Federal Student Aid office.
http://www.students.gov
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In This Issue...
- New on students.gov - The Newest Sites
- Featured Sites - Election Time!
- News Brief - Nationwide Shortage of Nurses
- Term Tangle - Electoral College
- Career Spotlight - Meteorologist
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New on students.gov
New sites on students.gov this month
Bob Quits - Introducing the latest hit reality show. No one gets voted off. No one
gets married. And no one gets a million bucks. But if the contestant doesn't win,
quite possibly he'll die. Join Bob on his journey to quit smoking.
http://www.bobquits.com
History of the US Population - Look through census and data from early on in
American history. Population and housing information from 1790 and into the 21st
century! http://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/index.htm
National Museum of the American Indian (Smithsonian Institution) - The National
Museum of the American Indian is the sixteenth museum of the Smithsonian
Institution and the first dedicated to the preservation, study, and exhibition of the life,
languages, literature, history, and arts of Native Americans. http://www.nmai.si.edu
Veterans History Project (Library of Congress) - This exhibition consists of original
the Library of Congress. The project collects and preserves the experiences of
America's war veterans and those who supported them.
http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/treasures/homefront-home.html
Students.gov is always adding great sites. For more, visit www.students.gov
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Featured Sites: Election Time!
Great web resources from students.gov
In 1971, the 26th Amendment to the US Constitution was ratified and gave 18-21 year
olds the right to vote. The 26th Amendment was one of the quickest in history to be
passed by Congress and ratified by the states (it only took 100 days). However, in
the 2000 Presidential election, only 42.4% of young voters claim to have voted!*
In order to vote, you must first register. Of course, it is also a good idea to learn all
you can about the candidates so you can make an educated choice. Many links
and other resources provided on students.gov can help you do both. Don't forget
that college students living away at college can still vote through an absentee ballot
(instructions are available from the links below). Take advantage of your constitutional
Citizen Guide to Voting (Federal Election Commission) - Everything you need to
know about elections and voting can be found through this site from the Federal
Election Commission. Also includes information about the Electoral College and
the structure of the US Federal Election System.
http://www.fec.gov/citizen-guide.html
Declare Yourself - Register to vote, request an absentee ballot, and learn more
about your rights as a voter. http://www.declareyourself.com
Issues2004 - Provides non-partisan information on issues from political leaders,
cabinet officials and candidates, so voters can vote on issues, not personalities.
Info obtained daily from newspapers, press releases, the web and other media.
http://www.issues2000.org
Project Vote Smart - This national non-partisan effort researches, tracks and
provides information on over 13,000 candidates for state and federal office. They
also have internship programs available. Check it out! http://www.vote-smart.org
National Voter Registration Act (US Dept of Justice) - Information about current
voter registration laws. http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/voting/nvra/activ_nvra.htm
Find links to other democracy and voting rights sites at
http://www.students.gov/STUGOVWebApp/SG_Ctrl?Topic=0901
* US Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, as analyzed by the University
of Maryland School of Public Affairs.
http://www.civicyouth.org/quick/youth_voting.htm
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News Brief: Nationwide Shortage of Nurses
Selected issues in higher education
Have you ever thought about becoming a nurse? If helping people live longer and
healthier lives interests you, then you should know that in the next few years, the
country will fact a critical shortage of nurses, according to the U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services. That makes this a good time to consider a career in
nursing.
Job opportunities for nurses are expected to be very good in the years to come.
Employment is expected to grow faster than the national average and because the
occupation is very large, many new jobs will result. In fact, according to the U.S.
Department of Labor, more new jobs are expected to be created for nurses than for
any other occupation. Thousands of job openings also will result from the need to
replace experienced nurses who leave the occupation, especially as the median age
of the nurse population continues to rise. The most rapid growth is expected in
hospital outpatient facilities, such as those providing same-day surgery,
rehabilitation, and chemotherapy.
Technological advances in patient care, which permit a greater number of medical
problems to be treated, and an increasing emphasis on preventive care will be the
primary cause for an increased demand. In addition, the number of older people,
who are much more likely than younger people to need nursing care, is projected to
grow rapidly as the "Baby Boomer" generation passes the retirement age.
