CDC Career Development Center - Mount Holyoke College...Career Development Center Annual Report,...

CDC CareerDevelopmentCenter

Annual Report, 2017-2018

Table of Contents

Executive Summary ............................................................................................................................3CDC Usage Report ..............................................................................................................................5How does the CDC support students? ........................................................................................7How do students build professional experience at Mount Holyoke? ............................ 16How does career development integrate with academics and campus life? ............ 24How do students establish connections with employers and alumnae? ..................... 26What are the post-graduate outcomes for Mount Holyoke students?......................... 31Initiatives & Leadership Positions ............................................................................................... 35Vision & Strategic Plan Summary ............................................................................................... 36Programs & Services ....................................................................................................................... 37Career Development Center Staff .............................................................................................. 40

Career Development Center Annual Report, 2017-2018

Career Development Center Annual Report, 2017-2018 3

Executive SummaryThe Career Development Center (CDC) team has increased the scale of career development at Mount Holyoke College over the past several years. We strive to ensure that:

• students are engaged in thinking about their future goals early and throughout their time at Mount Holyoke

• students gain experience through internships, research, and student employment

• students are aware of the preparation needed in their fields of interest, and acquire knowledge and skills to help them succeed after graduation

• students form meaningful connections with alumnae and employers as a result of their involvement in the Mount Holyoke community

We steadily pursue this vision that every student will be engaged, experienced, prepared, and connected after a Mount Holyoke education through a variety of strategic initiatives.

The CDC is well above national averages for student participation in career and internship advising, as well as student attendance at programs and events. As the CDC Usage Report that follows shows, these high levels of engagement continued in 2017-2018, including early engagement from first year students (75% of first years interacted with the CDC).

We are often asked how the CDC supports students, how students build experience, how career development integrates with academic and campus life, how students connect with alumnae and employers, and where students go after graduation. This 2017-2018 annual report answers these questions. For example, we are proud to note:

How did we support students?• The CDC engaged 80% of students in a wide range of career preparation

topics in 2017-2018. We connected with students where they are on campus, for example we hosted a session during the Boom! learning conference on diversity, equity, and inclusion at Mount Holyoke for the second year, and hosted an interactive table in the Dining Commons on the gender wage gap for Equal Pay Day.

• The CDC partnered with 7 organizations that provide industry-specific preparation, such as the Forté Foundation and Harvard’s HBX CORe.

How do students build experience?• In 2017, 1,080 students participated in summer internships, research, or

shadowing experiences, and 190 more held on-campus summer student employment.


• Student summer experiences spanned a wide range of locations and industries, including 53 countries and 41 U. S. states.

• 79% of summer experiences were employer paid or funded by MHC.• 79% of international students and 70% of U. S. students gained experience

through campus employment in 2017-2018.

How does career development integrate with academics and campus life?• The CDC has moved to a model in which most of our group programming is

interwoven with the student experience through collaborations with over 40 partners, including academic departments as well as other campus offices.

• A few examples of partnerships highlighted in the following report include the Crafting a Life in the Arts program led by the InterArts Council; Psychology & Education events and class visits; and the First Year, First Summer collaboration with Fellowships at Mount Holyoke.

How do students establish connections with employers and alumnae?• 219 alumnae volunteers supported students through programs such as

Advanced Mock Interviews, the Internship & Research Orientation and Celebration, MHC in DC and NYC, and Sophomore Institute.

• The number of employers visiting Mount Holyoke and collecting resumes from students increased in 2017-2018.

• Lynk on the Road site visits hosted by alumnae and employers enabled students to explore careers in arts, media, and communications; biotechnology; business and finance; information technology; law and advocacy; and nonprofit organizations.

What are the post-graduate outcomes for Mount Holyoke students?• 96% of graduates from the class of 2017 for whom outcomes data could be

obtained (79% of the class) were employed and/or in graduate school within six months following graduation. These percentages were calculated using the definitions established for career outcomes by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE).

• 75% of these graduates were employed including internships, fellowships, and starting a business; 21% were enrolled in graduate or professional school; 3% were seeking employment; and 1% were not seeking employment or education.

• 82% of Mount Holyoke applicants to law school were accepted to one or more American Bar Association accredited law schools, exceeding the national average.

We are grateful for the partnership from Mount Holyoke alumnae, employers, faculty, staff, and students that has made this progress possible. Thank you for your collaboration as we work together to support students in pursuing their visions and goals for the future.


CDC Usage ReportOverall Career Development Center Engagement at a Glance

Class Year Enrolled* Advising ProgramsInformation

Sessions2018 499 320 248 1422019 478 343 256 982020 580 370 348 1112021 532 198 367 55Alumnae/recent alumnae 141 25 2Unspecified or graduate 10 20 17

Total 2,089 1,382 1,264 425

* Totals from registrar fall census; excludes Study Abroad or on Leave.** The CDC does not track advising and workshop participation separately for Frances Perkins Scholars. Their participation is included in the data for their anticipated graduation year.

Unique Engagement by Class Year

1,812unique students engaged

with the CDC through advising, programs,

information sessions, or special events.

Engagement defined as:

• Attending a program (workshop, liaison outreach event, classroom visit, special event) or employer/graduate school information session.

• Meeting with a career advisor through either a scheduled (in person or remote via phone or Skype) or walk-in appointment.

