Center for Career and Professional Development's Annual Report

CENTER FOR CAREER AND

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Annual Report

2018-2019



TABLE OF CONTENTS

2 Letter From The Executive Director

4 Meet The Team

5 Programs and Services

6 Staff Accomplishments

8 2018 Post Graduate Career Outcomes

9 2016-2018 Post Graduate Career Outcomes

10 Students We Support

11 Student Highlights

12 Employer Engagement

13 Handshake

LETTER FROM
THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR

Dear Mercerians and CCPD Supporters,
 
I am delighted to share highlights from the 2018-2019 year full
of ambitious goals, mutually beneficial partnerships, and

Center forlessons learned in the 2nd year of Mercer’s
Career and Professional Development (CCPD).

 

1. In an effort to meet our mission and vision, we completed

ambitious goals that included implementing our action
steps set in the 2017-2018 self-study process through the
Student Affairs Division. We also created a departmental
strategic plan that will guide the next 3 years of delivering
programs and services that support meeting the goals of
the university’s ambitious strategic plan, Inspire.

VISION:a. We aspire to equip and empower all

Mercerians to thrive in the lifelong process of career
and professional development.

MISSION:b. Our career development experts prepare

students to succeed in work and life by providing
customized, innovative and comprehensive career
resources.

2. With the departure of a CCPD staff member in the fall, we worked with the Stetson School of Business and

Economics to shift career services responsibilities for Business students over to Stetson career services personnel as

is the case for the Law and Medical Schools. Our 7 CCPD staff members now serve 9 of the 12 Mercer
schools. We continue to partner and collaborate with faculty and staff from all 12 schools as we collectively

support students achieving meaningful outcomes.

3. Handshake, in its 2nd full year of implementation at Mercer, continues to expand our reach and capacity as our

platform where students can connect to employers for career and internship opportunities. Over 350 students

participated in our Handshake Challenge held in the fall to encourage students to activate their accounts. This

7,185 active usersbrings us to a total of. To increase that number, we continually encourage ALL students and

9,422 employersalumni to activate their account at mercer.joinhandshake.com. To date, we have connected with

with 38,478 jobs posted, as well as reviewed 4,963 documents (resumes, cover letters, graduate school personal

statements, etc.) for students and alumni. Overall, we continue to be pleased with and impressed by this platform

and look forward to a strong future of engaging students, alumni, and employers with this resource. If you have

employer contacts not connected to Mercer via Handshake, please share those with us by contacting Stefanie

Swanger at [email protected] so we can get them set up to engage our students and alumni.

4. 2018-2019 During the  year, we continued to provide services and programming across Mercer and are proud of

the improvements made in service we were able to provide through our increased efficiencies and shared

2,119 students and alumni resources. With an increase of 16%, we served through individual services (counseling,

resume review, job search support, etc.) from all 12 Mercer schools, 501including  alumni and 70

veterans. We engaged over 10,000 employers through Handshake and direct engagement (in person meetings

and phone and electronic correspondence). With an increase of 43% from 2017, we held 124 on-campus career

events (career fairs, class presentations, workshops, etc.) with 2,777 attendees and generated $46,000 in

revenue.

PAGE 2 CCPD | ANNUAL REPORT 2018-2019

Fall Expo 102 employers 362This year’s
was a huge success with (45 employers had 60 alumni recruiters) and

attendees (349 students, including traditional and post-traditional students, and 13 alumni) which is an increase

of 38% employers, 114% alumni recruiters, and 32% attendees from last year. We also expanded what has

traditionally been the Pharmacy Career Fair to include all healthcare related disciplines. Maintaining an

impressive 90% graduate career outcomes survey response rate, 88% of 2018 Mercer graduates were
employed or enrolled in graduate school within 6 months of graduation. 79% of 2018 Mercer graduates
participated in at least one field experience (internship, clinical rotation, student teaching, practicum, etc.)

during their time at Mercer.

 

5. CCPD awarded housing to 11 students on the Atlanta campus and 17 students on the Macon campus for the
upcoming summer 2019 internship housing program which will also include relevant career development

programming. Some of the places where they will be interning include: NASA, MERC, IBM, VOYA Financial,

Georgia Innocence Project, UPS, Georgia Public Broadcasting Macon, Jacob’s Ladder, 13WMAZ, and Warner

Robins Air Force Base

 

6. CCPD partnered across the university, state, and region on several programs this year including the following

initiatives:

a. In partnership with HireTalent, we hosted HireAtlanta 2018, a multi-school alumni only career fair, on the

Atlanta campus.

b. CCPD hosted the Georgia Association of Colleges and Employers (GACE) statewide fall professional
development training, “Career Coaching and the College Student” Workshop, in November at the Henry

County Regional Academic Center.

c. In partnership with the Alumni Association, we added 3 alumni career and leadership coaches to expand

our capacity to serve Mercerians for life. More info on them can be found at

http://career.mercer.edu/alumni/coaches.cfm 

d. Florida StateIn addition to adding monthly training on career services related topics, the team visited
University’s Career Center to learn career services best practices as well as the Georgia Veterans
Education Career Transition Resource Center to learn best practices for serving military connected

students and alumni.

