In response to the challenging and ever-changing employment landscape, Saint Mary’s is assessing the role and function of Career Services to foster student and alumni success across the university. As an integral element to the Strategic Plan — Building a Future Full of Hope 2025 — Saint Mary’s is reshaping and expanding the vision, structure, and function of Career Services to enhance the university’s reputation and better prepare all our students, undergraduate and graduate, online or onground, for their future.
During the sixth annual Saint Mary’s Career and Internship Fair Oct. 23 on the Winona Campus, more than 200 students visited with more than 50 graduate schools, employers, and internship sites. Of those vendors, about 20% (15 individuals), were Saint Mary’s alumni vendor representatives on hand recruiting. Students are continuing to connect with those employers for interviews, internships, and job opportunities.
One week later, the Minnesota Colleges and Universities Career Services Association hosted a Government and Nonprofit Career Fair in the Twin Cities area. Fifty-five adult learners from the Schools of Graduate and Professional Programs registered to attend, as well as several undergraduate students from the Winona Campus.
Saint Mary’s and Career Services are also exploring ways to enhance career services to all campuses and students — as well as alumni — through increased staffing, on-site facilities, as well as expanding the use of Handshake, a leading career services web platform that is currently used on the Winona Campus. Other future expansions being discussed include virtual and online resources, as well as courses, workshops, coaching sessions, and other areas.