Alumni

Technology Offers Convenience, Authenticity, and Security

Virginia Beach, VA – ECPI University has launched an exciting new service for its students, issuing degrees digitally on the Blockchain, becoming one of the first universities to do so. Graduates no longer need to contact the registrar’s office to have a verifiable degree sent to a prospective employer or for any other purpose. 

Blockchain technology provides secure, immediate verification. The student controls their official records and can share their degrees and/or professional certificates publicly on social media profiles, or send them privately by email or text message using the ‘share icon’ in the app and with its own unique URL. In 2019, ECPI University plans to use this platform to issue digital transcripts as well. 

First used for cryptocurrency (i.e. Bitcoin), Blockchain manages information in small units called blocks, which are linked using cryptography. Each block contains a cryptographic hash of the previous block, a timestamp, and transaction data. Recipients can store their earned credentials in the Blockcerts app off-chain on their smart device, while using the Blockchain for verification. 

Anchoring records to the Blockchain provides the most advanced form of digital document security and should gain considerable use across higher education and other issuers of educational credentials over the next few years. These digital credentials have the potential to dramatically reduce false claims on resumes since employers will be able to instantly substantiate a person’s educational background. 

“This is the future of retaining your vital academic records independent of any issuing entity,” says ECPI University Chief Information Officer Jeff Arthur. “You retain proof and control of your achievements indefinitely. Employers benefit from a process that allows them to quickly and easily verify educational histories on a resume. ECPI University is proud to be an early adopter and put an end to the archaic process of requesting a degree or transcript.” 

For more information, please contact ECPI University Director of Marketing at 757.490.9090 or [email protected].

About ECPI University 

ECPI University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award the associate's, baccalaureate, and master's degrees and diplomas. SACSCOC is the regional body for the accreditation of degree-granting higher education institutions in the Southern states. A private university founded in 1966, ECPI University has campuses in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, ant Texas and offers convenient classes during the day, evening, and online; graduate employment services, continuing education, certification classes, and testing are also available.                      

On campus or online, fields of study include: HEALTH SCIENCES: Master of Science in Nursing, Nursing (RN to BSN), BS to BSN, Nursing (ADN), Practical Nursing, Healthcare Administration, Health Information Management, Physical Therapist Assistant, Massage Therapy, Dental Assisting, Medical Assisting, Paramedic (EMT), Radiography, Radiologic Sciences, Sonography, Surgical Technology; TECHNOLOGY: Master of Science in Information Systems, Master of Science in Cybersecurity, Cyber and Network Security, Information Systems,  Software Development, Mobile Development, Cloud Computing, Web Design and Development, Electronics Engineering, Mechatronics, Mechanical Engineering Technology; BUSINESS AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE: Master of Business Administration (MBA), Accounting, Business Administration, IT Management, Hospitality Management, Criminal Justice, Homeland Security, Crime and Intelligence Analysis; CULINARY: Culinary Arts, Culinary Nutrition, Food Service Management, Baking and Pastry Arts. (Program field availability varies by campus.) For more information, visit www.ecpi.edu. 

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Experts Say STP Black Saves Time, Money, and Man Power

Charlotte, NC – Charlotte native and ECPI University graduate Patrick Wright and his team of developers have invented an information security system that may revolutionize the way organizations protect themselves from cyber-attacks. It’s called STP Black, and it automates a process that typically involves countless man hours and cumbersome processes. 

Wright’s company, STP Ventures, subscribes to a wide range of the world’s top threat databases. By developing STP Black (patent pending), Patrick, along with co-founder Sheryl Pierce and their team, have created an automated solution that integrates data from those databases and automatically feeds clients critical information required to stop those threats. Most importantly it updates that information on a rolling 15 minute window. 

“The threats are verified and well researched,” says Wright. Again, it’s all automatic, no human interaction required. STP Black parses everything from IP Addresses and URLs related to an attack, along with file hashes associated with the attack files. Within 15 minutes of a new threat being uploaded to a monitored database, STP Black has already collected the critical information and updated the customer firewall to block the threat. 

