Division of Student Affairs
and Chester Fritz Library
Student Employment
Working Group
Members

Ilene Odegard – Career Services, Chair

Cassandra McDonald – Career Services/Student Employment

Aaron Flynn – Memorial Union

Karlene Clark – Chester Fritz Library

Kristen Jezek – Student Financial Aid

Charles Crummy – Dining Services

Jimmie Kennedy – Health & Wellness

Ben Heller – Wellness Center

Samantha Perrin – Career Services GSA
Learning Outcomes for Today

Identify the purpose of the Student Employment Working Group

Identify student employment best practices, both internally and externally

Identify the new learning outcome for student employees within the Division of
Student Affairs and Chester Fritz Library.

Identify the specific benefits of divisional/institutional alignment with regard to
student employees and learning outcomes.

Identify specific steps to take moving forward to aid in assessing the learning
outcome established for student employees.
Work Group Focus

Administer a Division-wide survey to assess Student Employee Experience

Share current practices from respective areas regarding student
employment

Research and share best practices on experiential learning

Assist the Division in establishing student employee learning outcomes

Administer a second Division-wide survey to student employees in Spring
of 2016
Timeline

March 2015 – Committee formed

April 2015 – Internal Best Practices Shared

May 2015 – Division of Student Affairs Student Employment Survey Distributed

January 2016 – Roll out of Divisional Learning Outcome for Student Employees

Spring 2017 – Second SA Student Employment Survey to be distributed
Trivia…

How many students did the Division of Student Affairs and Chester Fritz
Library employ during the 2014-2015 academic year??
Student Affairs Student Employee Survey

Distributed in May, 2015

Sent to over 800 student employees within the division and
CFL

230 respondents representing 18 different departments


29% response rate
Questions pertained to:

Job satisfaction, engagement and resources

Skills gained due to employment – self assessment

27 different “transferable” skills
Student Affairs Student Employee Survey

National Association for Colleges and Employers (NACE) - Top 10 skills employers seek
1.
Ability to work in a team structure
2.
Ability to make decisions and solve problems (tie)
3.
Ability to communicate verbally with people inside and outside an organization
4.
Ability to plan, organize and prioritize work
5.
Ability to obtain and process information
6.
Ability to analyze quantitative data
7.
Technical knowledge related to the job
8.
Proficiency with computer software programs
9.
Ability to create and/or edit written reports
10.
Ability to sell and influence others
Student Affairs Student Employee Survey
Demographics
Class Standing
Grad
10%
Job Experience
3 Years
9%
Freshman
22%
Senior
23%
1 Year
46%
Junior
29%
Sophomore
One Semester
18%
2 Years
20%
Sophomore
16%
Freshman
4+
7%
Junior
Senior
Graduate
One Semester
1 Year
2 Years
3 Years
4+ Years
Student Affairs Student Employee Survey

Notable Results

87% responded that they feel proud to work for their department

Students were asked if they felt they were developing their skills due to employment:

Of the 27 skills that were self assessed:


All had an agreement rate of at least 57%

18 had an agreement rate of at least 75%

14 had an agreement rate of at least 85%
Translation: Majority of students are enjoying their jobs and feel they are developing their skills
through on-campus employment
Student Affairs Student Employee Survey
As a result of employment in my department, I have grown or improved in the
following area:
Agree
100.00%
Disagree
N/A
90.00%
80.00%
70.00%
60.00%
50.00%
40.00%
30.00%
20.00%
10.00%
0.00%
Communication
Problem Solving
Teamwork
Conflict Management
Leadership Skills
Internal Best Practices


Recruitment and Onboarding

Post learning outcomes on job descriptions (establish LO if you don’t have
them) – creates transparency.

Cover letters and resumes
Performance Management and Assessment

Annual meetings (at least)

Regular “check-ins”

Help them understand the importance of their role

Make sure employees understand how their work relates to their academics
and vice-versa
External Best Practices
Divisional/Institutional Alignment

Consistent message to students and employers on expectations

Creates continuity, specifically for students with multiple positions on
campus

Assures ALL student employees are acquiring the skill sets needed in the
current job market

Creates a smoother transition from college to the work force
Divisional/Institutional Alignment

University of North Dakota Student Outcomes

Make informed choices

Communicate effectively

Be intellectually curious and creative

Commit themselves to lifelong learning and service to others

Share responsibility for the community and the world
Why Communication?

NACE Top 10

What are students struggling with?

Unanimous decision with supervisors

Aligns with institutional and divisional outcomes.
Communication

While Communication will be the common core outcome, each department may
choose the appropriate language to fit their needs.

CFL - Employees will demonstrate effective communication with colleagues, supervisors,
other staff, faculty and our patrons.

Wellness Center - Employees will demonstrate effective written and verbal communication
with colleagues, supervisors, and members.

Dining Services - Employees will demonstrate effective communication in both the back of
the house and the front of the house
Rubric – Scoring Assessment
Novice
Communication
Developing
Accomplished
Advanced
Verbal
Does not communicate
clearly. Volume concerns
(too loud/soft) or has
inappropriate
communication about
patrons, coworkers, and/or
others.
Struggles to communicate
ideas clearly. Sometimes
inappropriate, but corrects
with reminders.
Only lacks clarity in
communicating
complicated concepts.
Consistently appropriate in
discussing others.
Models appropriate
communication to and
about patrons, coworkers,
and/or others.
Appropriate volume for
workplace. Enunciates
clearly.
Written
Inappropriate, inarticulate,
or incoherent with spelling
and grammar mistakes.
Sometimes lack clarity in
written correspondence.
Most written
correspondence is clear
and articulate.
Consistently accurate,
concise, and appropriate
for the audience.
Learning Outcomes - Revisited

Identify the purpose of the Student Employment Working Group

Identify student employment best practices, both internally and externally

Identify the new learning outcome for student employees within the Division of
Student Affairs and Chester Fritz Library.

Identify the specific benefits of divisional/institutional alignment with regard to
student employees and learning outcomes.

Identify specific steps to take moving forward to aid in assessing the learning
outcome established for student employees.
What is the purpose?

Institutions across the country are feeling the pressure

Students today are more career-focused than ever before

Graduates are still lacking transferable skills necessary for success

Students not able to communicate their skills properly

Our job to prepare them…
What’s Next?

Expectation is that every department within Student Affairs and the CFL
will be able to include their own student employee learning outcome
related to communication on their assessment plan and highlights report
this summer.

We are here to help…
Questions?