Student Affairs Committee Minutes December 2, 2011 · Brandon Pelliter was elected Chairperson,...
Transcript of Student Affairs Committee Minutes December 2, 2011 · Brandon Pelliter was elected Chairperson,...
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Student Affairs Committee Minutes
December 2, 2011
The meeting opened with Dean Degen providing the charge to the committee as decided by the All
College Committee. (As outlined in the agenda from the December 2nd meeting)
Organization of the committee was discussed and it was suggested that a student chair the committee.
Brandon Pelliter was elected Chairperson, Lyndsay Isham-Morton is Vice Chairperson, Gina Puc is
Secretary.
Quorum was discussed: Jake Powers proposed a mix of 3 students, 3 administrators, and 3 faculty
members. There was discussion around adding more students and requiring fewer administrators.
Professor Hejnova offered that other committees typically have less faculty required. In the end it was
decided that quorum would consist of: 5 students, 1 administrator, and 2 faculty members.
Ideas on how to move forward were discussed: multiple members suggested getting in touch with
recent alums that are working or are in graduate school. Both faculty and staff would contact. Also want
to make sure that someone in the advancement office (Brandon Pender?) was contacted to maximize
contacts. Prof. Standley suggested that alumni from the Fine and Performing Arts may have different
needs. Dean Degen brought up the sciences. Vehicles for interviewing were discussed: Skype, in
person, telephone.
Also discussed were potential site visits to other campuses, dividing the committee into working groups,
questions for other departments on campus (CSSE, etc.)
Prof. Ramsden suggested we establish date of next meeting. Vice Chair Isham-Morton offered to
schedule.
Time commitment and meeting schedule for the Spring semester was addressed. Dean Degen suggested
approximately 6 meetings for the upcoming semester.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:50.
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Student Affairs Committee Agenda February 3, 2012 1. Welcome Back 2. New Member Introduction 3. Review Charge to the Committee 4. Review Committee Timeline 5. Review Information compiled about MA State Universities & Select COPLAC Institutions 6. Group Work (split into three groups to generate questions) Questions for CSSE (Deb Foss and Sue Bailey Questions for Alums Questions for Jenn Craig (as she works closely with the senior class) 7. Regroup & Review Questions
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MCLA Top Competitors
State Universities:
Westfield State University
Framingham State University
Fitchburg State University
Salem State University
Bridgewater State University
UMass System:
UMass Amherst
Umass Dartmouth
Others:
Keene State
St. Michael’s
Western New England University
Hartwick
Lesley
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Student Affairs Committee
Minutes February 3, 2012
Present: Todd Foy, Petra Hejnova, Adam Hildabrand, Osa Igiede (late arrival), Lyndsay Isham-Morton,
Rita Nnodim, Brendan Peltier, Beth Petri, Gina Puc, Adam Tobin
Meeting begins at 9:06.
Discussion of going forward without student quorum- decided it was ok because we are not voting.
Introductions around the table for new members.
Chair reissues charge to committee: campus survey of services, look at peer institutions, report about
most desirable programs from their vantage point at MCLA.
Discussion of what is in the packet for members today and timeline given for this semester (topic
outlines for 4 meetings)
Chair: gives minute to read over agenda for the semester and the responsibilities for the committee
Prof. Hejnova: Currently is teaching Methods of research class. Class of 20 people that can help with
surveys, as her class syllabus is flexible. Emphasizes how important survey questions are.
Chair: Any suggestions for other groups of people?
Prof. Nodim: Maybe we could reach out to younger groups of students to see what resources they are
hoping for?
Catt Chaput: Should Celia be included, close relationships with students, etc.
Vice Chair: Gives run down of work the committee will be doing- formulating questions for guests at the
next meeting
Adam Hildabrand: Should we split the upcoming agenda and give Deb and Sue Bailey their own
meeting?
Discussion of adding additional meetings
Chair asks if Fridays at 9am are still possible.
