The document outlines the agenda for the Wisr Summit held on October 24, 2017, focusing on career programming and student engagement strategies at Denison University. It highlights the Knowlton Center for Career Exploration's role in enhancing student career readiness through various initiatives, including coaching, alumni engagement, and early exposure to industries. The document also presents data on alumni outcomes and recognition received for innovative career development approaches.

1. New (?) Perspectives and
Opportunities for Career Programming
Wisr Summit
October 24, 2017

2. Agenda
• My Career Journey
• Differences/Surprises
• Knowlton Center
• Student Engagement & Signature Programs
• Wisr

3. The Long and Winding Road…

4. Differences in Environments
Business
• Bottom line
• Planful Talent Management
• Diversity
• Generations
• Work/Life Integration
• Competition
• “Benchmarking” with competition
Education
• Increasing focus on bottom line
• Search Committees
• Intersectionality
• Micro-Generations
• Work/Life Balance
• Collaboration
• Real sharing with peer institutions

5. Differences – Higher Education has changed since 1996!
• Greater focus on cost containment and making tougher choices
• Level of resources on student health
• Title IX evolution
• Importance of Enrollment Management
• Importance of Career Center…starting in Admissions!
• Cafeteria and Residential Life Options

6. Early Surprises
• How “Gold Standard” is a blessing and a…
• Students
• How many juniors and seniors have no plan
• Segmentation/fragmentation of campus  how do you program?
• Alumni and Employer Engagement
• The power (both good and bad) of athletic/Greek life alumni networks
• Campus Recruiting and Employer Development
• IA brings “important” alumni to campus but largely wants us to own their visit!
• How hard it is to find/get employers to “take” >2 students
• Money
• How everyone thinks we have more money than we do
• How much money we (could) spend to help low income students
• How much money we spend on food!
• Time
• How much time we spend with constituents outside of our own division!

7. Knowlton Center

8. Knowlton Center for Career Exploration
Important Part of Denison’s Strategic Plan for 2015-2020
Transactional to Transformational…asking these questions of students:
What kind of life do I want to lead?
How do careers and professions fit into those lives?
How do I use my time in college to develop the skills, values, habits, experiences and
networks to get started?
First Destination Outcomes / 5 Year Out Outcomes

9. Ongoing Priorities
• Early Engagement of Students
• Connect students with Alumni and Parents
• Use the entire 12 months!
• Prepare students fully/Close the Gaps
• Nine Year Commitment

10. Knowlton Center Opportunities – FY18-FY20
• Increase capacity to deliver Individual Coaching appointments and Group Programs to Denison students
• Increase opportunities to expose students early in their college experience to a broad range of industries,
functions, and types of workplaces
• Leverage our alumni more effectively to mentor students and to provide externships, internships, and jobs
• Mobilize parents to help our efforts just as they have been mobilized to help Admissions, particularly in cities of
importance to the Admissions Office and/or of particular interest to our students
• Significantly increase the number and types of organizations who are regularly engaging with our students
• Provide need-based sufficient funding for all aspects of Career Exploration including: internships, test
prep/graduate school applications, and other career-exploration expenses

