Western Michigan University - Career and Student Employment Services

You know the old expression "Hindsight is 20/20." There is only one real beginning to the college years, and that is Freshman Fall, and it cannot be recaptured. Not plugging in to events designed specifically for campus newcomers won't automatically spell disaster. But taking advantage of newcomer events will give a jump start to finding the way around campus and town, understanding ethical and personal conduct expectations, using time well, learning about opportunities which require planning ahead, when and how to seek help for getting out of trouble before getting in too deep. It is easier to begin with a broad base of success support than to labor at raising a disappointing GPA.

Orientation
New Student Orientation is mandatory for all incoming freshmen. You will receive helpful academic advising, register for your first semester of classes, and take part in fun social activities.Meanwhile, parents can learn more about WMU by attending a program designed just for them.

First-Year Experience Programs
WMU First-Year Experience (FYE) Programs are comprised of three essential components: New Student Orientation, Fall Welcome and FYE Seminar. These three components work together to help you achieve your goals.

Fall Welcome
Fall Welcome is a four-day program that assists first-year students with their academic and social transitions to college life. Building on the foundation created at summer orientation, Fall Welcome will connect first-year students with WMU, other students, faculty and staff. All first-year students interested in getting a head start on their college careers must attend Fall Welcome.

Bronco Bash
Bronco Bash is an annual event to welcome students, faculty, staff and community members to another great year at Western Michigan University. This year marks the 26th annual Bronco Bash.

Division of Multicultural Affairs
Visit the Divison of Multicutral Affairs web site for information on their calendar of events, mentor/mentee program and the top ten things students should know at WMU.

First Year Experience (FYE) Seminar
FYE Seminar is semester long. This two-credit hour FYE Seminar gives first-year students a shared opportunity to make the academic and social transition to WMU. Seminar activities and programs are designed to learn more about WMU and the Kalamazoo community. Students receive ongoing guidance from an assigned FYE Seminar student mentor and WMU faculty who will both facilitate this unique university experience..

Academic Skills Center
Skills critical to academic success are taught and developed in a program which allows accomplished students to help other students with questions or problems or who just want to do their best. Services include college success seminars (time management, study skills), supplemental instruction, writing lab, content tutoring, and effective reading seminars.

Faculty Relations
The first year in college is the time to develop the habit of getting to know instructors. All faculty post and host open office hours to help students with questions about course materials or academic progress. Students ultimately need professors to write letters of recommendation for such things as internships, scholarships, and graduate school applications. The greatest success in course work and the most substantive recommendations are often proportionate to the level of communication students have with faculty.

Holding a job is an ideal way to test interests, acquire a good work ethic and reputation, and develop skills employers need. With some forethought, work experiences can in effect form a ladder with each experience a step forward and upward to complement academic studies toward a professional career goal.

High School Jobs
Jobs performed before entering college provide clues to functional skills, burning interests or clear dislikes or mismatches, and may offer opportunity for advancement into higher paid jobs with greater responsibility as future Summer jobs.

Being a parent of a college student (often long distance) still means having ready availability of an ear, a bed, a cheer, a hug, a refrigerator, a washing machine. But talking with them about WMU opportunities helps students begin to think long as well as short range and to take advantage of the myriad of activities designed to help them become competent professionals, good citizens and participants in life, learning and their surrounding environments.

Support Career-Building Experience

Facilitate attendance at newcomer events for the best start
Since all students may use internet capabilities and open e-mail accounts, promote communication with home by getting on line yourself, if you have access to a computer
Because it's fairly common to have difficulty choosing a major, or to change majors, urge involvement in campus exploratory activities, which can mean earlier exposure to critical clues and save time and costs of late decision making
Encourage your student to think creatively when seeking a Summer job where functional skills can be developed, even though it may mean their being away from home or receiving a little less pay
Be a sounding board for trying out career ideas and identifying abilities and personal characteristics
Think seriously about incorporating a study abroad experience into an academic plan--financial assistance may be available
Brainstorm internship ideas - where, when and how
Remind your student to pick up a Job Search Manual before beginning a job search
Offer to play the role of the employer in a practice interview
Be aware of BroncoJOBS and the employment avenues it opens for the tiny investment of 10 minutes of time to register
Realize that Career and Student Employment Services offers assistance not only for a job search, but information, guidance and opportunities for building a richer background

Provide Career-Building Experience
Some parents are in positions to employ their own children in professional and perhaps career-related jobs. Most parents cannot, but could consider hiring or urging their own employers to hire WMU students. On-campus recruiting, job postings, career fairs, internships, and Summer jobs are excellent hiring opportunities. Less concrete but equally valuable is the role of a Career Ally--inviting informational interviews, job shadowing, speaking to student groups, conducting practice interviews. See Employer Services to investigate or pursue these university-supportive and experience-affirming options.
Gifts with Lasting Value
Birthday? Holiday? Improved GPA? Graduation? Celebrate your student with gifts of sustenance and support they will remember and treasure. Students working in our department compiled this dream list of cool things to make life on campus a little easier and to add a degree of confidence to the final challenge--the job search:

Backpack
Personal computer- Laptop/Desktop
Bike
Gift certificate to local businesses
Music
Snacks
Care packages
Bookstore gift certificates
Furniture
TV, VCR, Stereo, DVD Player
Calculator
Pen/pencil set
WMU sweatshirt
Rollerblades
Spring coat
Luggage
Money for food, entertainment or get-aways
Cell phone
PDA
Suit for interviews
Savings bonds
Health insurance