Life After the Liberal Arts Experience:
The Role of Career Services in Helping
Students Meet Their Full Potential
Liza Jane Bernard, Director of Career Development, Bryn Mawr and
Haverford Colleges
Nancy Burkett, Director of Career Services, Swarthmore College
Mary Raymond, Director of the Career Development & Student
Employment Office, Vassar College
Moderator: Jim Bock, Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid,
Swarthmore College
Introduction
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How many of you are guidance counselors?
College admissions professionals?
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What were your majors in college?
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How many of you were involved in athletics?
Student government? Community service?
Student media? Other student
organizations?
Jon Stewart
Host of The Daily Show on
Comedy Central &
Host of the 80th Academy
Awards
Psychology major
The College of William & Mary
Carly Fiorina
CEO and Chairman of the
Board, 1999-2005
Hewlett-Packard
Philosophy and Medieval History major
Stanford University
Michael Eisner
CEO, 1984-2005
Walt Disney Company
English and Theater major
Denison University
Stacy London
Co-Host of TLC’s
What Not To Wear
Philosophy and Germanic Studies major
Vassar College
Scott Adams
Creator
Dilbert comic strip
Economics major
Hartwick College
George Steinbrenner
Principal Owner
New York Yankees
English major
Williams College
The Value of a Liberal Arts Degree
Recommended Liberal Arts Outcomes:
AACU 2004
Knowledge of Human Culture & the Natural World:
- Science
- Social Sciences
- Mathematics
- Humanities
- Arts
The Value of a Liberal Arts Degree
Recommended Liberal Arts Outcomes:
AACU 2004
Intellectual and Practical Skills:
- Written & oral communication
- Inquiry, critical and creative thinking
- Quantitative literacy
- Information literacy
- Teamwork
- Integration of learning
The Value of a Liberal Arts Degree
Recommended Liberal Arts Outcomes:
AACU 2004
Individual & Social Responsibility:
- Civic responsibility & engagement
- Ethical reasoning
- Intercultural knowledge & actions
- Propensity for lifelong learning
The Value of a Liberal Arts Degree
"The only education that prepares us for change is a
liberal education....
We need the flexible intellectual tools to be
problem solvers, to be able to continue learning
over time."
- David Kearns, former CEO, Xerox Corporation
The Value of a Liberal Arts Degree
NACE Job Outlook Survey
employer ratings of importance of qualities &
skills
1- Communication
2- Honesty / Integrity
3- Teamwork
4- Interpersonal
5- Motivation / Initiative
6- Strong work ethic
The Value of a Liberal Arts
Degree...preparation for professional &
corporate careers
"The best education for an unpredictable future
provides the capacity and the tools to gather,
interpret, challenge, and create knowledge; to
combine ideas in new ways; and to communicate
effectively. The best education creates the
foundation for a life of continuous learning, of
honor and meaning, and engagement and service.”
- Jamienne S. Studley, former President, Skidmore College
The Value of a Liberal Arts Degree
"...the liberal arts will never go out of fashion...
It's transferable, useful, and in demand more than
ever before in our marketplaces, organizations and
industries..."
"...what employer isn't needing and wanting
someone who can think, reason, view matters
broadly, provide context, have passion, be adaptive
and be a good citizen? ... LL Bean searches out
people like this - we are more than willing to teach
the specifics of our business."
- Mark Fasold, Senior Vice President / CFO, LL Bean
Distinctive Features of a Liberal
Arts College
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Student centered: Primary emphasis upon
undergraduate study
Academics: A natural haven for students seeking
limitless options
Whole life of the student
Alumnae/i engagement for a lifetime!
What Students Thrive in a Liberal
Arts College?
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Intellectually curious
Love learning
Broad interests
Value community
Critical thinkers: think outside the box
Place high value on expressing themselves
Everyone matters and everything’s a cause
Supportive parents are important
The Role of Career Services
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Career counseling
Majors and careers
Experiential learning
Workplace knowledge
Employer and Graduate School connections
Networking
Transitioning to the “real world”
Continuing support for alumni career development
Questions to Ask a Career Center
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What majors are most prominent on campus?
What types of experiential learning are offered?
How many summer internships do students have access to?
In what fields and locations? Does the college provide
funding for summer internships or offer unique alumnisponsored internship opportunities?
How are alumni involved in the work of the office?
Does the college have an active campus recruiting program?
If so, what types of employers recruit on campus?
Can I review your latest statistics on where students go upon
graduation, sorted by major?
Liberal Arts Majors
Case Study #1
Linus
Math major, now an
actuarial consultant
Sherelle
Biology/pre-med major,
explored public health,
changed major to
psychology, now a
psychology trainee and
applying to MSW
programs
Liberal Arts Majors
Case Study #2
Kirin Kalia ’97
Editor, Migration Information Source,
Migration Policy Institute, DC
BA Political Science, Bryn Mawr College
Andrew Millstein ‘84
Executive Vice President, Walt Disney Animation
BA Anthropology, Haverford College
Liberal Arts Majors
Case Study #3
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Laura: Physics major,
now Legal Assistant for
Human Rights Campaign
•Adam: Anthropology major,
now President and CEO
of Rocking the Boat
Thank you – Your Questions?
Panelists:
Liza Jane Bernard
Bryn Mawr and Haverford Colleges
Nancy Burkett
Swarthmore College
Mary Raymond
Vassar College
Moderator: Jim Bock, Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid,
Swarthmore College