Beginning in February, Tusculum College’s Office of Career Services will become part of the college’s Center for Civic Advancement.
“I am delighted that we can join two vital departments who serve our students at Tusculum College,” said Dr. Lisa Johnson, associate vice president for student success at Tusculum College. “The Office of Career Studies is a vital element of supporting our mission through providing career preparation opportunities for our students. This merge will elevate the opportunities for student engagement through the development of new and exciting events and through community outreach.”
The mission of the Center for Civic Advancement is to engage the heart, mind and soul of Tusculum through cultivating awareness of self and of others. They aspire to do this through the establishment of meaningful relationships with our local, national and global communities.
Projects include global and mission studies, service learning, community service, internships in non-profit agencies, forums and research opportunities. Additionally, the Center for Civic Advancement supports the Center for Economic Development and its “Help Me, Help You” program and the Institute for Community Empowerment as a joint project with the college’s School of Business.
“Career Services is a natural extension of the Center for Civic Advancement,” said Ronda Gentry, director of the Center for Civic Advancement. “The Center’s goal is to engage the Tusculum community so that all become aware of and respond to the needs of others. The Career Services office meets this goal in that it strives to assist students in employment opportunities which match students’ specific passions for service with employment needs. I am excited about the ways in which the CCA and Career Services will enhance and strengthen each other.”
The mission of the Tusculum College Office of Career Services is to equip students with the necessary knowledge, skills and abilities required beyond the classroom to successfully transition from college to either graduate school or the world of work. The Office of Career Services offers assistance with career planning and employment resources for Tusculum College students and alumni. Career Services is also an important resource for employers to connect with Tusculum College students.
“Career Services is designed to support all of our students, but we also work with alumni in a variety of ways,” said Robin E. Lay, director of career services. “In addition to helping students prepare to enter the workforce, we also offer alumni similar services and provide alumni a direct link to the hiring of our students.”
Lay has worked to establish good working relationships with students, alumni, faculty, staff and employers, in order to facilitate networking connections for employment and internship opportunities.
Graduates of Tusculum College are encouraged to utilize the same career services that are available to current Tusculum students. Some of these resources include advice on updating resumes, job search strategies, networking tips, building a Linkedin profile and providing job search guides.
“It is my passion to assist others in finding their unique vocational fit and developing a career path that will lead to satisfying employment. It will be exciting to see how Career Services contributes to the overall mission of the Center for Civic Advancement,” said Lay.
Career Services offers a wide array of career support and counseling services to help students decide what careers may be right for them. A variety of available career assessment instruments may help students realize their strengths and direct them towards potential careers. The Office of Career Services discusses these assessments with students to help them interpret their results.
The career assessments measure several critical areas that are important to choosing and succeeding in a career, including personality, interest, work values and vocational skills. The Office of Career Services assists students in understanding the career assessments and deciding on career paths beyond their education at Tusculum College.
“These career assessments are only the beginning of the services offered to students,” said Lay. “The Office of Career Services also assists students in locating job and internship opportunities, career advice, resume and interview tips, graduate school resources, career search resources, an on-campus recruitment program and career workshops and fairs.”
Services are provided to all students, including those in both the Residential and Graduate and Professional Studies programs.