The Allen Yarnell Center for Student Success 2013-2014 Year End Report office of student success
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The Allen Yarnell Center for Student Success THREE OFFICES. MANY PROGRAMS. ONE GOAL. BETTER OUTCOMES FOR MSU STUDENTS.
Aligned with the professional commitment of our namesake, the Allen Yarnell Center for Student Success seeks to meet students “where they are at,” ensuring we support those who demonstrate high motivation or high potential to ensure their success at MSU. Using the ambitious goals of Complete College Montana and MSU’s Strategic Plan, Mountains & Minds: Learners and Leaders as a guide, the thrust of the Center is to improve student success outcomes, including increased persistence and graduation rates. Allen Yarnell Center for Student Success programs are built upon our focus of keeping students central to our mission. We use data and best practices to influence our efforts and relish the opportunity to collaborate with key campus offices, departments, employers, the Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education and community partners to strengthen the probability of success for the students we serve.
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On April 16, 2014 the Allen Yarnell Center for Student Success was officially dedicated by President Cruzado, in memory of long-serving and visionary Student Success Vice President Dr. Allen Yarnell. As Dr. Yarnell’s former staff and colleagues looked on, Denise Andres and Mark Yarnell joined President Cruzado in the sign unveiling, celebrating the official formation and naming of the Center (Lisa Yarnell, Allen’s daughter, is studying at Ryerson University in Toronto).
office of student success
Office of Student Success PROGRAMS AND SERVICES COMMITTED TO ASSISTING STUDENTS DURING THEIR FIRST TWO YEARS AND BEYOND
The Office of Student Success is committed to assisting students through their first two years and beyond. We offer a committed staff of professionals to assist students in making the most of the opportunities and challenges that arise for undergraduates as they make the transition to MSU. The Office of Student Success relies heavily on data and technology to better identify and support students.
Why First Year Retention Matters FIRST YEAR FULL TIME RETENTION
76.4%
were not retained
total student traffic
65%
2019 FTFT retention goal
retained 2013 freshmen cohort
23.6% freshmen cohort
number of unique students served during the 2013 - 2014 academic year
7,559
6-YEAR GRADUATION RATE
82%
3,925
49.5%
2019 6-year graduation goal
2013 6-year graduation rate
n = 2161 The road to improved graduation rates begins with increased student retention.
Cory Miller Cell Biology & Neuroscience aycss: office of student success
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office of student success
ChampChange REWARDING STUDENT ENGAGEMENT
ChampChange is a program designed to reward students for engaging in academic and co-curricular events and activities. Students earn ChampChange points by attending workshops, lectures, tutoring sessions, going to the Academic Help Centers, Fitness Center, sporting events, and other activities on campus. Students can use their points to bid on prizes in the online auctions every month or in the final auction at the end of each semester. Some of the more popular prizes include: $1,000 tuition waiver courtesy of the Office of Financial Aid, Beach Cruiser bike, lunch with local entrepreneurs and much more! As students engage we begin to see patterns of those who are likely to persist versus those who may benefit from targeted interventions. The ChampChange Program is an important component of MSU’s predictive modeling data set.
CHAMPCHANGE BY THE NUMBERS, FALL 2013 - SPRING 2014
total engagements
total events held
348,473 533 CHAMPCHANGE LOCATIONS ON CAMPUS
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STUDENT TICKET ATHLETIC EVENTS WRITING CENTER FITNESS CENTER BBCC WRITING CENTER GALLATIN COLLEGE PROGRAMS MATH LAB SUB REC CENTER PHYSICS HELP CENTER LIBRARY MAIN DOOR REFERENCE LIBRARIAN DESK OFFICE OF FINANCIAL EDUCATION ALLEN YARNELL CENTER FOR STUDENT SUCCESS/CAREER SERVICES MECHANICAL & INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING HELP DESK
total number of unique participants
13,699
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office of student success
Student engagement at MSU measured through ChampChange participation has been found to be strongly associated with first year student retention.
