Working Beyond Expectations!
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
July 20, 2007 Vol. 1, Number 9
During the Sumer Months (June, July, & August, the newsletter will be distributed once a month.)
Welcome to the Career Development Center's electronic newsletter: Working Beyond Expectations! We hope that you find this newsletter both informative and useful as you prepare for the next level of your life.
A Note from the Director, Mr. Mark Anthony: "You came to college to get a good education that leads to a good job or admission to graduate school. But, there are no guarantees. The Career Development Center can help you prepare by obtaining the skills, abilities, opportunities, experiences, and tools to achieve your goals. This newsletter will keep you informed of how we can help you."
Quote of the Week
Editor's Note
Career News
IUP Featured Alumnus
FR/SO/JR/SR Tip
Let's Hear What Your Colleagues Are Doing!
Did You Ever Consider a Career In...
Quote of the Week
"Effective networking and job interviewing are based upon a strong job search foundation of self-assessment, skills identification, objective setting, research and resume/cover letter writing". - The Savvy Networker
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Editor's Note
Editor: Tracy VanHorn-Juart, Office of Career Services
Working Beyond Expectations is a bi-weekly publication provided by the Career Development Center. Its intent is to inform readers of the events that are available through the office. These events are designed specifically to enhance the educational experience and to prepare the student for their next level of achievement. Whether the next level be freshman to sophomore, classroom to internship, undergraduate studies to graduate studies, or student to full-time employee, the Career Development Center offers to assist you in making a smooth and prepared transition.
If you have any questions , or, if you have recommendations for enhancing this resource, please contact me via email at tracyvan@iup.edu.
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Career News
by: Emily Tamosauskas, Graduate Assistant
University Testing Center/Career Development Center
It’s never too early to think about….
Your major. Is it right for you? Are you having doubts? Do you need advice?
A career possibility. Have you given thought to what your major can do for you in the industry? Do you feel overwhelmed by the options?
Interviewing. Everyone needs to learn how to interview effectively. Have you given thought to the interview process? Do you know what to expect in the interview?
Starting or revising your resume. The resume will be the critical piece that gets you in the door for an interview. Have you looked at yours lately?
Attending a job fair. One way to get an idea of what is out there is by attending job fairs. This experience also allows you to network and gain connections that are necessary to obtain a job. Do you know when local job fairs will be held this year?
Visit the Career Development Center and get a head start on your future!!!
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We Have A New Name!
Our name has changed from The Office of Career Services to The Career Development Center. Because the role of the office includes such a diverse array of functions, it was necessary to incorporate a name that was more comprehensive. Visit the Career Development Center's website at www.iup.edu/career to see how we can support you in getting started on your future - Today!
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The Career Development Center Welcomes Our New Staff Member
Joining the staff of the Career Development Center on July 23 as Assistant Director for Employer Relations and Development is Malaika Turner. Malaika comes to us from the Office of Housing and Residence Life, where she has been the Resident Director in the Tri-Halls for the past nine years.
In her new role, Malaika will be responsible for expanding employer involvement on campus. She will spend a large portion of her time visiting employers at the workplace, telling them about IUP, and developing opportunities for current students and graduates. Another aspect of her job will be to increase the number of students who participate in on-campus recruiting.
Malaika is a two-time graduate of IUP, with a bachelor’s degree in Communication and a master’s in Adult Education and Communications Technology.
Welcome, Malaika!
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Visit the Career Development Center Website at www.iup.edu/career to prepare for your future by:
Registering with College Central Network to post your resume for employers to view and to have access to job listings and upcoming job fairs - Free! And for Education Majors: PA-Educator.net. (Resume clearninghouse for PA school districts - Free!)
Utilizing ReferenceUSA - An employer directory that enables you to identify potential employers based on the industry and geographic area. A prime business database that lists 12 million potential employers. Accessible from any university computer by logging on to the Career Development Center website.
Utilizing Vault.com - An electronic library of employer and occupational directories. Provides 24/7 access to data that will help students research potential employers or career fields.
Scheduling an appointment with a career counselor to discuss career opportunities, changing a major, employment outlook for a particular career, resume development/review, graduate school opportunities, gaining experience in your chosen career field through Service Learning and/or Volunteerism, job search strategies, or perhaps, National Student Exchange, to name a few areas of interest.
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Mock Interviews
This program is designed to allow you to practice interviewing in a simulated setting, one-on-one with a trained mock interviewer. Immediate feedback is offered on your performance. Mock interview packets must be purchased in the Career Development Center before interviews can be scheduled. (Note, the Mock Interview rooms will be unavailable during part of the summer due to the upgrading of the equipment.)
Students who choose to have a mock interview conducted on their own may purchase a packet as long as there are slots available to schedule a mock interview.
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IUP Featured Alumnus
Meet: Malaika M. TurnerBachelors in Communication ('95)
Masters in Adult Education and Communications Technology (AECT) ('98)
Share your undergraduate experience and/or graduate experience:
During my tenure as an undergraduate student at IUP, I worked on campus in various offices under the Federal Work study program. My experience was broad but the most rewarding job was through working in the office at Gordon Hall, now the home of a new residential construction. It was there that my supervisor taught me the importance of leadership and having a good work ethic.
