Info About Our Programs

HOW THE STUDENT ENGAGEMENT CENTER WORKS WITH STUDENTS

SOME THINGS PARENTS SHOULD KNOW

WAYS YOU CAN HELP

HOW THE STUDENT ENGAGEMENT CENTER WORKS WITH STUDENTS

We assist students throughout their years at Whitman in the various stages of their career development:

Assessing their skills, interests and abilities - an important first step to choosing an appropriate career. The Student Engagement Center utilizes a program called MyPlan to identify student's personality traits and help match them with appropriate career fields. The program is a web-based program that can be accessed from any computer with our password.  Please have your student contact the Student Engagement Center to obtain a password and instructions on how to set up an account with MyPlan.

Exploring career options - learning what positions "match" the students' skills and interests.

Experimenting with possible career options through summer jobs, internships, volunteer experiences, Alumni Career Series lectures and networking opportunities - especially critical for liberal arts students!

Organizing and conducting a job or graduate school search - individual advisement as well as workshops available every semester.

The earlier students begin to use the services of the Student Engagement Center, the better!

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SOME THINGS PARENTS SHOULD KNOW

Students often change majors several times before they find the one to which they want to commit. Many times, changes in direction are the result of lack of exposure to the great variety of options available. Exploring these options is an important part of the educational process.

We urge students to choose a major which fits their skills and interests. We then assist them in targeting career fields in which these can be well utilized.

There is no such thing as a major which will guarantee a job. The world is changing rapidly. The most successful workers will be those who are educated for flexibility and have the ability to adapt to changing workplace requirements. Employers do, however, expect students to develop a focus. The Student Engagement Center can help guide students who aren't sure exactly what they want to do.

The skills which are inherent in a liberal arts education at Whitman are critical to success in many career fields:

-- strong written and oral communication
-- problem-solving skills
-- ability to synthesize information
-- excellent research skills
-- ability to utilize technology
-- ability to work effectively in teams as well as independently

Employers and graduate schools will be evaluating a student's "record of achievement" at the college including:

Academic achievement
A good academic grade point average is one of the few tangible signs of ability to learn and perform well in the college environment. Competitive graduate schools and employers value the high GPA.

Responsible (related, if possible) work experience
More and more employers are looking to their internship, part-time job and summer work programs as major sources of new college hires. These experiences are especially critical for liberal arts students! Experience can be paid or volunteer; full- or part-time; summer, academic year or holiday break. All offer the opportunity for students to gain marketable skills and network with professionals in their chosen field.

Responsible involvement outside the classroom
Involvement in extracurricular activities provides the opportunity for students to demonstrate leadership capability, the ability to work effectively with others, time management and other skills which are valued by employers. Students are advised to seek activities or community involvements which match their interests and values.  Your student can meet with the Coordinator for the Center for Community Service which is housed in the Student Engagement Center office suite and find a project that interests them.

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WAYS YOU CAN HELP

Support your student's exploration of new areas of study.

If your student is having trouble deciding on a major or possible career choice, suggest a visit to the Student Engagement Center.

Urge your student to seek out opportunities to gain relevant work experience. Sometimes the best experiences in certain career fields are not paid.

Advise your student (even a first year student!) to prepare a resume of work and educational experiences to present to employers to seek internships, good summer jobs and other work situations. It also helps clarify skills and areas in need of development. The Student Engagement Center can assist him or her in preparing this very important document!

Suggest that your student attend Student Engagement Center events (such as career fairs, networking opportunities and the Alumni Career Series (formerly, Majoring in the Rest of Your Life) presented at Whitman and at other locations in cooperation with other colleges and universities. These provide the opportunity to interact with employers and alumni, learn more about job opportunities and, possibly, find an internship or summer job!

Friends, family and alumni can be good networking contacts and sources of career information! Suggest that your student make use of these excellent resources. The Student Engagement Center can help with alumni contacts through Whitman Online, an online alumni directory. Have your student come in and see us!

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