“A great real-world example of this would be the recent WannaCry Ransomware attack.  A short time after it hit, a file hash was identified and uploaded to many of the threat databases. That was a crucial piece of information in the early prevention of the attack. STP Black syndicated that file hash to our customers within 15 minutes of it becoming available – a response that would be difficult for many IT department to match, especially in the wee hours of a Saturday morning – even more so for IT departments at small to medium sized businesses.” 

While STP Black has had a rather quiet, initial rollout, IT professionals are taking notice. “STP Black provides protection in such a way that small- and medium-sized businesses are able to have the same peace of mind that was previously available only to massive companies with dozens of information security engineers dedicated to real-time defense,” says Keane Matthews, CISSP, a Vice President and Senior Tech Manager with a large national bank. 

“STP Black is an example of what I challenge all my students to be able to do upon graduation,” says Dr. Michael Martin, Computer and Information Science Program Director at ECPI University’s Charlotte campus. “Take the skills they learn and synthesize solutions for problems with them.” 

For more information, please contact ECPI Director of Marketing at 757.490.9090 or [email protected].

About ECPI University 

ECPI University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award the associate's, baccalaureate, and master's degrees and diplomas. SACSCOC is the regional body for the accreditation of degree-granting higher education institutions in the Southern states. A private university founded in 1966, ECPI University has campuses in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Florida, and offers convenient classes during the day, evening, and online; graduate employment services, continuing education, certification classes, and testing are also available.                       

On campus or online, fields of study include: HEALTH SCIENCES: Master of Science in Nursing, Nursing (RN to BSN), BS to BSN, Nursing (RN), Practical Nursing, Healthcare Administration, Physical Therapist Assistant, Dental Assisting, Medical Assisting,  Radiography, Sonography, Surgical Technology; TECHNOLOGY: Master of Science in Information Systems, Master of Science in Cybersecurity, Cyber and Network Security, Information Systems,  Software Development, Cloud Computing, Web Development,  Database Programming, Electronics Engineering Technology, Mechatronics/Advanced Manufacturing, Mechanical Engineering Technology; BUSINESS AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE: Master of Business Administration (MBA), Accounting, Business Administration, IT Management, Hospitality Management, Criminal Justice, Homeland Security; CULINARY: Culinary Arts, Culinary Nutrition, Food Service Management, Baking and Pastry Arts. (Program field availability varies by campus.) For more information, visit www.ecpi.edu. 

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RELEASE DATE: FEBRUARY 26, 2014 11:07 AM
CONTACT: DIRECTOR OF MARKETING 757-490-9090
Simulator is the First of its Kind in Richmond
Richmond, VA – It’s the world’s most life-like synthetic cadaver; and it will be the only one of its kind used by college students in the Richmond area. It’s called a Syndaver and it will arrive at the Richmond/Moorefield campus of ECPI University’s Medical Careers Institute (MCI), on Friday, February 28 at 12:15 p.m.
“We are proud to join some of the world’s leading universities and healthcare organizations in providing our students with a tool that can help them enhance their skill level,” says MCI Surgical Technology Program Director Charles Hughes.
Manufactured by SynDaver Labs, this advanced simulation mannequin features a complete representation of typical human anatomy, including every bone, muscle, and organ, skin with fat and fascia planes, a functioning respiratory system, and a full digestive tract and circulatory system.
“Having a Syndaver on campus will give our students a true-to-life training that is second to none,” says Hughes. “With no other educator providing this level of realism in Richmond, our students will have an unprecedented opportunity to prepare themselves before they step into the clinical settings of their chosen fields.”
As a teaching tool, it can be used for a variety of purposes including training in basic suturing skills, microvascular anastomosis, central line placement, chest tube placement, breast surgery, liposuction, oral and nasal intubation, tracheotomy, coronary angioplasty and stenting, and a wide variety of other surgical procedures.
Medical Career Institute’s Richmond/Moorefield Campus is located at 800 Moorefield Park Drive in Richmond. Journalists interested in observing a demonstration can contact ECPI University Director of Marketing at 757.490.9090 or [email protected].
FILED UNDER: ECPI UNIVERSITY, PRESS RELEASES, RICHMOND/MOOREFIELD CAMPUS