Employers in some parts of the country are restructuring nurses' workloads,
improving compensation and working conditions, and subsidizing training or
continuing education in order to recruit more nurses. Large sign-on bonuses and
better contracts are also not uncommon.
Nursing Information (US Bureau of Health Professions) - A great resource for
anyone looking at a career in nursing. Grants, scholarships and loan information
from the federal government are available here, as well as information on the Nursing
Reinvestment Act of 2002. http://bhpr.hrsa.gov/nursing
Occupational Outlook Handbook, Registered Nurse (US Dept of Labor, Bureau
of Labor Statistics) - Information on the job outlook, earnings, educational
requirements, and other facts about a nursing career.
http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos083.htm
Discover Nursing - Discover what it takes to become a nurse and why you should
consider the field as part of your future. Find scholarships, colleges with nursing
programs, and read stories from other student nurses. Sponsored by Johnson and
Johnson. http://www.discovernursing.com
Health Professions Student Assistance Programs (US Bureau of Health
Professions) - Learn about federal loans, scholarships, and loan repayment
programs available to students in the health professions. A valuable financial aid
resource from the Bureau of Health Professions, a part of the US Dept of Health
and Human Services. http://bhpr.hrsa.gov/dsa/index.htm
students.gov offers links to many web sites with the most up-to-date information
on the nursing profession, available scholarships, and volunteer opportunities. Visit
those below and check out www.students.gov for more!
Information for this News Brief provided by the US Dept of Health and Human Svcs's
Projected Supply, Demand, and Shortage of Registered Nurses 2000-2020 Report
available at ftp://ftp.hrsa.gov/bhpr/nationalcenter/rnproject.pdf.
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Term Tangle: Electoral College
Understanding Acronyms and Terms
The Electoral College was established by the founding fathers as a compromise
between election of the president by Congress and election by popular vote so
that the most populous states would not have a direct advantage in elections.
The Electoral College consists of 538 electors. Each State's allotment of electors is
equal to the number of its US Senators (always 2) plus the number of its US
Representatives (which changes every ten years according to the size of the state
population). The 23rd Amendment added 3 electors for the District of Columbia.
On Election Day (November 2, 2004), the people in each State and the District of
Columbia cast their ballot for President and Vice President. The result of this
election (known as the popular vote) determines how the State's Electoral College
electors will vote.
The electors meet in each State on the first Monday after the second Wednesday
in December (December 13, 2004) and cast their votes for President and Vice
President based on the results of the popular vote. The candidates receiving at least
270 of the electoral votes are elected President and Vice President.
No Constitutional provision or federal law requires electors to vote in accordance
with the popular vote in their State, but it is extremely rare for an elector not to vote
with his or her state's popular vote. Members of the Electoral College who change
their vote are known as "faithless electors." Since the first faithless elector in 1796,
there have only been 156 cases. No faithless elector has ever changed the outcome
of a Presidential election.
The concept of the Electoral College is derived from ancient Rome when those
eligible to vote were separated into groups of 100 (called Centuries) and each group
was able to cast one vote either for or against proposals submitted to it by the
Roman Senate.
US Electoral College Information (National Archives and Records Administration)
Want more information about the Electoral College? This site contains a guide to the
Electoral College process as well as archives of all past vote totals from 1789
to the most recent Presidential election in 2000.
http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/electoral_college
Guide for Citizens (Federal Election Commission) - Everything you need to know
about elections and voting can be found through this site from the Federal Election
Commission, including information about the Electoral College.
http://www.fec.gov/citizen-guide.html
Also check out students.gov's Voting and Democracy page for information and links
to more great e-resources on this important subject.
http://www.students.gov/STUGOVWebApp/SG_Ctrl?Topic=0901
Information for this Term Tangle provided by the National Archives and Records
Administration and the Federal Election Commission.
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Career Spotlight: Meteorologist
Options and ideas for your future
questions like: How should I dress? Should I take an umbrella or a jacket? Can I
leave the scarf and gloves at home today? We even discuss the weather with
strangers. "Nice weather today, isn't it?" The recent storms and hurricanes in the
Eastern and Southeastern United States have highlighted the importance of the work
that meteorologists do.