FALL 2012 - SPRING 2013 FTFT COHORT- BY TOTAL ENGAGEMENT COUNTS- RECORDED IN CHAMPCHANGE
# of campus engagements
Not Registered Fall 2013
10 to 19
20+
1 to 4
5 to 9
48.7%
35.7%
22.1%
15.8%
51.3%
64.3%
77.9%
84.2%
n=280
n=411
n=1209
2019 82% goal FTFT retention rates
Registered Fall 2013
# of students
n=261
CatTracks
CAPTURING DATA TO BETTER INFORM STRATEGY
CatTracks is the AllenYarnell Center for Student Success database. Originally, the office database was used to track ChampChange participation, but during Fall 2013 CatTracks was expanded to track all appointments and communications for several of the Center’s programs including Success Advising, Career Coaching, Financial Coaching, SmartyCats Tutoring and ChampChange. CatTracks provides a user interface for both MSU students and employees. MSU students can schedule tutoring appointments online and participate across all programs and record appointment notes. Over 38,879 appointments, 9,818 communications and 348,473 ChampChange participations have been recorded since Fall 2013. These interactions and other data points are important for developing predictive models and student intervention strategies. During the academic year, over 200 employees use the database regularly including project managers, advisors, coaches, student employees, tutors, and over 1,000 students who participate in online auctions. In addition, University Studies and Gallatin College are scheduled to use the system Fall 2014 as demo sites.
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Early Alert
145 1,385 faculty referred
office of student success
A PROGRAM TO SUPPORT FACULTY & STAFF WHO WANT TO SUPPORT THEIR STUDENTS
All MSU faculty and staff members are critical to the Early Alert Program, providing “real time” updates on academic concerns for any of their students. Several times during each semester, the Office of Student Success encourages faculty to refer their students of concern via the Early Alert System. Students receive a letter from the Office of Student Success inviting the opportunity to seek support. Success Advisors also call and email students on the Early Alert list. Students who choose to meet regularly with a Success Advisor work together to formulate and maintain a success plan.
students in AY 13-14 through the “class Faculty are encouraged to refer a student if: rolls” system • The student is receiving low test or quiz scores. • Homework assignments are incomplete or poorly attempted. • Class interaction and/or attendance is low or non-existent.
Once a Success Advisor has met with a referred student, the faculty member will receive an email updating them on the student’s success plan.
1,385
EARLY ALERT SUCCESS APPOINTMENTS BY THE NUMBERS, FALL 2013 & SPRING 2014
students referred
982
DID NOT make success appointments
403 DID ATTEND
success appointments
45.3% (445)
55.8% (224)
in good standing
5
in good standing
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office of student success
Success Advising
HELPING STUDENTS SUCCESSFULLY NAVIGATE THE NUANCES OF UNIVERSITY LIFE
1,625
One-on-one Success Advising is a major component of the Office of Student Success’ commitment for providing individualized support for students who are at-risk for departure. Trained professional Success Advisors meet regularly with their assigned student clients, providing counsel on issues as varied as learning strategies, time management, financial success advising/ education, communicating with faculty, utilizing appropriate campus resources & trouble-shooting university policy/procedure issues. Success Advisors also make referrals for university withdrawal appointments students to meet with their Academic Advisor, faculty member, and/or a Career or Financial AY 2014 Coach. In addition to meeting with students who proactively seek additional support, Success Advisors work directly with students who have been referred through the Early Alert Program. SUCCESS APPOINTMENTS BY TYPE SUMMER 2013 - SPRING 2014 MSU Suspension Appeal 17
Walk-in 165 Staff Referral 30
Early Alert 361
University Withdrawal 571
Return to Learn 32
Other 5
Follow-up 402 General Success Advising 111
MSU 101 67
APPOINTMENTS BY SEMESTER WITH SUCCESS ADVISOR 1000
845
953 767
715
429
SPRING 2014
FALL 2013
SPRING 2013
FALL 2012
SUMMER 2012
SUMMER 2013
93
77 SPRING 2012
0
FALL 2011
115
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95.8%
of students SATISFIED
with success advising appointment fall ‘13 - spring ‘14 n=265
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office of student success
University Withdrawals
AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT WITH THOSE CONTEMPLATING DEPARTURE
Beginning Fall 2013, students wishing to withdraw from the University for the term must complete their paperwork through an exit interview with a Student Success Advisor. Previously housed in the Dean of Students Office, this transition occurred in an effort to better connect departing students with the services of the Allen Yarnell Center for Student Success, and to invite the departing student to participate in the Return-to-Learn program. Success Advisors work one-on-one with each student to ensure any barriers to success are managed or removed before the student ultimately withdraws. Advising within these appointment includes: financial coaching-inclusive of student loan exit information, general success advising and a guide on how to return to MSU. university withdrawal appointments
W Th e Wa em n Ba t ck!