RELEASE DATE: AUGUST 9, 2012 12:38 PM
CONTACT: DIRECTOR OF MARKETING 757-490-9090

Columbia, SC – ECPI University recently honored Miss Jasmine Bookhart as their 2012 Valedictorian.  Miss Bookhart, a resident of Irmo, graduated at the top of her class with her AAS Degree in Medical Assisting.  College didn’t come easy to Jasmine; she worked hard to balance school, work and being a single mother and yet was still able to complete all her course work and her clinical rotation with Lakeview Family Medicine while maintaining a GPA of 3.92.  Jasmine was also a member of the Medical Student Association and Phi Theta Kappa Honors Fraternity.  Upon her graduation Miss Bookhart was hired as part of the Six Sigma Medical Research Facility of Columbia Nephrology, working under Dr. Tarek Sobeih, MD on experimental nephrology treatments.  ECPI University recognizes and congratulates Miss Jasmine Bookhart for her outstanding achievement.

For more information, please contact ECPI Columbia Campus President James Rund at 803.772.3333 or Director of Marketing at 757.490.9090 or [email protected].

FILED UNDER: COLUMBIA, SC, ECPI UNIVERSITY, PRESS RELEASES
 

Release Date: June 11, 2014 
Contact: ECPI University Director of Marketing  757-490-9090

Chesterfield Resident Finishes College in 2 Years
Dual-Enrollment and Accelerated Program Helps Criminal Justice Grad Start Her Career in Half the Time

Richmond, VA – First she wants to be a police officer, then it’s off to the FBI. At least that’s the plan for Courtney Strain. The young Chesterfield resident is certainly ambitious. She began her college career when she was still in high school through Chesterfield County Public Schools’ Dual Enrollment Program with ECPI University.

Between her early credits and attending ECPI University year-round, she was able to graduate in just two years with her Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice. Attending school for two straight years with no breaks was certainly demanding but it has paid off. “My parents are very proud of me for all of my hard work and diligence to get through this program,” says Courtney. “They are very much my support group. They can't believe how fast the time went by and honestly I can't believe it either. 

“My experience with ECPI would not have been the same if it wasn't for the faculty and the amazing students I got to know. We all lean on each other and push each other through when we get burnt out. This program can be challenging but when you have professors giving you positive feedback and friends sharing the same experiences, it refuels my fire and drive to keep going.”

Graduation will be held on Friday, June 13 at the Siegel Center, located at 1200 W. Broad Street in Richmond, Virginia beginning at 1:00 pm. For more information, please contact ECPI University Director of Marketing at 757.490.9090 or [email protected].

About ECPI University
ECPI University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award associate, baccalaureate, and master degrees and diploma programs. With campuses in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia, ECPI, a private university established in 1966, offers convenient classes during the day, evening, and online; graduate employment services are provided. Continuing education certification classes and testing are also available.

ECPI’s fields of study include: TECHNOLOGY: Cyber and Network Security, Information Systems, Software Development, Cloud Computing, Web Development, Database Programming, Business Systems Administration, Accounting Administration, Electronics Engineering Technology, Mechatronics, Marine Technology; Medical Imaging Equipment Technology; BUSINESS AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE: Accounting, Business Administration, IT Management, Food Service Management, Criminal Justice, Homeland Security; HEALTH SCIENCES: Healthcare Administration, Health Information Management, Medical Administration, Physical Therapist Assistant, Massage Therapy, Dental Assisting, Medical Assisting, Medical Radiography, Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Surgical Technology, Nursing (BSN), Registered Nursing, Practical Nursing; CULINARY: Culinary Arts. (Program field availability varies by campus.) For more information, visit www.ecpi.edu.