OATdb Archive

2009 - 2010

Career Services

Goal
Career Services - Program Development
Demonstrate continuous improvement in program development/enhancement in Career Services.

Objective
Career Services Will Add To And Enhance Career-related On-campus Programs And Events.
Using last year's events and programs as a benchmark, Career Services will have added and/or enhanced on-campus events designed to benefit students and alumni.


Indicator
Scheduling And Promotion Of New Programs And Events
New and/or enhanced events and programs planned during the 2009-2010 academic year.

Criterion
New Programs And Events Implemented
Planned new career-related programs and events on campus are actually implemented during the 2009-2010 academic year.

Finding
Fifteen New Events Were Added To The Career Services FY2010 Calendar
A staff member's job classification and description were changed to "Career Services Job Fair and Special Events Coordinator" and a Marketing Intern student position was created resulting in a significant increase and enhancement of Career Services' programs.  Programs added were: Career Services Open House (2), Career Cafe (3), Carnival on the Concourse, Scavenger Hunt (2), Career Fashion Show, Mock Career Fair, Alcohol Awareness/Careers Table, Booth at COBA Job Fair, Stress Prevention/Careers Table, a Spring Resume Rescue Table and the office of Career Services is now included in the "Saturday at Sam" program tours.  (See attached Monthly Report - new programs are marked with an asterisk.)


Action
Most New Programs Will Be Continued
All new programs with the exception of the "Mock Job Fair" will be continued in FY2011. 

The "Mock Job Fair" was poorly attended and will not be continued next year.

The "Career Fashion Show" was actually three shows held at different times on 1/19/2010.  Next year it will only be one show and later in the Spring Semester due to logistical challenges experienced this year with the event so close to the Holiday Break.

Objective
Enhanced Student/Alumni Services
Career Services will increase student and alumni participation and measure satisfaction in its programs and services.

Indicator
Student Evaluations And Staff Reports
Evaluations are collected from students at the conclusion of job fairs they attended. Staff reports also include statistics measuring student participation in Career Services events and programs.

Criterion
Increased Student Participation
Staff reports will indicate an increase in student participation in Career Services programs compared to participation in those same programs occuring in the previous academic year and will also report the number of students participating in new programs where statistics are available.

Finding
Student Participation In Career Services Programs And Events Increased
Counseling appointments, assessments administered, presentation attendance, Career Library visits, on-campus interviews, new Jobs 4 Kats student accounts, attendance at Career Services sponsored events and Job Fairs indicates a 29% increase in student participation from the prior year.

Criterion
Helpfulness Of The Career Services Events Or Programs
The majority of students completing evaluations following Career Services' events or programs will answer "Yes" when asked if the event or program was helpful to them.

Finding
The Majority Of Students/Alumni Surveyed Reported The Events/Programs Helpful
Percentage Reported Event /Program Helpful:
85% - Summer Camp Fair
84% - Criminal Justice Job Fair
92% - Fall On-Campus Job Fair
86% - Career Fashion Show
97% - "Mock" Career Fair
99% - Junior/Senior Etiquette Dinner
89% - Ag and Industrial Technology Career Fair
94% - Spring On-Campus Job Fair
92% - Spring Teacher Job Fair
71% - Career Expo
87% - Fall Teacher Job Fair


Action
Expand Outreach To Employers
Although the majority of students/alumni attending Career Services' events and programs reported that they were helpful to them, the areas where students/alumni reported some dissatisfaction regarded their perception of the  number and diversity of employers attending these events needing improvement.

Career Services staff will increase efforts to draw employers to our recruiting events with a particular focus on improving the Ag and Industrial Sciences Job Fair and the Career Expo employer participation. 

Objective
Career Services Advisory Committe Activity
The Career Services Advisory Committee consisting of faculty representing each of the five academic colleges will be re-instated, continue to evolve, and become increasingly more active.

Indicator
Regular Meetings Of The Career Services Advisory Committee
The Career Services Advisory Committee will meet at least once a year but preferably, meet during, or just prior to each long semester of the academic year.

Criterion
The Advisory Committee Is Established And Meets
A representative from each of the five academic colleges agrees to serve on the committee for at least one academic year and the committee meets at least once during that year.