80%of all students

engaged

66%met with a

career advisor

61%attended a

program/event

20%went to aninfo session


75% 37% 69% 10%

clas

s of

20

21

80% 64% 50% 28%

88% 72% 54% 21%

77% 64% 60% 19%

Overall Advising Programs Info Session

clas

s of

20

20cl

ass

of

2019

clas

s of

20

18Unique Engagement by Class Year


Advising: Unique Individual Engagement

The CDC provides individualized advising to students through one-on-one appointments with the goal of supporting each student’s unique interests and developmental needs.

During these advising sessions, students are coached to build both foundational and advanced career development skills necessary to launch their careers, as well as to navigate future transitions and professional opportunities.

How does the CDC support students?

66%of students met with a peer or professional

advisor in 2017-18.

Mount Holyoke College’s Career Development Center staff intentionally plans a diverse array of opportunities for individual students to explore, connect, and build on their interests and strengths.

In and out of the classroom, on and off campus and around the world, students are encouraged to explore and refine their goals, craft their own narrative, and grow to confidently articulate their strengths in the context of their own identities.

Popular advising topics included: • Strategic job and internship search• Professional presentation—including resume and online profile building• Getting started with alumnae and professional networking• Interviewing preparation and salary negotiation• Navigating workplace dynamics

Student involvement continues to be strong. In 2017-18, the CDC strategically engaged 80% of students through advising, collaborative programming, and workshops.


Advising: Scheduled Appointments

The Career Development Center offers students and recent alumnae—up to five years out—30 minute individual appointments with Professional Career Advisors year-round. These occur in person or remotely via phone, email, or Skype.

Advising is the most common way that students are engaged and supported. The CDC is well above the

national average for unique student engagement in both appointment and walk-in career advising.

449

281

264

5878

2020

2019

2018

2021Alumnae

1,13

0

Number of Advising Appointments by Class Year

Advising: All Sessions

individual student and alumnae advising contacts in 2017-2018, totaling over 1,750 hours.4,627

24% 19% 8%in-person via email phone/Skype

49%walk-in


Walk-in Sessions by Class Year by Month

Advising: Walk-in Sessions

Walk-ins provide an easily accessible opportunity to connect with the CDC and its diverse resources. Students can stop by—no appointment needed—for an up to 15 minute session with a peer or professional career advisor. Walk-ins are offered 5 days a week throughout the academic year.

walk-in individual advising sessions in 2017-2018, engaging with 805 students.2,250

Walk-in advising traffic is driven by both early fall on-campus recruiting and the initial Lynk UAF (Universal Application Funding) application process deadline mid winter—with related high demand in September and February.

Over the last five years, the CDC has averaged 481walk-ins during the month of February, which is a peak

period for Lynk UAF-related advising.

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

500

Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May

2021 2020 2019 2018 Total


• The pre-law advisor enhanced the outreach approach for prospective alumnae law school applicants, through examples such as: • Launched a quarterly pre-law newsletter targeting prospective applicants. • Piloted a virtual program that provided access to law school recruiters and alumnae legal professionals. • Provided pre-law advising sessions during MHC reunion weekends.

• Partnered with 10 academic departments and 6 student organizations to provide specialized graduate school fairs and alumnae career panels.

• Continued to partner with Kaplan Test Prep, which included online test preparation resources at a reduced fee, and a free LSAT (Law School Admission Test) practice test every Friday.

Law and Graduate School Preparation

Student CDC Evaluation Survey

172 students provided evaluations of 54 30-minute advising and 118 walk-in appointments during our evaluation weeks each semester in 2017-18.

ranked session satisfaction as ‘satisfied’ or ‘highly satisfied’. Three-quarters ranked session satisfaction as ‘highly satisfied’.98%

What students said about the CDC:

I feel much more secure in my future now that I have

a clearer picture of my career prospects.

The most helpful part of my visit…talking in person with someone who provided me some future

steps & clarity.

“

“

“

“


Law School Matriculation

82%of Mount Holyoke applicants

were accepted into one or more ABA accredited law schools. The national average is 75%.*

* American Bar Association (ABA); data from 2016-17 Law School Admission Council Matriculations Report and Summary Report, the most recent year available.** data based on U.S. News Best Law Schools 2018 Rankings data.

The Career Development Center pre-law advisor meets students and alumnae throughout the year to offer advice, application assistance, and program offerings.

81% of all Mount Holyoke College applicants attended a law school in the eastern United States.

“You are so encouraging...I feel empowered and ready for what is next.” - Pre-law student

Most Frequently Attended Law Schools in 2016-17:

Top 30 Law Schools Attended in 2016-17: **


Business Preparation Partner Organizations

8professional development

programs with 7 partners this year.

Communications

The Career Development Center utilizes multiple avenues to communicate with students, alumnae, employers, and parents including email campaigns, social media, print, blogs, LyonNet career portal, and the CDC website.

The purpose of the CDC’s student communication efforts is to inform about upcoming events, recruiting, job, and internship opportunities; provide content on career development topics; and support other departments in spreading the word about programs they offer related to professional development.

emails sent in 266 distinct campaigns.293,113

53%open rate

10.6%click-through-rate

154,732unique opens

17,125unique clicks

The industry average for open rates is 16.9% and the average for click-through-rates is 2.2%.

These programs taught critical professional skills including financial modeling, case interviewing, networking and professional branding.

Digital Communications: At a Glance


Student “Career Clusters”

The CDC piloted a new segmentation strategy to provide students targeted information on the job search process; potential career paths; opportunities to engage with employers, alumnae, and graduate programs; and job/internship listings on career fields of interest.