Discussion of what students to survey- Dean Degen suggests starting with class governance
Catt Chaput suggests going to Capstone classes and asks if “the average student” knows of resources on
campus
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Chair: Introduces concept of subcommittees and working schedule
Break into sub committees
Groups:
Gina. Todd, Beth, Adam (Deb and Sue)
Rita, Adam, Osa, Lyndsay (Students, Senior class)
Petra, Catt, Brendan (Alumni)
Committee breaks into sub committees to formulate questions
Group work ends at 9:48
Chair discusses next meeting
Meeting adjourned at 9:54
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Student Affairs Committee
Minutes
February 17, 2012
Present: Todd Foy, Jake Powers, Adam, Tobin, Brendan Peltier, Lyndsay Isham-Morton, Adam
Hildabrand, Laura Standley, Alah Kucher, Rita Nnodim, Petra Hejnova, Osa (late arrival)
Guests: Deb Foss, Sue Bailey
Meeting called to order at 9:05
BP: Thanks Deb and Sue for joining us
Introductions around the table
BP: We’ll start with a brief overview of the career services at CSSE
DF: I’ll provide an overview, about year and a half ago the college created CSSE, to bring together as a
primary group Career, Learning, and Advising services to integrate because of overlap in what they do
and they have their specialties. With SZ retirement we are doing a search for a career specialist. The
process that the Student Affairs committee is doing comes at a good time and dovetails nicely with
transitions that are happening. Sue, do you want to give an overview?
SB: The way the career center has functioned works with students from Orientation – what we offer to
them, early exploration of majors and careers, work with students across the spectrum, job search,
student employment, resume building, job search strategies, resume seminar (now encompasses early
interview prep and job search- 1.5 hours)- students can them come back for individual assistance. Study
abroad is growing, greater interest, even in admissions process. Support info and program with online
early information, locations, process, etc. Best semester we have had 15 students abroad. Spring is more
popular. Exchange programs are newer- work mostly with the Hebei program, support with SIFT (mostly
documentation). Student employment: contracts, questions, site changes, etc. Also work with trust fund
jobs- those are decreasing. Also tap into local employer base, transportation can be issue for not upper
level student. Bus/Berkshire Rides can have difficult schedules to navigate. We also do special
programming: work with admissions for career fair – worked with 400 8th graders to show north
Berkshire employment opportunities, etiquette dinners, luncheons for interview prep. Program with
alumni in conjunction with their alumni event for networking. Education wanted special resume building
These are by requests. STEM/science fair. E-portfolio, and Sigi 3 seems to have gotten more students
connected.
DF: Very much collaborative work historically. Can look to strengthen with alumni, student clubs and
organizations. One of the struggles is how do you get a group of people who need something together.
Works great for students that are motivated. How do you reach a captive audience with an audience
that is captivated? Past few years have worked with Orientation to describe path- it starts when you
start. The college has a pretty robust internship program- housed in academic departments because it is
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credit bearing. Career Services has a clearinghouse, Sue emails opportunities. Hoping to have a viewable
database so students can see even from home. Working with alumni Board of Directors to see what they
can offer students in the field. CSSE has core offices but has tethers across campus. Looking to
strengthen connections in the wider range of possibilities. (Hand-out of the four services). These are
things that students should be thinking about this also mirrors some of the work done with e-portfolios.
Anyone on campus could make use of this. Questions or comments?
SB: We are trying to use email to market, now have facebook page to put important information, put
different tidbits that are different from what you would find from the web or in student announce. Like
to get in the classroom and do a 5-7 minute outreach. Mention graduate school fair, etc. How do you
look at that process early, could do more with audience for grad school fairs. Timing has been issue, but
if we have an intern it allows other things. Like the senior corner on the website. Interns have worked
very well with prospective students at an open house. Lot of opportunities for students out there and
want to help them make the connection. It is going to be tough for students with no internship coming
out or real work experience. Interviews are an area where students tend to shy away and they may
have a weakness there. Internships are even required for an internship. Need to know that group
BP: We’ll turn it over for questions
Gina: What can we do to help you?