 

7. Kim MeredithCCPD staff continued to lead and be recognized for their leadership both on and off campus. ,

Assistant Director, was selected as one of two staff to receive the 2019 Mercer Spirit Award Winner, the

highest honor bestowed on Mercer staff. Stefanie Swanger, Career Consultant, was given the 2019 GACE

Rising Star Award for her dedication to GACE including serving on the Board of Directors as the Chair of the

Statewide Career Fair. Collectively, CCPD staff have served over 110 years at Mercer University with 3

milestone celebrations this year including Charlene Leach, Associate Director (30 years); Zelda Hill,

Administrative Assistant (15 years); and Cindy Strowbridge, Director of Employer Relations (10 years). I am very

proud to work with such a talented and dedicated team!

 

career.mercer.eduFor career resources or to contact CCPD staff, please visit us at.  If you have ideas about

how we can improve our services and programs and how we could collaborate to do so, do not hesitate to

reach out to me at 678-547-6023 or [email protected].

 

CCPD is thankful for all of our partners and supporters who make our work to provide career resources to
students possible. I look forward to all that 2019-2020 will bring in preparing students and alumni to succeed in
work and life!

Joyfully,

MAUREEN SWEATMAN

CCPD | ANNUAL REPORT 18-19 PAGE 3

MEET THE TEAM

Maureen Sweatman Steve Brown Cindy Strowbridge Charlene Leach

Executive Director Director & Associate Director of Employer Associate Director
Dean of Students Relations & Special Events

Kim Meredith Stefanie Swanger Zelda Hill

Assistant Director Career Consultant Administrative Assitant

Vision 2018-2019 Completed Goals

We aspire to equip and empower all Goal 1: Create Strategic Plan for Center for
Mercerians to thrive in the lifelong
process of career and professional Career and Professional Development
development.
 
Mission
Goal 2: Complete Action Steps from the
Our career development experts prepare
students and alumni to succeed in work 2017-2018 Self-Study Process 
and life by providing customized,
 

Goal 3: Assess New Methodology for Tracking

of Graduate Career Outcomes Data 

 

Goal 4: Design Services & Programming Plans

for Student and Alumni Segments

innovative, and comprehensive career

resources.

PAGE 4 CCPD | ANNUAL REPORT 2018-2019

PROGRAMS AND SERVICES

Career Fairs Networking

Fall 2018 Career Expo Pre Career Expo Networking Night

Healthcare and Pharmacy Fair (and Fall 2018 Career Opportunities Fair

Interview Day) GACE Statewide Career Fair 2019

Career Opportunities Fair (Georgia Careers Hire Atlanta- Career Fair for Mercer Alumni

Consortium) First Year Fridays: Majors in Minutes

HireAtlanta Career Fair Halfway There Affair: Sophomore Event

Educator Fair Graduation Fair

Spring 2019 Career Expo CCPD Partner Event- SHRM College Night

GACE Statewide Career Fair Networking Event: For HR or Business Majors

Career Events CCPD Partner Event- Gwinnett County Schools
Special Ed Teacher Job Fair
Welcome Back Fall Kick-Off Events CCPD Partner Event: Houston County's Teacher
Internship Week: How to find an Internship Recruitment Fair
(Virtual) CCPD Partner Event:  Veterans Virtual Career
Internship Week: Internship Search Fair (Virtual)
Strategies (Virtual) CCPD Partner Event: Metro RESA Statewide
Etiquette and Social Media (Virtual) Teacher Job Fair
Webinar: Preparation for College Career

Fairs (Virtual) Workshops
Healthcare Students: Resume Review and
Job Search Tips by Grady Health System Resume/CV Workshop
Recruiter Catherine Andrews Personal Statements
Resident Assistant Training Interview Skills- Traditional
Palmetto Moon Part-Time Job Opportunities Interview Skills- Multiple Mini Interviews
Information Table Networking and Soft Skills
Manhattan Associates Informational Meeting Career Resources for Mercerians: Handshake
for Engineering and Technical Majors and more
Passport Camps Info Session Formal Dining Etiquette Instruction and Dinner
Georgia Power Information Session Etiquette and Professionalism Workshop
Pathways to Medical School Program Info Dress for Success Workshop
Session Graduate School Preparation
Goal Setting

Individual Support Adulting 101: Budgeting Like a Boss
Preparation for College Career Fairs (Virtual)

Counseling/Coaching Sessions

Handshake Document(s) Review (CV, resume,

cover letter, graduate school personal

statements, etc.)

