Eastern Oregon University (EOU) aims to foster student success through internship and career programs. As a regional university serving rural northeast Oregon, EOU works to ensure access and success for all students through online programs and collaboration with community colleges. EOU also focuses on developing career-ready skills in students by providing academic and career support services, along with internship opportunities connected to local employers. The university works with workforce partners and employers to understand regional employment needs and develop responsive programs, with a goal of increasing student retention, completion, and post-graduation employment in the region.

1. INTERNSHIPS AND CAREER
PATHWAYS IN RURAL
COMMUNITIES
Connecting Service Learning with Community Development and
Success
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-sPu1c4xcw

2. THE HUB OF NORTHEASTERN OREGON: EOU
To Seattle 6 Hrs
To Portland/Metro Area 5 Hrs
To Mid-Willamette Valley 6 Hrs
To Boise 3 Hrs
To San Francisco 12 Hrs
To Los Angeles 16 Hrs
To Spokane 4 Hrs
To Las Vegas 12 Hrs

3. ADDRESSING EASTERN OREGON
UNIVERSITY’S STRATEGIC GOALS
EOU has high quality liberal
arts and professional
programs that prepare
students for the world
beyond college.
Objective 1: Foster and
assess student learning
Objective 2: Ensure
faculty and staff success
EOU is a regional University
with a deep sense of
commitment to students
where they are.
Objective 3: Ensure
access and success for
students, regardless of
location
Objective 4: Adopt and
enhance appropriate
educational
technologies
EOU is the educational,
cultural and economic
engine of eastern Oregon.
Objective 5: Foster
partnerships and
provide opportunities for
students and faculty
community engagement
Objective 6. Ensure a
sustainable university
environment
Objective 7. Provide
programs in response to
regional need

4. SUCCESS IN “THE NEW
ECONOMY”
“In the new economy, both
education and technical skills
are the new currency” Kevin
Fleming
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EDx2IFIb9k

5. RETENTION AND COMPLETION: OREGON’S REGIONAL
UNIVERSITIES
• First Year to Second
Year Retention:45%
• Graduation in 4
Years: 71%
• First Year to Second
Year Retention:61%
• Graduation in 4
Years: 33%
• First Year to Second
Year Retention:68%
• Graduation in 4
Years: 32%
• First Year to Second
Year Retention: 68%
• Graduation in 4
Years: 32%
Eastern
Oregon
University
Southern
Oregon
University
Western
Oregon
University
National
Average
* National Center for Education Statistics 2013
*Collegemeasures.org 2013

6. RETENTION, COMPLETION AND SUCCESS
Access
Student
Support
Services
Academic
Support
and
Articulation
Career
Readiness

7. ACCESS: COLLABORATION SUPPORTED BY
TECHNOLOGY
Blue
Mountain
and
Treasure
Valley
Campus, Online,
Onsite

8. ACADEMIC SUPPORT AND ARTICULATION
Academic Programs—
Rigor, Process and
Outcomes
Students—Knowledge,
Skills and Application
Community/Employers—
Need, Opportunity and
Input

9. TRADITIONAL ARC OF COMPLETION: 4 YEAR
TRACK
Graduate
High
School
Graduate
College
Employment

10. STACKABLE COMPLETION: CAREER
PATHWAYS
Employment
Graduate Program
Bachelors Program
Associates Program
Short Term Certificate
High School Plus

11. STUDENT SUPPORT THROUGH INTERNSHIPS
& MENTORING
Content
Mastery and
Application
Student
Persistence
and Success
Soft Skills

12. SOFT SKILLS DEFINED
Soft Skills are learned and practiced non-cognitive
traits and skills that employers seek in their staff
members—often connected with Emotional
Intelligence Quotient
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dPWVjQSad4&list=PLG0
im2-n6wDL16gAXtoFpi6yh3mPijeQp&index=3

13. SOFTSKILLSATEOU:ANALOGYOFTHEBICYCLE
Collaboration
Communication
Critical Thinking
Persistence
Professionalism
Time
Management
Crank and Chain: Knowledge & Skills
Handle Bars: Application & Soft Skills

14. CAREER READINESS: THE JOB PIPELINE
Students in
Training/Enhancing
Skills
• Access to
Positions
• Training for
Positions
• Persistence
Perceived Barriers
Employers Seeking
Trained and Skilled
Candidates

15. EOU’S BEST PRACTICES
 Collaborate with Internal and External Partners to
Recruit and Retain a Diverse Population of
Students and Workforce Development Partners
 Develop and Deliver Career Exploration and
Student Success Coursework Coupled with
Employer Outreach and Engagement
 Develop local and regional articulations with
community businesses, service providers and
agencies to foster internships and service learning
 Innovate Programs and Communication through the
Use of Technology

16. THE HUB: OVERCOMING PERCEIVED
BARRIERS
 Collaborate with Regional Workforce Development Partners to
Create Relationships and Opportunities to Enhance Programs and
Student Experiences
 Develop and Launch a Method to Communicate with Potential
Employers of EOU’s Students and Programs through the Mindful Use
of Technology and Social Media
 Strengthen Existing Relationships with Existing Educational Partners
and Programs to Communicate and Career Readiness through
Education, Training, and Modeled Behaviors
 Enhance Existing Practices to Develop the Necessary Programs,
Skills, Relationships for a Diverse Student Population to Assist in
Their Navigation of an Ever-Evolving and Diverse Workforce

17. ADDRESSING EASTERN OREGON
UNIVERSITY’S STRATEGIC GOALS
EOU has high quality liberal
arts and professional
programs that prepare
students for the world
beyond college.
Objective 1: Foster and
assess student learning
Objective 2: Ensure
faculty and staff success
EOU is a regional University
with a deep sense of
commitment to students
where they are.
Objective 3: Ensure
access and success for
students, regardless of
location
Objective 4: Adopt and
enhance appropriate
educational
technologies
EOU is the educational,
cultural and economic
engine of eastern Oregon.
Objective 5: Foster
partnerships and
provide opportunities for
students and faculty
community engagement
Objective 6. Ensure a
sustainable university
environment
Objective 7. Provide
programs in response to
regional need

18. CONCLUSION: THE INTERNSHIP HUB
Support Staff and
Students as
Professional Members
of the EOU Community
and Guide the
Community in Career
Readiness to Support
Retention, Completion,
Persistence and
Success
Support Student
Access to Develop and
Experience a University
Dedicated to the
Diverse Backgrounds,
Experiences and
Trajectory of its
Students
Collaborate with
Internal and External
Partners to Further
Develop Sustainable
Practices to Meet the
Cultural, Economic and
Educational Needs of
the Region, State and
Nation
EOU’s Career Center

19. QUESTIONS?
Questions for
Me?
What Would
You Expect
From EOU’s
Career
Services
Department?