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WHAT RESOURCES AND SUPPORT ARE AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS DURING THEIR CAPSTONE PROJECTS AT RED DEER COLLEGE

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Red Deer College understands that the capstone project can be one of the most challenging but rewarding experiences for students as they near the completion of their program. To help ensure students have every opportunity to succeed, RDC provides a wide variety of resources and support systems.

Perhaps the most important resource is guidance from capstone course instructors and faculty advisors. Students work closely one-on-one with their capstone instructor who provides direction, feedback, and answers questions throughout the project process. The instructor monitors progress, offers advice when issues arise, and ensures students stay on track to meet deliverables. Some programs also assign each student a faculty advisor from their discipline who serves as an additional mentor and contact for specialized input.

Instructors and advisors help connect students to other experts on campus who can lend specialized knowledge. For example, students undertaking research-based capstones can access support from RDC’s research office to learn about methodology, get approval for studies involving people or animals, and connect with subject librarians for help with literature reviews. Students tackling technical or design-focused projects have options to consult instructors from related applied departments for guidance incorporating appropriate standards, materials, or skills into their work.

Librarians are key resources for capstone research. RDC’s full-service academic library houses collections, databases, and interlibrary loan services to help students access the scholarly literature needed to design thorough, well-supported projects. Librarians offer instruction on navigating resources, constructing effective searches, and properly citing sources to avoid plagiarism. Subject librarians with deeper expertise in certain disciplines are available for one-on-one consultations tailored to each student’s capstone topic.

Peer support also plays an important role. Many programs facilitate informal mentorship between senior capstone students and those just starting the process. This allows for valuable exchange of tips, encouragement, and advice on challenges faced. The college also has a Student Success Centre that runs informational workshops on time management, effective writing, presentation skills, and overcoming ‘capstone anxiety’ to help boost confidence. Peers can further support one another through casual study groups for feedback on drafts or practice runs of presentations before the final defence.

Technological resources aid project execution and presentation. RDC provides computer labs, software applications, audio/visual equipment loans, and multimedia design facilities relevant to capstones across diverse subjects. Students gain access to tools like 3D printers, engineering design suites, recording studios, simulation programs, and statistical analysis platforms to build robust, multimodal projects. Technical staff are available for brief training and troubleshooting issues.

Funding opportunities exist to enhance capstone scholarship. Internal awards through the college offer limited financial support for budget items like research participant incentives, equipment rentals, conference travel relevant to disseminating findings, or other expenses that elevate projects beyond normal course requirements. External grants may also be pursued under faculty guidance. Overall, RDC aims to surround students with layered guidance, peer fellowship, research tools, and even modest funding to allow capstone visions to reach their fullest potential.

Red Deer College provides students an extensive network of instructor advising, subject matter experts, library services, peer mentorship programs, technical facilities, and scarce financial support to help navigate capstone experiences. This commitment of resources and personalized attention reflects RDC’s dedication to nurturing innovative, exemplary final projects that ready graduates both academically and practically for their post-degree plans in a chosen field or further studies. Students are well-equipped at the institution to independently conduct meaningful, sophisticated work for their capstone climaxes to undergraduate learning.

WHAT ARE SOME STRATEGIES FOR SECURING ACCESS TO RESOURCES NECESSARY FOR PRIMARY RESEARCH

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Gaining access to resources is often a crucial step in the research process, as primary research frequently relies on being able to observe phenomena firsthand, interact directly with human or animal subjects, gain entry to private or restricted areas, utilize specialized equipment or facilities, and view documents not otherwise publicly available. While access needs vary widely depending on the topic, methods, and goals of each research project, some generally applicable best practices can improve researchers’ chances of obtaining what they require.

First, thoroughly researching both the resources sought and the protocols/requirements for accessing them is essential. Make sure to understand precisely what is entailed in terms of permission levels, access limitations, qualifying criteria, regulations, confidentiality agreements, and any fees or costs involved. Consulting directly with those who control the resources can provide clarity on feasibility and any uncertainty in the proposal. Starting early allows maximum time for dialogue, troubleshooting obstacles, and iterative feedback/refinement of the access strategy.