Finding
The 2010 Career Advisory Committee Is Finalized And Will Meet
Representatives from each of the five colleges have been contacted and have agreed to serve.  A meeting is scheduled for the latter part of August 2010.

Action
Career Services Advisory Committee Will Continue
The organization and facilitation of the Career Services Advisory Committee has been given as a responsibility to the Assistant Director, Ms. Vinessa Mundorff.  She will conduct the August 2010 meeting and will continue to work with the committee members throughout the 2010-2011 academic year to accomplish the committee's objectives.

Goal
Career Services - Student Recruitment/Retention Support And Graduate Success Programs
Provide support programs to align with University and Division of Enrollment Management's goals of quality student recruitment, retention and graduate success.

Objective
Early Major/Career Choice Identification
Career Services will provide support to enable students to identify a major/career path their first academic year.

Indicator
Collaboration With The Office Of Student Success Initiatives, SAM Center, And New Student Orientation Programs
Collaboration with the Office of Student Success Initiatives, New Student Orientation and the SAM Center to initiate programs to encourage early identification of major and/or career path choice.

Criterion
Evidence Of Collaboration
Program, event and/or service initiated during the 2009-2010 academic year through collaboration with the Office of Student Success Initiatives, the SAM Center, and/or the New Student Orientation Program.

Finding
Career - Related Presentations Delivered To SAM 136 Classes
Sixteen Career-related presentations were given by Career Services Staff to Sam 136 classes.


Finding
Two Career Services Presentations Given To Freshmen Orientation Students And Parents
Presented "Choosing a Major" and "Student Employment: Finding a Part-Time Job" programs at each of the seven Freshmen Orientation Sessions. 

Finding
SAM Center Staff And Career Services Staff Meet To Promote Collaboration
On February 12, 2010 Career Services hosted a breakfast meeting with the SAM Center staff to formally explore how both offices can collaborate to better serve our students, particularly the students seeking assistance in choosing a major. 

Information about the comprehensive services both offices offer was also shared.  Our Career Counselor was invited to observe actual advising sessions at the SAM Center so she could better prepare students she refers and did so on June 8th and 10th, 2010.


Finding
Office Of Student Success Initiatives And Career Services To Sponsor
The Office of Student Success Initiatives and Career Services has met regularly to plan and develop a new program to assist students in choosing a major. 

Through a collaborative outeach, a planning committee of individuals representing academic colleges and student service-related offices across campus was formed and had its first meeting on June 8, 2010.

Action
Programs Will Be Continued And A
Career Services will continue to present both "Choosing a Major" and "Student Employment: Finding a Part-Time Job" at both Freshmen and Transfer Orientation sessions in 2011.

Career Services staff will also continue to offer its assessments and career-related presentations to the SAM 136 classes.

Career Services and the SAM Center will continue to collaborate through more frequent and streamlined student referrals and possible co-sponsored workshops and events.

The Student Success Initiatives Office and Career Services will host the inaugural SHSU Majors Fair on November 2, 2010  (See attached flyer.)

Objective
Design And Implement An Online Graduate Follow-up Survey
Collaborate with the SHSU Office of Institutional Research to design, distribute, and implement an online graduate follow-up survey to all SHSU graduates six months after their graduation date.


Indicator
Graduate Follow-Up Survey
A Graduate Follow-Up Survey is developed and distributed to the 2009-2010 graduating classes. Information gathered is analyzed and reported.

Criterion
Results From The Graduate Follow-Up Survery Are Obtained
The Graduate Follow-Up Survey is designed, distributed and viable results are obtained and reported.

Finding
Graduate Follow-Up Survey Not Finalized Or Distributed
The creation of an online version of the hard-copy survey designed by the Career Services Director was not accomplished this academic year.

Action
Graduate Follow-Up Survey Tabled
The Graduate Follow-up Survey has been tabled for a time.  The online design and implementation will remain a Career Services Goal for 2011.

Goal
Career Services - Staff Hiring, Retention,Training And Development
Continue to increase Career Services staff as funding allows, while retaining current staff and proving training and professional development opportunities.