SB: Are we capturing a student’s perspective? What kinds of services can the career center expand
upon? Are there better ways to market? Sometimes you can be so close to the topic, encourage other
groups to seek our services, continuous feedback. We often refer students if they are not in the right
place. Work with student employment services- have to be on top of the I-9 process
DF: It is healthy every 5 or so years to do an assessment. How can we make it better, how will students
use it. CSSEE is blessed with a steady flow of students. On this campus students are ready to share their
opinions and I think that is great. Through governance it gives it some validity. It is the engagement, do
we change formatting, or advertising of event, etc? If there is a way through your survey to ask not just
about what services but HOW they would engage with those services? Other services for graduate
school and academic departments play a huge role. But career services could help with checklist of what
students need to do.
SB: There is a grad school packet. Including timeline as to what to do including testing. Sharron would
help with rewriting of personal statement – is it specific enough? Also help students narrow down a
program- more hands on versus in the classroom/academics. Sometimes a lot of research that needs to
go in. Some want students right out of undergrad, some want students with professional experience.
TF: what is the relationship between career services and academic departments? I’ve seen a disconnect
between what Career services critiques versus what the department tells us…
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SB: Part of it is the dialogue you have with the department and Sharron. W would try to marry the two
in a format that covers both (gives FPA example). Departments can often be focused on subject matter,
but what other experiences do you have? How is it going to be focused?
Petra: I see it as a sequence, start with Career Services and then I tweak it to the department
DF: It speaks to collaboration- as we transition we need to make that more formalized. Career Services
tends to have more of a generalist approach. You want people that can do a strong look through. Harris
Elder has been doing critiques and has a wealth of knowledge. In disciplines there are specialists who
know what words to use/not use. Strengthening those connections is the way to go.
SB: some students are in a major and that is not the way their career is heading
RN: Part could be making students aware of differences in writing the resume. Is there a way to help
with relationship between career services and faculty advisors. Make them aware of specific programs,
etc.
DF: As we get better with this and adjust especially because of staffing hits we need faculty champions
in each academic departments, athletics, clubs and organizations to connect their constituencies with
CSSE so there is a better flow of information, etc. Once we get those automated I think students will see
a seamless integration and not disconnected.
LI: We have taken a look at the services of other State Universities and COPLAC schools. Next meeting is
with Jen Craig and Senior Class Officers. We are looking specifically at the senior class. Also bring in
some alums and looking back what did they take advantage of or what should they have? And some sort
of survey with alumni. And be able to give you that feedback.
LS: Have you thought of doing some type of on-line seminar? Something that would be videoed or
something like that?
SB: we had talked to Peter 4 or five years ago and didn’t do it then. Resume presentation is on
PowerPoint.
LS: hard to get everyone together in one place
DF: For Orientation we had talked about having a canvas site to see if they missed something they could
watch the video. When you are looking at other schools see what is the ratio of staff to students?
AH: Any other changes if you had the power to manipulate things?
DF: How do we open more doors? Staffing would be great but how do we make more connections with
departments, professional staff, or with students so there is a better flow of info, programs, etc.
SB: a lot of it is timing
AH: Does it limit having work study assignments, etc. Easier with 3 full time professional staff?
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BP: Thank you for helping to answer questions We’ll pass the minutes from last week.
Adam: What has the staffing history been”
SB: Got director in the ‘80s,
DF: At peak had director two counselors and Sue
SB: as we lost staff we haven’t cut programs- have been suing technology to fill the gap. Have an
obligation to the students.
AH: Location could be a factor?
LI: Talk to Deb what she is envisioning for CSSE? Services are more linked and their abilities are more
closely linked. Position right now is going to be coordinator of career services?
What is connection with alumni?
Minutes Tabled
LI: Jen Craig is lined up for March 2nd and working on getting senior class officers.
