Center for Professional Pathways 2022 Fall Newsletter

Career Outcomes are a Metric for Commitment to Equity & Inclusion

Students from historically underrepresented groups (HUGs –borrowed from Becka Morgan) are more likely to be underemployed upon graduation, than white and Asian graduates. Meaning they have jobs where a bachelor’s degree is not required. Reasons are complex, but lack of social capital and lack of relevant experience, such as internship, are largely to blame. HUGs often depend on the university to provide them with connections and high impact experiences.

While access and completion for students of color are important, what happens to graduates afterwards, most defines how well higher education lives up to the role in creating a more equitable society

Center for Professional Pathways has a myriad ways to help you contribute to student post-graduation success:

• See Fall 2022 calendar for engagement events and experiences (page 3)

• See ways to leverage our office in your classroom or program (page 2)

Internships and DEI

A recent sociological study shows that while participation in internships has doubled over the last thirty years, there is persistent inequality for for lower income students, first-generation students, public school students, and students from less selective schools. This describes WOU and many of our students.

These ongoing participation gaps for students with less individual and institutional privilege underscore the need to consider internship access as a form of educational and labor market disadvantage.

The Center for Professional Pathways invites you to a conversation about small steps the WOU community can take to close the gap for our students. Please add your name to our invite list: https://forms.gle/CKwRxCKRtqx4JCN48

Examples of small steps: Converting student employment or volunteering into internships, micro-internships

Leverage the Center for Professional Pathways

Invite us to class, refer to us and our events, share our resources

• Class presentations: We offer in-person, synchronous and asynchronous career development presentations you can use in your courses. Please visit this link to request a presentation.

Appointments: Please encourage students to make appointments on Handshake/WolfLink from their Portal Resources: Take a look at our Career Readiness Modules –these are perfect for class assignments or as a self-help resource for students – see next page.

FYS instructors, consider our resourses and programs for accomplishing Integrative Learning Outcomes related to connecting academics to careers.

INDIVIDUAL CPP APPOINTMENTS

Type of Appointment

Resumes/Cover Letters – we can help students create one from scratch, or make a good resume great

Mock Interview – practice and learn strategies to increase confidence and effectiveness in an interview

Career Counseling/Coaching – career & major exploration, career assessment(s)

Job or Internship Search – get coaching and advice on identifying and applying for jobs and internships

CPP’s Project Life Design Podcast

Episodes drop every Thursday

How to schedule on WolfLink

Drop-in 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM, M-F. No appointment necessary. Can schedule appointment with Peer Career Advisor on Handshake/WolfLink to guarantee time

Make 30 or 60 minute Mock Interview appointment on Handshake/WolfLink

Make 60-minute Career Counseling or Career Assessment appointment on Handshake/WolfLink

Make a Job Search or Internship Advising appointment on Handshake/WolfLink

Project: Life Design on Apple Podcasts

Center for Professional Pathways Event Descriptions

Pro-Connects

Farewell traditional career fair. Let’s meet over a meal, listen to a panel of professionals, and engage with recruiters looking to hire Wolves. Have a real conversation. This is a fun and educational way to network and explore professional pathways in your fields of interest.

Career-Connects

Come visit with 8-10 professionals in different careers in your field of interest. Gain insight into career pathways to expore! Join us for light refreshments while you ask questions and make connections in an informal environment.

Table Talks

Every Wednesday and Thursday we have representatives from organisations and gradschools, in the WUC lobby, ready to share information and answer any questions. Stop by for a few minutes – it might help in your exploration or lead to an opportunity!

Table Talks

Every Tuesday we have representatives from organisations and gradschools, in the WUC Summit, ready to share information and answer any questions. Stop by for a cup of coffee or tea, and have an informal conversation with a friendly person.

Fairs

Representatives from organizations and grad schools set up tables to share their information, and talk to you about opportunities or their application process.

Presentations

Presentations can be by CPP staff, outside experts or a panel of professionals, about a variety of topics that help students find their professional pathway.

CPP Fall ’22 CALENDAR

Talk to People

PRO-CONNECTS

CAREER-CONNECTS

15-Nov 4-5:30 Working with Kids & Youth

FAIRS

26-Oct, 11-1 Graduate School Exploration Fair, WUC Pacific Rm

TABLE

COFFEE TALKS

PRESENTATIONS

10 Oct 4-5 From Western to Law School, WU Calapooia

24-Oct 3-4 Applying to Grad School

WUC Calapooia Rm

2-Nov 3-5 Getting a Job with the State of Oregon

WUC Columbia Rm

For UPDATES and more information visit Handshake

WOUCenterforProfessionalPathways,503-838-8432,pathways@wou.edu,wou.edu/professionalpathways