722
referred to return-to-learn
Return-to-Learn
612
WE WANT THEM BACK
11,368
The Return-to-Learn (R2L) program is designed to support returning students who left MSU before completing their undergraduate degree. In keeping with Complete College Montana’s former students goal of increasing the percentage of Montanans with a higher education credential, from identified for 40% to 60%, the Return-to-Learn program is designed to invite former students back to return-to-learn earn their degree. eligibility 11,368 students who did not complete their undergraduate degree from MSU were eligible for Return-to-Rearn. Of those students:
26.2% out-of-state final semester
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73.7% in-state final semester
40.9% holds final semester
59.1% no holds final semester
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41.4% not eligible for financial aid
58.6% eligible for financial aid
office of student success
SmartyCats
PURRRFECTING PERFORMANCE
SmartyCats Tutoring offers free or low cost peer-to-peer tutoring to students of all grade levels in all courses. SmartyCats connects high-achieving students with those who want to have every advantage to excel, and for those who may be experiencing academic difficulty. All SmartyCats Tutors are recommended by a current MSU professor or department head, must receive a B+ or higher in the course they wish to tutor, and must maintain above a 3.0 GPA to serve as a tutor. SmartyCats Tutors receive extensive training on best practices in teaching and learning and are held to very high standards. SmartyCats Tutoring offers free drop-in tutoring in several “difficult to pass� courses each semester, drop-in tutoring will be hosted on the 2nd floor of the library begining Fall 2014. We also offer $2 individual tutoring for any subject area.
$2
individual tutoring FREE group tutoring begins Fall 2014
Faculty members are essential to the success of the program, serving as some of our biggest advocates. SmartyCats Tutoring encourages faculty members to continue to refer both high-performing students to be tutors and students who seek additional assistance. SMARTYCATS BY THE NUMBERS
2012 - 2013 VS. 2013 - 2014 fall 2011 - 327 clients
19,308
UNIQUE CLIENTS
hours of tutoring AY 2013 - 2014
1534 2012 - 2013
2157 2013 - 2014
COURSES TUTORING fall 2011WITH - 69 courses
TUTORING HOURS
229 fall 2013 - 150 courses
2012 - 2013
244 2013 - 2014
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19,308 2013 -2014
15,769 2012 - 2013
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office of student success
Learning Strategies GROW TO LEARN... LEARN TO GROW...
The goal of the Learning Strategies Program housed within the Office of Student Success is to provide students with practical academic skills to supplement their coursework. The Learning Strategies Program is centered on teaching students how they learn, the way their brain processes and recalls information, and ways that they can use their learning style to their advantage. Workshops are designed to address common issues facing many college students as they transition to life at MSU, both academically and otherwise. Additionally, the Learning Strategist is on hand to meet one-on-one with students.
MSU 101
AN “ACADEMIC BOOTCAMP” TO HELP STUDENTS GET BACK ON TRACK
MSU 101 is a workshop offered every month during the academic year that is designed to assist students who are struggling academically at MSU. The workshop includes sections on learning styles, study skills, test taking, navigating campus and communicating with faculty. 60
MSU 101 Student Participation
50
more capacity is available for MSU 101 in spring and fall
40 30 20 10 0
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Sept '13 Oct '13 Nov '13 Jan '14 Feb '14 Mar '14 April '14
US 191 & US 210
IN CONJUNCTION WITH UNIVERSITY STUDIES
US 191 – Learning Strategies A 1-credit course designed to teach students how to learn. Over the course of the semester, students will review Blooms Taxonomy and learn how to move from remembering sections of information to synthesizing and creating information at the college level. Individualized Learning instruction on learning style, effective note-taking strategies, test-taking strategies, and more Strategies were is covered. taught AY 13-14 US 210 – Education, the World of Work, & YOU! A sophomore level course designed to provide students who are unsure of a major/career path, or those who want to make the most of their undergraduate education, with knowledge and skills to prepare themselves for the “world of work”.