Career Planning & Decision Making Topic Areas Job Search Strategy
Resumer & CV Review Networking Know-How
Cover Letter Review Career Assessments Salary Expectations & Negotiation
Interview Preparation Professional Dress Guidelines Graduate School Statements

Business Etiquette
Customized topics upon request

CCPD | ANNUAL REPORT 18-19 PAGE 5

STAFF ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Our talented team of career professionals are often recognized for their talent

and this year is no exception.

Participated in NACE Career Outcomes Survey Benchmarking for first time

Maureen Sweatman represented Mercer at the SACSCOC conference in Atlanta along

with Mercer colleagues from CLA and Stetson Career Management

Maureen Sweatman served on the new Council on Engaged Learning
Stefanie Swanger served on the University Assessment Council

100% of staff served national and regional professional associations (NACE, NCDA,
GACE, GCDA) through board and committee service and event planning and
participation

Maureen Sweatman selected to be a session leader for Operation HOPE Global Forum

2019's session "The Future of Work: A Vision for Inclusion"

Kim Meredith presented "Posting an Internship at Mercer University" to Connecting

Henry, Inc. Connecting Henry, Inc. is a department of the Henry County Government as
well as a non-profit organization serving as the local branch of the Georgia Family
Connection. There were 40-50 people in the audience representing 20+ non-profit
and/or state agencies

Charlene LeachWith our colleagues in Advancement & Warner Robins Air Force Base,

presented at the annual GACE conference "A Roadmap for Developing an Employer and
University Partnership"

PAGE 6 CCPD | ANNUAL REPORT 2018-2019

Kim Meredith was selected as one of two staff to receive

the 2019 Mercer Spirit Award

Charlene Leach3 milestone celebrations this year including
(30 years); Zelda Hill (15 years); and Cindy Strowbridge (10

years)

110 yearsCollectively the 7 CCPD staff members have over
of service to Mercer University
Stefanie Swanger coauthored "Development of a Highly

Flexible, Interdisciplinary Program in Chemical Education and

a Capstone Course in Commercial Chemistry" with Professor

of Chemistry Dr. Kevin Bucholtz and Mercer Alumni Madison

Copeland, published in the Journal of Chemical Education

Kim Meredith coauthored and published "Peer Consultation:

A Best Practice for Career Development Professionals" in

Career Convergence Magazine, a publication of the National

Career Development Association

Kim Meredith earned the Certified Career Counselor

credential through the National Career Development

Association

Hosted GACE event at the Henry Co. Center entitled "Career

Coaching and the College Student"

Visited with colleagues at the Florida State University
Career Center to learn best practices in career services
Conducted a site visit to the Georgia VECTR Center to

learn how to better partner to support veterans and military

connected students and alumni  

Stefanie Swanger served on the GACE Board of Directors

as the Chair for the GACE Statewide Career Fair for the

second year in a row

Added monthly professional training for staff on a variety of

topics including career development theory informing

practice, serving veterans, diversity and inclusion, ethics,

marketing, and liberal education & employment trends

CCPD | ANNUAL REPORT 18-19 PAGE 7

2018 POST GRADUATE
CAREER OUTCOMES

Graduates

2140 90%

Survey and knowledge

response

Survey Respondents Reported

88% 79%

reported a positive career outcome had a Field Experience

(Internship, Student Teaching,
Clinical Rotation, or Practicum)

73% 13% 2%

Employed Enrolled in Continuing Volunteering or
Education Military Service

of respondents
said
Did the degree you
40%
When received at Mercer
Mercer students
asked 79%help you get your job participating in field
Y E Sfollowing graduation? experiences were paid

*Career Outcome data includes Mercer University Fall 2017, December 2017 and Spring 2018 graduates, excluding Medicine and Law
*Field experience and degree value data reported by respondents who provided answers to those questions

PAGE 8 CCPD | ANNUAL REPORT 2018-2019

2016-2018 POST GRADUATE
CAREER OUTCOMES

Graduates Survey and Knowledge
Responses

Survey Respondents Reported

Career Outcome Employed or Field Experience
Continuing Education

includes employment, continuing eduction, military, and volunteering programs includes internship, student teaching,
military, and volunteering programs included in employed category clinical rotation, and practicum

When asked " Did the degree you of respondents said

received at Mercer help you get your YES
job following graduation?"

