GREENEVILLE – As Tusculum University students complete their studies, faculty and staff are focused on equipping them to be career-ready professionals.
Kayla Yates
Community members can contribute to the process through a clothing drive spearheaded by Tusculum’s career services program. They are invited to donate professional attire students can wear for the Career and Graduate School Fair in January and other related occasions. The career services program will accept donations through Friday, Jan. 16.
“This drive is an excellent opportunity to support our students as they seek that first job aligned with their major, are speaking with an employer about an internship or approaching a recruiter for a graduate school or professional school,” said Kayla Yates, assistant coordinator of career services. “Students need to make a good first impression when they approach these individuals. Wearing the proper attire is a key step toward accomplishing that goal.”
The program, which is partnering with the Office of Student Affairs on this initiative, is seeking items such as suits for men and women, ties, dark socks, dress shirts, blouses, skirts, dresses, pantyhose, dress shoes, jewelry and other items appropriate for interviews and meeting situations. The items can be new or slightly used but should not be damaged or have holes or tears. Tusculum seeks clothing from petite to plus sizes.
Yates, who also services as technical services and circulation manager for the Thomas J. Garland Library, said these donations will help students look their best when they visit with various potential employers from across the region and schools from an array of locations at the fair Wednesday, Jan. 28. The event will be held on the main floor of the Scott M. Niswonger Commons.
The drive will also help students be dressed appropriately when they interview off campus for summer or permanent jobs or for graduate schools and professional schools.
Kathy Hipps
“Buying professional clothing can be expensive,” said Kathy Hipps, coordinator of career services and the library’s director. “College students are known for not having a lot of money to purchase these items, so assistance from community members, who remember what it was like when they first applied for jobs, can go a long way toward a successful outcome. It is a good opportunity to pay it forward and show our students that people are standing behind them as they begin their careers.”
Community members can drop off items at the Office of Student Affairs, which is located in the Niswonger Commons. Anyone who brings items during the Christmas break for staff members – from Dec. 20-Jan. 4 – can leave them with the Office of Campus Safety, which is located adjacent to Student Affairs.
Anyone with questions can email Yates at kyates@tusculum.edu. More information about the university is available at www.tusculum.edu.