• What would Moana do? A guide to finding your way.

• How to impress a recruiter

• Ten steps to the perfect LinkedIn profile

• STEM interns share their stories

• Bridging the gender pay gap

• How to find — and connect with — alumnae

• Five keys to finding opportunities in arts and communications

• A step-by-step guide to applying to law school

8blog posts

Career Content

Another new initiative this year, each month the CDC focused on a different career content theme across all channels: email, social media, and blog. These themes were designed to answer a specific student question, with the goal of increasing knowledge so students come into advising sessions ready for a deeper level of discussion on the topic(s).

Students were asked to opt in to any of 6 “career clusters” or choose “undecided” to receive targeted email campaigns.

Tell us about your career interests!

Receive information on opportunities and events relevant to your personal interests! Select one or more of the following:

□ Government & Law

□ Science & Technology

□ Business & Finance

□ Education & Nonprofit

□ Arts & Communications

□ Pre-Health

□ Undecided

Name ___________________________________________________

Email [email protected]

Return this card to the CDC. You can update your choices in LyonNet at any time!

CareerDevelopmentCenterCDC


Workshops & Events

The CDC professional staff work throughout the year to offer select signature programs designed to maximize engagement and support students directly.

Career development is interwoven with student experiences across campus, and so most programs are close collaborations with campus colleagues, employers, and Mount Holyoke alumnae.

61%of students attended a program or event

in 2017-18.

Student attendance at Mount Holyoke College career-related workshops and programs exceeds national benchmarks with

1,264 unique attendees participating in 2017-18.

A diverse mix of over 132 of workshops and events was offered in 2017-18, giving students the opportunity to learn, build, and

refine the skills necessary to navigate and contribute to an ever-changing world of work.

On page 37, learn more about our signature programs and events that prepare students for networking and career experiences.


FOCUSMFirst Year, First Summer

First Year, First Summer is an informative and engaging workshop for first year students who are beginning to explore careers, internship opportunities, and curious about the world of fellowships.

Offered in the fall and spring, this workshop helped students build upon their career knowledge from their engagement with various CDC first year workshops at orientation and through First Year Seminars. Students learned about resume writing and student employment and participated in self assessments.

“Over the past two years, Fellowships at Mount Holyoke (FMH) has delivered focused, targeted workshops to First Years about making strategic and effective use of summer plans. We’ve also partnered with the CDC to provide interview practice for fellowship finalists and have helped develop, and built upon, Lynk UAF experiences for competitive applications for nationally- and internationally-prestigious awards.

Working with the CDC has been instrumental to FMH’s developmental advising model because it has enabled us to articulate how we reach MHC students, from their first year to their last. It’s also been a joy. CDC staff are so effective in their roles, they’re respectful and flexible in collaborations, and they work with a nimbleness of spirit and enthusiasm for their work that is infectious.”

- Ryan Lewis, National Fellowships Advisor


How do students build professional experience at Mount Holyoke?

We heavily invest in multiple types of experiential learning, including internships, research opportunities and student employment. Some highlights for 2017-18:

• Applied learning continues to grow in popularity for MHC students. 81% of the junior class reported a summer internship or research experience in summer 2017 alone.

• We emphasized supporting students in pursuing these interests. 70% of the students eligible to receive funding completed Step 1 of our funding curriculum. By completing Step 1, each student received a resume review, one-one advising and training on responsible, ethical research.

• Our students were also successful in finding employer-paid opportunities. 50% of summer work-based learning opportunities were paid in 2017.

• We invested significant time in assessing and supporting our academic year work-based learning program, Student Employment, this year.

A central goal of the Career Development Center is to ensure that each MHC student has the opportunity to explore career interests, gain practical knowledge and skills and begin to develop a professional network through direct experience.

Across Mount Holyoke, students build experiences through opportunities developed by the CDC, Faculty, Student Life, the Academic Centers, and many others.

Student Employment and Centralized DiningIn anticipation of the shift to centralized dining this January, College Officers allocated a central funding pool for short-term jobs during the spring semester to help minimize the impact of potential job losses or reductions in hours on students who rely on campus employment. The Career Development Center worked closely with supervisors and students to create new jobs as well as supporting hiring for work in the new Dining Commons.

Taking Stock and Moving AheadIn fall 2017, the Student Employment Advisory Committee (SEAC) created an initial self-study of student employment at Mount Holyoke, as well as recommendations


815

254

209

21

20

4

1

0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900

Internship

Research

MHC Job

Internship or Research (Detail not provided)

Independent Project

Shadowing

Career Development

Building Experience: Summer 2017

students reported internships, research or shadowing. 190 held on-campus student employment jobs.1,080

All experiences are captured in this chart. Some students reported multiple experiences, meaning that the total in this chart is more than the total number of students reporting experiences.

Over 60% of Mount Holyoke students had an experience in summer 2017, far exceeding the national internship average.

to adapt to the changing campus employment landscape. College Officers approved a student employment audit, resulting in an external review of the student employment program including suggested next steps. The review is now complete and work on next steps has begun: an oversight committee has convened to establish a mission and 1-3 year goals for the program, and the SEAC will continue to review and revise procedures that enhance student employment.

