Crystal SmithSenior Assistant Director, University Relations

Specialized Events: Meeting the Needs of your Students

CDPI-ICICE March 2009

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“What are students learning from our programs and services, and how can their

learning be enhanced?”

Blimling, Gregory, Whitt, Elizabeth and Associates. (1999). Good Practice in Student Affairs. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

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The Big Picture…

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Why is it important?Student Expectations – Millennial Characteristics

– Special • Require feedback and structure from university professionals• Are impatient and expect individualized assistance and resources • Want to see positive outcomes

– Sheltered – Confident

• Expect a lot from their college experience • Optimistic that college will give them a head start to a great life

– Pressured • To start planning for the future early (offer long term career planning)• Want job and life stability

– Achieving• Will seek help and assistance in achieving their goals • Want you to provide opportunities for internships

– Team-Oriented

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Why is it Important?Employer Perspective• Employers appreciate having multiple opportunities to talk to

students interested in their organization/career field • Employers sometimes enjoy these events more than career fairs

because they allow for more time to network and get to know students

• Employers’ feel that students who attend these events are more focused and directly interested in their organization

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The Career Development Process

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Development and Planning Research the Student Populations your Office Serves

– Academic Schools and Departments – Majors and Programs

Determine Student Interest– Survey’s – Focus groups

Employment Trends – Growing Career Fields– Top Jobs For New Graduates

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Development and Planning Cont… Think about the mission and purpose of the event

– Information vs. Opportunities– Inform the student

Look and atmosphere of the event – Dates and Times

• Before Career Fairs • During employers’ busiest recruitment times

– Location• Centralized • On the students “home turf” • Alumni Space• Your Space

– Dress – Food

Developing a Detailed Timeline Events that involve employers

• Determine and reserve venue • Brainstorm to identify employers, alumni,

faculty, staff, or community leaders to invite as panelists (target: 5-6)

• Determine when to invite panelists and finalize plans

• Send invitations• Market to students!!!• Send confirmations • Create a day of event timeline• Determine survey Information and time

frames for students and employers

Events that involve just staff and Information • Research and prepare content• Determine and reserve venue • Market to students!!• Create a day of event timeline• Determine survey Information and time

frames for students and employers

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Ways Your Office Can Collaborate Alumni Association Departments/Faculty Student Organizations

– Example: Student Alumni Association Other Career Development Centers On Campus Community Organizations

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Create an Internship Opportunity

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Create a Marketing Strategy Create an event identity Contact academic advisors and professors Schedule classroom presentations E-mail student organizations that directly correlate with the event

– Listservs and newsletters Present at student organization meetings Advertise on your website Use social networking sites Distribute marketing flyers and handouts

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Under-staffed and Under-budget? Find ways to collaborate Create a marketing and event planning

internship opportunity Use cost efficient marketing strategies Low or no cost venue Low cost food options

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In Practice………

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Networking Nights Series Definition

Alumni and career professional guest speakers participate in a panel discussion focusing on their unique career paths and share advice for students entering the world-of-work. An introduction to the art of networking follows with light refreshments and the opportunity to mingle with the guest speakers.

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Networking Night 2008-2009 Government, Social Service & Non-Profit Arts & Entertainment Business for ALL Majors

– Public Relations, Advertising, Marketing, and Sales Global Careers Life Sciences Writing, Editing, Publishing Hospitality, Event Planning, Tourism

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Question Ideas for Panelists What are issues that you face that you did not realize that you would encounter? What are top qualities for a person to possess/ what qualities are needed to be a leader in the work place? What is typical day like for you? What differences do you notice between sexes in your industry and how do you overcome those differences? What are the growth areas in this field? Do you find it hard to balance a family and a job? Why are you passionate about the field you are in? Global Careers questions: What qualifications will most help a person secure international work? What do you think our students can do now to prepare for an international career? What sorts of jobs and work are most in demand, internationally? Our speakers have personal experience in

Europe, Africa, and Asia, and so perhaps you can address the area most familiar to you. International work often entails travel; do you or your co-workers find it hard to balance a family and a job? How do international and domestic salaries and income compare for the sort of work done in your field? What's a typical day like for you working here, in the United States, and how is that different from your typical day

when you were working abroad? What makes you passionate about your field?

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Collaboration Opportunities Student Alumni Association Mission To promote the interests of and understanding between the students of the past,

present, and future at Indiana University through the programs and services offered by the organization and in joint efforts with its sponsor, the Indiana University Alumni Association.