Meeting adjourned at 10:04
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Student Affairs Committee
Minutes
March 2, 2012
Present: Todd Foy, Jake Powers, Adam, Tobin, Brendan Peltier, Lyndsay Isham-Morton, Beth Petri,
Megan Cooney, Paul Mclatchy, Rita Nodim
Guests: Hawa Umarova, Tyson Bell, Amanda Schuler
Meeting called to order at 9:07
BP: Thank the senior class officers. We’ll start with introductions
BP: Talk about the senior year experience, what you want to see, what services do you use?
LI: the committee is charged with looking at the senior year and career services and how prepared
students are when they leave here. Think about the services you have used to help you
HU: Just senior year?
LI: We’re particularly interested in the senior but we may ask about your undergrad experience as well.
HU: Senior has been wrapping up final classes and major and minor. I’ve used heavily advising services in
terms of making sure they check to make sure I was on track to graduate. They have been a tremendous
help. Didn’t use career services as much, hacve outside career mentors, etc. I’ve been prepared with a
resume and writing a couple of cover letters. In the process of interviewing for jobs. Have one job offer
but still interviewing.
TB: Have used advising services- there were a couple of classes I couldn’t get into that I needed. Haven’t
really used career services because I have had outside help. Looking into grad school and jobs as well.
Not sure what I really want to but it may be helpful to have mini session to help decide what to do with
what you are interested in to get people on track.
AS: this year has been the busiest. This semester only taking three classes plus I have an internship with
Celia. That has helped me decide what I want to do. Looking into an internship with Jacob’s pillow for
the summer. Have worked with Sue Bailey on my resume.
HU: Financial aid has been a help with helping me finance my outside activities. The have been a lot of
help.
LI: Tyson and Hawa both of you said outside resources, what are they?
HU: part of two organizations, one is called summer search but I have graduated and they are still a
resource, but also work with Bottom Line and help find success after graduation. Tremendous help from
them.: independent professional buddy in the buddy world. I meet with her regularly.
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LI: Is she local?
HU: No Boston- sometimes we meet on Skype.
TB: I have a family friend that is a middle school teacher- she has been helping me figure out different
programs and paths.
LI: Are there ways you have used career services?
AS: I’ve worked with a doctor’s office on Main Street and have been talking to Sue about my resume a
lot.
RN: If you look at your entire MCLA experience how have you used career services and if not what do
you think would be good programs?
HU: Through 4 years I have used them to find jobs on campus and then junior year I used them to study
abroad in Belgium. Had to go out and find my own program. I couldn’t use the consortium- had to make
sure the program was legitimate. Also used them as an RA to help the freshman residents: interview,
resume workshops. Important for students to have when they come in. I would like workshops like that
to be required in the first year experience. Important in building a successful career in college.
LI: Are there other program you think would be helpful? Not just career services, could be outside of
that
TB: I think there should be more graduate school fairs and advertisements for them. Not everyone is
thinking of graduate school right away. Workshops would be good to let them know what needs ot be
done, testing, test prep classes, etc.
HU: especially important for undeclared students to know what majors we offer and what we can do
with that. There are papers outside of career services but not everyone knows these exist. Maybe send
a package to students? For undeclared students it is important to expose to IDST so they know they can
combine two different areas. I see this as a student advisor in advising services because students are
panicking. Help them understand coming in what is available. This way junior year they won’t be
panicking.
AS: Helpful where Advising Services is now in t he library because I pass by it every day. Career Services
in the basement of Eldridge is tough because I’m not there every day.
LI: Do you know what services Career Services offers:
HU: Jobs, on/off campus, career building tools, resume building, workshops, study abroad, helping
international students
BP: Going through the last three years what do you wish they had to help you in your track?
AS: When they did resume seminars I wasn’t available the weekend they held my major, maybe other
times?
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HU: Careers fairs would be good from as many career paths as possible. Westfield State had open that
had reps from different government organization to get exposure to different fields. Resources to help
students figure out strengths and weaknesses. Hosting things like that are important. Or can we send
students to other campuses. I think we need to work with Williams and other campuses to increase
students studying across campuses. People don’t know they can take a class there.
