UNH Today

The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), a gold standard  for career professionals and employers, held its annual conference in Orlando, FL this spring, and UNH Career and Professional Success Career Directors Lori Dameron and Kim Clark were selected to present on a trending topic in higher education; "One Size Does Not Fit All:  Transformative Change Using a Hybrid Structure."

NACE is a professional association connecting over 9,300 college career professionals and 3,500 university relations/recruiting professionals to career-related research, benchmarking and best practices in hiring, salaries, recruitment and student outcomes. The conference was an opportunity for Lori and Kim to network with national employers and career professionals and to share the UNH experience reorganizing career services to Career and Professional Success (CaPS).

Lori and Kim showcased UNH’s commitment to CaPS as an institutional priority by sharing the history of the transition to its current state: a hybrid model consisting of decentralized career professionals in each of the colleges and a centralized operations team in Hood House.  In doing so, innovative programming and initiatives have been created including industry-specific career events, deeper partnerships with faculty and alumni, and the ability to deliver targeted resources to students.  As a result, CaPS has increased its student reach by 60%, employer engagement by 77%, and UNH is able to proudly boast that 95% of the graduating class of 2018 are employed or advancing their education.

Having the ability to present to peers on a national stage was an honor for Lori and Kim. The presentation was well received by all in attendance, and it left many career centers around the country seeking to connect with the University of New Hampshire and Career and Professional Success to replicate initiatives at their own institutions! 

Lori and Kim would like to thank UNH for the opportunity to attend and present at this national conference. Professional development opportunities like this recharge and refresh the team to serve students and kick off the new year!