Second, carefully crafting a formal written access request tailored to the specific situation is important. Provide compelling justification for why the resources are necessary, appropriate, and will be safely and responsibly utilized. Focus on how the proposed research aligns with and benefits the controlling entity’s interests, values, policies and any other priorities. Clearly communicate plans to respect subjects’ privacy, confidentiality of information obtained, security of physical spaces and digital data, as well as intellectual property considerations. Specifically address any perceived risks and propose effective mitigation approaches.

Third, it is wise to leverage personal and professional connections whenever feasible. Reaching out to acquaintances within the target institution, relevant professional associations or political circles can open doors more readily than an impersonal letter. The energy and enthusiasm of capable advocates elsewhere in one’s network elevates credibility. Meeting key decision makers in person, if permitted, allows forming a direct rapport and addressing concerns through dialogue. Following up afterwards to express appreciation for their consideration also fosters ongoing goodwill.

Fourth, consider offering something in exchange for the requested access, recognizing that altruism alone may not suffice given legal/ethical obligations and limited resources. Propose value-added collaboration like providing summary analyses, contributing subject-matter expertise, acknowledging the organization in publications or inviting them to related events. Volunteer unpaid services or even make a modest monetary donation commensurate with budget. Compromise and compromise creatively to achieve mutual benefit wherever possible.

Fifth, persist diplomatically if initial requests are denied. Request feedback on deficiencies and resubmit strengthened proposals addressing the issues raised. Suggest reasonable alternatives scopes, timeframes or supervision models that still serve research needs while accommodating constraints. Appeal decisions through approved processes if miscommunications or reconsideration could yield a different outcome. Know when to graciously accept “no” and redirect efforts productively rather than irritate decision makers with stubborn insistences.

Sixth, properly handle any access that is approved by fulfilling commitments to safeguard subjects, respect policies, share results, protect proprietary interests and more. Maintain open communication throughout and provide timely updates. Send heartfelt appreciation afterwards. Upheld integrity builds warranted confidence for future cooperation, while breaches jeopardize it for one’s self and others. Continually evaluate experiences for lessons applicable to subsequent requests as careers progress.

Gaining primary research access often mandates meticulous planning, optimizing known factors within one’s control while judiciously navigating social, regulatory and resource realities beyond. A balanced combination of diligence, interpersonal skills, compromise and perseverance within ethical bounds can overcome many barriers with patience and understanding on all sides. Proper stewardship of access then granted further enables valuable work for the benefit of scholarship and society.

WHAT RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE TO UGM STUDENTS TO SUPPORT THEM IN COMPLETING THEIR CAPSTONE PROJECTS

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University of Green Mountain (UGM) provides several resources to support students in successfully completing their capstone projects. The capstone project is an important culminating experience that allows students to apply the knowledge and skills learned throughout their academic program. Given its significance, UGM is committed to providing students with various forms of guidance and assistance.

One of the primary resources offered is faculty advising. All students are matched with a faculty advisor in their department who has expertise in their capstone subject area. Advisors meet regularly with advisees to discuss project ideas, provide feedback on proposals and progress, help troubleshoot any challenges, and ensure students stay on track. They also write letters of support when needed. Advising meetings can take place in-person or online, giving flexibility.

In addition to advisors, UGM has dedicated capstone coordinators in each department. These coordinators are available not just for advising but also administrative and procedural support. They help with tasks like securing necessary approvals, ensuring compliance with format and submission guidelines, and connecting students to other campus resources. Coordinators also plan regular workshops on capstone best practices, time management, research skills, and other relevant topics.

The university library provides excellent research assistance to capstone students. Subject librarians offer one-on-one consultations for developing search strategies, evaluating sources, and utilizing databases and tools. Students can also attend group information literacy sessions. The library has detailed research guides customized for different disciplines. It subscribes to numerous databases and allows inter-library loan access. Capstone related materials like previous projects are also available on reserve for relevant inspiration.

For empirical or applied capstones requiring data collection, UGM has various research centers that students can leverage. These include the community research center for studies involving human subjects, the entrepreneurship lab for business consulting projects, the GIS and mapping center for spatial data analysis, and more specialized labs in sciences and tech fields. Students get training and advising on ethics, methodology, tool/equipment use from center staff based on their needs.

