TRIO CAREER EXPLORATION: HIGHLINE COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Therese CredleSeattle University

Student Development AdministrationFall 2012

Institutional Demographics

Best Practices & Recommendations of Career Services at Highline Community College

TRIO Career Exploration Internship

Reflections of Professional Development

Agenda

Highline Community College

Institutional Mission:“To deliver innovative education and training opportunities to foster your personal and professional success in our multicultural world and global economy. We help you build a better future” (Highline Community College, About Us, 2012).

Mission of Counseling Center:“The primary mission of the Counseling Center is to help students reach their academic goals through educational, career, and personal counseling” (Highline Community College, Counseling Center, 2012).

Student Demographics:17,912 students total58 % female, 42 % male69% student of color

http://communications.highline.edu/facts.php#students

Best Practices: Highline Community College

1. Engagement of students in active learning- Three Career Course Offerings regarding career exploration

2. Educational partnerships that advance student learning

- Offering of career exploration courses - Connecting with student support programs: *TRIO career exploration resources for TRIO students

3. Builds supportive and inclusive communities- Offering online resources for multicultural students and special

populations

Blimling and Whitt (1999)

Recommendations: Highline Community College

1. Growth in Setting and Communicating High Expectations for Learning:

Having a concrete departmental mission statement for career services

Having more of a presence on campus and online that provides current career opportunities for students

2. Using Systematic Inquiry to Improve Performance:

Understanding student population and career interests Being intentional in programming career events tailored to

the needs of their student population

Blimling and Whitt (1999)

TRIO INTERNSHIP

TRIO Internship Staff

Internship Site Supervisor: -Alexandra Manuel   Director of Student Support and   Retention Services

*SDA Alumni

TRIO Staff :- Program Assistant- Financial Aid Advisor - Academic  Advisor/Program Manager- Academic Coach- Advisor & Retention Coordinator- Veterans Program Manager

What is TRIO?

“TRIO is a federally funded program that provides low-income, first generation college students and students with disabilities valuable support and services” in:

- academic preparedness- transfer readiness- financial literacy- community engagement- career exploration

http://trio.highline.edu/whatistrio.php

Internship Work Plan Objectives

1. Creation of a career exploration survey

2. Creation of the TRIO career exploration toolkit

3. Development of the TRIO career exploration web portal

4. Connecting career development theory during career advising appointments

TRIO Career Exploration Survey

Questions of Significance:1. What are your current career goals?

- 57% career related, 42% education related

2. In what ways were career services helpful to you?- 42% educational planning

3. What are some reasons you may feel hesitant to attend classes or programs for career services?- Themes included: affordability, time consumption, academic course load, medical reasons

1. Career Discernment:- The ability to form a well rounded perspective about career

direction as it relates to students’ interests, skills, and values.

2. Career Readiness: - The investigation and preparation of career interests.

3. Career Development: - The process of building and expanding professional

network.

TRIO Career Exploration Toolkit

Development of TRIO Career Exploration Website

My research from various colleges provided insight on the importance of developing an online career exploration website for students.

The TRIO Career Exploration Website promotes accessible career resources for TRIO students.

• TRIO Career Exploration Website

TRIO Career Exploration Advising

Transfer Preparedness- Assistance with College Applications - Assistance with Personal Statements

Major Preparation

The River Activity- The student at present- The student’s future goal(s)- Barriers keeping the student from goal(s)- Tasks needed to be accomplished in order to attain goal

Connection to Theory

Narrative Career Counseling:

• Brott, Cochran, Young, & Collin: 1990’s

• Counselors look to identify a pattern in the client’s life, form a sense of the client’s identity, and assess goals for the future

• Emphasizes subjectivity and meaning-making with

emotion as a core part of the process

WHAT’S YOUR STORY?

Connection to Theory

Person-Environment fit theory: John Holland (1970) •The Holland Code: RIASEC

Internship Conclusion

TRIO students can benefit from career exploration by:

1. Gaining understanding of how education parallels

with their career interests

2. Developing positive self-efficacy and outcome

expectations during career exploration.

Reflections of My Professional Development

Gained professional experience in adapting student services to specific environments and cultures

Integrated career development theory during career advising appointments

Increased my professional network by conducting informational interviews with professional staff

THANK YOU

“Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon?Tell me, what is it you plan to do

with your one wild and precious life?”

- Mary Oliver

Resources

Blimling, G.S., & Whitt, E.J. (Eds.) 1999). Good practice in student affairs: Principles to foster student learning. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Highline Community College (2012). About Us. Retrieved from: http://catalog.highline.edu/content.php?catoid=2&navoid=32

Highline Community College (2012). Career Resource Center. Retrieved from: http://counseling.highline.edu/careerresource.php

Highline Community College (2012). Counseling Center. Retrieved from: http://counseling.highline.edu/

Swanson, J. & Fouad, N. (2010). Career theory and practice: learning through case studies. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.