Objective
Addition Of A Career Counselor Position To Staff
Career Services will hire an additional Career Counselor who will be responsible for providing career advising/counseling, career education and development workshops, interpreting career assessments and serving as an outreach liasion to two designated academic colleges.

Indicator
Selection Of A Career Counselor Candidate
Selection of a candidate for the Career Counselor position posted with SHSU Human Resources Department.

Criterion
Career Counselor Hired
Candidate chosen in the interview process is approved for hire by the SHSU Human Resources Department.

Finding
Career Counselor Position Denied Funding
Salary and benefits funding for a Career Counselor position was included in the budget that was proposed to the Student Service Fee Committee early in the Spring 2010 semester.  The budget granted to Career Services did not include funding for this position.


Action
Career Services Will Continue To Seek Funding For Career Counselor Position
With the SAM Center now referring students they previously assisted in choosing a major to the Career Center, and the tremendous growth of students now coming to Career Services for career counseling, career assessments, and resume critiques (52% increase from this same reporting period last year -see attached report), Career Services will continue to seek funding for an additional career counselor.  Our VP of Enrollment Management is looking for alternate sources of funding and we will submit the request again in next year's budget proposal to the Student Service Fee Committee.

Objective
Staff Training And Professional Development
Career Services will provide training and professional development opportunities and encourage staff to attend these programs throughout the 2009-2010 academic year.

Indicator
Staff Participation In Training And Professional Development
Career Services staff submits registrations and, if necessary, travel applications to attend training and professional development programs and events.

Criterion
Participation Level Of Career Services Staff Attending Training And Professional Development Events
100% of the Career Services staff will attend at least one training or professional development program or event during the 2009-2010 academic year.

Finding
100% Of Career Services Staff Attended Professional Development And Training Programs
As of July 13, 2010, 24 opportunities (representing online, live webinars, on-campus and off-campus venues) were made available to staff - all seven of the Career Services Staff, both exempt and non-exempt, have attended at least two events as of this date, surpassing the original goal. (See attached Career Services' Monthly Report - Staff Development Section.)
 

Action
Professional Development And Training For All Staff Continued
Attendance of at least one professional development or training program will be encouraged of all staff with a 100% participation rate sought. 

Due to decreased budgets, more on-campus, online, and regional programs will be encouraged as sources of this training and development.

Goal
Enhance Career Services' Technology
Improve access to Career Services, delivery of its services and programs, and incorporate graduate success assessments through enhanced technology applications.

Objective
Re-design And Complete Career Services Web Site
Current place holders on pages will be replaced with content and the overall web site will be re-designed to complement university's new web presence.

Indicator
Career Services' Website Redesigned And Upgraded
Department's pages are redesigned and upgraded through the assistance of SHSU Computer Services to a new content management system which results in a "look" consistent in appearance with the University's new website design unveiled November 2009.

Criterion
Career Services' Website Re-Design Completed
The new website will be completed and go "live" in August 2010 before the start of the Fall Semester.

Finding
Career Services' New Website Design Completion On Schedule
The Career Services' New Website is nearly completed.  Staff bios and Fall 2010 events need to be added but project is ahead of schedule.  (See attached "snapshot" of a Career Services re-designed web page.)

Action
Career Services' Website Development To Continue
The Job Fair and Special Events Coordinator and the Director of Career Services, along with the assistance of Computer Services, will continue to add content to the newly-designed web site.


Update to previous cycle's plan for continuous improvement

Plan for continuous improvement SHSU Career Services will seek to meet the increased demand (52% increase in career counseling and advisement services provided this year) by adding another full-time career counselor position to its staff in the FY2011.  

In response to the still very competitive job market and students/alumni 's increased need for assistance in securing a job after graduation, we will also focus on inviting more companies to utilize our recruiting services such as Jobs 4 Kats, job fairs and on-campus interviewing.  We have already created a "Top 25 Company Wish-List" of companies to specifically target for FY2011.

We will launch our new website in August 2010 and then continue to add content throughout the FY2011 and host the first SHSU Majors Fair November 2, 2010.  Finally, we will resume our efforts to implement a Graduate Follow-Up Survey.