ROBERT MORRIS UNIVERSITY
WINTER 2015
FAMILY Connections SPRING IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER‌. Welcome back to a new semester at RMU. While snow and cold temperatures surround the campus, our students, faculty and staff are creating a lot of energy in and out of the classroom. We are already in full swing for this semester. Spring Break and Commencement planning for our graduating seniors and their families is now just around the corner. At RMU we believe that career success starts with a plan. This issue of Family Connections focuses on programs, opportunities and resources that support the professional development of our students. We invite you to explore this issue and talk with your student about the opportunities and resources that they can, and should be,
taking advantage of on campus. Information from our Career Center and our Student Engagement Transcript take center stage in this issue. We are also pleased to share with you that RMU was recently selected as a College of Distinction. Please see inside to learn more about this prestigious recognition for the university. Enjoy the issue!
Sincerely,
John Michalenko Vice President of Student Life and Dean of Students
Family Connections is a publication designed for the parents and families of Robert Morris University students. It is compiled by the Office of Student Life and printed in cooperation with the Office of Public Relations and Marketing. Editions are printed in the fall, winter, and spring of each academic year. We are interested in your feedback about this publication. Email your comments and suggestions to studentlife@rmu.edu.
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CAREER SUCCESS STARTS WITH A PLAN While students attend college for many reasons, most do so with the ultimate goal of getting a job and pursuing a career upon graduation. The Career Center is committed to assisting students and alumni in the successful realization of challenging, meaningful and rewarding careers. The Center and its staff promote Professional Focus, one of the University’s six core values, and help students achieve their goals through a variety of services and resources. The staff also stresses the importance of career planning in order for students to acquire the necessary knowledge, skills and experience employers seek. According to the Job Outlook 2015, published by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, in addition to considering GPA, the following represent the top ten attributes employers seek on a candidate’s resume: • • • • • • • • • •
Leadership Analytical/quantitative skills Ability to work in a team Technical skills Written Communication skills Verbal Communication skills Problem-solving skills Initiative Strong work ethic Computer skills
Consequently, students are presented with quite a challenge during college. They must do well academically while gaining relevant work experience. In order to develop and demonstrate the variety of skills sought by employers, they must also engage in extracurricular activities such as clubs, organizations, volunteering, study abroad, etc. To meet this challenge, planning is key. Each fall, the Career Center staff speaks to first-year students in Freshman Seminar classes. Included in the presentation is an overview of Building Your Future: A Career Planning Guide for Students. The guide outlines important goals for each year in college: • Freshman Year: Adjusting to college and increasing academic and career awareness • Sophomore Year: Making and confirming decisions while exploring options • Junior Year: Clarifying career goals and testing options • Senior Year: Seeking professional employment or graduate school acceptance It also provides specific suggestions and action items for each year. To view the complete guide, please visit the Students/Exploring Career Options section of the Career Center website at rmu.edu/careercenter.
In addition, 72.5 percent of employers surveyed indicated they prefer to hire candidates with relevant work experience. Only 3.9 percent responded that they do not factor work experience into their hiring decisions.
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The Career Center also offers a variety of resources, programs, courses and events to assist students:
RESOURCES Career counselors are available for individual appointments to assist in all aspects of making career decisions and conducting an effective job search. The center offers an interest inventory to assist students with decisions regarding major and career options. Counselors also offer personal assistance with resume and cover letter writing, interviewing, strategies for the internship and full-time job search, and graduate school planning. The Career Library contains books, videos and other resources relevant to researching careers and searching for jobs. It also contains over 20 Tip Sheets on a variety of career-related topics such as resume writing, employment letters, etc., as well as Career Resource Guides for each major. The guides provide an overview of career options for the major, related professional organizations, employment websites, salary information and a list of internship and full-time employers. The Tip Sheets and Career Resource Guides are also available online through the Students/Resources section of the Career Center website. COLONIALTRAK allows eligible students to register online for on-campus and off-campus recruiting and to view announcements for part-time, work-study, internship, full-time and graduate assistantship opportunities posted by the RMU Career Center.