Reporting Period: May 2017 - May 2018We used several data sources to create this report, including: Lynk UAF Application data, Inform Your Advisor data, Community-Based Learning (CBL) Reports and MHC Student Payroll data. Given the timing of the Inform Your Advisor survey (complete at end of fall semester), a comprehensive review of internships and research is finalized in the spring semester following any given summer.


Student Employment: Summer 2017The Career Development Center manages the student employment program, with advice and support from the Student Employment Advisory Committee. While positions are reduced over the summer months, those available can be valuable growth opportunities.

In addition to 52 research and internship positions paid through student employment, 190 students held 209 summer jobs on campus. Examples of the jobs worked:

Research with MHC Faculty: Summer 201758 of the students participating in non-independent research during summer 2017 reported doing so for an MHC faculty member. 56 of these did their research work on campus. Additionally, 13 of the 19 reported independent research projects were formally supervised by MHC faculty.

FOCUSMFunding Independent Research

“I plan to apply to graduate school and enroll in a program where I can expand on my research on black geographies, the black-house community in Chicago, and the geographies of the black post-civil rights generation.

The independent research I conducted on the black-house community in Chicago for my senior thesis through Lynk funding helped me see that I could manage a research project from beginning to end.”

- April Graham FP’18

Arts & Community Engagement Intern Campus Sustainability Intern Digital

Collections & Metadata Assistant Discovery Services

Assistant Stewardship Engagement Fellow

Diagnostic Consultant LITS Student Administrative

Fellow Research AssistantTechnology Assistant Web

Assistant


Internships and Research: Summer 2017

69%in the United

States

24%international

(non-US)

69%domestic forthe student

24%international

for the student

81% 74% 37% 19%

Participation by Class Year

2018 (rising Seniors)

2019 (rising Juniors)

2020 (rising Sophomores)

2021 (entering First Years)

30% of Frances Perkins Scholars (included in the above class years) participated in internships and research in the summer of 2017.

Increasingly, students are seeking out opportunities beyond those offered by the college. When we surveyed Lynk UAF summer funding recipients, 30% reported finding their internships through an MHC person (faculty, alum, staff, student) and 16% reported finding them through MHC resources, such as LyonNet and the Intern Network directory. 29% reported finding their opportunities through utilizing their personal networks or through connecting directly with organizations of interest.

Experience Locations: 53 Countries and 41 U.S. States, including D.C.

Approximately 7% of students did not provide the location of their summer experience.


Top Internship & Research Industries

FOCUSMComputer Science

In September, Computer Science faculty members and CDC staff collaborated to offer a series of three events for Computer Science majors and minors. The series included a resume workshop, graduate school panel, and a panel of women working in a variety of organizations in information technology roles.

“CDC rose to the occasion in fall 2017, and was enormously helpful to the CS department. With very little preparation time, the CDC staff helped us organize and participated in three events that took place within a single week. They led a successful resume review and interviewing tips session for our CS students, attended a session on pursuing graduate study, and helped organize and attended a panel on tech careers.

These events would never have happened without help from CDC, and we are already in conversation about events for 2018. Our CS students are also very excited to see the new ways in which CDC is able to help them as they seek internships and careers.”

- Valerie Barr, Chair of Computer Science, and Jean E. Sammet Professor of Computer Science

Industries are identified by both the industry of the organization and the type of work performed. For example, research for the NIH would count as both ‘Biotech, Engineering, Stem Research’ and ‘Law, Politics, Government, Public Policy.’

*Percentages exclude ‘Not reported/blank.’

13% 13% 9%Education, Teaching

Medicine and Health

Biotech, Engineering,

STEM Research

9%Business,

Consulting, Entrepreneurship,

Finance

9%Philanthropy,

Community Orgs, Development


381

21

666

256

Lynk UAF Unknown Paid Unpaid

Lynk UAF: Summer 2017 Internship & Research Funding

In 2017, 642 students initiated a Lynk UAF application. 568 completed Step 1 of the application, articulating academic and career goals while learning essential job search and research skills. 398 completed Step 2 and received additional training in professionalism, ethics and conflict resolution. Seven withdrew their applications after the deadline. 388 students were granted awards for a total of $1,361,047.

Since the Lynk UAF program began in 2014, MHC has supported close to 1,500 students and funded 61% of the class of 2018.

79% of positions were employer paid

or MHC-funded.

How Students Were Paid

Lynk UAF 29%

Unpaid 19%

Paid 50%

Unknown 2%

“Would you recommend this student for permanent or full-time employment?”

“Do you feel this student developed skills, knowledge and attitudes necessary to build a career in this field?”

98%of supervisors said

yes when asked these questions.


Building Experience: Academic Year 2017-18

Mount Holyoke’s undergraduates work in a diverse array of jobs both on and off-campus, the majority of which provide high-quality opportunities for learning.

75 students held internships, CBL fellowships, or student employment positions in our local communities this academic year. 1,484 held MHC student employment positions on-campus.

On-Campus Employment: Academic Year 2017-18

Level 1 jobs are entry level, requiring no pre-existing experience. The 1,657 level 2-5 positions are skilled jobs that provide training and opportunities for learning.

Job Types

1,490unique students hired for 3,191 jobs on- and

off-campus in 2017-18.

Research with MHC Faculty: Academic Year 2017-18

79 students were paid through student employment to work on research in an academic department this past year. 29 more conducted research in administrative departments across campus. This is in addition to the several hundred students who earn credit for independent studies each year.