Meteorologists study the atmosphere's physical characteristics, motions, and
processes, and the way in which it affects the rest of our environment, then use that
information in order to forecast the weather. They also attempt to identify and
interpret climate trends, understand past weather, and analyze today's weather.
velocity; and apply physical and mathematical relationships to make weather
forecasts. Their data come from weather satellites, weather radars, sensors, and
weather stations in many parts of the world. Meteorologists use sophisticated
computer models of the world's atmosphere to make long-term, short-term, and
local-area forecasts.
well as high-speed computers to process and analyze weather data, have
revolutionized weather forecasting. Forecasts inform not only the general public,
but also those who need accurate weather information for reasons such as the
shipping, air transportation, agriculture, fishing, forestry, and utilities industries.
variations, the mechanics of severe storms and other atmospheric phenomena,
developing better tools for forecasting weather, or studying the effect of environmental
factors like air pollution and shortages of fresh water on the atmosphere.
facilities usually involve night, weekend, and holiday work, often with rotating shifts.
During weather emergencies, such as hurricanes, operational meteorologists may
work overtime. Weather forecasters who work for radio or television stations
broadcast their reports from station studios, and may work evenings and weekends.
Meteorologists not involved in forecasting tasks work regular hours, usually in offices.
field with courses in meteorology, usually is the minimum educational requirement
for an entry-level position as an atmospheric scientist. Although positions in
operational meteorology are available for those with only a bachelor's degree,
obtaining a second bachelor's degree or a master's degree enhances employment
opportunities and advancement potential. A master's degree usually is necessary
for conducting applied research and development, and a Ph.D. is required for most
basic research positions.
The preferred educational requirement for entry-level meteorologists in the federal
government is a bachelor's degree - not necessarily in meteorology - but with at least
24 hours of meteorology courses. Sometimes, a combination of education and
appropriate experience may be substituted for a degree.
in intern positions for training and experience. During this period, they learn about
the National Weather Service's forecasting equipment and procedures, and rotate to
different offices to learn about various weather systems. After completing the training
period, they are assigned a permanent duty station. Experienced meteorologists
may advance to supervisory or administrative jobs, or may handle more complex
forecasting jobs.
stations should develop excellent communication skills through courses in speech,
journalism, and related fields. Prospective students should make certain that
courses required by the National Weather Service and other employers are offered
at the colleges they are considering.
interesting, perhaps a career in meteorology would be right for you! Meteorologists
and weather forecasters don't just help people plan their day, they help make air
transportation, shipping, agriculture, industry, and almost every other field safer
and better prepared to carry out operations on a daily basis. Meteorologists also
save lives by warning people about incoming severe weather and providing updates.
expected to experience average employment growth over the next ten years.
- The highest temperature ever recorded in the United States was 134 degrees and
occurred on July 10, 1913 in Death Valley, CA.
- The coldest temperature was -80 degrees and occurred on January 23, 1971 in the
Endicott Mountains of Northern Alaska.
- The highest temperature ever recorded in Alaska is also the highest temperature
ever recorded in the tropical state of Hawaii, 100 degrees!
- A lightening strike is hotter than the surface of the sun.
- Over 100 feet of snow fell on Mt. Rainer, Washington in 1971.
Occupational Outlook Handbook, Meteorologists (US Dept of Labor, Bureau of
Labor Statistics) - Information on atmospheric scientists.
http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos051.htm
Job and Volunteer Programs (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)
Explore job opportunities within NOAA, and the links to many scholarships, grants,
fellowships, volunteer programs, internships, and career resources.
http://www.noaa.gov/jobs.html
Job Opportunities (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) - NASA has
great job opportunities for a wide range of people. Learn about NASA careers --
including engineering, administration and computer science.
http://www.nasajobs.nasa.gov
Information for this Career Spotlight provided by the US Dept of Labor,
Occupational Outlook Handbook (http://www.bls.gov/oco).
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Students.gov InfoSource, 2004 ISSN 1536-559X