Career ServicesMegan ChesterBrit JacksonThomas MorganDave Nguyen

Overview

•College profile and mission statements•Review of career services programs and

assessment plans▫Career Fair▫Shadow Program▫Appointments▫Resume Workshop

•Recapitulation •Class discussion•Questions

Profile

•Located in Boston, MA•Liberal arts college with a comprehensive

focus in arts and communication•Approximately 3, 500 full time

undergraduate students•Approximately 840 full and part time

graduate students

Adapted from Emerson College (2011)

Academic ProgramsBachelors Degrees Masters Degrees

• BS Communication Sciences and Disorders

• BS Communication Studies• BA Journalism• BA Marketing

Communication• BA Performing Arts• BA Visual and Media Arts• BA Writing, Literature and

Publishing• BA Liberal Arts and

Interdisciplinary Studies

• MS Communication Disorders• MA Communication

Management• MFA Creative Writing• MA Global Marketing

Communications & Advertising• MA Health Communication• MA Integrated Marketing

Communication• MA Journalism• MA Media Art• MA Publishing & Writing• MA Theatre Education 

Adapted from Emerson College (2011)

Mission StatementsCampus Career Services

• The college prepares students to bring innovation, knowledge, and diversity to the communication and arts industries.  The curriculum and co-curricular programs aim to foster students’ respect for diversity, engagement in ethical practices, and social awareness.

• Through co-curricular programs, the Office of Career Service assists students with experiential learning opportunities and post-commencement plans.  The Office strives to reach and help all students with resume, job searching, career exploration, interviewing, networking, and more through a variety of workshops, appointments, mentoring, events, and combined efforts with Office of Student Life. 

Adapted from Emerson College (2011)

Career Fair

Program Overview•The Career Services department

administers two career fairs each year; one in the fall and one in the spring

•Opportunity for students to speak with employers about full time employment, co-op employment, and internships

•Build a professional network to enhance chances of employment

•Students discover opportunities that they can use for experience, credit, and employment

Learning Outcome to Assess

•After attending a Career Fair students will know how to: 

Take initiatives to apply to positions and contact employers

Assessment Plan

•Assessment tools▫Online Survey

•Sample population▫Career Fair Attendees and Employers

•Use of results▫The Career Services department will

ensure students who attend the career fair know how to communicate with employers about their individual application processes and how to utilize the technology available to apply to jobsAppendices A-C

Shadow Program

Program Overview

•Pair with alumni or professionals interested in speaking with students about their professions, and their companies

•Utilize the reflect-explore-connect concept•Provide students with the tools to create

this learning/networking opportunity

Student Participation Requirements•Complete the application form•Review resume with a counselor•Attend a workshop for networking and

informational interviewing•Sign the networking integrity contract•Meet mentor•Complete program assessment

Learning Outcome to Assess

•After participating in the Mentor Program, students will be able to:

Determine if their current professional interests are a fit in an industry

Assessment PlanStudents Alumni and Professionals

• Revision of original application questions and complete

• Ask students how the program itself can be improved based on structure, communications or other reasoning

• Send a survey to participants inquiring about their experience with the student

Appendices D-F

Use of Results

•Feedback from students and mentors will be used to ensure the program requirements allow students to have a meaningful experience that allows them to determine if their career path choices are good match

Appointments

Program Overview

•Students typically schedule appointments to receive help in the following areas:▫Job Searching▫Graduate School Applications▫Resume Revisions▫Mock Interviews▫Cover Letter Assistance

Learning Outcome to Assess

•After a one-on-one meeting with a career counselor, students will be able to:

Have their questions fully answered which will enable them to feel more confident about the job-seeking process

Assessment Plan

•Students will be surveyed multiple times through the semester

•A pre-test will be given at the start of the semester to all students

•A questionnaire will be given after each counseling appointment

•A post-test will be given at the end of the semester with questions similar to the pre-test

Appendices G-H

Resume Workshop

Program Overview• A Resume Workshop helps students:

o Understand what a resume iso Understand the structure and components of

a resumeo Gain the ability to create their own resume

• Workshops are conducted in a lecture style with a substantial amount of open dialogue between the students and the instructor 

• Acts a co-curricular supplement to students' curriculum

• Scheduled throughout the year during various times and days

Learning Outcome to Assess

•By attending a Resume Workshop students will be able to:

Create a first draft of a resume

Assessment Plan

•Assessment tools▫Survey▫Document Analysis

•Sample population▫Workshop attendees

•Use of results▫Modify the content of the workshop

Appendices I-J

Recapitulation• Program: Career Fair

▫LO: Student will know how to take initiatives to apply to positions and contact employers

• Program: Mentor Program▫LO: Students will be able to determine if their

professional interests are a fit in an industry• Program: Appointments

▫LO: Students will have their questions fully answered which will enable them to feel more confident about the job-seeking process

• Program: Resume Workshop▫LO: Students will be able to create a first draft of a

resume

Discussion Questions• Do you have any additional suggestions for

assessing the mentioned programs?▫What do like or dislike about our assessment

approach?• During your undergraduate experiences did you

participate in any of the programs we discussed?▫If yes, what attracted your attention? Do you recall if

any forms of assessment followed the program?▫If no, what differed you?

• Do you have any suggestions for ways to market Career Services Programs to better engage a greater number of students

Questions

ReferencesBresciani, M.J., Gardner, M.M., & Hickmott, J. (2009). Demonstrating

student success: A practical guide to outcomes-based assessment of learning and development in student affairs.  Sterling, VA: Stylus Publishing, LLC.

Emerson College. Careers & Internships. Retrieved April 9, 2011, from http://www.emerson.edu/student-life/careers-internships.

Emerson College. Facts & Figures. Retrieved April 9, 2011, from http://www.emerson.edu/about-emerson/facts-figures.

Emerson College. Graduate Degrees. Retrieved April 9, 2011, from http://www.emerson.edu/academics/graduate-degrees.

Emerson College. Undergraduate Degrees. Retrieved April 9, 2011, from http://www.emerson.edu/academics/undergraduate-degrees.

Wagner, V. (2009). Alverno college. In M.J. Bresciani, M.M.         Gardner, & J. Hickmott (Eds.), Case studies for implementing     assessment in student affairs (PP. 7-12). San Francisco, CA:     Joessey-Bass.