1448

903

563

92 16 83

0200400600800

1000120014001600

Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Level 5 Stipends


114Research Assistants

75Peer student supervisors

213Tutors

149Mentors/Advisors

79% of enrolled international students and 70% of US students gained experience through campus employment.

83% 95% 67% 66%

Student Employment: Participation by Class Year

2018 (Seniors)

2019 (Juniors)

2020 (Sophomores)

2021 (First Years)

27% of Frances Perkins Scholars (included in the above class years) participated in student employment during the academic year.

Where Students Gained Experience

On-Campus88 campus offices, departments and centers employed students in 2017-18.

Off-CampusBetween the Weissman Center’s LAPS (Leadership and Public Service) and CBL programs, our students were hosted by 28 partner-organizations in local communities, such as Amherst, Chicopee, Holyoke, Northampton, South Hadley and Springfield.

Top On-Campus Employers

• Dining Services (over 750 positions!)

• AccessAbility Services

• Physical Education• Mathematics &

Statistics• Residential Life• Weissman Center


How does career development integrate with academics and campus life?The Career Development Center has a liaison system for academic departments, offices, and student organizations to answer questions and to collaborate to support students. Collaborations include class and student group visits, events, departments teas, and workshops.

The CDC also sends customized information on the internship destinations relevant to academic departments and student organizations.

FOCUSMInterArts Council: Crafting a Life in the Arts (CALA)

“Collaboration with the CDC has enriched profoundly the creative and performing arts at Mount Holyoke. The InterArts Council—a group of nine departments and programs—works closely with the CDC to sponsor the annual Crafting a Life in the Arts event that brings alums back to campus to share their personal stories and insights on graduate study, professional life, and opportunities in the diverse fields of the arts.

Thanks to the CDC, their flawless organization of publicity and events and generous hospitality, CALA regularly attracts 100+ students.

By connecting current students with alums, it creates an invaluable occasion that expands horizons beyond the requirements of a major or the confines of the classroom.

Through CALA, students glimpse the many possibilities for making their learning an active force in the world beyond The Gates.”

- Michael Davis, Chair, InterArts Council

collaborations with over 41 unique academic departments and other campus offices in 2017-18.59


FOCUSMEducation & Psychology and Master’s in Teaching Program

“Our Education division is incredibly appreciative of the variety and quality of supports offered to our faculty, staff and students each academic year from the Career Development Center. We benefit from clear and consistent communication, superior organization and reliable follow through each and every semester. The Career Development Center is responsive to our needs and continues to exceed our expectations.

Kelly Woods...offers a 90-minute workshop to our teacher candidates each spring semester during the practicum seminar. This workshop is engaging, thoughtful and keeps up with current trends in the field.

Our students report that they are better prepared for their mock interviews, job fairs and job search because of the information provided by Kelly.

The staff at the Career Development Center provide exceptional support to our local public school partners and others that are interested in employing our teacher candidates. They also work to support students from our campus and beyond as they consider graduate study...

Beyond specific events and class visits, we are able to depend on the CDC to keep us connected with alumni, aware of career opportunities for our candidates and involved in the MERC [Massachusetts Educational Recruiting Consortium] fair. We also rely on them to support our students as they draft cover letters, polish resumes and prepare for interviews.

The Career Development Center supports students...as they explore curriculum to career connections in their internship experiences. I am always confident that students studying education will be well supported as they apply for funding, prepare for a successful internship experience and explore opportunities for sustained reflection.”

- Sarah Frenette, Director of Early Childhood and Elementary Licensure Programs; Teacher Licensure Coordinator; Nexus in Educational Policy

and Practice Track Chair


The Career Development Center strives to ensure that students are well connected to employers and alumnae in their fields of interest. In 2017-18 we did this by:

• Engaging alumnae as volunteers. The number of alumnae who volunteered with the CDC to support students has increased. The CDC took a new approach of engaging alumnae in some of our largest and most well-attended signature programs and developed better data collection processes to track alumnae engagement.

• Including alumnae in more of our signature programs. We added more alumnae networking receptions to our Lynk on the Road sites visits and piloted an advanced mock interview program. Alumnae volunteers who work or have worked in human resources offered their time to interview students and offer professional feedback on their interviewing skills.

• Inviting employers and graduate schools to campus. At least 20% of students took advantage of these on-campus recruiting opportunities.

• Establishing relationships with new employers. See page 28 for examples.

• Offering more high-quality, competitive opportunities through our MHConnect internship program.

• Implementing systems changes and streamlining work processes in order to effectively connect students with quality opportunities. Two vacant staff positions were filled to assist in these efforts.

How do students establish connections with employers and alumnae?

Alumnae Volunteers

219unique alumnae

volunteered to support students in 2017-18.

The CDC worked collectively with campus partners— including the Alumnae Association and student organizations like Women In Business—to coordinate events allowing for students and alumnae to engage in conversations and opportunities in a wide range of career fields of interest.

The CDC cultivated relationships with 107 alumnae, leading directly to internships, employment, and professional preparation opportunities for students.


FOCUSMSophomore Institute “...getting the chance to talk

with alumnae in a formal but also low-stress/stakes

environment. I liked how many of them were in the

authentic networking event, and I was able to practice conversations with them.”

“The most helpful element was the fact that Mount

Holyoke brought in alumni for us. I think just meeting

people who were in the same shoes as us and are

successful in the real world is very invigorating.”

- 2018 student participants

Sophomore Institute is designed to teach Mount Holyoke students the important skills that need to be built early for long-term success.

