The Career Center is committed to fostering connections between students, alumni, faculty, staff, and employers. To ensure the most effective use of resources and maximize impact, this policy clarifies the roles and responsibilities of Career Center in event planning. This policy distinguishes between “Coordinated Events” where Career Center takes the lead, and “Supported Events” where Career Center plays a secondary role.
Request Process: To request Career Center support for your event, please submit a detailed outline of your event and the specific assistance you need to a Campus Lead or the Executive Director. If your event involves employers, requests for support must be submitted 2-3 months in advance. For all other events, requests for support must be submitted three (3) weeks in advance.
- Coordinated Events:
- Definition: Coordinated events align with the Career Center’s mission and goals, where the Career Center takes primary responsibility for planning, execution, promotion, and assessment. Examples include employer information tables or sessions, career fairs, networking events, or signature events.
- Responsibilities of Career Center:
- Conceptualization and planning (including setting goals, target audience, format, date, time, and location)
- Budget management and resource allocation
- Marketing and promotion
- Space requests and catering
- Registration and participant management
- On-site event management
- Criteria for Coordinated Events:
- Demonstrated student/alumni demand and/or historical quality engagement
- Alignment with Career Center mission and goals, and strategic plan
- Addresses an identified student need, while avoiding duplication of events
- Demonstrated academic college, department, and/or faculty support/engagement
- Demonstrated employer demand
- Availability of Career Center staff and resources
- Potential for significant impact and reach
- Definition: Coordinated events align with the Career Center’s mission and goals, where the Career Center takes primary responsibility for planning, execution, promotion, and assessment. Examples include employer information tables or sessions, career fairs, networking events, or signature events.
- Supported Events:
- Definition: Support events are conceptualized or initiated and primarily planned by other departments, faculty, staff, student organizations, or employers, where Career Center provides support and resources to enhance the event’s career-related components.
- Possible Responsibilities of Career Center:
- Responsibilities will be discussed and agreed upon between the primary event organizer(s) and Career Center, and may include:
- Provide consultation to ensure effective event planning, discussing goals, format, and all logistical considerations (e.g., employer hiring timelines)
- Deliver preparation sessions on essential career development topics to ensure student preparedness prior to the event (e.g., internship search and application strategies, resume building, interview techniques, networking tips)
- Creation of marketing materials (if applicable and subject to availability).
- Promotion of the event through Career Center channels, specifically Handshake
- Provide resources such as handouts and giveaways (if applicable and subject to availability).
- Access to employer/alumni contacts (if applicable)
- Potential participation of Career Center staff (subject to availability).
- Responsibilities will be discussed and agreed upon between the primary event organizer(s) and Career Center, and may include:
- Responsibilities of Event Organizers:
- Primary responsibility for all event planning and logistics (e.g., marketing, space requests, catering, event management, etc.)
- Timely communication with the Career Center regarding event details and support requests.
- Request Process: To request Career Center support for your event, please submit a detailed outline of your event and the specific assistance you need to a Campus Lead or the Executive Director.
- If your event involves employers, requests for support must be submitted 2-3 months in advance.
- For all other events, requests for support must be submitted three (3) weeks in advance.
- Definition: Support events are conceptualized or initiated and primarily planned by other departments, faculty, staff, student organizations, or employers, where Career Center provides support and resources to enhance the event’s career-related components.
- Approval Process: Requests will be reviewed to determine the level of support the Career Center can provide, based on staff availability and resource allocation. Career Center will communicate the approved support plan to the event organizers.
- General Guidelines:
- Resource Allocation: Career Center resources (staff time, budget, materials) will be prioritized for Coordinated Events. Support for other events will be provided based on availability.
- Communication: Clear and timely communication between the Career Center and event organizers is essential.
- Evaluation: Career Center will evaluate the effectiveness and outcomes of both Coordinated and Supported Events to inform future planning and resource allocation.
- Policy Review: This policy will be reviewed and updated annually, or as needed, to ensure its effectiveness and relevance.
