Mentoring to Prepare Students for Lifelong Success: Keeping the End in Mind Oluwarotimi Odeh Agricultural Studies October 23, 2015
Jan 17, 2016
Mentoring to Prepare Students for Lifelong Success: Keeping the End in Mind
Oluwarotimi OdehAgricultural Studies
October 23, 2015
Purpose
• Need to solidify post-graduation connections between students and faculty, and alumni
• Enhance connections between students and industry professionals to improve internships and job placements
• Improve graduation rate
Process
• Key activities– Course Revision/Redesign
• Fall 2014• Professional Development Activities• Joint Activities/Mentoring
– Classroom activities: Professional Development• 4:00-5:00pm on December 1, 2014
– Mock Networking Event• 4:30-6:00pm on February 27, 2015
– Fertile Ground Mixer (Partner: WAME)• 9-11:30am on April 25, 2015
– Annual Appreciation Reception• May 6, 2015• Parents and Spouses• Scholarship Awards ceremony
End Result
What happened?– Alumni Mentor Database
Revision/update– Stronger relationships between alumni,
students, and faculty– Job shadowing and paid internship
placements– Increase job placement in agricultural
industry– Industry partnership: Women in
Agriculture for Mentoring and Empowerment (WAME)
– Establishment of Meet & Greet Event
End Result
• What assessment methods were used? – Creation of an alumni database– Attendance logs– Event Survey– Senior Exit Survey– Alumni Survey
End Result
• Did your process increase student success?– Job placements on/before graduation: Over 90%
• (Other contributing factors)
– Internship placements: 100% • (Other contributing factors)
– Better engagement in career preparatory activities and events
– Industry Feedback and interest in program/students
Lessons Learned
• What lessons were learned?– Need to continue build on the success– Students as a resource– Alumni Resource
• What advice can you share with others? – Need for a professional development course – Alumni pool is a great resource for a variety of
reasons• Vested interest• Mentors• Network• Fundraising• Job Shadowing• Internships• Job placements
Lessons Learned
• Next steps to continuously improve?
– Annual update of alumni database
– Periodic communication with alumni
– Improve industry engagement in activities and events
– A stronger student organization
– Improve connection to/interest in post-graduate programs