Student Employee Learning Plan
Grand Valley State University
Division of Student Services
Mission Statement: Grand Valley State University educates students to shape their lives, their professions,
and their societies. The university contributes to the enrichment of society through excellent teaching,
active scholarship, and public service.
Student employment is an extension of your education. These positions are designed to enhance your
classroom learning by helping you develop the necessary skills required to be successful in today’s job
market and to be a thoughtful and productive citizen. This Plan will not be used as a job evaluation of
your abilities. The goal of this Learning Plan is to help you find extra-curricular activities, work, and
academic experiences that can challenge and assist you in your journey to refine your skills as you
prepare for your future.
STUDENT INFORMATION
Name: First & Last Name
Semester/Year:Semester/Year
Position Title: What is your position?
Department: What department do you work for?
Basic Position Description: Give us your basic position description and responsibilities.
Why did you apply for this position? Identify 1-2 reasons.
Immediate Supervisor: First and Last Name
Supervisor’s Title: What is their job title?
Have you decided on your major?
If yes, what is your major?
☐Yes ☐No
Major
Minor (if any)
How many credits are you planning to take each academic semester this year? Fall
(Grand Valley encourages students to take a full course load)
Winter
Spring/Summer
Current Class Standing: ☐FR ☐SO
☐JR
☐SR
☐GR
When is your anticipated graduation date? Semester/Year
Please list any other involvements you have:
Student organizations, service groups, other jobs, additional academic commitments, etc.
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Communication Skills
Ability to professionally communicate with persons verbally, written, and online.
Teamwork
Ability to positively work and engage in a team structure.
Problem Solving & Analyzing
Ability to make decisions and solve problems using creativity and reasoning.
Flexibility & Adaptability
Ability to manage and adapt to changing work conditions and assignments.
Administrative Skills
Ability to plan, organize, and prioritize work.
Cultural Sensitivity & Awareness
Ability to demonstrate respect and awareness to other people and cultures.
Technology & Computer Literacy
Ability to use current technology and computer software.
Very Confident
Confident
Fairly Confident
The following is a list of the top 7 qualities (in order of importance) employers are
looking for from college and university graduates; this information is based on a
survey conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers
(NACE). Based on how confident you feel in each skill category, please rate
yourself by circling the number that corresponds to the rating scale on the right.
Not Confident
SELF-ASSESSMENT OF EMPLOYABLE QUALITIES
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CAREER AND PROFESSIONAL GOALS
Part of the Grand Valley Career Center’s mission is to empower students and alumni to attain career
goals. One of the ways that the Career Center does this is through the 5 Questions ©. Please take a few
minutes to answer the next set of questions. There is no right or wrong answer to these questions, there
are only your answers; answers that may change as you discover who you are.
What are my interests, passions, and values? Type answer here.
What are my skills and abilities? Type answer here.
What steps can I take to test them out? Type answer here.
Where do I want to go? Type answer here.
How do I get there? Type answer here.
Student Employee Learning Plan – GVSU Division of Student Services
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STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
The learning outcomes section is designed to help you develop skills and behaviors that will enhance
your learning in 5 essential learning areas that align to the Grand Valley General Education Program.
Each dimension is defined with a set of qualities that students should possess before graduating. After
reading the definitions, please take time to reflect on each of these areas by the provided questions.
Please be sure to include: academic, employment, involvement, and personal experiences in your selfassessments.
CRITICAL THINKING, CREATIVE THINKING & PROBLEM SOLVING
Critical Thinking is characterized as the exploration of issues, ideas, and events before formulating an opinion or conclusion.
Creative Thinking is the capacity to combine existing ideas, images, expertise, and experiences to work in imaginative ways.
Problem Solving is the process of designing and evaluating strategies to answer open-ended questions. Students competent in
this dimension should be able to make informed opinions, see problems from different perspectives, create alternate
interpretations, identify multiple approaches for solving problems, fully explain and defend decisions, and analyze information.
Are you a critical thinker, creative thinker, or both? Explain. Type answer here.
Explain your personal process of solving problems. Type answer here.
WRITTEN & ORAL COMMUNICATION
Written Communication is measured as the ability to convey clear messages through handwritten, typed, or online mediums.
Oral Communication is the capacity to show context and personality through verbal messages combined with the ability to
create a prepared and purposeful presentation, speak publicly, and to increase understanding. Students competent in both
areas should be able to utilize proper mediums of communication appropriate for the environment, organize clear and logical
messages, and express ideas using language that meets the needs and expectations of the intended audience.
Do you communicate better through written or oral communication? Explain. Type answer here.
Does your ability to communicate effectively change depending on the environment? Explain. Type answer
here.
TEAMWORK & COLLABORATION
Teamwork and Collaboration are defined as a student’s behavior in group environments. Teamwork and Collaboration does
not necessarily mean leadership, but includes a person’s ability to motivate others, treat other members with respect, and
address conflict or confrontation directly and constructively. Students competent in these areas should be able to contribute
their own knowledge and expertise to the development of the goals of the group, participate actively and responsibly in group
activities, interact positively and productively with other members.
Do you like working in teams when it comes to your academics or work? Why or why not? Type answer here.
Evaluate yourself as a team player based on the definition above. Type answer here.
INTERCULTURAL KNOWLEDGE & COMPETENCE
Intercultural knowledge and competence is defined as a student’s ability to interact in a variety of cultural contexts. Students
competent in this dimension should be able to understand another person’s culture in relation to history, values, politics,
communication styles, economies, beliefs and practices. Students should be able to self-identify their own privileges and
maintain relationships with people who are culturally different from themselves. Finally, students should be able to support,
respect, and advocate for culturally diverse groups.
Give an example of when someone’s values or culture differed from your own. Type answer here.
How comfortable do you feel interacting with people whose values or culture differ from your own? Type answer
here.
ETHICAL REASONING
Ethical Reasoning is essentially how someone views right and wrong in the world. Students competent in this area should be
able to assess their own values, recognize ethical issues when presented in a complex situation, think about different
perspectives, and understand the implications of their decisions. Ethics should be able to evolve as students practice making
ethical decisions in their academics, personal life, and professional work.
Give an example of how your values have changed over time. Type answer here.
Student Employee Learning Plan – GVSU Division of Student Services
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MY LEARNING PLAN
Now that you have completed the self-assessment portions of the learning plan, please reflect on the
previous sections of the learning plan and respond to the next two sections. At a later point, you may
work with your supervisor(s) to create a plan that focuses on your personal development.
Thinking about how confident you feel in each of the seven employable qualities, and based on your
answers to the Career Center’s 5 Questions©, please identify 3-5 professional or personal skills you would
like to improve on this year:
- Skill
- Skill
- Skill
- Skill
- Skill
- Skill
- Skill
- Skill
What experiences (work, school, other organizations, or personal life) can you involve yourself in to help
grow and improve in the learning outcome areas of: Critical/Creative Thinking, Communication,
Teamwork, Intercultural Knowledge, and Ethical Reasoning?
- Experience
- Experience
- Experience
- Experience
- Experience
- Experience
- Experience
- Experience
Student Employee Learning Plan – GVSU Division of Student Services
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