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Ohio University Takes Steps To Expand Career Outreach to Branch Campuses


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Ohio University's Career and Leadership Development Center is in the process of expanding its services to students at branch campuses.

"Some of our students are willing to travel to Athens, and others are not. They want the service brought [to them]. So, we're still talking about what would be the best things to offer here and what would be the best services they could go to Athens for," said Kim Jeffers, a transtion advisor at OU's Lancaster campus.

Ohio University senior Ashley Vanbibber said she has always taken her university courses at the Lancaster campus, and  has never been to a Career and Leadership Development Center event. She said she would likely to advantage of opportunity if the services were expanded to branch campuses. 

"A lot of times I'll see they're having a career fair in Athens, and it probably conflicts with my class or something where I'll have to miss class to drive down there and it's almost too much of a hassle," Vanbibber said.

Lindsey Marx, assistant director of student outreach at the Career and Leadership Development Center said the center is already implementing some steps to get their message out to students.

"One thing we're really trying to do is improve communication, so first of all, let students know a career fair is coming up because those dates are scheduled way in advance," Marx said

She said the push to bring professional development events to regional campuses comes from finally having a full staff, most of which was hired just in the past year.

"The center is finally fully staffed after being understaffed for the past couple of years. So we're really trying to invigorate our connection to the regional campus."

Cheri Russo, OU Lancaster communications and marketing manager, said that there are currently 2,500 students enrolled at the Lancaster branch campus, up from 1,500 students just five years ago.

She said this highlights the university's need to expand its services to branch campuses.

Jeffers said she is appreciative of the Career and Leadership Development Center's effort that she's seen thus far.

"This has been [their] biggest push so far saying 'How can we help you?' and I think that's fantastic because they have the needs of the students in mind," she said.

The Career and Leadership Development Center is scheduled to hold it's career and internship fair next Tuesday in Baker Center Ballroom.