TB: There needs to be more advertisement t, flyers, not just in the student’s mailbox
LI: what is the best advertisement?
TB: Other announcements and into students mailboxes.
HU: I disagree- annoying with this year’s freshman class- not checking email. Sending something visual
to actual mailbox. What about the Beacon? Cafeteria tabling or table tens in the cafe, something in the
marketplace, something near Starbucks
TB: Let faculty know so they can make announcements in class.
HU: sometimes we need to baby students
BP: What about student announce? Is it too much?
TB: I don’t personally think it is necessary- not effective unless you read them all the time
(Discussion of firstclass)
GP: Who else on campus has been important?
TB: Theresa O’Bryant, Deb Foss- Deb Foss helped me get into the Capstone I needed.
AS: For Jacob’s Pillow I got stuck thinking of a second person to give a letter of recommendation
TB: Tough because you are jumping around semester to semester unlike high school- they don’t always
know you personally
AT: Do you think working with advisor more closely would help?
TB: Sometimes they make me mad- I’ve had to battle with things like course loads, etc.
TF: We have been talking about career services being a four year experience, how many semesters of
internship experience do you have going into the real world? Have they been through career services or
on your own?
TB: I have used my middle school a lot. I used career services for my work study but that’s been it.
AS: I’ve only had one. Can’t remember if it was from them or from Celia- Celia gave me the paperwork
and ads of what she was offering.
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TF: This hits the core of the issue- even student leaders aren’t using the services. If there is a disparity
with student leaders I’d like ot know what is going on with the general population
HU: I have had 5 internships- 4 from outside sources and 1 from Deb Foss in advising services
RN: As senior class officers what feedback do you hear from other students?
HU: I recommend students to career services and other offices- sometimes seniors don’t know what is
going on. Some students aren’t taking initiative. Some students are even asking “how do I get a job on
campus”
RN: Seems to be gap in what if offered and what students know about
HU: disconnect at Orientation – too many workshops
BP: When is a good time to intro students to the information?
TB: Needs ot be spread out- maybe some activities in between to get them alert.
AS: Peer advising there is training for 2 or 3 days but it was overload. Need to take step back.
BP: Seems like there is miscommunication between services and the students. Who needs to do the
work?
TB: It needs to be both.
AS: If we want to know we should ask. Students need to be willing to step outside their townhouses.
HU: If something is being hosted that doesn’t interest me I’m not going to go. Need to host something
that is of interest to students. Survey the students at FYE , etc. or at guest speakers, etc. Orientation is
important but also need to have follow-up during the semester.
AS: Was there a survey after Orientation?
BP: I’ve noticed that offices are on facebook- do you find that effective?
TB: Effective because most of the students are on social networks. Like athletics on Twitter. They do a
good job.
TF: We touch on the connection between career services and academic advisors. What do your advisors
tell you?
TB: I don’t talk to my advisor
AS: It’s awkward- I don’t want to stay and chat. It’s hard because she is an adjunct. It’s hard to meet.
HU: Careers Services is very understaffed- door is often shut.
TB: Students are frustrated because there is only one person.
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HU: Someone needs ot be there so the door is never shut.
PM: Not even sure how advisors assigned?
BP: Who are your advisors? Are they in your major?
(Discussion back and forth about advising)
HU: Close to my advisor- we talk about life and career
TB: Would be easier if students were closer to their advisors
GP: It’s a two way street- are students taking full responsibility?
TB: I’ve been involved with all sorts of clubs and organizations, SGA, Nexxus, etc.
BP: As far as offices and taking advantage, are students really getting engaged?
TB: Students feel like parents are always going to be there- they need to take more initiative and they
don’t always know how to do that
TF: Students that aren’t leaders are the ones we need to talk to- how do we motivate them, etc.
HU: I think 60% has to be from the student. I went form office to office to introduce myself and I think
some of my confidence came from the summer program. More freshman get carried away with parties
and not what college is really about. More things need to be mandatory.