To help direct and assist with the goals of the Indiana University Alumni Association by introducing students to the Alumni Association before they graduate.

To develop effective and responsible leadership through contact and experience in university projects and programs, thereby enhancing the education of the students and preparing them to serve as future alumni leaders.

To work for and further the goals of Indiana University whenever possible.

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Internship Opportunity Spring 2009 Networking Nights Event Planner Internship – Job Description Approximately 10 hours per week Dates: January 7 – May 8, 2009 (excluding spring break) The Networking Nights Event Planner Intern will assist in all aspects of planning, implementation, and on-site

coordination for the Spring 2009 Networking Nights series. There will be 5 scheduled events on weeknights from approximately 5:00-9:00 pm at the Indiana University DeVault Alumni Center.

Major aspects of the job include: writing marketing materials, raising awareness about the events on campus, compiling RSVP event responses, collaborating with various university and community vendors and sponsors, serving as an on-location resource person at the events, and preparing post event evaluation results and correspondence supporting the mission of the Career Development Center/Arts & Sciences Career Services. The intern will collaborate with a student team from the Indiana Student Alumni Association to co-produce these events.

The intern will be supervised by a professional staff member at the Career Development Center who coordinates each of these events and works on a team with additional professional staff members. Desired skills for the position are a high standard of excellence, attention to detail, flexibility, independence within a team, academic or hands-on experience with event planning/public relations, and a positive attitude. Interest in the above listed career fields is helpful but not required.

Intern will work approximately 10 hours per week throughout the Spring semester (for a total of 150 hours), and must be available for all event dates. Time-span and weekly workload of the internship is negotiable and flexible. This is an unpaid internship. The Career Development Center is willing to work with academic departments so the intern may earn academic credit for this experiential opportunity.

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Additional Customized Events Global Career Series

Fall: East Asia Career Night Latin America and Caribbean Night Middle East/Central Asia Career Night Africa Career NightSpring: International Interviews/Job Search Global Careers Networking Night Slavic and East Europe Career Night West Europe Career Night

artWORKS: Career Perspectives from Creative Professionals AN EVENING WITH SECRETLY CANADIAN and JAGJAGUWAR

Diversify Your Options Panel and Networking Event Speed Networking Event

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Additional Customized Events Getting Into Grad School Series Getting Into Grad School I: Graduate School 101 Getting Into Grad School II: Applying for Graduate School Getting Into Grad School III: Paying for Graduate School

Preparing for Careers Outside Academia It’s Easy Being Green! - Sustainability Careers & The Green Job Market Government Service Awareness Week - Lecture "Opportunities Abound in

Government Careers!" Federal Government Jobs: Where to Find Them and How to Apply

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References Blimling, Gregory, Whitt, Elizabeth and Associates. (1999). Good Practice in Student Affairs. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

Daver, Zaneeta. Spring 2009). Get to Know Your Undergraduates: Highlights from The Profile of Today’s College Student. NASPA Leadership Exchange. Retrieved March 11, 2009, from http://www.leadershipexchange-digital.com/lexmail/2009spring/?sub_id=2RYPrLGwP1Wg&folio=14

Elam, Carol, Stratton, Terry, Gibson, Denise. (Spring 2007). Welcoming a New Generation to College: The Millennial Students. Journal of College Admission. Retrieved February 22, 2009, from www.NACACNET.ORG

Mastrodicasa, Dr. Jeanna. The Millennial Generation. Retrieved February 22, 2009, fromwww.ufsa.ufl.edu/aboutufsa/admin/ids/ppts/TheMillennialGeneration.pps

Meeting the Needs of Millennial Students. In Touch Newsletter, Volume 16, Number 1, S. Retrieved February 22, 2009, from http://www.csulb.edu/divisions/students2/intouch/archives/2007-08/vol16_no1/01.htm .

Understanding the Millennial Generation. (Winter/Spring 2003). Independent Online Newsletter. Retrieved February 22, 2009, from http://www.cic.edu/publications/independent /online/archive/winterspring2003/PI2003

Walker, Beth. Who are the Millennials? Aka Generation Y. Deloitte Consulting LLP. Retrieved February 23, 2009, from http://www.deloitte.com/dtt/cda/doc/content/us_consulting_hc_millennials_110608.pdf

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Questions?