Kansas State University

Two years ago, the K-State Career Center launched a university-wide initiative to centrally track and collect data on students participating in summer internships.  A team of representatives from Undergraduate Studies, Student Life, academic colleges, Information Technology Services, Office of Assessment, and other key stakeholders worked together to develop an efficient data collection and reporting process.

Career Center Executive Director Kerri Keller shared the catalyst for the initiative: “Internships are growing in their importance as a high-impact educational practice for college students and as an activity that promotes career readiness.  While the current survey only reflects one year of data, ultimately, learning from student internship experiences will help K-State expand their connections with employers, provide academic advisors with internship ideas for students, strengthen university ties with industry, and demonstrate K-State’s commitment to the career readiness of its students.”

The team of representatives collaborated to define internship for the purpose of the survey as “educationally-related work experiences that integrate knowledge and theory with practical application and skill development in professional settings.”

The Wildcat Internship Survey (WINS) was distributed in a year ago to 11,000 students and achieved a 59% response rate.  Freshman were purposely excluded along with students from the Colleges of Education and Agriculture because these two colleges had pre-existing methods for students to report similar information. Continue reading “K-State Students Win Internships” →

As part of K-State’s comprehensive and proactive approach to encourage students to stay safe and healthy, K-State requires all students to complete the annual (July 1 – June 30) web based Alcohol and Sexual Assault Prevention Program (ASAP).

K-State’s ASAP uses the Think About It series of modules from Campus Clarity© to address alcohol and other drug use and sexual harassment and sexual violence prevention through interactive educational content and scenarios.

The ASAP program is designed to help students:

• Make healthy decisions.
• Know and understand state laws and K-State campus policies.
• Be aware of university community resources associated with these topics.
• Be aware of how to report concerning behavior.
• Learn how to safely intervene when suspicious or concerning behavior is observed.

There are four ASAP modules.  Each module is updated annually and has content specifically designed for a particular student group:

• Undergraduate and graduate students (21 and younger) enrolled in their first term at KSU receive the “Think About It: Part 1” training.
• Undergraduate and graduate students (21 and younger) enrolled in terms two and beyond receive the “Think About It: Campus Save” training.
• Adult learner undergraduate students (22 and older) receive the “Think About It: Adult Learner” training.
• Graduate students (22 and older) receive the “Think About It: Graduate Student” training.

Continue reading “Keeping K-State Students Safe and Healthy” →

Director of Parent & Family Relations Mindy Weixelman sat down with K-State Career Center Executive Director Dr. Kerri Keller in her office to learn the latest news about career development resources available to K-State students.

Mindy:  Thank you so much for meeting with me, especially late on a beautiful Friday afternoon!

Kerri:  The Career Center enjoys the partnership we have with parents, so I’m glad to visit with you. I think I have information that will benefit parents and families.

Mindy:  Yes, you do!  Let’s jump right in.

We know that most parents send their student to college because they want their student to get a JOB. Tell parents and families about the K-State Career Center and your team of staff.

Kerri:  The Career Center facilitates the career readiness of all students throughout the K-State community. We help students explore majors and careers, develop their potential through internships and career-related experiences, tell their stories through their resumes and interviewing, and connect with employers and other opportunities. Each student has a friendly and knowledgeable Career Center advisor who works with their college and is available for in-person appointments, classroom presentations, email consultations and more to help your student.

Mindy:  You have such a talented staff. I completely agree that they are friendly and knowledgeable. I would also share that they have a reputation for being very effective with employers and students.

I think it’s important for parents and families to understand your role at the Career Center.  Give us a feel for what your role includes.

Kerri:  As director of the Career Center, I provide leadership and overall management of our department. I am fortunate to work with a committed, hard-working and enthusiastic team of nearly 50 full-time and student employees. I see my job as being similar to an orchestra conductor – I’ve played several of the instruments among our group but my goal now is to help everyone else be the best at their part so that we can create a powerful career services harmony – one that is music to the ears of our students, families, employers and others within the K-State community.

Mindy:  I love that answer!  I think a lot of people can relate to your analogy of an orchestra conductor.

Do you hire student employees at the Career Center?  If so, can you provide some examples of how student employees advance the work of the department?

Kerri:  Yes, student employees are vital members of the Career Center team. Our student staff welcome current and prospective students to our facility, greet employers and other campus visitors, and answer questions about utilizing our services. Our career specialists assist their peers with major/career exploration through individual assistance and our 1-credit hour career class. Other student employees throughout our center assist with planning events, entering jobs, marketing our services and managing our Career Closet. Our graduate assistant staff provide career advising to students, provide outreach to student groups and manage a variety of other projects and programs. Continue reading “Meet Career Center Executive Director: Dr. Kerri Keller” →

Educational Supportive Services (ESS) is a FREE service that helps first-generation, low-income and disabled students earn undergraduate degrees. ESS students can take advantage of one-on-one tutoring, peer mentoring, workshops (academic, financial, career, etc.), and more—all designed to make sure students improve academic success, graduate and achieve their life goals. ESS is funded by a federal TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) grant.

Do you know a student who would benefit from this program? For more information:  Call (785) 532-5642 or visit Educational Supportive Services.

The Ronald E. McNair Baccalaureate Achievement Program  (McNair Scholars Program) prepares talented under graduates for graduate study, with the goal of increasing the number of Ph.D. recipients from underrepresented socio-economic and ethnic groups. The hallmark of the program is its Summer Research Internship where students conduct original research, report their finding, write an abstract, and present. Additionally the program provides classes, colloquia, advising, tutoring, and faculty mentoring to support academic success, assist with completing the application process, and preparing students for the graduate study environment. The McNair Scholars Program is a TRIO program funded from the federal Department of Education.

McNair Scholar presenting at the Heartland Research Conference on September 23, 2016.

Continue reading “Over 40 Years of Helping Students Achieve Academic Success” →