*Career Outcome data includes Mercer University Fall 2015-2017, December 2015-2017 and Spring 2016-2018 graduates, excluding

Medicine and Law

*Field experience and degree value data reported by respondents who provided answers to those questions

CCPD | ANNUAL REPORT 18-19 PAGE 9

STUDENTS WE SUPPORT

We pride ourselves on offering personalized service to students, helping them take
steps to achieve their goals no matter where they are in their career and
professional development process. We offer our services to Mercerians for life. The
populations of Bears we serve include:

Traditional Undergraduates Adult Learners
Graduate Students Distance Learners

Professional School Students Alumni

Number of students and alumni served through individual services: 2,119

veterans 70Number of
served through individual services:

career events 124Number of
(career fairs/class presentations/workshops/orientations):

Number of career events attendees (including career fairs): 2777

Number of career events and attendees by campus:

Atlanta Henry & Douglas Macon

26 events 42 events 56 events

1,169 attendees 439 attendees 1,169 attendees

Colleges We Serve

College of Liberal Arts Penfield College School of Nursing

School of Engineering School of Theology School of Business*

College of Education College of Pharmacy School of Medicine*

School of Music College of Health Professions School of Law*

PAGE 10 *in addition to school career services staff

CCPD | ANNUAL REPORT 2018-2019

STUDENT HIGHLIGHTS

Across campuses, we strive to provide each student with a quality experience that
leads to substantial career and professional development. Here are what some
recent graduates had to say about their collaboration with CCPD:

Jayla Moody BrandThis summer, I will serve as a
Communications Intern at Turner
Class of 2019 Broadcasting and Warner Media. After my
Major: Journalism and Global
internship has ended, I will begin my role as a
Development Studies
graduate assistant at Georgia State University

in the Communications Department working in

the undergraduate journalism writing labs. I will

be pursuing my masters in Digital Media

Strategies as I look to have a career in digital

marketing and communications and branding.

CCPD assisted me by molding and editing
my resume. Hugh Hunter provided me with a

template, tips, and advice on seeking out and

applying for graduate assistantships. This office

can really help you with the small details that

will take you a long way during the application

process. They helped me to display myself as
the kind of candidate employers were
looking for.

From resumes reviews to one-on-one

meetings, the CCPD helped me develop the
confidence I needed to march along my
own unique career path as a drug

information resident at Idaho State University.

My unconventional goals during pharmacy

school meant that resources and role models

were scarce. However, CCPD was patient
enough to address my quirky concerns
while equipping me with the skills to
develop my own professional persona. They

will guide you one step at a time and give you

the tools you need to succeed.

Kevin Shin PAGE 11

Class of 2019
Major: Doctor of Pharmacy

CCPD | ANNUAL REPORT 18-19

EMPLOYER
ENGAGEMENT
DATA

9422Employers Approved in Handshake To Date:

38,478Jobs Posted in Handshake To Date:

3,756Total Applications Submitted 18-19 in Handshake:
2,379Job Applications Submitted:
1,327Internship Applications Submitted :
50Other* Applications Submitted :

*(co-op, experimental learning, fellowship, volunteer)

Employer Attendance at Career Fairs

Fall 2018 Career Healthcare and Educator Fair Spring 2019 Career
Expo Pharmacy Fair Expo
42
101 13 59

173Unique Employers Engaged through Career Fairs at Mercer:

Thanks to our sponsors!

PAGE 12 CCPD | ANNUAL REPORT 2018-2019

HANDSHAKE

Handshake is our platform where students can
connect to employers for career and internship
opportunities. ALL students and alumni are
encouraged to activate their account at

mercer.joinhandshake.com.

Total Unique Student/Alumni Logins: 7185
Activation by Status

Undergraduate: 3035 (48% of undergraduate accounts have been activated)
Graduate/Professional: 2210 (44% of graduate/professional accounts have been
 a c t i v a t e d )
Alumni: 1940

Documents Processed in Handshake To Date: 4,963

Job Postings by Student Qualification

CCPD | ANNUAL REPORT 18-19 PAGE 13

HANDSHAKE

Top 15 Job Functions by Job Posting

Top 10 Industries by Number of Employers

PAGE 14 CCPD | ANNUAL REPORT 2018-2019

HANDSHAKE

Job Postings by Type

Jobs Posted by Location Jobs Posted by Location

CCPD | ANNUAL REPORT 18-19 PAGE 15

BACK PAGE

Preparing Students and Alumni to Succeed in
Work and Life

Office Locations:
ATLANTA CAMPUS

Atlanta Administration & Conference Center (AACC), Suite 558
678-547-6023

DOUGLAS & HENRY CENTERS & DISTANCE LEARNERS

Henry Co. Regional Academic Center Office 150
678-547-6584

MACON CAMPUS

Connell Student Center, Third Floor
478-301-2863

career.mercer.edu