11. Dr. Kirsten Fox: Director of Campus Engagement
Coaching Areas: Pre-Law & Government, Arts, Ent. & Sports
Key Responsibilities:
• Career Development and Education
• Career Coaching Strategies
• Faculty Engagement
• Member of Leadership Team
Zach Pavol: Associate Director
Michele Doran: Associate Director
Sara Harp: Assistant Director
Coaching Areas: Business, Finance, & Consulting
Other Key Responsibilities:
• Training and Development
Coaching Areas: Media, Marketing, Communication & General
Exploration
Other Key Responsibilities:
• Student engagement
• Peer Advisors
Coaching Areas: Pre-Health & STEM
Other Key Responsibilities:
• Graduate School strategy
Melanie Murphy: Director of Operations
Heather Whitehead: Assistant to the AVP
Liz Morrison: Director of Networks and Communities
Kati Bear: Program Coordinator
Miaja St. Martin: Operations Assistant
Coaching Areas: Service & Education
Other Key Responsibilities:
• Technology platforms
• Marketing and Communication
• Budget/Finance
• Member of Leadership Team
Key Responsibilities:
• Support operating staff – external operations
• On-Campus Recruiting Program
• Technology support – employers
• Event support
Key Responsibilities:
• Support operating Staff
• Student programming support
• Technology support - students
• Event support
Coaching Areas: General Exploration
Key Responsibilities:
• Alumni, parent, family engagement
• Employer recruitment and relations
• Member of Leadership Team
Key Responsibilities:
• Support operating staff
• Support of Leadership Team
• General office operations and management
Hank Malin: Assistant Vice President
Coaching Areas: Human Resources & Big Business
Key Responsibilities:
• Lead Knowlton Center Team
• Employer and alumni engagement
• Member of Leadership Team

12. Student Engagement
& Coaching

13. The Knowlton Center’s
Career Development Framework
AWARENESS EXPLORATION EXPERIENCE LAUNCH [RE]ENGAGE
REFLECT INTEGRATE ARTICULATE

14. Coaching: Industry Specializations
• Arts & Entertainment
• Business, Consulting & Finance
• Health Care
• Law & Government
• Media, Marketing & Communication
• Science & Research
• Service, Non-Profits, & Education
• Tech Industry

15. Signature Programs: OnBoard/First Looks/Denison Internship Program

16. Signature Programs: Wisr/Denison Connecting

17. Metrics/Recognition
Class of 2016 First Destination Data: (6 months post-graduation)
• 86% of alumni employed, in graduate school or involved in post-graduate service
Five Years Out Data: (Classes of 2010-2012)
• 99% of alumni indicate they are employed or in graduate school
• 96% report they are in desired field or position or on their way to doing so
• 94% feel Denison prepared them for professional success
Recognition: (June 2017)
The National Association of Colleges and Employers recognized President Adam Weinberg for his exceptional efforts to promote and
develop innovative approaches to career readiness and development with the inaugural 2017 Career Services Champion Award.

18. The Power of Wisr
• Engagement – Students and Alumni and Parents
• Mentoring – Alumni/Student and Alumni/Alumni
• Helps teach students how to make connections (pre-built agendas,
suggested connections, etc.)
• Gives Young Alumni the ability to “give” something to Denison (and
vice versa)
• Community Building – industries, athletics, etc.
• Employer Development

19. Early Wisr Pilot Results and Learnings
Results
• 350 total users: 123 students/227 alumni
• 7 Alumni Council members
• 22 Board of Advisor members
• 1 Board of Trustee member
• 14 sessions, 65 messages sent
• Between September 17-23: 27
messages
Learnings
• Students Like It…and so do Alumni
• Students feel this is a warmer
introduction than LinkedIn
• Direct messaging perceived to be “equally
good” as full phone conversation
• Alumni to alumni interactions are already
happening
• When communities feature discussed:
many groups interested and asking more
questions
“I sent out 5 Wisr invitations last night and all of them responded within 12 hours!” – Senior

20. Rollout Plan
November:
Email 1: Alumni Leadership
• Board of Advisors
• Alumni Council
Email 2: Denison Connecting Attendees
• Language – “As a recent attendee of a Denison Connecting event with interest
in....you can talk to other alumni and provide your expertise and...”
Email 3: Young Alumni
• Language – “As a recent graduate you have recent experience transitioning
from Denison to a career/job/graduate school….AND you can tap into the
Denison network”
Email 4: 5- 20 Years Out
Email 5: Family Leadership Council
Email 6: Students
January:
Email 7: All Other Parents
• Previewed in Parent newsletter
Email 8: 20+ Years Out Alumni

21. Questions?
Reactions?