The LINK Career
Development Project:
Engaging Students in
Professional
Development
®
Dr. Shiretta Ownbey
Dr. Brecca Farr
Dr. Jane Swinney
Problem Statement
 First-year
students often fail to grasp
the impact of early engagement on
future career success.
 Transitional students need assistance
integrating their academic, personal,
and professional experiences.
Project Purposes
 To
engage students in personal and
professional/career development from
the first year of college
 To facilitate linkages between
academic curriculum, leadership and
service experiences, internships, parttime employment, and career goals
and paths
Strategies Used

Orange & Black (school colors) 3-ring
binder highlighting these items on
front/back covers:

The LINK® logo
Key Words (Dream, Build, Prepare,
Connect, Lead)
 Name of University/Academic College
 Reminder that “It’s your money, your
time, your life, your success.”

Strategies Used

Five focus areas - LINK® notebook section
dividers, each including LINK® logo and a
meaningful quote related to section focus:
 Dream
 Build
 Prepare
 Connect
 Lead
Dream Section
 Focuses
on self-reflection and the
importance of establishing goals
 Teaches students to consider the
possibilities and achieve priorities
 Example Activities: Dream
Tracker; Daydream Activity
Build Section
 Aids
students in tracking big
projects, important classes,
noteworthy awards, and
transferable skills
Prepare Section
 Engages
students in creating an
effective presentation of their
abilities and experiences
 Example activities: Resumes, cover
letters, interview tips, etc.
Connect Section
 Focuses
on networking and
connecting with others
 Includes methods for tracking people
met, heard about, heard from
 Examples: Contact log & plastic
sheets to file business cards
Lead Section
 Raises
students’ awareness of
the importance of accepting
various leadership roles and
accepting responsibility while in
college
 Emphasizes various levels of
leadership
Implementation
 Introduced
in First-year Experience
courses in College of Human
Environmental Sciences (required for
all freshmen & transfer students)
 Each student receives a notebook
with contents, paid for by Career
Services student fee revenue
Implementation
 Career
Services Coordinator
presents overview of the project to all
sections of the course
 Course instructors include LINK®
assignments in course requirements
Implementation
 LINK®
Lunches introduce College
faculty to concept of incorporating
LINK in major-specific courses to
reinforce continued use:
 Example: Large introductory
design/merchandising course
includes several assignments
Implementation
 Reinforced
in a “linked course”
learning community by faculty
coordinator
 To be integrated into new residential
learning community activities Fall
2006 for College of Human
Environmental Sciences students
Continued Reinforcement
by Faculty
 Provides
a clear, consistent
format for faculty to use in
integrating subject matter
coursework with career
development
What The LINK Is
®
A
developmental process to establish a
habit of mind for first-year students to
document experiences as they occur
 A clear way for students to facilitate
their engagement in learning and
organizing personal collegiate
experiences
What The LINK Is
®

An organizational tool to reinforce the
importance of students’ active involvement
and to promote organized detailing of their
connections, experiences, reflections, and
goals.

An ongoing collection of easily accessible
materials for reference when students apply
for scholarships, internships, part-time jobs,
professional positions, etc.
What The LINK Is Not
®
 A portfolio
for presentation to
prospective internship or job
employers
How to Access The LINK
®
 Information
will be available via e-mail
and the web when copyright is
finalized
 Leave
your business card to receive a
follow-up e-mail on availability for your
college/university and the web URL
for more information
 Take
a handout from our table
Presenters
Dr. Shiretta Ownbey, Associate Dean
College of Human Environmental Sciences
 Dr. Brecca Farr, Senior Coordinator,
Career Services – College of Human
Environmental Sciences
 Dr. Jane Swinney, Assistant Professor,
Department of Design, Housing &
Merchandising & DHM Learning
Community Coordinator