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office of student success
Adventures MSU
A TRANSITION PROGRAM TO SUPPORT NEW MSU STUDENTS
Designed to be a program to support students with their transition to MSU, “Adventures” provides a balance of outdoor activities, learning strategies, faculty lectures, and time spent connecting with their Success Mentor and fellow Adventures MSU attendees. The Success Mentor who is an upperclassman student, will help guide them through their first year at MSU. During the course of the first semester, Adventure students are also required to meet with a Success Advisor, Career and Financial Coach.
85.3% students retained to Fall 2013
STUDENT SATISFACTION WITH ADVENTURES MSU 2013
97%
99%
AGREE
I learned some strategies that will help me be academically successful
78%
AGREE
I got to know other students during Adventures MSU
100% AGREE
AGREE
I got to know my Success Mentor
82% AGREE
I feel like I belong at MSU
Meeting with a Career Coach helped me think about options & plans for the future
94% AGREE
Adventures MSU helped prepare me for my first year at MSU
77% AGREE
The lecture helped me prepare for college classes at MSU
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office of financial education
Office of Financial Education COMMITTED TO ADVANCING FINANCIAL LITERACY FOR ALL STUDENTS
64%
Financial literacy education and outreach is an important effort to retain and support the completion of students who might be at risk for departure. As an institution we are committed to advancing financial literacy to ensure our students/graduates are not burdened with significant debt that will later impede upon “life after graduation.” Further, we are of MSU students committed to aiding and educating students to ensure they understand and develop solid take out loans financial habits to make “wise choices” while attending school and beyond. As a sign of this commitment, MSU has earmarked matching funds (with this grant) to develop a “best practices” financial literacy program intended to quickly and effectively meet the needs of MSU students (and their families). With the promise of matching funds, the investment made by Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education (OCHE) through the Montana College Access Challenge Grant will have the capacity to create a dynamic and cutting edge program (built upon the efforts of OCHEGetMoneySmarts.org, Dollars and Sense and the Student Assistance Foundation) serving all students, but especially targeting low income and first generation students at MSU-Bozeman. This joint investment can also be used to aid other schools with “lessons learned information” to bypass “reinventing the wheel” efforts. Now is the time to invest in financial literacy. According to a recent Pew Research study, nationally, one in five households currently owe student debt. Of greater concern, 40% of households headed by someone younger than 35 owe student loans – this percentage has more than doubled in the past 20 years and nationally overall debt increased from $23,349 in 2007 to $26,682 in 2010. Montana State University students are not immune from higher borrowing levels. In 2012-2013, the average debt upon graduation was $26,440. While MSU’s 3-year default rate of 5.79% is arguably better than the national average of 14.7%, it has almost doubled from two years prior. Clearly we can and should be doing more.
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Erica Latorre Business Management
office of financial education
AVERAGE STUDENT LOAN DEBT, MSU VS. NATIONALLY
In 2012, the average Montana State graduate had $27,320 in debt, compared to the national average of $29,400.
students with debt upon graduation
NATIONAL AVERAGE
70% 65% MSU AVERAGE
MSU IS REACHING OUT TO STUDENTS WITH THE FOLLOWING DEBT PROFILES:
‘Know Your Debt’ letters are sent to students who meet one or more criteria from the Office of Financial Education.
