Stephanie,
Hi Stephanie. Interesting assignment.We believe that graduates are an incredible resource to career schools. As you point out, they can talk with new and prospective students and are very credible. Grads can also refer qualified students for enrollment and handle many many other tasks helping out with all departments including student services, placement, and in the classroom. That's a reason to keep in touch with grads via an Alumni Community. In fact, if you want to know more, MaxK offers a course on how to set up Alumni groups specifically at career schools. Thanks, Susan
Dr. Susan Schulz
Placement can impact enrollment by ensuring that we mention all of the employers that are interested in our candidates. Employers that have joined as a partner to support our student in any way. Visitin the campus and presenting to classrooms, conducting mock interviews and donating equipment is one of the ways that employers have expressed their support.
Doris,today we had a Priority Acceptance Day at my college and I was expected to ensure that we had speakers i.e. graduates who are currently working in their field of study and employers if they were available. I was able to present 3 students Two from the HVAC field and 1 Culinary graduate. I always try to select the student who had a decent GPA and attendance record to show what hard work and dedication can do in the long run.
Tom,
Exactly our thoughts, Tom. The reason for attending a career school is to get a career. That is why we feel employment skills training has to start on day one. Yes, placement is very exciting and enticing - good way to put it. Students not only need the skills, but also the self confidence. Confidence building takes time. That's the reason to start on day one - or even during the admissions interview. Thanks, Susan
Dr. Susan Schulz
Think about it, Why are we seeking education? We want to obviously gain knowledge and improve our perception and thought process but ultimately we want it to benefit us and to be useful information. This usually must translate to either employment or advancement. If we can demonstrate to our potential students the utility of what we offer then they will perceive value. We are asking for both their resources and time. We are asking them to trust us with both. We must demonstrate proficiency in order to drive enrollments. I once saw placement as a chore but now I see a very enriching process that defines what we do. Show prospective students results and I will show you higher enrollments.
Paula,
Great observations. We agree. That's why we think that Placement and Career Services need to be part of the Admissions Tour. In fact, imagine if the two departments sat together? Prospective students really want to know about where the jobs are! Yes, grads are a grreat source of qualified referrals. That's why we suggest you formalize your contact with grads by instituting an Alumni Association. Grads help with enrollments, retention, and can tell you about jobs at their places of work. MaxKnowledge offers a course on how to set up an Alumni Association. Best wishes, Susan
Dr. Susan Schulz
The Placement Department definitely impacts the Admissions Department. Our Placement Department statistics are a great tool for Admissions. Also, when graduates become placed in the field of their study, they are more likely to recommend our school to others.
Doris,
This is great Doris. We also believe that career services needs to work closely with Admissions, The reality is that students enroll for a job. That is the key motivation for most. So it is vital they know about all the career services offered. Getting a job to some is more difficult than taking a final! Sounds like your school is a place a go to. Now everyone needs to know all you do for your students. Best wishes, Susan
Dr. Susan Schulz
The Placement Department is a crucial part of our College. Our department helps the admissions department. We work close together.Our Placement department also offers assistance in seeking part-time employment. many of our new perspective student ask us questions during there tour of the campus. We emphasize we have resources avaialble from transportation to child care, utility services and help hotlines.Although we work hand in hand together if a student wants to learn first and foremost they will attend. We recommend to our student to do research on the program of interest.
I think this is great what your doing. It is a bad ecomomy out there and anything we can offer these student will benifit them strongly.
Good points Ed. You are pointing out that just having a placement department gives students a lot of confidence and hope. And the fact that your services are so effective it impacts on everyone. It is amazing how easy it is to pump up energies with hope. And it reminds faculty and staff that the purpose of training is all about employment. Ideally that keeps everyone talking about jobs, placement, careers, and the workplace. Thanks, Susan
Firstly having a placement department motivates our students and provides hope that at the end of their prospective courses the student can parlay their education into an employment opportunity. The student that feels that their efforts in the classroom will be rewarded with a meaningful career is more likely to share the experience with friends and family members also. This affects all areas of operation positively as more courseware will be ordered, teachers are more motivated and overall student morale is higher.
Hi Marcus, Interesting point. So what actions do your observations point to? Perhaps career services projects should be required and also be made available to grads long after they leave your school. Perhaps there should be workshops specifically geared to the alumni. Perhaps there are benefits to keeping in touch with grads and formalizing the process with an alumni association. Thanks, Susan
Just as the placement department needs the input of all departments affected by placement stats, the school as a whole, affected or not, feels the pressure from accreditation and other governing factors. At the previous facility I worked at, placement numbers affected specific program viability, which in turn affected teaching positions and funding. I feel that placement services are important; however, the ability for the student to use career services techniques later in life is equally important. If the student doesn't learn how to stay employable, then we are nothing more than a temporary staffing agency.
Yes - great placement departments mean great schools. We totally agree. The placement director needs to spend a lot of time in community outreach, in our opinion. Meeting employers to find out how programs can better meet the needs of the workplace. Meet prospective employers to find out about job openings. Everywhere the placement director goes there is a new person or company that can learn about the school and how it can be a resource. Keep in mind that many companies offer tuition assistance to its employees. Really great to know who those companies are. Thanks, Susan
Clearly one of the major impacts is on Admissions. If we are successful in finding placements for our grads, the numbers rise and the admissions uses those numbers to register new students. In other words, a great placement department equates to a successful school!
Should the numbers for placement decline this impacts the college in many ways. One the admissions department does not have the high numbers for job placement to lean on for enrollments. If the enrollments go down the liquidity of the college suffers. If the college finances are down you have layoffs and it begins a cycle of disaster!
Therefore it is of utmost importance that the placement department be successful in order for the college to be successful in the long term.
We agree that placement impacts every department. Happy grads refer new students increasing enrollment. When it is known that grads get good placements then students are motivated to stay and complete. Happy grads will also stay connected to the school and share the job openings where they work. This is an argument for alumni associations too. Thanks, Susan
The placement department impacts each department in a very serious way, If each department does not meet the goal of placement for thier graduates the program will be in trouble of being cut. Of course we get some time to work on the numbers, but if it happens a few years in a row, the course will have to be cut. So the placement deparment effects every program on our campus.
As far as enrollment we can impact enrollement in regards to the numbers that are reported, if they are good and fair then people will want to enroll in our programs. If enrollies see that we work with our students then they will want to enroll. so it effects everyone from the enrollment to the graduation and beyond.
Sharon Cologero
Director of Career Serivces
You may be new to Placement but you really know what is important, Paula. You are right that admissions needs to be armed with the facts about how your school trains students to get jobs, how you assist with the job search, and how successful grads are. We think that the Placement department should sit right along with Admissions! The reality is that prospective students want to know about where they are going to get jobs. That's the most important question when they interview. And you are right that Placement does impact on retention. When students see how successful grads are they are motivated to stay in school. Thanks, Susan
I am fairly new to the organization and although the Placement Department is just getting off of the ground, it is obvious that all other Departments have played an active roll in assisting the students with placement. I am looking forward to strengthening the links between the departments and Placement. It seems our new enrollments have the closest bond with the Admissions team therefore developing tools that Admissions can utilize during recruitment will be a huge benefit. I believe a well organized and implemented Placement Department increases retention which benefits the entire organization.
