So Ace Pp 2009
Transcript of So Ace Pp 2009
In Harmony: Collaboration between Career Services and Alumni Relations
Southern Association of Colleges and Employers (SoACE)December 2009
Dr. Mary Kay Cooper, Director of Alumni RelationsDr. Brian Hirsch, Director of Career Services
Mary Kay Cooper
• Director of Alumni Relations• B.A. in English• M.A. in Theology• Ed.D. in Administration and Leadership• Spent 15 years in student recruitment at 4
universities; then Alumni Relations in 2006
Brian Hirsch• Director of Career Services
• BS Zoology
• M.Ed. College Counseling and Personnel Services
• Ed.D. Higher Education Administration
• Spent 5 years in Rx Industry. 16 Years in higher education
• Trinity in 2006
Trinity University• San Antonio, Texas
• Small
• Academically excellent: undergraduate focus on liberal arts and sciences
• Also has Business, Sciences, and Engineering
• Relatively diverse
• $800 million endowment
Alumni Relations Office
• Staff of 6
• Office resides in University Advancement
• 100 events nationwide
• Alumni Weekend
Career Services Office
• Staff of 4• Office resides in Student Affairs• Centralized model• Programs mainly on-campus• A few regional programs
Why Bother?Benefits to:
• Students• Built in networks• Support in career development
• Career Services• Source for information about industry/occupations• Source for developing new relationships with recruiters
Why Bother?Benefits to:
• Alumni• Stay connected• Hire• Get hired
• Alumni Relations Office/University• Engagement• $$$$$$$$$$$
In HarmonyAlumni Relations & Career Services Initiatives
• Career Network
• Making Connections
• Online profiles
• Career panels
Alumni Career Network
Purpose:
•Over 500 Members•Brings students and alumni together around career information•Designated Career Network Chair for each of the 16 alumni chapters nationwide.
Making Connections
• Signature event
• Programs nationwide
• Early January primarily
• Over a 15 year history
“I started to head toward a group of young looking alumni. I noticed one girl's nametag- …. I instantly recognized this name as a former member of my sorority and decided to speak to her. She laughed that I recognized her, we instantly had a starting off point, and soon began talking about her job, which was a Medical Editor at MD Anderson in Houston. She asked if I had any experience in the field, and I told her I'd worked internships at 3 different non-profits in the past, with experience in PR, Marketing and Development, as well as working on an English degree. We exchanged cards (bringing personal business cards to Making Connections is the number one thing one must do!)”
Making Connections
Program Format – Small Groups
• 5-12 industry sectors represented
• 30-45 minutes with alumni
Making Connections
Program Format – General Networking
Making ConnectionsStudent Learning Outcomes91% of respondents reported
learning about appropriate business attire
88% of respondents reported practicing networking skills
91% of respondents reported feeling more comfortable with networking after attending
Your Input: Ideas for SLO’s…
Alumni Snapshots
• On-line mentoring “on steroids”• Utilizes the Career Services CSO
Mentoring Module• Allows students and alumni to
select individuals with work backgrounds of interest
• Highly motivated group of mentors who want to be contacted
“This program has definitely paid off - not that it directly lead to a job or internship yet, but one never knows.”
Alumni Snapshots
Career Panels• Series of panels focusing on
various industries• Organized by Career Services• Collaboration with Alumni
Relations to identify alumni participants
New Initiatives• Careers in the City (Job
Shadowing)• Alumni Career Network
• Career Map• Career Concentration (2-tiered)
• Rebranding of Alumni Snapshots
Career Map Proposal
Career Concentration
In Conclusion• Students and alumni have multiple
opportunities to develop relationships• Relationships with alumni facilitate the
transition from student to the next step in life
• Satisfied, active and involved students become satisfied, active and involved alumni
• Active and involved alumni benefit the whole university
Questions?
Contact Us• Mary Kay Cooper, Director of Alumni
Relations
• 210-999-8490
• Brian Hirsch, Director of Career Services
• 210-999-8321