Department Spotlight: Academic Discovery Center » By Spencer Allen
The personal transformation that takes place somewhere between freshman and senior year is different for each student at BYU-Idaho. Some pursue accounting, others enjoy dabbling in Brahms and Beethoven, while a handful of students learn Computer Information Technology. Regardless of the journey each individual makes, a requirement for all is a stop at the Academic Discovery Center (ADC). In the summer of 2011 the Internship and Career Services Office and the Career and Academic Advising Center joined together to create the Academic Discovery Center. “We wanted to be more effective at helping students make educated decisions about what they want to do in life,” said Guy Hollingsworth, Associate Academic Vice President. Wanting to open doors for students, the ADC has organized multiple events and services for students to prepare for and exceed in life after graduation. Major and Career Exploration BYU-Idaho offers over 70 different bachelors degrees. With a variety more broad than Baskin Robbins, finding the right fit can be a challenge for students. The ADC offers a six-step online course that helps students identify interests and abilities, find careers that utilize those exact features, pinpoint a degree that would help enhance those skills, and then help students create an eight-semester graduation plan. This service not only increases the likelihood of satisfaction in the workplace, but it also assists in making the most out of each student’s time at BYU-Idaho.
major is in is the primary driver, the ADC still helps organize and promote in the internship process. “We want the students to have a good experience finding and fulfilling a meaningful internship. Our role is one of resource and support,” said Amy Labaugh, director of the Academic Discovery Center. HUB Missionaries Strategically located across the United States are successful missionary couples waiting to help BYU-Idaho students. As these couples near the end of their careers, they are willing and waiting to share information and connect students with professionals to help jump-start any student’s career. “We work really hard to maintain a good network so students have the opportunity to find internships and jobs,” said Labaugh. The missionary couples also host a group of students each year as they visit each couple’s city. Resume, Cover Letters and Interviews The Academic Discovery Center is part of a national accreditation for career preparation. From that stems training material for resume and cover letter reviews as well as mock interview assessments. One of the hopes of the ADC is that the students who graduate from BYU-Idaho are not underemployed. The one-on-one training provided will better prepare students to present themselves and their material in a way the job market and industry are accustomed to.
BY THE NUMBERS FROM FALL SEMESTER 2012
11
Cities with HUB missionaries
300
Cover letter reviews
124
Companies and graduate schools at the Discovery Fair
330 350 753
Practice interviews
Resume reviews
Internships being worked on this semester
1500
Students who attended Graduate Fair
Discovery Fair Twice a year the ADC holds a Discovery Fair. Recruiters from dozens of companies and organizations gather to mingle with hundreds of attendees. The fair eases the process for students to discover an internship or potential career they’re interested in. Internships To better prepare students for expectations in the work field, internships have become a necessity to graduate from BYU-Idaho for many departments. Although the department each student’s
At the ADC, students can receive feedback on resumes, cover letters, as well as practice interviews with trained mentors. D EC E M B E R 2 012
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