The Penn State University Park Undergraduate Association (UPUA) bill proposes allocating $2,000 to support the Bank of America Career Services' Professional Attire Closet, which provides professional clothing for students to use for interviews and career events. The COVID-19 pandemic has reduced donations and financial support for the closet. The funds would go towards garment bags to maintain the closet and its resources for students.

1. THE UNIVERSITY PARK UNDERGRADUATE ASSOCIATION
The Pennsylvania State University
16th Assembly
2021 - 2022 Session
Bill #09-16
October 13th
, 2021
Be it decided by the Assembly of Student Representatives,
having been brought to the floor by the Committee on Student Life,
a
BILL
Financially Supporting Bank of America Career Services’ Professional Attire
Closet
Nature of the Situation:
1
2
Penn State Career Services assists students of all academic programs and class years with
3
identifying and achieving their individual career goals. The office welcomes all students and
4
embraces opportunities to collaborate with employers, graduate and professional schools, faculty
5
and staff, and student organizations, as well as parents and alumni in order to provide the highest
6
quality of service to students at University Park.
7
8
The central mission of Career Services is to facilitate the connection between Penn State students
9
and future employers, graduate and professional schools, and networking contacts. We seek to
10
strengthen the relationship between our employers and students across all academic colleges and
11
commonwealth campuses.1
12
13
In 2015, Penn State Career Services, with the assistance of the University Park Undergraduate
14
Association (UPUA), created the Professional Attire Closet, which collects professional clothing
15
for students. Donations come from a variety of people. The closet is available year round for
16
students to access professional attire for interviews, events, and Fall and Spring Career Days.
17
18
The clothes are professionally cleaned and are free. Students are asked to return the clothing if
19
they know they will not be able to find a use for it in the future, but it is not required. During the
20
14th Assembly of the UPUA passed the bill, “Support to Fund Career Services’ Professional
21
1
https://studentaffairs.psu.edu/career/about-career-services

2. Attire Closet Cleaning Services2
,” to support the effort to provide these clean, professional
22
clothes to students. During the 15th Assembly, the resolution, “Support of Bank of America
23
Career Services Resources for Students during COVID-193
,” to combat the negative impacts of
24
the pandemic.
25
26
The COVID-19 Pandemic has left an impact on Career Services and the Professional Attire
27
Closet including a reduction of donations, volunteers, and financial struggles.
28
29
30
Recommended Course of Action:
31
32
The University Park Undergraduate Association (UPUA), on behalf of the undergraduate student
33
body, will financially support the Bank of America Career Services’ Professional Attire Closet
34
with $2,000 to be used for services necessary to maintain the closet.
35
36
Additionally, the Department of Public Relations is hereby charged with creating relevant
37
graphics and with disseminating this information through all appropriate channels.
38
39
For an all-inclusive list of resource offerings students can refer to:
40
Website: https://studentaffairs.psu.edu/career
41
Email: AskCS@psu.edu
42
Phone: 814-865-2377
43
Schedule a career counseling appointment: nittanylioncareers.psu.edu
44
Connect with a career assistant via Teams:
45
studentaffairs.psu.edu/career/counseling/career-cafe
46
Social Media: @psucareer
47
48
Item Cost Quantity Total
Financial Support $2,000 For garment bags $2,000
Total $2,000
49
Amount remaining in the Type-40: $127,307.91
50
51
Budget funds are coming out of: Assembly Discretionary
52
Amount remaining in Budget: $10,516.15
53
This budget is a decrease from previous Assembly funds allocated because it is targeting the
54
Professional Attire Closet’s garment bags, and the UPUA is partnering with the Professional
55
Attire Closet in other ways such as volunteering time to run the closet and publicizing their
56
purposes.
57
2
UPUA Bill #10-14
3
UPUA Resolution #31-15

3. Respectfully submitted,
Annmarie Rounds-Sorensen
At-Large Representative
Samuel Ajah
At-Large Representative
Vice Chair of Government Affairs
Joshua Reynolds
At-Large Representative

4. Committee Vote: 12/0/0
Assembly Vote: 34/0/0
Speaker of the Assembly ________________________________________________
President of the Student Body ________________________________________________
The University Park Undergraduate Association