Academic & Career Services: An Integrated Model 2011-12 Priorities Mary Ann Barham Greg Flores * Becki Ingersoll

Vision for the future To establish a new unit responsible for 1. the delivery of academic advising for exploratory students and career education for all students; 2. the development and maintenance of relationships with employers; 3. continued leadership regarding advising of prospective community college transfer students and students on academic warning; 4. the centralization of advising and career expertise. The long term goal is for all members of this unit to be housed in one location. This transition process will be guided by the needs of current and prospective PSU students, the individuals within the unit, our colleagues across campus as well as the needs of the University. Best practices will be considered and objectives and measurable outcomes will be established. Both short term and long term strategies will be identified.

Immediate Program Priorities (tentative) Expand the internship program by increasing both student and faculty awareness of the value of internships and increasing the number of employers willing to offer internship opportunities. Expand and refine the career advising protocol for students exploring or changing majors. Develop online training materials for campus advisers and expand the training opportunities currently offered. Increase the number of career events by adding fall and spring job fairs and possibly adding a graduate school fair.  

Short Term Goals Challenges To identify new name and promotional materials To build a sense of camaraderie and collegiality and increase everyone’s understanding of current services provide by the entire unit To identify short term strategies for maintaining current services during this transition period and forusing the expertise and resources of the new unit to identify new or modified services and programs Challenges Balancing the offering of services with the time needed to plan and implement changes Creating a sense of collegiality when housed in two locations