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

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

3. Jesuit Mission SLU Vocational Discernment

4. 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

5. Retention Research Retention = Satisfaction

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

7. 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

8. Program Details Prior to SLU 101 –Identifying the deciding students –Scheduling appointments –SLU 101 Peer Advisor Training

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

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

11. 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

12. 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

13. Short-Term Results 2007 Orientation ComponentOverall Rating Student Panel 3.41 Meet with Career Counselor 3.32 Study Abroad Session 3.32 Late Night in Rez Hall 3.32

14. 2009 ComponentsOverall Rating Peer Group Meeting3.52 Late Night in Rez Hall3.50 Trivia Night / Advising Overview3.46 / 3.46 Meet with Career Counselor 3.45 Short-Term Results

15. 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

16. 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

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

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

19. 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 21 st century, 2 nd edition. Pearson Education.

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