The Career Center and Center for Academic Success Join Forces To Help Freshmen Thrive

The first year of college is difficult for many freshmen, but the Career Center’s partnership with the Center for Academic Success (CAS) is working to smooth the transition from high school to college life.

CAS  provides guidance and academic support for first-year students, helping them clarify their academic and career goals while adjusting to life at Seton Hall.

“A deeper mission of ours is to be a connection point for students to the community at Seton Hall,” explains Joshua Dornbos,  associate dean of CAS. “We challenge students to think about using their time to really serve this community and the world.” 

Since first-year students are just beginning to explore resources offered by the University, CAS often refers them to the Career Center for help with internship or job searches.  The Career Center helps students “bridge the gap” between what they’re learning in the classroom and “taking concrete steps toward their future,” Dornbos said. The Career Center, he adds, allows students learn how their degree plans work with their professional goals. 

In April, the Career Center and CAS co-sponsored  a “Declare Your Major” event at the University Center. In collaboration with the Registrar’s Office, Josepine Galler, Ph.D., a program director at CAS,  teamed up with Justin Krass, associate director of the Career Center, to help students declare a major or minor.

According to Galler, career advisors were on hand to answer students’ questions about internships and other professional opportunities. Faculty and staff from the Registrar’s office assisted students in understanding the requirements for various majors. Krass invited students from the College of Arts and Sciences to speak about their experiences in their majors. Students were able to get their major or minor approved, on site, using Banner Self Service.

“We had around 200 or about 100 students attend that event. It was nice that both offices were able to come together on behalf of the students,” Galler said. 

Galler and  Krass previously worked together on the University Life curriculum, a course freshmen take in the fall semester to learn about University resources. They also collaborated on developing a  Career Exploration lesson. “Krass provided a lot of resources. Sometimes he would come into our class to teach that lesson specifically,” Galler said. 

By visiting University Life classes, Krass says he hopes to help students get a better idea of the various resources available and strategies they can use to build their resumes, be successful and get the most out of their time at Seton Hall. “That's something I'm able to contribute by giving them information about factors to consider when looking at different majors and which factors to consider when looking at different careers,” Krass said.  Reflecting on the Career Center’s partnership with CAS, Krass notes that both groups have a common goal: helping to support each student.

Career Center advisers have been guest lecturers in University Life courses taken by freshmen. A.J. Yurista, an assistant director in the Career Center, taught a section last fall. “I went in there just hoping to make some sort of impact and help [the freshmen] transition from their years in high school to college,” adding that he also learned about himself as an instructor. Yurista said that working with CAS was a great experience that allowed him to teach valuable topics to freshmen. “[CAS] really provided us with a great layout and it shows they really have a great understanding of what they expect from incoming students,” Yurista said. “As a new teacher, it made it a lot easier.”

The Center for Academic Success and the Career Center are focused on expanding their partnership and enhancing services for students exploring majors.  One idea they’re considering is a one-credit seminar for students who want to strengthen their job readiness skills while also soft skills employers often seek, such as time management, problem-solving and a strong work ethic.

As plans continue to expand their collaboration, Galler said she can depend on the Career Center for assistance. “They're a good resource for us to make referrals, and we make referrals for them,” she said. “I'm so happy that we have this partnership.”

Categories: Education