While studying for my masters degree, I worked at WCCS AM Radio, formerly located in Homer City. I also worked as a peer advisor and then as an assistant residence director for the R. Benjamin Wiley Partnership Program, which afforded me the wonderful experience of working with students. All of these experiences, coupled with the AECT program, helped to shape my knowledge base in the area of interpersonal dynamics, training/leadership and time management.
What are you doing now?
For the past 9 years, I’ve worked as a Residence Director in the Office of Housing and Residence Life. I was just currently hired to work in the Career Development Center as the assistant director of employer development and relations. I also wrote a gospel song that is now available on the new CD entitled “There Is No Turning Back”, by the IUP Voices of Joy Gospel Choir. I’ve also started a non profit organization called Saving Soles International. It is designed to take new and used shoes and assist women who are entering/reentering the workplace. The business has been quite successful and we’ve been fortunate enough to send shoes to young women in Kenya, who participated in a school-to-work program.
How did your experiences (both academic and/or work related) assist you in deciding what to do post graduation?
I’ve always enjoyed working with people, especially students. And although I didn’t, originally, set out to work in the area of Student Affairs, it is a field where I feel I’ve been able to really impact the lives of many students who have lived in my building or worked in my office. I’ve been able to share my college experience and provide students with wisdom, encouragement and keys to be successful.
Where do you see yourself five years from now?
I see myself placing Saving Soles International shoes in Dress For Success and clothing closet type agencies across the country. I also see myself traveling and encouraging people, but specifically women, who are looking to make a fresh start and need a boost of encouragement, training and wisdom. I just see myself as a life coach. I love motivating people and helping them reach their potential. Lastly, I see the book I’m currently writing, in a store near you.
What would be one piece of advice?
I would encourage any student to purchase a journal. In the beginning of each year, I would start a new journal. I would write down the thing that I was most thankful for, and then create a list of things to accomplish, dreams and aspirations. It’s so important to write these things down, so that you visualize your dreams. It also keeps you focused when the “winds of the world” blow you off course. You can always go back and see what you wrote to help get back on track.
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FR/SO/JR/SR Tip
by: Mallory Bower, Graduate Assistant, Career Development Center
Freshman Tip:
Get to know your campus. It is crucial for new students to actively explore the different buildings and departments on campus. Be aware of the locations of the following offices: Financial Aid, the Bursar, the Registrar, Payroll, Admissions, the Career Development Center, Student Life, Judicial Affairs, and your advisor! Becoming familiar with these departments will help you to learn more about the college process and will help to make your four years of undergrad go so much more smoothly.
Sophomore Tip:
Explore your interests and get involved! Your education is not found solely in the classroom. Get involved in campus activities. Your extracurricular life may or may not have to do with your major. The Career Development Center provides experiential learning through Federal work-study jobs and volunteerism opportunities. Also, take a look at the list of recognized student organizations found at: http://old.www.iup.edu/organizations. Contact the advisor or president of the club and express your interest. You will be well on your way to building experience and a great résumé!
Junior Tip:
Make sure you meet with your advisor at the end of your junior year. Discuss the course requirements you have already met and those you have yet to fulfill. There is nothing worse than thinking you are set to graduate, only to find out that you have one course left to take after your “last” semester has already begun. This is also a great opportunity to discuss potential career options and the job market outlook. Career options can also be explored further at the Career Development Center.
Senior Tip:
Network, network, network! A great way to meet potential employers is by going to job fairs. There are great opportunities in the area and on IUP’s campus! This is a great way to show off your professional skills—so make sure you’re ready for it! Stop by the Career Development Center to have a trained career counselor look over your resume and perhaps to sign up for the Mock Interview Program to perfect your networking skills!
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Let's Hear What Your Colleagues Are Doing!
Sean V. Howard
MA in Adult and Community Education August '07
How would you describe yourself?
I am an outgoing person that enjoys outdoor physical activity, natural studies and volunteering for environmental and human service non-profit organizations. I believe that if you feel that the world needs changing than you should start with yourself.
At what point did you choose your career and why did you choose this career?
I am in the mists of a career change. I worked as a Park Ranger for the U.S. Park Service and the U.S. Forest Service, while there I worked river, trail and lake patrol. I fell into those jobs after the Peace Corps where I worked as a Forester and an Environmental Educator. A few years back I returned to Indiana due to an illness in my family. Since my return I have worked as a counselor for children afflicted with Attention Deficit and Hyper Activity (ADHD). I think that I was drawn to that profession due to some of my own difficulties with ADHD. The best part of this job is the amazing gratitude these children and their parents show. Our education system has a very difficult time working these children due to their need for special attention. However, with a little personal attention and effective plans these children show remarkable improvements both in their work and their self-confidence. My future plans are to work to help incorporate time in nature, physical activities, and healthy diets into the behavioral plans of people with ADHD.
What motivates you to put forth your greatest effort?
I enjoy empowering people, and I enjoy working towards a healthier world, both environmentally speaking as well as societal. This is where my motivations lay. I believe that each person must dedicate some time towards helping others and the environment. If we all do a little we can accomplish a lot. Less time complaining, more time doing!
