Carol M. Brower, MA’s Post

The latest report from Strada Education Foundation and The Burning Glass Institute shines a light on alarming underemployment stats for college graduates 🔦 On average, 45% of college graduates are underemployed within 5 years of graduating 🎓 The chart below shows the rates by area of study. It adds fuel to the fire for rhetoric about the underwhelming ROI of a college degree, including for in-demand majors 😱 There's a secondary access gap in #highered that isn't often talked about. The first is getting into college. The second is learning how to translate your degree into a career, which happens through internships 💼 , mentorship 🤝, and real world coursework 🌎. That's why we're so passionate about about closing the gap and creating pathways to fulfilling employment for every student ↗

Time is running out, take five minutes to nominate your business/organization for the 2024 Top Employers for Interns Awards. All Virginia employers offering internships, regardless of size and sector, are encouraged to submit a nomination form. The deadline for submissions is March 1.    Three reasons why you should nominate your business/organization: 1. Nominees who receive the award can use it to market their internship programs to students. 2. Recipients will be recognized via a press release, social media and at regional events in early April. 3. You are making a difference for Virginia students! https://lnkd.in/ejWyS8Re

Major news for transfer students – introducing, Transfer+ We have updated our transfer policy to remove additional general education requirements once you’ve earned your associate degree. Transferring to Coe is now even simpler with Transfer+. You can expect a more straightforward credit transfer plus immediate access to upper level courses, nationally ranked internships, networking and research alongside accessible professors. Learn more: www.coe.edu/transfer-plus

🌟 Fall Semester is Almost Here at Kansas State University!🌟 As we gear up for the start of classes next week, the campus is coming alive with excitement and anticipation. Maybe it's just me, or that I'm excited that Chick-Fil-A reopens today, but I'm stoked overall! My calendar is filling up fast with student appointments, and I couldn’t be more thrilled to support our K-State Wildcats as they prepare for a successful semester and our planned Fall career events! This time of year always brings a renewed sense of energy and purpose. 💡Pro Tip for K-State Students: Now is the perfect time to update your resume with those valuable summer experiences. Whether you interned, volunteered, worked part-time, or took on personal projects, every experience counts! I cannot stress that enough! 📄Why It Matters: These experiences not only showcase your skills but also tell a story of your growth and adaptability. Employers love to see candidates who take initiative and make the most of their time—so let’s make sure your resume reflects that! 💪Let’s Do This Together: If you’re feeling unsure about how to articulate your experiences, don’t worry—you’re not alone. I’m here, along with the awesome staff at the K-State Career Center, to help you craft a resume that stands out and truly represents the incredible work you’ve done. Let’s make this semester at K-State one to remember! 💜 Also taking a page from my awesome connection and friend Richard Cooper II and will be adding the following section to my posts. Breakfast: Dr. Pepper & Ruffles (I know, lets not tell my PCP) 🥤 Song of the AM: Lemon Glow by Beach House #highereducation #careerservices #resumes #internships #appliedlearning

Brent Orrell* “suggests that students need to deeply consider questions of meaning early in college, because they start making commitments that have short- and long-term impacts on their lives — impacts that can strengthen their motivation and help them carve out a niche ...” In light of the necessity to demonstrate career readiness and job outcomes, career guidance can’t be relegated to a one-credit course for freshmen or a single visit to the career services center for graduating seniors. While those are great starting points, career support should infuse the college experience, starting early and remaining consistent throughout. TruMotivate is a powerful, practical, and affordable framework that can be incorporated into a long-term career sequence for students at all stages, starting with incoming freshmen and following them through internships and interviews. It centers on revealing a student’s motivation code — a unique combination of five top motivations and then connecting that insight to use cases in the world of work. *Orrell is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute who focuses on the work force. He is cited here from an article in The Chronicle of Higher Education. https://lnkd.in/eQpJeYGx

The reason why faculty buy-in is so important and essential for fostering a collaborative and holistic approach to career readiness, where academic and professional development goals are aligned to support student success in the workforce. Professional career consultants undergo rigorous preparation and training to understand the complexities of career and professional development and to provide evidence-based guidance and support to individuals navigating their career paths. It is not an easy job and even harder without faculty support! #career #careerreadiness #careereducation #professional #studentsuccess #studentsfirst

🌟 According to a recent National Association of Colleges and Employers survey, 57% of student respondents said they used faculty as a job-search resource. Career centers can equip faculty with the information they need to better guide students in their career exploration and search. How? 🔍Develop faculty toolkits across disciplines; provide faculty with career information, labor market insights, and data on student outcomes; help faculty align their learning outcomes with career readiness competencies. 🎓 #CareerServices #Faculty #careerreadiness #studentsuccess

When students receive deferments or land on waitlists, it can be discouraging. But a well-crafted letter that spotlights their growth can update admissions on their fit! As mentors, we can empower students to shine in letters of continued interest (LOCI). Here's how we can guide them: 👉 Highlight new achievements (grades, test scores, awards, leadership roles, etc) demonstrating their progress like grades, scores, awards. 🏅 👉 Emphasize new experiences showing college fit - coursework, projects, internships, or extracuricculars work great for this. 📚 👉 Convey why their enthusiasm for the college continues to strengthen since applying by articulating additional compelling aspects of the school that match their goals. 👉 Focus on what they offer the college community and how they will actively contribute as students. By advising students to share meaningful updates, we help them reaffirm their passion and shine a light on all they offer. 💡 This can make a difference in getting off waitlists! #CollegeAdmissions #Advising #College #Mentorship #CollegeCounceling

Each year, we place thousands of high school students in job shadows and hundreds of students in internships to help them explore future career opportunities, network with local employers, and learn about training opportunities to reach their goals. A key next step for students is participation in one of Kirkwood’s Career Academy programs, which are collections of courses in specific career areas. Participation in these programs allows students to earn not only high school credit but also college credit that can be used toward a future degree, all at no cost to them or their families. Read more about how college credit in high school work, combined with career exploration experiences, sets students up for success after high school: https://lnkd.in/gXRg2XYe

Some big shake ups in this year's #WSJ Best Colleges Ranking! Princeton University is ranked No. 1, excelling in graduation rates and setting students up for financial success, but Babson College, known for entrepreneurship, secured the No. 2 spot. Stanford University came in at No. 3, showcasing a rise in schools with strong business and tech programs. Read more takeaways here!