The university writing and math tutoring centers provide complimentary consultations to all students for improving their academic communication and quantitative/analytical skills. This helps enhance the quality of writing, data analysis sections in capstone papers and presentations. Drop-in hours as well as one-on-one scheduled appointments are available. Tutors are trained to help with domain specific issues too.

For funding needs related to capstones like research participant incentives, materials/equipment, travel for fieldwork etc., UGM has internal grant programs that students can competitively apply for. The most prestigious is the President’s Capstone Research Grant that can fund up to $5000 of eligible expenses. Smaller department level grants are also instituted by some programs. Previous Capstone Grant awardees give presentations about their experience as an additional resource.

To support multimedia/non-paper based capstone project formats, UGM offers technology loan programs. Equipment like cameras, audio recorders, VR headsets etc. can be checked out for several weeks. Campus-wide 3D printing and electronic prototyping workshops help bring project ideas to life as well. An assistive technology specialist assists students with disabilities. The library has studio facilities for recording and editing audio-visual work too.

Peer mentoring and networking opportunities play a large role in resources provided. Upper-level capstone students may serve as Peer Consultants, sharing advice developed from their own experiences. Special interest clubs connect those with similar project interests across cohorts. Events like an annual Capstone Showcase Conference highlight finished works and cultivate collaboration. Bringing together the full spectrum of resources yields high student satisfaction and success rates in capstone completion at UGM.

Through tangible aids like technology, funding, and state-of-the-art facilities coupled with the human element of expert guidance and community support structures, UGM aims to empower every student towards independent research and innovative problem solving. The variety of capstone resources seek to develop well-rounded, career-ready graduates who are able to proudly present their work.

CAN YOU PROVIDE SOME RESOURCES OR REFERENCES FOR FURTHER READING ON NETWORK SECURITY CAPSTONE PROJECTS

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Network Penetration Testing – Conduct network penetration tests against simulated networks to find vulnerabilities. Methodically work through the penetration testing process of reconnaissance, scanning, exploitation, privilege escalation, maintaining access, and more. Write a detailed report documenting findings. References: The Hacker Playbook 3: Practical Guide To Penetration Testing by Craig Smith; Penetration Testing: A Hands-On Introduction to Hacking by Georgia Weidman.

Implementing a Network Intrusion Detection/Prevention System – Deploy and configure an open-source intrusion detection and prevention system like Snort or Suricata. Configure rules, signatures and monitoring capabilities. Test by launching mock attacks and ensure the system detects and blocks them appropriately. Write documentation on deployment, configuration and testing procedures. References: Snort Cookbook by Tony Singles; Suricata User Guide; Mastering Snort by Douglas Burks.

Design and Implement a Firewall Ruleset – Create detailed firewall design documentation including network diagrams, IP addressing scheme, services allowed, and proposed ruleset. Deploy and configure the firewall with the ruleset using an open-source firewall like pfSense or OPNsense. Test common ports, protocols and services to ensure only permitted traffic can pass through the firewall. References: pfSense: The Definitive Guide by Jim Pingle and Chris Bason; OPNsense documentation.

Secure Network Infrastructure Hardening – Study a real or simulated network and perform a security audit to identify vulnerabilities. Develop a comprehensive plan to harden systems, network devices, and applications based on industry best practices. Implement recommendations like disabling unnecessary services, updating software/firmwares, patching vulnerabilities, configuring secure protocols, access controls, logging/monitoring and more. Document processes. References: CIS Benchmarks; NIST SP 800-123 Guide to General Server Security; DHS Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) guidance.

Design and Implement a VPN – Create design documentation and configure an IPsec or OpenVPN based remote access VPN. Configure encryption, authentication, ACLs and other security features. Test connectivity and verify only authorized access. Install and configure a VPN client and connect from remote machines. Measure performance impact. Document configuration, setup instructions and testing procedures. References: Cisco VPN Configuration Guide; OpenVPN Installation and Configuration Guide; VPN Best Practices for Network Engineers by Michael Fosqua.

