Career Development as a Retention Tool: Early Intervention for Incoming Deciding Freshmen

Career Development as a Retention Tool: Early Intervention for Incoming Deciding Freshmen Saint Louis University Wendy LaBenne, Christine Keller and Kim Reitter

Background • About Saint Louis University (SLU) • How the program started • Purpose of program • Career Decision Making Assessment

Jesuit Mission • SLU • Vocational Discernment

Retention Research • 50% of those who withdraw, do so in their first year • Commitment to educational and career goals is a strong factor in degree completion

Retention Research Retention = Satisfaction

Retention Research Retention = Satisfaction viable plan that is consistent with abilities, interests and values

Learning Objectives • Students will be connected to career services • Students will be educated on career development prior to arriving in the fall • Students will be assessed early to identify their individual needs

Program Details • Prior to SLU 101 • Identifying the deciding students • Scheduling appointments • SLU 101 Peer Advisor Training

Program Details • Career Counseling Appointment • Assessment • (Career information, self-knowledge, career choice anxiety and general decision making skills) • Length • 30 minutes

Program Details • Career Counseling Appointment (cont.) • Build Rapport • Refer to the assessment • Folder • Ending appointment • Follow-up

Case Study: Joe • Cuseo suggests • Front-load highly effective advisors • Integrate advising and career counseling • Create experiential learning to promote early awareness of the realities of work

Results • Potential Effects on Retention • Popularity of the Program • Student evaluation; Increase in students • Success of the Program • Early use of Career Services • Confidence level in deciding on a major

Short-Term Results

Long-Term Results • 49% met with us again as freshmen (‘08) • 39% met with us individually • 14% enrolled in Career Decision-Making course taught by our counselors

Expansion of Program • In 2007: College of Arts & Sciences • In 2008: University College, A&S • In 2009: Health Sciences, Engineering, Student Educational Services, University College, A&S

At Your Institution… • A program should include: • Early, front-end career planning • Anticipatory, rather than reactive interventions • Delivery that is proactive

“…Research suggests that student commitment to educational and career goals is perhaps the strongest factor associated with persistence to degree completion.” Cuseo, 2005.

References Cuseo, J. (2005). “Decided,” undecided,” and “in transition”: Implications for academic advisement, career counseling, and student retention. In R. S. Feldman (Ed.), Improving the First Year of College, Research and Practice. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. Harris-Bowlsbey, J. & Niles, S. (2005). Career development interventions in the 21st century, 2nd edition. Pearson Education.

Contact Information Wendy LaBenne Career Counselor 314-977-2831 wlabenne@slu.edu

Career Development as a Retention Tool: Early Intervention for Incoming Deciding Freshmen