Our alumnae network is an invaluable resource for our students, helping them create powerful connections that offers insight on the phases of building, nurturing and maintaining both social and professional networks.

The 2018 event connected 96 students with 12 alumnae from various fields, offering students a peek into their prospective futures.

Programs Featuring Alumnae

Alumnae participated in CDC events 231 times in 2017-18. Learn more about these programs on page 37.

Internship & ResearchOrientation and CelebrationLynk on the Road

& Employer Site Visits

Crafting a Life in the Arts

MHC Summer inNYC and DC

Advanced Mock Interviews

Sophomore InstituteInternational Student Networking Event

Employer InformationSessions

AlumnaeCoee Chats


In 2017-18, 168 unique companies and organizations worked with the 3-College Recruiting Consortium of

Amherst, Smith and Mount Holyoke Colleges.

Employer and Graduate School Visits

On-Campus Recruiting: New Employers

The Career Development Center developed many new relationships this year which resulted in job and internships postings, programming, and events. A highlight of some of our new employers includes:

Mount Holyoke hosted or provided transportation to nine career and graduate school fairs. At least 152 MHC students attended,

accessing 513 organizations.

425unique students

attended an information session in 2017-18.

The CDC held 68 information sessions—virtual and in-person—with employers (55) and graduate schools (13) on campus in 2017-18.

These one to two hour long interactive events inform students of current job opportunities and often offer content relevant to career preparation such as networking and interview skills.

22 information tables were also held.


A subset of student interns and researchers participated in summer MHConnect experiences—high-quality, competitive internships where Mount Holyoke students have access to a special application pathway and benefit from the close relationship that the college has cultivated with the organization.

Some summer MHConnect opportunities are paid directly by the host organization and some are paid by the College through Lynk UAF.

MHConnect: Summer 2017

33organizations in 32 cities and 14

countries

55student

participants

6collaborating

centers, offices and programs

with curatedthrough

On-Campus Recruiting: Employer Partners

We welcomed back many of our existing employer partners in 2017-18. A highlight of organizations we work with includes:

• Impendi Analytics• Gigamon• Google• McKinsey & Company• Cornerstone Research• Putnam Investments• IBM• Goldman Sachs• Bank of America Merrill Lynch• Peace Corps

• MassMutual• JP Morgan Chase• Barclays• PFM• Travelers Insurance• Fidelity• Arava Institute• Carney, Sandoe & Associates• Teach for America

On-Campus Interviews

This year, seven employers physically came to campus to conduct interviews. Virtual information sessions and interviews continue to increase, allowing Mount Holyoke to connect with employers from more varied locations. The CDC has a professional video interviewing room for students and has included training on successful techniques in programs and advising.


FOCUSMSite Visits: Lynk on the Road

Lynk on the Road took students to visit 13 employers and graduate schools. The CDC coordinated three more employer visit in collaboration with Smith and Amherst College. 85 Mount Holyoke students and 79 alumnae participated in these visits and closing networking receptions.

“...I feel I know more about the different sectors of the finance industry and also sort of get the insight about how people actually work in the finance industry...I have a more clear plan in order to prepare myself for the recruiting process next year.”

“I am so grateful to be able to see and tour an actual lab in MGH. That experience gave me great perspective on what my future will look like. I learned that there are many potential avenues to getting into/progressing in the biotech field...”

“...the different professions within the nonprofit track that people in the field pursue, the different routes that people take and where they end up, the importance of networking, connection, and doing informational interviews.”

“...the different ways of going into a field. You don’t have to major or minor in something in order to be in a specific company or field. With time and experiences you will learn.”

Student quotes: What did you learn?

Sites visited include:• Eaton Vance

• Bain

• Biogen

• Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination

• Big Brothers Big Sisters

• The Andy Warhol Foundation

• Meredith Corps

• Citi Group

• The Red Sox Foundation

• Uncubed

• Capacity Interactive

• U.S. Attorney’s Office

• Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center

• NARAL Pro-Choice


What are the post-graduate outcomes for Mount Holyoke students?Mount Holyoke College students lead rewarding careers in a wide range of fields following graduation, from medicine, law, arts, and education to scientific research, finance, and consulting.

These numbers were calculated using the definitions established for career outcomes by the National Association for Colleges and Employers (NACE).

Class of 2017 Outcomes 6-Months Post Graduation

of the class of 2017 were employed, in school, or participating in an internship program six months post graduation.*96%

* 79% knowledge rate, comprised of graduate outcome data that could be obtained using the standards established by the National Association of Colleges and Employers.

69% Employed

21% Graduate or Professional School

5% Internship/Fellowship

1% Starting a Business

3% Seeking Employment or Undecided

1% Not seeking Employment or Continuing Education

69%Employed


7%

9%

11%

11%

12%

24%

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30%

Business Services

Finance, Insurance or Real Estate

Social Services, Public Administration or Advocacy

Health Care

Technology, Science or Engineering

Education

Class of 2017 Employment Outcomes 6-Months Post Graduation

Mount Holyoke graduates embarked on careers around the globe and that span a wide range of industries.

Employment Locations

Top Industries

Top Employers


7%

7%

9%

12%

15%

18%

0% 2% 4% 6% 8% 10% 12% 14% 16% 18% 20%

Engineering, Math and Statistics

Education

Computer, Information or Library Science

Social Sciences

Health Care

Biological, Physical or Life Sciences

Class of 2017 Education Outcomes 6-Months Post Graduation

Over 75% of our alumnae have enrolled in graduate or professional school within ten years of graduation.