1
loan amount is greater than
2
projected monthly payment is greater than
of their expected monthly salary
$25,000
4
14%
3
student’s loan amount is greater than their median expected salary
seniors $25,000 owe more than
juniors
$18,750 owe more than
sophomores owe more than $12,500
OFFICE OF FINANCIAL EDUCATION APPOINTMENTS, FALL 2013 & SPRING 2014
total financial coaching appointments attended
338
1,928
total number of “know your debt” letters sent
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12
freshmen $6,250
owe more than
career, internship, & student employment services
7,207
Career, Internship, & Student Employment Services
PROGRAMS & SERVICES COMMITTED TO CREATING POSSIBILTIES FOR THE FUTURE
Career, Internship & Student Employment Services serves students and alumni of Montana State University. We are a full service career resource center offering comprehensive career total student development, mentoring, internship and career placement services. In addition to our core traffic for Career, competancies, we provide five Career Fairs annually. Internship, & Student We also offer professional development and exploration workshops throughout each semester Employment including, but not limited to, “What Can I Do With A Major In…”, “What Can I Do With Services. A Career In…”, “How to Get Hired With the Feds”, “Career Development for Veterans” and “Trending Careers.” Our best and most highly used tool is our job and employer database: Hire-A-Bobcat.com. This site hosts the employers that recruit from Montana State University, where they are able to post current part-time, internship and full-time opportunities they are seeking to fill with MSU students, graduates and alumni.
Career Development
UNDERSTANDING ONE’S SELF IN RELATION TO WORK, GEOGRAPHY AND LEISURE ACTIVITIES
In keeping with MSU’s Strategic Plan, Mountains & Minds: Learners and Leaders, career development and understanding for MSU students is an important retention and graduation strategy. Based upon our research, we know those who have clear career direction are more likely to persist than those who do not. To support our students’ understanding of themselves in the professional world, Career, Internship & Student Employment Services uses the following career planning model to guide students to comprehend and develop possibilities related to their choice of academic major:
What shall I do?
Who am I?
Self-Assessment
How do I get there?
World of Work TOOLS Strong Interest Inventory Myers Briggs Type Indicator MCIS Workshops MyCatCareers.com Career Fairs On-Campus Recruiting Videos/Books/Publications Career Coaching
Career/Job Search/ Entrepreneurial Options
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What are my options?
Goal Setting
177 Strand Union Building Bozeman, Montana 59717
(406) 994-4353
www.montana.edu/careers
aycss: career, internship, & student employment services
career, internship, & student employment services
Career Coaches Our commitment to support students’ understanding of themselves in relation to their career, begins with offering free access to professional Career Coaches. Career Coaches, employing the model detailed on the previous page, provide guidance, resources and information to ensure the student understands occupations and opportunities relative to geography, workforce demand, and future opportunities. Career Coaches also provide resume writing, job/internship searching, and mock interviewing support. Career coaching appointments held in AY 13-14 CAREER COACHING DATA
1,247
FALL 2013 - SPRING 2014
400
333
325
# of students attending
164
GRADUATE Studies
COLLEGE OF Letters & Science
45
25
PROSPECTIVE Studies/Other
GALLATIN College
10
UNIVERSITY Studies
17
COLLEGE OF Nursing
3 EXTENDED University
COLLEGE OF Engineering
COLLEGE OF Agriculture
COLLEGE OF Arts & Architecture
106
COLLEGE OF Education / HHD
56
0
97
COLLEGE OF Business
66
n = 1,247
CAREER COACHING DATA FALL 2013 - SPRING 2014 500
419
328 # of students attending
205 154 49 PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS/ OTHER
56 GRADUATE
POSTBACCALAUREATE
SENIOR
JUNIOR
SOPHOMORE
FRESHMEN
36
n = 1,247
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career, internship, & student employment services
Bobcat Mentoring
LEADERSHIP FROM TODAY SHAPING LEADERS FOR TOMORROW
In conjunction with the MSU Alumni Foundation, Career, Internship, & Student Employment Services is pleased to offer a unique program providing MSU students with unprecendented support from fellow Bobcats! MSU students apply to participate in a one year experience and are matched with well-respected MSU alumni who want to give back. Mentors and mentees visit at least 2 - 4 hours per month and spend time learning and sharing workplace strategies, job searching, and networking advice & much, much more.
802
Mariah Schmidt Business Management and her mentor, Paula Hurlbert
Hire-A-Bobcat
internships posted on Hire-A-Bobcat.com EMPLOYMENT AND INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR EACH PHASE OF THE AY 13-14 EMPLOYMENT LIFE CYCLE. Career, Internship, & Student Employment Services provides networking opportunities to connect employers with Montana State University students and alumni through the Hire-ABobcat effort. HireABobcat.com serves as a terrific interface for job and internship seekers to find employment and for employers to post positions, schedule on-campus interviews, register for career events, and much, much more.
