Dr. Susan Schulz

Discussion Comment

Hi Leonid, You are quite right about the importance of building relationships with employers. You want to know about your students on the job. Are they work ready? What skills or knowledge should they have that they don't? How should you modify or upgrade your courses? Employers can give you great feedback so you'll know. Externships are a way for a company to assess a student as a potential worker. Externships are also effective in giving students real work experience. Re job fairs - we feel students need the skills and know how about how to be successful at these… >>>

Dr. Susan Schulz

Discussion Comment

The Impact of Placement Services

HI Glenn, Very good. Admissions does benefit from your placement reports and the better your stats the better enrollment is. And you are quite right that when students see placement results it impacts on retention. Students enroll in career schools for two reasons. One is to learn a skill and the other is to get a job. Sometimes students forget the part about getting a job when they get caught up in getting through their classes. It is true that students have to do their part in getting a job. But we feel that it is up to the school… >>>

Dr. Susan Schulz

Discussion Comment

The Impact of Placement Services

HI Glenn So what you are saying is that the only role instructors have in the placement process is to pass along information about services offered by the placement department? Passing along info and encouraging students to participate in placement department services is important. However, we feel that instructors are vital in teaching students about the workplace. Ideally instructors are active in the workplace and share real work experiences with students on a daily basis. Thanks, Susan

Dr. Susan Schulz

Discussion Comment

When Do Placement Services Start?

Javier - We believe that placement is as important as the theory and skills taught! It's a learning process and takes time. Thanks, Susan

Dr. Susan Schulz

Discussion Comment

When Do Placement Services Start?

Yes Iva, we also believe that students need to know about placement and all student services as early as the admissions interview and then throughout their school experience. We feel that student services are as important as a good curriculum. Students face all kinds of challenges and many are not difficult to overcome. If students know there are people at school to assist them, this helps to get them to graduation day. Thanks, Susan

Dr. Susan Schulz

Discussion Comment

Bringing Placement Services to the Classroom

Hi Iva Very good. We also think that every course should have a focus on keeping students eyes on the job. That means paying attention to professionalism and work ethics like being on time. And talking about what it is like at work. Typically instructors work themselves. So they have the opportunity to talk about a typical workday - the ups and downs and how to deal with challenges. This is great for retention too. STudents keep their focus on graduation day. Thanks, Susan

Dr. Susan Schulz

Discussion Comment

The Impact of Placement Services

You highlight a lot of great issues, Arthur. It's good to hear that your placement department operates within Student Services and is separate and works with students and grads. Successful placement is in part dependent on the jobs in the community and saturation issues. That's why it is important for placement to communicate with the education departments. It might be time to drop a program and add other training that is more in demand in the community. This takes talking with employers and community leaders to determine what industries need trained workers and what kind of training they need. And… >>>

Dr. Susan Schulz

Discussion Comment

The Impact of Placement Services

Very well said, Carly. The Placement Department is responsible for aiding the grads to establish careers. In our opinion that means that placement has to start with the admissions process and be a presence in the lives of students every day. That means the Placement Department needs to have many activities and offerings for a student to complete. And of course services for grads. Can you imagine if every grad connected with the school periodically? That would increase enrollments and community presence significantly. Thanks

Dr. Susan Schulz

Discussion Comment

The Impact of Placement Services

Hi Jack, Very well put. Placement impacts on the entire school. And yes, students have concerns about getting placed. We feel that we can reduce their anxiety if they know there is placement staff who can assist them and get them through any challeges. That's why it is important to be sure everyone knows exactly what the placement department does and how to reach placement staff. We have to say placement isn't guaranteed. But wouldn't it be great if we made a committment to place every grad? Thanks, Susan

Dr. Susan Schulz

Discussion Comment

When Do Placement Services Start?

Hi Nikeline Internships are very effective for most programs and especially in allied health. Students need to learn how to work in a real clinic environment and with the public before the first day on the job. Internships give students increased confidence and also something to put on their resumes - especially if they haven't had much work experience. Thanks, Susan