Education Locations

Top Fields of Study

Top Schools


My Journey Begins: Class of 2018

Each year, the CDC invites graduating seniors to make signs about their first destinations and aspirations and have their pictures taken. The photos are displayed in the CDC and the library atrium and posted on the CDC Facebook page. A commencement weekend coffee hour is also held, and a My Journey Begins guide book with practical professional advice for recent grads is distributed.

115students participated in

My Journey Begins, 23% of the class of 2018.

If students had secured employment or graduate

school admission, that information was entered

into our records.


Initiatives & Leadership PositionsMount Holyoke Career Development Center Advisory BoardsCDC External Leadership GroupBased on the success of the 2015-2017 pilot phase, the CDC convened a leadership group that includes alumnae, employers, and parents for a two-year term from 2017-2019. The group provides advice and input that furthers the work of the CDC. The group’s members have held leadership roles in industries including banking, biotechnology, consumer services, consulting, education, journalism, law, libraries and information science, and the nonprofit sector.

Student Ambassadors GroupLaunched spring 2018, this specialized liaison student group is comprised of Student Government Association members. Ambassadors continue to engage in their own career exploration and growth moderated by a CDC advisor. The group then educates and promotes CDC services to the rest of the student body.

The CDC is connected to and leads in the career development field in varied ways:

Liz Lierman• Co-Chair, NACE Principles of Ethical Professional Practice Committee

Eric Jette• Committee Member, Liberal Arts Career Network Employer Development

Janice Kane• Recipient, Mount Holyoke College Trailblazer Award

Karen Miller• Recipient, Council for Advancement and Support Of Education District I

Venture Fund Award

Kelly Uccello• Committee Member, Eastern Association of Colleges and Employers

Professional Exchange

Kelly Woods• Participant, College Career Centers of Western Massachusetts Consortium• Committee Member, National Career Development Association International

Student Services

Roshonda DeGraffenreid• Member, Northeast Association for Pre-Law Advisors

Leadership Positions & Recognitions


Vision & Strategic Plan SummaryDuring the 2014-2015 academic year, representatives from the Career Development Center at Mount Holyoke College engaged in a listening tour, followed by a vision and planning process.

In December 2014, a Vision Task Force comprising students, faculty, staff, and external partners convened to shape an overall strategic plan to guide the work of the CDC over the next several years. This plan was approved by the Task Force on April 30, 2015.

The resulting plan was formed and is being steadily implemented with the input of many dedicated individuals, and laid a strong foundation for a CDC that continues to connect and respond to its diverse stakeholders. We are deeply grateful to the Vision Task Force members for contributing their time and insight during this process, and to the many members of the Mount Holyoke community who shared their ideas and suggestions for the CDC.

CDC visionEvery student engagedEvery student experiencedEvery student preparedEvery student connected

Goals from the strategic plan

GOAL #1: Build, articulate, and maintain a cohesive CDC strategy that engages a variety of constituents.

GOAL #2: Scale services to reach all students during their time at MHC and foster a campus culture of career confidence.

GOAL #3: Strategically cultivate employer relationships and balance specialized and general advising to provide opportunities and preparation in a wide range of interest areas.

GOAL #4: Support academic departments in showing the many paths that can be pursued with liberal arts majors.

GOAL #5: Provide career development support for alumnae and roles for alumnae to support students on a large scale.

GOAL #6: Shape MHC and national conversations about career development and generate discussion on the future of work.


Programs & ServicesSignature Programs & Events

Alumnae Coffee ChatsAn alumna coffee chat is an afternoon of 45-minute segments in industry-themed career conversations between one alumna and a small group of students. This is a fun, relatively informal opportunity for students to meet and learn from alumnae working in the field. These chats can be held in person for an intimate meeting or held virtually at the Career Development Center allowing for our students to interact with alumnae from around the world.

Advanced Mock Interview ProgramThis new programming for the 2017-18 academic year was specifically designed for our students based on employer feedback. An alumnae pool of volunteers were strategically selected based on their Human Resource backgrounds in a variety of career fields. The matched students and the alumnae were virtually introduced and then partnered together to conduct a mock interview at a time that was convenient for both parties.

Fall Kickoff EventsThe Career Development Center hosts a number of events in the fall to prepare students to take advantage of career and internship opportunities throughout the year. These include: First Year Orientation Session, Senior Meeting, Sophomore/Junior Meeting, and International Student Meeting.

Intern Network (IN)The Career Development Center encourages all students to report their summer plans in the spring. All IN members receive a list of other members, sortable by location and industry, and regular emails with tips and advice on maximizing their summer experiences. IN members also receive updates on summer events (alumnae events, conferences, etc.) in their summer locations.

Internship & Research Orientation and CelebrationThis event is offered in the late spring semester as a required event for Lynk UAF recipients, and is open to all students with summer internship and research plans. The orientation provides workplace preparation and networking activities, intended to provide food for thought on emotional intelligence, communication, ethical and cultural choices that students may encounter in their internship and research settings. Managed by the CDC, this event is designed and delivered collaboratively by many experiential learning focused staff of MHC and incorporates several MHC faculty and alumnae.