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CAREERSPOTS provides 24-hour access to 20 videos on job search-related topics. It also provides access to the Career Channel that features informational videos on 550 careers. CareerSpots can be accessed through links on the Career Center website and in ColonialTRAK. The Robert Morris University Career Network is a LinkedIn group managed by the Career Center. It provides an opportunity for RMU students, alumni, faculty and staff to connect with each other about career-related topics. Students may connect with other members to explore career information and learn about specific career fields. The Career Center also posts information about career planning, resumes, employment letters, interviewing, job search strategies, networking events and job fairs.
PROGRAMS The Academic Internship Program is an academic employment learning experience. The Career Center coordinates the program by assisting students through the application and internship search process. The Student Employment Program coordinates on-campus and off-campus work-study opportunities as well as graduate assistantships. For more information on these services and resources, please visit rmu.edu/careercenter.
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COURSES
EVENTS
FYSP1010 CAREER EXPLORATION & DECISIONMAKING is targeted toward first and second-year students who are exploring academic majors and/or career options and clarifying goals. This one-credit course is offered during the first eight-week term of the spring semester. The course format consists of lectures, discussions and experiential learning activities designed to help students analyze their interests, skills and values and relate them to careers, occupational fields and work settings. Selfassessment includes the use of established career assessment inventories, reflective writing and various activities. Students also discuss their career goals in an individual appointment facilitated by a career counseling professional.
Career fairs provide RMU students and alumni the opportunity to meet with employers to discuss part-time jobs, internships and full-time positions, as well as graduate school representatives to explore graduate school options. The Career Center sponsors one career fair each semester: the Career Expo (fall) and the Spring Career Fair. Workshops and seminars are offered throughout the year on a variety of career planning and job search-related topics.
FYSP1011 TRANSITIONING FROM COLLEGE TO CAREER is geared toward juniors and seniors who are preparing for the job search and life after college. This one-credit course is offered during the second eight-week term of the fall semester. The course guides students through the job search process and how to effectively market themselves to employers. It also provides information and resources to help students make wise decisions as they embark on their professional career and includes the topics of professionalism, first job success strategies and financial wellness. Throughout the course students receive feedback and guidance from experienced career counselors and industry professionals.
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Networking events provide students the opportunity to talk with representatives from a variety of organizations and fields. The Career Center sponsors and co-sponsors several networking events each year. In addition to events sponsored by RMU, the Career Center also provides information about other events, held regionally and nationally, that students may attend. For a complete list of career fairs, workshops, seminars and networking events, please refer to the Calendar of Events on the Career Center website and the Events section of ColonialTRAK. As the old proverb states, “Those who fail to plan, plan to fail.� Focusing attention on career planning is the first step to career success. However, the success of a plan is reliant on the student being actively engaged in their own career development process. The Career Center encourages students to meet with their career counselor, utilize the services and resources available to them, participate in career-related events, develop marketable skills and gain relevant experience. Career Center staff members are available to help during every step throughout the process.
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RMU WAS RECENTLY SELECTED AS A COLLEGE OF DISTINCTION Robert Morris University has been honored as a College of Distinction for the 2014-2015 school year. RMU is one of a select group of colleges to earn this prestigious designation, based on its excellence in four distinctions: engaged students, great teaching, vibrant campus communities and successful outcomes.
Colleges of Distinction looks beyond rankings and test scores to find colleges that are the ideal places to learn, grow and succeed. The selection process reviews such factors as the school’s first year experience, general education program, experiential components of the curriculum, the strategic plan and alumni success and satisfaction.
High school college counselors and educators nominate colleges and universities for recognition by Colleges of Distinction, which then evaluates each school based on qualitative and quantitative research.
To view Robert Morris’ profile or to find more information about the online guide visit CollegesofDistinction.com.
