Career Services role in student retention and strategies for student success in community colleges

1. Career Services and Retention
Strategies for Success
Created & Presented by Christine Shine
November 2016

2. Presentation Focus
• The role of Career Services in the overall retention strategy for
a community college
• Ways in which Career Services contributes to student
engagement, retention and success
• Examples of initiatives including internships and mentoring
• How Career Services will evaluate the success of Career
Services in its contribution to retention
Created & Presented by Christine Shine
November 2016

3. Students are more successful when they…
• Connect early to services
• Determine career goals and educational pathways
• Engage and connect with the community
• Connect academics to the world of work
• Understand the educational ROI
• Know their education will lead to career or transfer
• Receive assistance to overcome barriers
What We Know
About Retention
Created & Presented by Christine Shine
November 2016

4. • SOAR Orientation Participation
– new student
– transfer student
– Family
• Career advising sessions and assessments
• Extended career counseling availability
• Hosting a table during orientation
• Introduction and presentation
• Social media sign ups
• Website registration
Early Intervention
Created & Presented by Christine Shine
November 2016

5. • Working with students individually
• Providing assessments and interpretation
• Cross-training with Academic Advisors
• Providing training for Faculty and Staff Advisors
• Collaborating with Advisors
• Integrating career development into the curriculum
• Providing online resources
Identifying & Pursuing
Goals
Created & Presented by Christine Shine
November 2016

6. • Events including Career Fair
• Workshops
• Club and classroom presentations
• Employer visits
• Alumni panels
• Mentoring program
• Social Media
• Website and App
Student Engagement
Created & Presented by Christine Shine
November 2016

7. • Curriculum integration
• Classroom presentations
• Alumni connections and presentations
• Employer presentations
• Internships
• Online resources
Connecting Academics
& Careers
Created & Presented by Christine Shine
November 2016

8. • Job and salary statistics
• Employers who have hired students in the past
• Companies looking to hire
• Alumni connections & statistics
• Mentoring program
• Internships
• LinkedIn
• Snapchat
Return on Investment
Created & Presented by Christine Shine
November 2016

9. • Resume and cover letter writing
• Mock interviews
• Job search assistance
• Professionalism
• Internships
• On campus recruiting
• Job postings
• College recruiter visits
• Personal essay assistance
• Mentoring program
Gainful Employment
and/or Transfer
Created & Presented by Christine Shine
November 2016

10. • Job postings on and off campus
• Summer, temp, part-time, full-time
• Paid internships
• Links to scholarships
• Professional clothing closet
• Resume writing
• Job applications
• Interviewing
Help with Immediate
Employment & Financial Needs
Created & Presented by Christine Shine
November 2016

11. • Intrusive career advising
• Presentations during remedial classes
• Mentoring program
• Specific initiatives, presentations, resources for various groups
• First generation
• Military
• Low income
• Minorities
• Disabilities
• Academic difficulties
• International
• Older students
At Risk Students
Created & Presented by Christine Shine
November 2016

12. Leadership Ambassadors Program
• Multicultural Mentoring Program
• STEM Mentor Program
• Boston Scientific Mentoring Program (business)
• Success Boston Mentoring Program
• Young Men of Color Mentor Program
• Events include Information Sessions & Reception
Mentoring Programs
Created & Presented by Christine Shine
November 2016

13. • Students completed 12 units or more
• Searching and securing internships
– Career services, academic department, independent
• Resumes, Cover Letters, Interviewing
• Internship Success and Etiquette workshops
• Business clothing
• Goal development
• Class credit and faculty advisor
• Career Services support employers and students
• International students CPT / OPT
Internship Program
Created & Presented by Christine Shine
November 2016

14. • Benchmarking
• Goal development
• Tracking
• Evaluations
• Surveys
• Focus Groups
Measuring Outcomes
Created & Presented by Christine Shine
November 2016

15. • Benchmarking
– Percentage of students utilizing programs
– Percentage of students not using services
– Any details about how services have helped in persistence,
retention, engagement, completion
• Developing clear goals and measurable outcomes to align
with the retention goals of the college
Benchmarking &
Goal Development
Created & Presented by Christine Shine
November 2016

16. • Website & App
• Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat
• Individual appointments
• Participation in events
• Workshop/presentation attendance
• Internship Program
• Mentoring Program
Tracking Students
Created & Presented by Christine Shine
November 2016

17. Surveys, Evaluations, Focus Groups
• Current Students
• Non Returning students
• Alumni (Transfer, AA, Certificate)
• Employers
• Staff
• Faculty
Created & Presented by Christine Shine
November 2016

18. Measuring Student Engagement,
Persistence & Retention
• Percentage of students using our services
• Which services are being used the most
• Which services were helpful and which were not
• What services would be more helpful
• Did services help students persist in their academic program
• Did services help students finish their program or transfer
Created & Presented by Christine Shine
November 2016

19. Connecting Academics to Work
• Can students connect their program to jobs
• Can students connect their program to companies hiring
• Do students feel prepared for the world of work
• How can Career Services better prepare for work and transfer
Created & Presented by Christine Shine
November 2016

20. Evaluating Internship Program
• Percentage of students participating in the program
• Percentage of students completing their program
• Percentage of students securing a position in their field after
completion
• Percentage of students transferring to a 4 year university
• Percentage of companies hiring interns
• Did the internship help with employment, program
completion, and transferring
Created & Presented by Christine Shine
November 2016

21. Alumni Survey
& Focus Group
• Where are former students working
• What schools did students transfer to
• Was Career Services helpful in getting a job or in transferring
• How can Career Services improve in meeting students needs
• How can Career Services better advertise to students
• What services would you like to see more of
Created & Presented by Christine Shine
November 2016

22. Future Initiatives
& Collaboration
Committees / Summits
• Form committee with students, faculty, staff to improve
career services
• Employer summit group to discuss how to get students better
prepared and how to engage employers
Created & Presented by Christine Shine
November 2016

23. Questions and Discussion
Christine Shine, M.A.
christineshine@gmail.com
www.careerfoundations.org
Created & Presented by Christine Shine
November 2016