Network Security Awareness Training Program – Develop training materials like presentations, documentation, videos etc. to educate users about common threats, secure practices, password security, phishing, social engineering and more. Create mock scenarios to test user understanding. Implement a training system to deliver, track completion and reinforce training over time. Analyze effectiveness of training. Recommend improvements based on analysis. References: SANS Security Awareness Training; Building a Security Awareness Program: 9 Foundational Principles by Kevin Beaver; Implementing an Effective Security Awareness Program by Justin Searle

Design and Implement a Wireless Security Solution – Assess wireless security risks in an organization and design a plan for a secure wireless infrastructure. Configure authentication via RADIUS or captive portal. Encrypt traffic using WPA2 and WPA3 standards. Implement wireless intrusion prevention capabilities. Segregate guest and corporate traffic. Create monitoring and alerting. Test security measures. Configure wireless clients. Document setup and configurations. References: CWSP Certified Wireless Security Professional Official Study Guide by David Coleman and David Westcott; Wireless Security Handbook by Ron Pierce

There are many possibilities for network security capstone projects that allow demonstrating skills across various domains ranging from network and system hardening to intrusion prevention to security awareness. The projects require comprehensive planning, design, implementation, testing and documentation. Defining the scope and focusing on practical real-world scenarios are important for a successful capstone. The references provided are a starting point for further research and understanding industry best practices. Network security capstone projects provide hands-on experience with network defense methodologies and allow demonstrating mastery of core security concepts.

WHAT ARE SOME RESOURCES OR ORGANIZATIONS THAT CAN HELP ME WITH MY CAPSTONE PROJECT IN CANCER CARE

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The American Cancer Society is one of the largest and most well-known cancer organizations in the United States. They have a variety of resources on their website that could aid in research for a capstone project. Some specific resources offered by the ACS include access to cancer facts and statistics reports, clinical care guidelines and protocols, information on emerging cancer treatment and technologies, data on disparities, survivorship care plans, and public policy initiatives and advocacy efforts. They also have a library of scientific research papers and journals. The ACS has numerous regional and local divisions across the country that may be able to provide local data, connect you with healthcare professionals, or give guidance on developing cancer initiatives specific to a given region or community. Reaching out to local ACS leadership could help identify potential mentors, interview subjects, or areas of need to focus a capstone project on.

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) is part of the National Institutes of Health and is the primary federal agency responsible for cancer research. The NCI is an invaluable resource for any capstone project involving cancer care research. Their main website contains a comprehensive cancer research database of over 1.5 million scientific citations and abstracts on cancer topics that can help with background research. They also publish extensive data and statistics reports on incidence, trends, mortality and survival. Beyond published research, the NCI has programs, task forces and initiatives focused on specific cancer types, disparities, survivorship and more. Connecting with program staff could shine light on emerging issues, challenges or opportunities within cancer care to build a capstone around. For projects involving human subjects research, the NCI also oversees a large clinical trials system that may allow connecting with patient populations.

State and local health departments maintain invaluable health data and are invested in improving cancer outcomes within their jurisdiction. Reaching out to chronic disease directors, cancer control coalitions or cancer registry staff at health departments could uncover local priorities, initiatives or gaps in screening, treatment or supportive services programming that are ripe for capstone exploration and analysis. They may also have cancer burden reports, or be able to provide microdata to examine geographic, racial or socioeconomic disparities that influence cancer experiences and outcomes within a state or community. Some states/regions have cancer plans that outline goals and strategies providing direction for potential capstone work.

Cancer centers, oncology practices and hospitals conduct pioneering research and deliver the bulk of cancer care. Reach out to nurse educators, navigators, social workers or other staff about current challenges, opportunities or pilot programs to evaluate. Clinicians may also be interested project advisors, and centers maintain biospecimen banks and patient registries generating robust data for analysis. Community clinical partnerships could advance understanding of how integrated models address social determinants of health, survivorship care coordination or other important practice and policy considerations.

National or local philanthropic cancer foundations fund research, provide patient support services and advocate for cancer patients. Foundations like the V Foundation, Lance Armstrong Foundation and Cancer Support Community could offer guidance on emerging issues, introduce contacts within their networks, provide data on their program impacts, or connect students to patient advisor roles. Leveraging foundation priorities and existing partnerships could help ensure capstone relevance and potential for translation into future practice.

With such a breadth of options, identifying the specific issues or populations of interest will help narrow the focus and determine the individuals and organizations most suited to aid in moving the capstone project forward. Reaching out with clear project goals and desired contributions in mind will help establish mutually beneficial collaborations. The end result would be robust research, practical applications and valuable experiential learning to enhance cancer care.