OFFICE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SUPPORTS STUDENT CAREER PLANS Is your student interested in a career in information technology or business? Do they like working with technology or people? You can encourage your student to explore his or her interests with on-campus jobs with RMU's Information Technology department and find (or narrow) his/her passion. FIRST YEAR Opportunities are available with the ResNet office, which provides insight into an entry-level IT job. Visit rmu.edu/resnet. SOPHOMORE YEAR If your student enjoyed his/her ResNet position it may be time to move up within that department. Students can progress up to a role of a ResNet manager. Or, if the job content at ResNet isn't your student’s passion, there is
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potential to move into an applications role, such as coding or training, or basic security or networking role. JUNIOR YEAR The IT Dept. loves to see student employees snag internships and work with the Career Center, and his or her advisor to help find the right fit. After completing summer internships, students are welcome back in the fall to apply what they learned. SENIOR YEAR The Career Center offers resume services and will help your student frame his/her experience with the IT Dept. It's amazing to look back on the students’ career progression at RMU.
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OPPORTUNITIES: THE CENTER FOR STUDENT SUCCESS The fall 2014 semester launched a new course and a major change was made to an existing course. TESP1000 was introduced for firstsemester transfer students and FYSP1000, the course for first-year students was altered to have a stronger career focus. Ten students registered for TESP1000, a one-credit, eight-week course co-taught by Cassandra Oden, director of the Center for Student Success and Kishma DeCastro-Sallis, director of the Career Center. The course focused on introducing students to the support services at RMU, as well as preparing them for their chosen career paths. By having the two directors co-teach the course, it allowed students to immediately develop a working relationship with the two offices to ensure academic and career success—relationships that have developed beyond the eight-week class session.
First-year students during the fall are still required to create a profile in ColonialTrak, but the Career Session was restructured to have a stronger focus on resume creation. An addition to the course required each student to create a resume, which was turned into the Career Center for feedback, and then returned to the student to strengthen and streamline. The idea behind this assignment is two-fold—students are creating resumes earlier in their academic career so they are prepared for career opportunities when they present themselves, and students are encouraged to meet with their Career Counselors during their first year at RMU. While all students in the past have been encouraged to start their relationship early with their Career Counselor, this year’s transfer and first-year students clearly understand the importance of this relationship.
The fall 2014 semester also brought a change to the FYSP1000: First-Year Seminar course, which is a requirement for all first-year students. This one-credit seminar is designed to acclimate new students to the University and the support services that are available. During the summer of 2014, the staff revised the curriculum to focus on career planning.
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MAKING THE MOST OF THE RMU EXPERIENCE: STUDENT PERSPECTIVE Last March I sat on the home bench of the Xcel Energy Center as our hockey team practiced for their upcoming NCAA Tournament game and I just looked around and reflected. I reflected on my first day on campus, a nervous and shy freshman unsure of what I was to do. Now I’m in my fourth year with the Athletic Department, and it all started during my freshman year as a volunteer worker. I became the marketing intern WRITTEN BY for football and basketball during my RMU SENIOR sophomore year, and last year they showed their KENNY CELELLI respect and faith in my abilities by entrusting me to run the ticket office. Very few collegiate juniors get to be in charge of a Division 1 ticket office but because I got out of my comfort zone, I got that experience. As a Sport Management student and soon to be graduate, the best advice I can give anyone is to get involved. Get involved in anything you can do. Volunteer, get internships and attend as many conferences as you can. In general, as a student, I’d say in your first year while getting acclimated to life at college, do things that get you out of your comfort zone, learn a new skill, and experience new things. How you go about your freshman year will determine and help set your future career path. You will develop skills and habits that can define your work ethic for the rest of your life so be careful how you go about it. I had just one internship during my collegiate career but you never have to limit yourself. Do as many internships as you want to and gain
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experience doing different things. During my internship RMU hosted the University of Kentucky Wildcats men’s basketball team in one of the biggest sports moments in RMU history. I get to say that not only was I there but I was working the Kentucky game, and that is something that I will always have on my resume. College is the time to work on your resume, put everything together and keep it organized. Do as much as you can to add to it. Your sophomore and junior years are the best time to add to your resume, make connection, and gain experience in your field. You’ll learn immensely from your time spent on these experiences. The men’s ice hockey trip to Minnesota for the NCAA tournament is what made me reflect on everything I had accomplished in three years and excited me about the future and what it held for me in my position even after graduation. Senior year is what everything is about. Hopefully you’ve gained enough experience and made connections that you can use to start lining up a job for after graduation. Don’t procrastinate because the time will fly and before you know it, you’re signing up to graduate and move into the real world. Through three and half years I’ve put together a resume I can feel happy with when I graduate, and I’ve made connections that can help me in all my future endeavors. That’s what college is about, meeting people, gaining connections and preparing for the future.
