Mentoring to Prepare Students for Lifelong Success: Keeping the End in Mind Oluwarotimi Odeh Agricultural Studies October 23, 2015

Purpose Need to solidify post-graduation connections between students and faculty, and alumni Enhance connections between students and industry professionals to improve internships and job placements Improve graduation rate

Process Key activities –Course Revision/Redesign Fall 2014 Professional Development Activities Joint Activities/Mentoring –Classroom activities: Professional Development 4:00-5:00pm on December 1, 2014 –Mock Networking Event 4:30-6:00pm on February 27, 2015 –Fertile Ground Mixer (Partner: WAME) 9-11:30am on April 25, 2015 –Annual Appreciation Reception May 6, 2015 Parents and Spouses Scholarship Awards ceremony

End Result What happened? –Alumni Mentor Database Revision/update –Stronger relationships between alumni, students, and faculty –Job shadowing and paid internship placements –Increase job placement in agricultural industry –Industry partnership: Women in Agriculture for Mentoring and Empowerment (WAME) –Establishment of Meet & Greet Event

End Result What assessment methods were used? –Creation of an alumni database –Attendance logs –Event Survey –Senior Exit Survey –Alumni Survey

End Result Did your process increase student success? –Job placements on/before graduation: Over 90% (Other contributing factors) –Internship placements: 100% (Other contributing factors) –Better engagement in career preparatory activities and events –Industry Feedback and interest in program/students

Lessons Learned What lessons were learned? –Need to continue build on the success –Students as a resource –Alumni Resource What advice can you share with others? –Need for a professional development course –Alumni pool is a great resource for a variety of reasons Vested interest Mentors Network Fundraising Job Shadowing Internships Job placements

Lessons Learned Next steps to continuously improve? –Annual update of alumni database –Periodic communication with alumni –Improve industry engagement in activities and events –A stronger student organization –Improve connection to/interest in post-graduate programs