Lynk on the Road Site VisitsThese annual trips to New York City and Boston enable students to experience first-hand what it’s like to work in various industries and companies, including arts, media, and communications; biotechnology; business and finance; information technology; law and advocacy; and nonprofit organizations.

Lynk Universal Application Funding (UAF)Mount Holyoke College provides funding for sophomores and juniors to pursue unpaid internship and research opportunities through the Lynk Universal Application Funding program. This program provides students with a centralized application for funding unpaid, student-identified opportunities in traditionally underfunded fields. The Career Development Center manages the operation of the college’s Lynk UAF program, including development and management of the online application system, coordination and membership of various Lynk UAF committees, application review, management of a $1,000,000 internship/research budget, and hosting the Summer Internship & Research Orientation and Celebration.

My Journey BeginsThis annual spring campaign celebrates the first destinations and aspirations of the Mount Holyoke College graduating class. Students are invited to make a sign and have their photo taken. Photos are displayed in the CDC, the library atrium leading up to and through commencement and reunion weekends, as well as posted on the CDC Facebook page.

Sophomore InstituteThis award-winning half-day conference, managed by the CDC, is designed and delivered collaboratively by many offices on campus with an interest in the sophomore year experience. The program introduces foundational career concepts early, so students gain experience networking, goal-setting and reflecting while in college, and become better prepared to succeed in their internship and later job searches.

Student Employment Job FairHeld in the spring, this event offers all on-campus employers the opportunity to engage with students seeking summer or fall employment. Students learn about the diverse and high-quality opportunities available while practicing the skills needed to succeed in a career fair setting. Resume assistance was offered on-site.

Student Employee Supervisor TrainingsSupervisors of student employees attend a supervisors’ meeting twice a year, hosted by the Career Development Center, where they receive training on being effective supervisors and experiential educators, along with important updates. The Career Development Center also offers supervisors individualized advice and support upon request.


Co-Sponsored Programs & Events

Crafting a Life in the Arts (CALA)CALA is an annual event that connects students interested in the arts with alumnae who have successfully pursued careers in these fields. The event features interdisciplinary panels and theme workshops. This is a cross-campus effort led by the InterArts Council, the Departments of Architecture, Art History, Art Studio, Creative Writing, Dance, Film, Music, Theatre, MHC Art Museum, the Office of the Dean of the College, and the Career Development Center.

International Student Networking EventThe Alumnae Association, the McCulloch Center for Global Initiatives, and the Career Development Center co-host this annual networking event for international students. Students have the opportunity to hear from and network with alumnae who came to Mount Holyoke as international students.

Internship CommunitiesStudents in Washington, D.C. or New York City’s vibrant internship cultures are invited to join MHC Summer in DC or NYC. As part of The Lynk experience, these localized Mount Holyoke internship communities connect current students with our distinguished alumnae and support highly competitive summer internships. An opening networking reception is held in each city as well as location-specific preparation, support, social media, and email content. MHC internship communities are a partnership of the Career Development Center, Alumnae Association, Weissman Center for Leadership, Mount Holyoke Club of Greater Washington, D.C., Mount Holyoke Club of New York, and the Office of Advancement.

Lynk UAF CurriculumDeveloped to support student career development, the Lynk UAF program provides a preparatory curriculum. Participants engage in internship advising and resume writing support, and online training in responsible research and ethics, preventing workplace harassment and discrimination, health and safety, conflict resolution, and workplace success. In addition, every funding recipient writes learning goals and those that need it receive support in developing a strong learning plan from internship advisors in the CDC and academic centers.

MHConnectMHConnect opportunities are curated by numerous departments and centers across campus, with support and coordination offered through the Career Development Center. These internship and research opportunities are high-quality, competitive roles where Mount Holyoke students have access to a special application pathway and benefit from the close relationship that the college has cultivated with the organization. Some MHConnect opportunities are paid directly by the host organization, and others are eligible for funding through Lynk UAF.


Career Development Center StaffMany thanks to the CDC team for a great year.

CDC Staff Members

Alexis MacGregor Kelly Uccello Dyanne Rousseau Kelly Woods Eric Jette Kristin Balboni Janice Kane Lauren O’Boyle Jenny Watermill Liz Lierman Ju Young Kielb Roshonda DeGraffenreid Karen Miller Student Employees

Car

eer

Dev

elo

pm

ent

Cen

ter

5011

0618

Abigail Baker ’19Adwoa Aboah ’18Ana Saverchenko ’19Anna Gerasimova ’21Annie Choi ’19Annie Huynh ’20Dikshya Neyohang ’19Frieda Yeung ’18Grace Grieve-Carlson ’19Heidi Zakoul ’20Hoa Nguyen ’18Isabel Kerr ’19Ishita Tibrewal ’18Janae Davis ’19Juerong (Sharon) Jiang ’20Kannah Landford ’19Kenice Kenlock ’18

Have a question for the CDC?Please email [email protected] or call 413-538-2080. For a detailed list of current CDC team members and their areas of focus/responsibility, please visit www.mtholyoke.edu/cdc/about

Lucy Frasier ’19Megi Hoxha ’21Natalie Lewis ’20Rhema Andah ’18Romina Gupta ’20Ruoyi Song ’20Samantha Kell ’18Sharon Ni ’20Spurthi Jonnalagadda ’18Sriya Pradhan ’19Swastika Khunjeli ’18Swexya Panta ’18Tess Remick ’21Theodosia Adu-Awuah ’20Thu Dao ’19Yezi Liu ’19

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