Who is your favorite professor and why?
The wonderful thing about IUP is the personal attention that the professors offer. It is difficult to choose a favorite professor. This is my second Masters degree at IUP. I have a Masters of Science in Geography and now I will finish a Masters of Arts in Adult and Community Education. I chose both programs due to their flexible paradigm. These programs allow for free thought and the lessons learned in these programs have general applications. I would have to say that all of the professors in these programs deserve recognition because they are all part of great programs.
What are your standards of success in school?
I believe that universities should strive to build connections to the community. I have worked to intentionally connect my class assignments to community outreach programs.
What have you done to meet these standards?
I am a volunteer in quite a few non-profit organizations. I try to apply what I am learning at IUP with the volunteer and professional work that I am doing in the community.
In addition to your academic course load, what activities, memberships, jobs, etc. do you maintain?
I am on the board of directors for a local conservancy that we started in 2003, and am a member of Friends of Whites Woods. Both of these organizations are geared towards the conservation of our beautiful resources.
Also, I am a volunteer for Big Brothers and Big Sisters and a volunteer tutor for ARIN adult learning centers. Both of these organizations are geared towards empowering people and increasing peoples efficacy to create positive changes in their lives.
I am a volunteer in these organizations because I see the great things that they accomplish. It’s not a matter of receiving some kind of employment benefit; I believe that a person’s career should reflect their lives and not the other way around.
In addition to completing the academic courses required for my major, I participate in other outside-of-classroom activities that exemplify working beyond expectations. They are. . .
Well in addition to the non-profits that I participate in, I was also on the GSA governing board, and the GSA representative to the educational and library services committee. This was very interesting and I felt like I learned a lot about the inner workings of the university. I really wish that other students would get involved in university government. It is just so important for the students to have a voice in what is happening within the university. I think most students would be shocked to realize the impact they could have by joining the Graduate Student assembly.
What are your plans after graduation?
I plan to work in experiential education; mainly wilderness treatment programs. I believe that outdoor physical activity and exploration, meditation and healthy diets can go a long way to improving our societies problems. I want to learn more about these programs and help to foster this change of mind set.
What advice would you give to an IUP student in order to have a successful experience at IUP?
Get involved with your world. Strive to create exciting classes; it will only happen when students are participating. Then take what you learn and make a positive difference in the world.
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Did You Ever Consider a Career In...
. . .Master of Arts in Adult and Community Education
The Master of Arts program in Adult and Community Education (ACE) at Indiana University of Pennsylvania provides a balance of academic training, practical field experience, and individualized study. Established in the mid-1970s, ACE is the oldest degree granting graduate program in adult education in Pennsylvania!
The Department of Adult and Community Education at IUP offers two programs of study: a Master of Arts in Adult and Community Education and a Master of Arts in Adult Education and Communications Technology. Both Masters Degree programs offer individualized attention, flexible scheduling, small classes, and of course an excellent faculty.
The mission of the Department of Adult and Community Education is to prepare adult and community educators to assume positions of leadership in their professions, workplaces, communities, and society by providing learning experiences which incorporate excellent academic courses, individual attention, practical application of theory, and opportunities for research.
Adult and community education is an applied science based on an interdisciplinary approach. Elements from a broad array of disciplines, such as psychology, sociology, management, education, and communications, are brought to bear on the issues of helping adults learn. Subjects that are taught include courses in leadership and leadership training, technology, program planning, and research. Students from this program compose a cohort that covers a range of ages and career levels. In class, you will be exposed to individuals who are entry-level, mid-career, or forging a new career path for themselves.
There are three broad areas that are incorporated into the curricula of the two tracks:
· Adult education, broadly defined, is a field of theory and practice dedicated to helping adults learn. Adult learning takes place in a wide variety of arenas, including higher education, basic and literacy education, health care and patient education, business and industry, government, community and social agencies, corrections facilities, and religious institutions.
· Community education is the study of educational activities that contribute to the growth and development of communities. Examples of community education include recreation programs, community health programs, economic development, community action groups, and community development.
· Communications technology is the application of current and emerging technologies to support and enhance the educational process. Examples of technologies addressed in the curriculum include computer-based instruction; the internet; distance education technologies, including the use of computers and audio and video conferencing; and video and slide production.
Beginning in the Fall 2007 semester, ACE will conduct classes at the Monroeville, PA campus for its Adult and Community Education program only. Perfect for those who choose to return to college, but not interrupt their careers, the ACE program offers convenient evening and Saturday class times. Please note: the Adult Education and Communications Technology is not offered in Monroeville at this time. To inquire about this opportunity, please contact Dr. Jeff Ritchey.
For further information on the ACE department and the two programs that are offered (Adult and Community Education and Adult Education and Communications Technology) program, please contact one of the following faculty members:
Adult and Community Education
Gary Dean, Ph.D, Department Chair
106 Davis Hall
gjdean@iup.edu
Jeff Ritchey, D.Ed.
104 Davis Hall
jritchey@iup.edu
Office telephone: 724.357.2470
ACE website: www.iup.edu/ace
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