Purposeful Work
Grounded in the liberal arts, Purposeful Work is a mission-based initiative designed to help Bates students identify their strengths and interests, and position themselves for success in life and work.
Purposeful Work Internships Purposeful Work Internships are designed to help students explore interests, build skills, develop networks, and complement their studies with real-world experience in a broad range of industries.
300+ students participated in internships, research, and community engagement projects
238 students received financial support from Bates
97
students composed the inaugural cohort of Purposeful Work interns in summer 2015
119
students composed the summer 2016 cohort of Purposeful Work interns
When students were asked...
80
%
41
%
agree or strongly agree that “This internship program is a critical component in my pursuit of postgraduate purposeful work.” responded yes to “Have your academic plans (for example, classes you intend to take, thesis topics, graduate school intentions) changed as a result of this internship?”
“How have your career interests changed as a result of this internship?”
41% noted ”I am now significantly more interested in pursuing this field” 50% noted “Solidified my interest in this field” 9% noted “I no longer intend to pursue this field”
When employers were asked...
90
%
reported that their Bates intern would be a competitive candidate for a full-time post-graduation job.
2016 Purposeful Work Internships Across Industries
Healthcare
Nonprofit
Scientific R&D in Physical, Engineering & Life Sciences
Education
Environment/Natural Resources
Technology
Arts
Finance/Banking
Business Services
Entrepreneurial/Start-Ups
Consulting
Recreation/Parks/Sports
Insurance
Government, Federal
Food and Beverage
Transportation
Retail/Merchandising
Social/Human Services
Publishing
Marketing
Law
International Affairs and Development
Energy/Utilities
Architecture
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 3 4 5 6 7 7 8 11 12 16 22 Agriculture
Industry
Number of students
Bates, Harvard, and HBX CORe In 2015–16, Bates became a collaborating college with HBX Credential of Readiness (CORe), a digital learning initiative powered by Harvard Business School faculty. Through participation in HBX CORe, Bates students can expand their knowledge of business analytics, economics for managers, and financial accounting through immersive case studies and a fully interactive online platform. Twenty-one students have completed the program since February 2016, gaining a broad range of business skills, including financial statement analysis, regression modeling, forecasting, and valuation.
“
My Purposeful Work Internship helped me realize that regardless of advances in technology, libraries will always be necessary for accessing knowledge, and librarians will always be needed as guides and teachers. The experience also confirmed my interest in helping connect people with the information they want and need. — English major Jeremy Glover ’17 interned at the Lee Road Branch of the Cleveland Heights—University Heights Library System in Cleveland Heights, Ohio.
Practitioner-Taught Courses Innovation and experimentation have always been
Through these courses students acquired a broad range
the hallmarks of Short Term at Bates. In 2016, 74
of skills, including how to:
students participated in Practitioner-Taught Courses
• Mix and edit music, and manage artists in a production
(PTCs), which offered the opportunity for creative
session
experimentation in a broad range of career fields:
• Brainstorm, research, shape, and pitch ideas for
• Brand Culture Building
publication
• Consulting for Strategy Development
• Apply strategic consulting methods, practices, and skills
• Filmmaking, The Creative Process
• Observe, analyze, and shift a business’ brand culture
• Journalism in an Age of Media Explosion
• Script, shoot, and edit films; give and receive
• Music Production, Recording, and Mixing
constructive feedback
“
“I’ve landed a dream job in a dream company, all thanks to the opportunities Bates has provided me through Purposeful Work.” — Rhetoric major Rebeccah Bassell ’16 refined her interests and built skills and professional connections through her 2014 Digital Innovation Practitioner-Taught Course with Ben Schippers ’04 and her 2015 Purposeful Work internship with Peter Gault ’11 at Quill. She is now a digital production coordinator with Nickelodeon in New York City.
Demonstrated Student Interest
2017 Practitioner-Taught Courses
Enrollment patterns and student feedback show a strong and growing enthusiasm for PTCs.
94
%
of students said their PTCs provided them with skills they could use in future work
95
%
of students agree the PTC program is a good addition to the curriculum
93
%
of students agree PTCs are valuable and should be offered again
The Business of the Arts
Digital Marketing
Mediation and Restorative Justice
Healthcare Administration
Project Management
Purposeful Work Infusion Courses Purposeful Work Infusion Courses help students identify their strengths and interests by, among other things, connecting their coursework to exploration of career outcomes. The 31 fall
infusion courses were taught during fall 2016
2016 Purposeful Work Infusion courses included: • Environmental Economics
• Philosophy of Law
• Film Theory
• Theater Technology
• Intro to Epidemiology
• Working with Data
31
32
infusion courses were taught during winter 2016
578 771
• Mathematical Models in Biology Many infusion courses include alumni guest speakers discussing how Bates coursework shaped their career aspirations, while
students took an infusion course in fall 2016
students took an infusion course in winter 2016
others offer students hands-on practice in fields of interest.
Career Confidence
As indicated by the Consortium on Financing Higher Education survey results, Bates seniors report significant increases in career confidence since Purposeful Work was launched. Very Confident
Generally Confident
100
80
60 40% 24%
40
48%
44%
34%
43%
44%
45%
32%
20%
34%
41%
42%
44%
2014 2016
2014
2016
31% 27%
42%
38%
24% 34%
20
0
2014
2016
Identify appropriate employers and positions
2014
2016
Present relevant experiences and skills effectively
2014
2016
Identify graduate school options and fellowship opportunities
Network effectively
Effectively plan a career path
“Purposeful Work at Bates is about helping students align who they are and what they do. The more students are able to match their work with their authentic interests and talents, the less work feels like work, and the more it simply feels like a natural part of a satisfying and meaningful life.�
— Bates President Clayton Spencer