During his 1993 Commencement address, Bill Cosby A.M. '93 had a simple message for the College's graduating class: "Get a job." Fifteen years later, the College and its students are answering the famous comedian's call with more resound than ever.
"Records for 2006-07 show approximately 8,000 Career Center contacts with 2,700 individuals, including appointments, programs, events, workshops and interviewing," says Mary Schilling, director of the Career Center.
The Center has also been partnering with the Alumni Association to offer programs on campus as well as areas local to alumni.
In addition to offering innovative programming, the Career Center staff is on-hand to advise students about their career options, coordinate visits and interviews with recruiters, provide one-on-one counseling and make available resources about careers and preparing for a job search.
"When I was navigating between pre-med, pre-law, or other career options, the Career Center's diligent staff provided invaluable guidance and support," says Irene Mathieu '09. "Their programs have served to enhance my networking skills and introduce me to a host of available postgraduate opportunities."
Although the Career Center is equipped with professionals who work hard to meet the needs of the College's students, their staffing and offices are no longer able to keep pace.
"Our current offices simply do not have the space to meet the demand," says Schilling.
Furthermore, with the Career Center's offices located in the basement of Blow Memorial Hall, little natural light enters the space. Many prospective employers have complained about the small, windowless rooms with inadequate ventilation, and staff have had to vacate their offices to meet employers' needs and expectations. And the current location is difficult to find, making accessibility less than ideal for students and a potential nuisance for recruiters.
To address the space deficiency -- and to provide the very best career services today and well into the future -- the College has decided to construct a brand-new facility. To be located at the virtual center of campus, between the University Center and Zable Stadium, the new Career Center will be specifically designed to accommodate the range and depth of services William and Mary students need.
"This high-profile location and the very presence of the new Career Center will make a strong statement about the commitment of the College to preparing our students and alumni for their professional lives," says Schilling.
The plan calls for an 11,000-gross-square-foot facility that will house attractive, comfortable interview rooms -- a vast improvement over the current office's spaces. The new building will include a suite of offices for career counseling and a presentation room with state-of-the-art technology that allows for presentations, information sessions, workshops, networking events, and teleconference sessions designed to develop Career Center awareness and career-oriented skills.
Schilling says that additional professional positions must be funded if the Career Center is to provide new and more comprehensive services to the current student body and alumni.
"The staff office configuration of the new building allows for at least two additional professional staff members beyond our current five positions," she says. "If we are to increase and improve programs and services for undergraduates as well as for graduate students and alumni, we need more professional staff."
With the new Career Center, William and Mary will send a message that the College is serious about providing the highest quality of career services to students, alumni and potential employers alike.
"Putting well-educated, hard-working professionals into the workplace is ultimately what will sustain the reputation of this great university," says John Wattiker '08, who has participated in the Career Center-sponsored Wall Street Program and Finance Academy events. "With the continued work and commitment of the Career Center, I am certain students will achieve and succeed in ways they never thought possible."
Supporting the New Career Center
A recent survey revealed an insightful response from students entering college: they believe that career preparation is the most crucial factor in determining the value of their education. Students across the country view programs and services that would assist them in career-development efforts as the most likely indicators of a university's commitment to professional preparation.
"William and Mary students learn from the best faculty, have the best research opportunities, and are among the world's most talented," says Sean M. Pieri, vice president for University Development. "We need a Career Center that lives up to their qualities -- a facility that tells their story to prospective employers and sets a high standard that our students have come to expect throughout their experiences at the College."
The new Career Center will be equipped to accommodate the range and depth of services that will best benefit undergraduates and alumni, as well as graduate students in Arts & Sciences, education and marine science. Moreover, it is critical that the facility be a place that is high profile and accessible, so students can easily take advantage of its many resources. With the new Career Center, William and Mary will send a message that we are serious about providing the highest quality of career services to students, alumni and potential employers alike.
Construction of the new $7-million Career Center is scheduled to be completed in 2009 and will depend entirely on private support. For more information about how you can help with the Career Center project, please contact Iris Ramey, director of development for student affairs and family giving, at 757.221.1248 or irrame@wm.edu.
