Dawn McCaw (center), assistant director of the Career Resource Center, works with a group of students in the center’s new conference room, which comes complete with Internet connection and a projection screen. Later this summer, a digital signage system will be installed outside the center to advertise programs, events and resources. The center has collaborated with Instructional Media Services on both projects.

The Career Resource Center staff has seen a sharp increase in student drop-in visits since moving to the Humanities Building in January.

Tonda Highley, associate dean of student advising and director of the Career Resource Center, attributes the more than 57 percent increase to the new visibility of the center on the academic side of campus. Highley said students pass the new center in Humanities room 105 every day and they are more apt to stop in to speak with a counselor, use the center’s computers or practice their interviewing techniques.

“We are so enthusiastic about being among the students and faculty,” said Highley.

Visits to the new offices have not been limited to students. According to Highley, faculty members often stop in to request information for students or develop fieldwork opportunities for their classes. Also, the center is now included as a “hot spot” on the Admission Department’s campus tours.

“We all feel such a positive sense when we come in here,” Highley said of her staff’s new space with its green walls, windowed walls and increased space.

The center’s move from the seventh floor of the Haggerty Administration Building (which is now home to the Center for Research, Regional Education and Outreach) coincided with a shift in the center’s mission. While helping students obtain internships and secure employment after graduation has always been a part of the staff’s work, these elements are now the driving force of their efforts.

The recipients of the 2009 Suit Yourself stipends are Breandon St. John ’09 (Electrical Engineering), Victoria Geller ’09 (Finance, Management), Kimberly Arango ’09 (Communication and Media), Katya Izzard ’09 (Communication Disorders), Clara Enuma ’09 (Electrical Engineering), Erika Savage ’09 (Sociology - Human Services), Tiffany Fox ’09 (Marketing and Finance), Meghan Drew ’09 (Adolescence Education – English) and Jeremy Demick ’09 (Psychology). Photo submitted

Tonda Highley, associate dean of student advising and director of the career resource center, said the need-based program, now in its second year, was created in response to feedback from employers. In researching such a program, Highley found that most programs offer a clothes closet for students to access before an interview.

“Our approach would be a long-term investment in our students’ futures, as opposed to a short-term solution,” said Highley.

Students must apply for the award, which is funded by Campus Auxiliary Services (CAS). The program provides students with a $200 stipend to purchase a professional suit and, money permitting, accessories. Students must shop for themselves, but receive guidance in the form of appropriate stores and items. They return to the center with their clothing, which has to be approved by the staff.

This year’s winners debuted their new professional looks at an event paired with the Serving Up Success program. At the event, students received a dining etiquette lesson from Mohamad Charafeddine, general manager of residence dining at Marist College and former director of residence life dining at New Paltz.

Clara Enuma ’09 (Electrical Engineering, Mathematics), one of this year’s winners, said having new professional attire means a lot to her because she attends many professional events as an engineering student. She purchased three suits with her award and has already put them to good use. She wore two of the suits at the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) convention in Las Vegas. In the fall, Enuma will begin full-time employment at the United Illuminating Company in Shelton, Conn.

Peace Corps visit coincides with organization’s anniversary

Representatives from the Peace Corps will visit the college on Feb. 24 to meet with interested students, faculty and community members.

A table will be set up in front of the Career Resource Center – room 105 in the Humanities Building – from 3 to 5 p.m. The information session will be followed by a panel discussion with Peace Corps volunteers at 6 p.m. in room 100 of the Student Union Building. The volunteers attending the discussion have served in such countries as Ecuador, Mauritania, Madagascar and Guatemala.

The college has had 124 alumni volunteers  serve with the organization in developing countries.

The events take place as part of Peace Corps Week, Feb. 23 to March 2, which celebrates the anniversary of the organization’s founding more that 40 years ago.

For more information about the Peace Corps visit, contact the Career Resource Center at x3265 or mccawd@newpaltz.edu.

The Career Resource Center’s front doors on the first floor of the Humanities Building. The center’s staff begins moving to its new location this week.

In an effort to bring student advising and career support to the center of campus, the Career Resource Center is moving from the Haggerty Administration Building to the Humanities Building, beginning Jan. 14.

Tonda Highley, associate dean of student advising and director of the Career Resource Center, is excited about moving to the heart of campus. “We’ve been interested in finding a more accessible space for students,” said Highley.

The major highlight of the new location is that it is closer to classrooms and faculty offices and is now across the concourse from the Academic Advising Center (in the Wooster Science Building), an office that the Career Resource Center works closely with in preparing students for meaningful careers after New Paltz.

The renovation of rooms 105, 105A and 105C in the Humanities Building will provide the center with seven new offices, a waiting area, a reception area, interview rooms and a conference room. The center, which is also the training site for students completing practicums in the Mental Health Counseling Program, will have additional space to carry out training. The center will also be working with Instructional Media Services to install digital signage outside of the new location to announce the center’s programming and events.

The waiting area (left) and an office (right) in Career Resource Center in the Humanities Building.

Highley said the move has allowed the department to continue enhancing its services towards their new focus established at the beginning of 2008. “We have shifted our department’s focus towards services to support students seeking internships and post-graduate employment opportunities,” said Highley.

For more information on the Career Resource Center, visit www.newpaltz.edu/careers.