(Conversation about mandatory v. not mandatory)
MC: Some classes make service learning part of curriculum- would you find it helpful it career services
tried to work into the schedule academically?
TB: I think it would work if they did it for a class and they had to be there.
HU: service learning and hands-on learning are the best.
BP: MY professors would try to make us go to things and even when it was mandatory people weren’t
going.
HU: No matter how hard you try you aren’t going to get 100% participation.
Osa: Peer advisors don’t always connect with students.
TB: I know all of my students- most were in the summer program.
HU: My advisors don’t even want to say hello sometimes.
BP: Thank you for your time and coming in. This was helpful towards our goal.
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LI: I am going to pass along answers to questions that we sent to Jenn Craig
BP: Motion to pass the minutes from teo meetings ago
Motion passes
JP: second motion ot pass last week’s minutes
Motion passes
LI: Hoping Petra was going to be here so we could ask about a survey in conjunction with her class.
Hopefully I can reach out to see if we can get her class going on that project.
BP: I have a meeting with her and we were going to discuss details.
LI: Next meeting scheduled for March 23rd. Hope to have some alumni data form Jason Canales. There is
some data on career services- not a lot but we can bring that in. Hope to have some alumni join us at
the next meeting.
BP: We’ll send reminder of the next meeting
Meeting adjourned at 10:09.
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Student Affairs Governance Committee
Friday, March 23, 2012
Present: Rita Nodim, Lynday Isham-Morton, Osa Igiede, Petra Hejnova, Megan Cooney, Brendan Peltier,
Adam Tobin, Beth Petri, Todd Foy, Gina Puc
Guests: Michael Obasohan, Kevin Pink
Michael O.: Graduated last Spring, degree in Arts Management. Work in Student Development Office
Kevin Pink: Graduated in Spring of 2009 w/ degree in History/Political Science/Geography. Now time-
share coordinator at Jiminy Peak.
Intros around the table.
BP: After graduating did you look for a full-time job or did you think about grad school?
MO: I was looking for some jobs in Boston but after graduating I went right into Orientation as guest
coordinator, interviewed as events assistant in alumni, then the job opened in student affairs.
Petra: Is this what you wanted to do:
MO: Wanted to go into casting because I have always loved that, but now I like student affairs, so I am
trying to figure out what to do.
KP: Student affairs sneaks up on you. Spent a year as an RA and suddenly that was what I wanted to do.
My senior year the bottom dropped out of the economy but at that point I was set on going to grad
school or look for full-time position as residence director, got into a couple of grad programs but
decided it wasn’t for at the moment. Ended up at MCLA- there were a few things that happened in RPS-
I was I nthe right place at the right time with RPS. Worked for a few other departments too. What I did
relates to what I do at Jiminy Peak.
BP: Did you use Career Services upon graduating from MCLA?
KP: I would like to say that I was able to use Career Services, but it never worked out. There was follow-
up missing on their side. There were unanswered emails from them. Didn’t send a good message to
alums. Would have loved to say yes.
PH: Thank you for being honest. Can you elaborate on the requests?
KP: Kind of all of the above. Got resume help from other departments. I was looking for resume help or
contacts out there that I should have made. Have heard from other alums they didn’t get responses.
MO: I went to career services starting sophomore year. I didn’t send emails, I usually just showed up at
the office. I didn’t go to career services unless I really needed to. No one really pushed me to career
services. I would make it a point to go on my own. After graduating , it was as helpful.
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PH: Did you contact them after you graduated?
MO: Kind of
PH: What was the most helpful thing you got from career services in your time here?
MO: Resume building was a big help.
KP: One thing I didn’t mention was when career services held events like resume/interview prep they
were very good and helpful but not very well attended. It may have been that I was remote and bnot on
campus.
BP: Anything else about career services?
KP: Michael mentioned not a lot of people were pushing him to career services but it needs to be a
campus wide effort. MCLA students need the extra edge. Whether it is with resume or interviewing
skills- everyone needs help.
MO: It could be location of career services too. It was always hard to explain to students.