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RMU’S NONPROFIT LEADERSHIP CERTIFICATE PROGRAM “We can change the world and make it a better place. It is in your hands to make a difference.” - Nelson Mandela Is your student yet to make up his or her mind about a career path? Is he or she the type of young adult who wants to make the world a better place and leave a lasting impact? Then encourage your student to check out Robert Morris University’s Nonprofit Leadership Certificate Program. The not-for-profit sector makes up a very significant portion of our nation’s economy. According to the Independent Sector, in 2010, not-for-profit organizations employed 13.7 million people, approximately 10% of the workforce (independentsector.org/economic_role). In the last two decades the sector has become increasingly professionalized with the majority of executive directors and CEOs holding advanced degrees. Exciting and rewarding career opportunities exist in human services, the arts, healthcare and education among many other areas. Professionals with expertise in Communications, Marketing, Business Management, Computer Information Systems and a variety of other disciplines are needed in today’s not-for-profit organizations. The Nonprofit Leadership Certificate Program at RMU is open to all undergraduates and easily fits with many different majors. Students work on the requirements for the Certificate at their own pace in addition to completing all degree
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requirements. Throughout the program students receive one-on-one mentoring from the director of Student Civic Engagement, who has spent her entire career in the not-for-profit sector. Students may begin the program as early as their freshman year or as late as their junior year. Students are required to take courses in Communications and Business, as well as non-credit workshops in Nonprofit Management taught by RMU’s Bayer Center for Nonprofit Management. Visiting exceptionally well run not-for-profit organizations and networking with their executive leaders is a potentially life-changing part of the program. Additionally, students must complete a 150-hour supervised internship at a not-for-profit organization. Students also have the opportunity to participate in a student-run club that engages them in volunteerism. No tuition or fees are charged for participation in the program. The certificate will help to fulfill requirements for RMU’s Student Engagement Transcript. Upon graduation the student will have earned a credential indicating to a potential employer that he or she is qualified for an entry level professional position in a notfor-profit organization. If your student would like to learn, more please encourage him or her to contact Donna Anderson, director, Student Civic Engagement at andersond@rmu.edu or stop by Nicholson Room 250, Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
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NEWS FROM THE FINANCIAL AID OFFICE… It’s time to starting thinking about filing the 2015-16 FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). To make the process as easy as possible, it’s best to submit the FAFSA about 2-3 weeks after 2014 Federal taxes are filed electronically. That way, for most, tax return information for both student and parent(s) can be transferred directly from the IRS to the FAFSA. The FAFSA can be filed at fafsa.gov. Please note, it is important that Pennsylvania residents file their FAFSA prior to May 1st, which is PHEAA’s deadline to be considered for a state grant.
If you’re interested in filing your FAFSA with the help of one of our Financial Aid Counselors, please don’t hesitate to contact our office for an appointment - 412-397-6250 or finaid@rmu.edu. We’re always here to help! For important financial aid news, reminders, tips, policy information and detailed instructions, please visit our website at rmu.edu/finaid. On the website, we offer a list of external scholarship opportunities. Now is the time to begin exploring outside scholarship opportunities for next year! Please also be sure to like us on Facebook facebook.com/RmuFinAid.
SENIOR CLASS GIFT Each year, the graduating class comes together to raise money for a gift to the university. This gift is a special way for seniors to leave behind a bit of their personality and begin their legacy of philanthropic giving to the institution. It shows students, faculty, and staff the gratitude and appreciation the new graduates have for Robert Morris University. Those interested in serving on the Senior Class Gift Committee will have an opportunity to be involved in coordinating fundraising efforts for their class as they take their first steps toward becoming a proud alumni. Famous Robert Morris landmarks, like the RMU Book Fund, Memorial Garden, revolutionary war cannon, Bronze Bob, and International Nursing Scholarship were all generated from past senior class gift efforts.