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We are proud to serve hundreds of employers each year linking them to thousands of students and alumni who actively use our programs and services – career fairs, workshops and job portal. aycss: career, internship, & student employment services
career, internship, & student employment services
HIRE-A-BOBCAT STUDENT EMPLOYMENT, FALL 2013 - SPRING 2014
total number of wages earned through STEPup (Student Employment Program)
$1,034,773.47 confirmed student placements
238
student employment opportunities
1,512
1,862
full-time entry level jobs posted on Hire-A-Bobcat.com
CONFIRMED STEP UP POSITIONS (STUDENT EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM)
137
paid internships
101 off-campus placements
TYPES OF JOBS POSTED ON Hire-A-Bobcat.com, FALL 2013 - SPRING 2014 1,862 Full-time Entry Level 1,791 Full-time Experienced 802 Internships 724 Student Employment/Part-time 369 Summer/Seasonal 174 Work Study 76 Non-Profit/Volunteer aycss: career, internship, & student employment services
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career, internship, & student employment services
2013 CAREER DESTINATION SURVEY; GRADUATE SCHOOL PLANS
85.5%
(1,171) not currently enrolled in graduate school
11.9%
(163) enrolled in graduate school full-time
2.6%
(35) enrolled in graduate school part-time
n = 1369
2013 CAREER DESTINATION SURVEY; EMPLOYMENT AFTER GRADUATION
59
16
72.9% (995) employed full-time
5.5%
not employed and not currently enrolled in graduate school either
not employed and are currently enrolled in graduate school either full or part-time
(75) not employed
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not employed but seeking employment and currently enrolled in graduate school either full or part-time
6.7%
(91) not employed but seeking employment
n = 1365
14.9% (204) employed part-time
81
not employed but seeking employment and are not currently enrolled in graduate school
Exc e ed Internships EXCELLENCE. EXPERIENCE. EDUCATION.
Exc.e.ed Internships - excellence. experience. education The Exc.e.ed program – built upon the constructs of excellence – experience – education - is According to a newly established effort designed to connect students with significant and career defining NACE, internship internship experiences. We work closely with employers to provide unique opportunities to broaden the academic experience while at the same time encourage student participants to experience is the develop an understanding of themselves in relation to the world around them. #1 reason why an employer Why Exc.e.ed? hires a new 52 percent of the 2012 graduating class indicated they participated in an internship. Yet college graduate. of that group, only 42 percent said the experience was extremely valuable for earning or preparing for their first job after graduation. From this report we were inspired to create a bold and sustainable plan to better engage and support students and the communities they will soon serve.
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career, internship, & student employment services
Exc.e.ed Programs – Quality Experiences With the Exc.e.ed program, Montana State University actively pursues high quality and robust opportunities for our students through a variety of mechanisms: •Working closely with organizations to ensure a high level of experiential enrichment at the internship location. •Seeding substantial experiences in non-profit and government organizations through Exc.e.ed grants – up to $2,500 per student. •Recruiting new organizations and establishing high internship expectations – particularly opportunities in government, non-profit, and for academic majors who are underserved in typical internship offerings.
52%
of the 2012 graduating class participated in an internship
STEPup
of this group, only 42% said the experience was extremely valuble for earning or preparing for their first job after graduation.
42%
STUDENT EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM
Career, Internship, & Student Employment Services is committed to assisting current MSU students find part-time, seasonal, and temporary employment through the STEPup program. The goal of the program is to provide the mechanisms, support, and programming to encourage students to seek out and obtain student employment. Employment during college is a crucial component of overall career preparation. Students gain valuable experience and skills such as time management, leadership, responsibility, as well as gain a general knowledge of the world of work all while offsetting college expenses and debt.
141 paid internships
confirmed student JLD* placements for the ‘13-’14 academic year
238
*The Job Location & Development (JLD) program is a Federal Work Study program, and a behind-the scenes driver of off-campus student employment and internship development, placement, and tracking, providing the opportunity for staff to maintain a comprehensive database tracking student information, wage, hours, organization, length of employment, and job type.
off campus student employment placements
103
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Strand Union Building 177 406.994.7627 success@montana.edu montana.edu/success