KP: Even when they were in Bowman it was tough.
BP: Any place you would like to see them?
LI: they have a new home on the second floor of Eldridge with the rest of CSSE.
KP: More visible than the basement. With RPS we has in-services we had to plan. On that list all the time
were Career Services for resume/interview workshops. Would be good to get more people to Career
Services.
BP: On a scale of 1-10 how would you rank Career Services in your professional development to your
career after graduation.
KP When I could reach them they were a 7 or 8. They were good.
MO: Tough because I didn’t use them when I graduated but when I was here I would say about a 7. They
were good in helping me to see where I wanted to go?
BP: Same scale, how helpful was the information put out by career services?
(Hands out questions)
KP: Definitely knew that career services existed. Worked when I was on campus. When I was off campus
not very accessible. Let’s split the difference and call it a 6.
MO: For me I would say a three. Helpful when I did go there.
BP: Looking back were there any services that they didn’t offer that you were looking for?
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KP: Because of the economy I hesitate to say they didn’t do enough. There were a lot of things that
didn’t come to me from Career Services. Increasingly networking is important. That came to me from
other experiences on campus.
MO: Want to stress networking again. They help with other aspects but there has to be more emphasis
on networking. They do mock interviews but it has to be more intense. There is a lot of stuff that I
wished I learned before I went out into the world.
KP: A couple of things form student affairs: there is a placement conference in Boston and they do
“speed interviews” you send them their resume and they may schedule an interview. May be good to
get people from different departments to hold a similar program with interview pods, etc. There are
also plenty of other conferences where networking is a major facet. May be good to develop the
Orientation program with business card earlier to begin your networking. Todd, do you think your
experience in SGA helped?
TF: A little, even Orientation leaders.
LI: Career services has a wide array of services but what would have been the best way to advertise?
MO: I love them over there but they put out something that looks like these questions- definitely need
to be better at advertising. Better flyers. I know they table but when they do it is little signs. They need
to do more to get students to them. More emails to students to get them there. Financial aid is good to
getting students and catching their attention. They could use more catchy titles or offer food to the
events.
KP: You need to make the real-life skills more exciting and jazz it up a little bit. Free food is always good
to get college students out. Might help career services to talk to departments that are doing advertising
all of the time. There could be great synergy between departments and it would create a better product.
Maybe they could even do something in the quad.
MO: In my high school we had a program in the gym with different stations and they were labled with
different company names. Each interview the interviewer had a different characteristic.
LI: What do you think best prepared you for life after MCLA? In general, personal professional, grad
school?
KP: Working as an RA taught me everything form customer service skills to how to make my time use
more efficient. I also learned adaptability- important skill to have in the workforce.
MO: Student development helped me in my life after MCLA. So many different opportunities: peer
advising, orientation, etc. You learn how to multi-task. I probably modeled most of my experience after
Celia. She always seems to have answer when a situation happens..
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KP: One thing that struck me about MCLA was how professional departments are across the board and if
they can’t help you they will put you in touch with someone who is. Everyone was always at the top of
their game and if they weren’t they made up for it.
BP: Thank you for taking the time to come and talk to us today. Next meeting is the 6th. Dean Degen will
be coming to talk to us.
TF: Can we back track? How were the alums selected? Not to impugn what they were saying but they all
worked at MCLA and didn’t have jobs in their major. We need to get beyond the bubble.
PH: I agree. It would be good to get a broader reach.
LI: Getting survey results from Jason. Advancement didn’t really want to help because they had just sent
out a survey.
GP: We need to look at the role that advancement/alumni plays in career development of current
students.
Beth: Students find different niches
BP: We are on a time crunch so that is why we are going to move forward to begin working on the final
product. So on the 6th we can put it all together and see what other information we need.
TF: How are we going to go about doing the survey?
LI: I have done some other surveys like this and we have gotten good responses before.
BP: Petra, could we maybe get faculty to administer the survey in any of their classes. Is this something
SGA could take too?
Meeting adjourned at 9:52.