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THE STUDENT ENGAGEMENT TRANSCRIPT (SET) AND THE CAREER PLAN The Student Engagement Transcript (SET) is a great tool in preparing for your student’s career! By seizing opportunities to complete meaningful activities, students equip themselves with the skills needed to succeed while building an impressive resume. As students follow RMU’s four-year career plan, participation is encouraged by recording many of the activities on the SET.
The SET’s professional experience category documents different activities, from internships and field-specific training, to job shadowing experiences and attendance at workshops and conferences. Completing these activities shows a commitment to one’s future as students thoroughly explore their career options, make connections in their field and prepare themselves for a competitive job market.
By participating in volunteer projects and community service activities, students are able to create a network, develop skills and explore different career paths. Upon completing 30 hours of community service, these activities are included on a student’s SET.
Students who successfully complete all six categories, plus a seventh “special recognition” category, during their time at RMU earn the Renaissance Award at commencement. Striving for the Renaissance Award is a great way to showcase proficiencies in areas outside a chosen field while also making a statement about particular interests within the field.
As students join campus organizations, they are able to explore interests and make connections with other students. Their leadership roles are also documented on the SET. This serves to demonstrate a student’s willingness to take charge to potential employers.
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BENEFITS OF THE RMU SET Let’s face it, students come to college to gain the education and skills they need to succeed in their chosen careers. But recent evidence suggests that doing well in the classroom is not enough to be the complete professional employers want. The Gallup-Purdue Index, released in 2014, reports that college graduates who felt the most engaged in their lives and in their profession were more likely to have made meaningful connections in college. They had at least one college professor who acted as a mentor, believed in them as a person and made learning exciting. These students undertook a lengthy, deep and well-researched project, often led by a professor. They completed at least one internship and they were heavily involved in leadership roles on their campus.
As a student sits with a prospective employer, he or she can talk about unique experiences that might just open professional doors today and sustain the student’s enthusiasm for a career tomorrow. With the official Student Engagement Transcript formally documenting these experiences, a student can use his or her SET as a springboard for this conversation and gain an edge over other candidates. RMU graduates who invested the time and attention to their SET report that the sense of accomplishment translates into the fast-paced, ever-changing careers they are in. So, GET READY to GET SET! For more information about the RMU Student Engagement Transcript, please visit rmu.edu/SET.
Guess what? The Student Engagement Transcript, created years before the Gallup-Purdue study, aligns with those initiatives. As a student completes each of these categories, he or she will mature as a person, be challenged ethically and emotionally, and develop an inner-confidence that will stay with the student after graduation.
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STUDENT LIFE 6001 University Boulevard Moon Township, PA 15108 rmu.edu
FAMILY Connections UPCOMING EVENTS Visit rmu.edu for the university’s full calendar of events. FEBRUARY
MARCH
BLACK HISTORY MONTH (VARIOUS EVENTS SCHEDULED)
WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH (VARIOUS EVENTS SCHEDULED) IRISH-AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH (VARIOUS EVENTS SCHEDULED)
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Internship Seminar 3:30 – 5 p.m. – Sewall Center
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Spring Break
Evening Networking Reception
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WestPACS Job Fair 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. – Monroeville Convention Center
5 – 7 p.m. – Sewall Center 11–15 18
Colonial Theater presents Bare – Massey Theater
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Diversity Speakers Series presents Bibhuti Arayal 4:30 – 6 p.m. – Sewall Center
Diversity Speakers Series presents Chaz Kellem 4:30 – 6 p.m. – Sewall Center
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Greek Week (various events scheduled)
Carnegie Museum Trip
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Women’s History Month Luncheon Noon – Sewall Center
Noon – 4 p.m. - $10 – Sign up in Student Life Office 27–1
Jump Start Your Job Search 4 – 6 p.m. – Sewall Center
Pittsburgh Speakers Series presents P.W. Singer 8 p.m. – Heinz Hall
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Little Sibs Weekend (various events scheduled)
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Student Leadership Conference (details to be announced)