The new Peak job program Providing students with Professional experience, achievement, & knowledge

Vision Southern Oregon University will develop and maintain a robust student employment program that more effectively engages students through campus jobs that: Encourage rich relationships with faculty and staff Foster professional curiosity and competency Engender a sense of substantive contribution to the SOU community

goals By Fall of 2013, Southern Oregon University will have created 50 new substantive student jobs. By Fall of 2017, Southern Oregon University will be able to offer substantive on-campus employment opportunities for all interested students.

purpose To use substantive student employment as a means of engaging students with the hope of… Improving student job search skills Identifying open positions Crafting compelling application materials Interviewing effectively Providing professional development opportunities Career exploration Acquisition of technical skills Networking Professionalism Improving employability of students after graduation Increasing student retention Providing SOU with high quality, low cost labor

Program basics PEAK Jobs – Professional Experience, Achievement, and Knowledge 50 new campus jobs for students enrolled in classes at least half time (6 credit hours) Employer pays for only 25% of the student’s wages and the University pays for the rest Positions can range from 8-20 hours per week Pay can range from $10-$12 per hour New positions cannot replace existing positions PEAK Jobs are not work-study eligible Positions must be deemed substantive Students attend training sessions to acquaint them with expectations associated with professional positions

Student application process Post the position on CareerLink Collect resumes from each applicant Conduct at least a brief in-person interview with the finalist(s)

Training, supervision, & Evaluation Provide any necessary training and orientation Commit to regular supervision with the student in order to: Provide ongoing feedback on the student’s performance Identify areas of improvement Discuss upcoming goals Share “big picture” as context for student’s work (i.e., how does the work benefit SOU) Assist student’s with professional development Answer questions Provide opportunity for student feedback Conduct a formal evaluation of the student at the end of each quarter

Substantive job responsibilities Your requested position should be able to demonstrate at least some of the following characteristics: Work that requires specialized training or knowledge Tasks that result in quantifiable accomplishments Direct connection to professional field or academic major Knowledge Skills Opportunity to participate in project from creation through implementation Opportunities for professional collaboration with faculty, staff, and students Emphasis on most valuable transferable skills: Leadership Problem-solving Written communication Verbal communication Team work Analysis/problem solving Computer

request a position Ask yourself these questions: Do I have enough work? Is it substantive? Do I have funds to cover 25% of the wages? You may submit multiple requests, assuming the answer to the questions above is yes for each position Submit a request for a position by visiting http://www.sou.edu/careers/faculty/PeakJobRequest.shtml The priority deadline for submitting a position request is April 26, but requests can be submitted as late as May 10

After you submit your request Review Team will be meeting every other week beginning Week 2 of Spring Term to review requests Supervisors of approved new positions will be notified as decisions are made, no later than Week 8 of Spring Term Students will be able to apply for approved positions beginning this summer and into registration week Shortly before or after beginning their positions, hired students will attend an orientation training session designed to acquaint them with the expectations of a professional position

Questions? CONTACT: Max Brooks brooksm@sou.edu 2-6131 Marjorie Trueblood-Gamble truebloom@sou.edu 2-6459