Career Center program earns national award
The national Cooperative Education and Internship Association is recognizing Mississippi State's Career Center with its 2015 University Best Practice Award.
The non-profit Cincinnati, Ohio-based association recently cited the university department for its Workforce Recruitment Program partnership for students with disabilities.
In addition to recognizing individuals or programs producing positive change, the award was created to spotlight new approaches in the field, said CEIA president Kelly Harper.
MSU's program is a "prime example" of the award's purpose, he added.
In 2011, the Career Center became a registered recruiting site for the Workforce Recruitment Program that seeks to connect highly motivated students with disabilities with federal and private-sector employers nationwide. Participation involves both summer internships and permanent jobs.
Career Center director Scott Maynard said this is the first year the program has received this award, adding that, "We always are proud of our staff and their innovative approaches to making our department stronger and meeting the needs of all MSU students."
According to Maynard, students with disabilities make up about 10 percent of MSU's student population. More than 2,100 students registered to receive classroom accommodations related to their disability, he noted.
Lisa Gooden-Hunley said that, in addition to demonstrating skills necessary to succeed in their desired career fields, students enrolled in the program have the added challenge of effectively communicating to potential employers the accommodations they require to perform their job duties.
Senior coordinator of MSU's CEI program, Gooden-Hunley said she and others on the staff help students develop effective resumes and interviewing skills, among other areas. Guidance in how and when to effectively communicate with potential employers about their disability also is provided, she added.
The program's ultimate goal is the successful preparation of participants for employer interviews that result in either short-term internships or a long-term employment in their respective fields of study, she said.
"Mostly these are students who currently receive classroom accommodations for learning, physical or medical disabilities," Gooden-Hunley said.
As an example of the program's impact, she said one of last year's participants has been hired for an internship in Minnesota with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Gooden-Hunley said she feels the Workforce Recruitment Program also should be a "gateway" for participants to take advantage of other center services, including career training seminars and the many job fairs it holds on campus each year.
She praised Maynard and other center leaders "who encourage programs for diverse student populations, and we look forward to seeing the program grow."
For more on the MSU Career Center, visit www.career.msstate.edu.
Information on the Cooperative Education and Internship Association is found at www.ceiainc.org.
Discover more about Mississippi's flagship research university at www.msstate.edu or www.meridian.msstate.edu, facebook.com/msstate, instagram.com/msstate and twitter.com/msstate using the hashtag #WeRingTrue.
Zack Plair | Public Affairs
