Summer
classes:
to take
or not to
take?
by Breanna Bush
staff writer
Currently, there is little less than a
month to go to finish the spring 2001
semester at Behrend. Then students
either graduate or summer vacation
begins. Or does it'?
There are students that will not be
enjoying their summer vacation as
early as others because they are going
to he on campus. Doing what? Going
to class. Yes, that is correct, some
students choose to attend Behrend for
the Summer Session courses. These
classes are held at a convenient time
to pick up some extra credits.
Since the campus has a rural setting,
concentration, relaxation, study can
sometimes come more easily. The
summer atmosphere at Behrend is
informal. Small classes await the
students, normally during the morning
and evening hours. Credits that are
earned in the summer are applied
toward an individual's college degree.
Registration for 2001 Summer
Session courses is currently
underway, so the number of people
who registered or are going to register
is still unknown. There are a variety
of classes that are being offered.
Classes may be three-week, four
week, or eight-week sessions,
depending on the course. Summer
education abroad, graduate classes
and undergraduate independent study,
internship, and special project courses
are also offered.
The subject matter offered for the
Summer Session courses varies each
year. For the Summer 'Ol schedule,
there are a wide variety of classes
being offered, such as chemistry.
communications, English, marketing,
math, philosophy, psychology,
Spanish, and many more. Not
including the summer education
abroad, graduate classes and the
undergraduate independent study,
internship and special project courses,
there are an estimated 67 classes that
are being offered.
On-campus housing is available for
students with fifth semester standing
and above for the Summer Sessions.
The Office of Housing and Food
Service can provide students with
more specific information; the office
number is x 6161.
Why do some students choose to
attend Summer Session classes and
others do not? Behrend students gave
different answers to that question.
Carrie Rogers, a Communications
major, said, "I am going to Europe to
take classes. It is a break, a type of
change. It is a different atmosphere
and a good experience."
Jill Hedlund, a Biology major,
expressed that she will "have to attend
; two summer classes to graduate. It
doesn't bother me, but I just can't wait
to be done!"
Students in general seem to be
taking Summer Session courses to
fulfill their credits. Whether they are
taking them to get ahead, to get a
certain class over with, or even to
graduate, some will be here this
summer. Other students decide not
to take Summer Session courses so
that they can just enjoy the summer
or work for those needed dollars.
Getting a job after college: How hard is it?
Though the economy may be slow, many companies are hiring college graduates in certain fields
by Mike Grooms
staff writer
As the economy plunges, many
graduating Behrend students may be
gin to wonder how all this will affect
the job market. Recent studies have
shown that even though some corpo
rations are laying off older, middle
management employees, they are still
planning to hire younger, recent col
lege graduates.
Companies like SBC, the parent of
Southwestern Bell, Ameritech and
other telecommunications companies,
are examples of corporations that are
hiring young grads and, at the same
time, they are cutting their middle
management ranks by the hundreds.
Recruiters are looking to fill dozens of
openings at job fairs for positions in
information technology, marketing,
sales, finance, and accounting.
In certain careers, demand remains
strong. Don't be fooled by stories about
massive layoffs in big computer and
high-tech companies. Management in
formation systems and all fields of en
gineering, construction management,
and computer science are also good
fields. Computer experience will go a
long way to finding that job.
Those graduates who pursue medi
cal careers also fare well in the down
ward spiral of the economy. Right now,
there is a nursing shortage, and plenty
of jobs in technical fields for the giant
health care corporations. Depending
upon the field, medical employers can
try to tempt prospective hires with
starting yearly salaries around $28,000
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for four-year nursing grads or $36,000
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cians. Nursing grads with excellent
grades and a strong work ethic are in a
good position they can be choosy.
They have lots of choices among local
and regional hospitals and health care
centers. Teachers for elementary and
secondary schools are also in demand.
Other "hot" jobs include areas in re
tail management, be it at Target stores
or a Steak 'n Shake restaurant. Target,
the large discount retailer, will be op
erating more than 1,000 stores by the
end of this year, and is planning to open
72 new stores each year. As with other
retail chains, Target isn't looking for
graduates in a particular field; they are
accepting all majors.
The employer will consider more
than just their first impression. They
want to see internships and experience.
Employers also want their job-hunting
students to realize the importance of
being well prepared. They want to see
enthusiasm. Potential employers are
looking at the way students present
their résumé to them. Students have to
be able to sell themselves. A strong
work ethic is very valuable to compa
nies. Companies can train employees
on how to do the job, but one thing
they cannot do is teach new employ
ees work ethics. Graduates with excel
lent grades and a strong work ethic
should have lots of choices.
While the economy may be weak
ening in certain sectors, such as high
tech, one cannot generalize. Many
companies seem to be cutting operat
ing costs by giving early retirements
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Many companies in this tighter job job-hunters from getting lost in the popping trips to corporate headquar
market follow the trend of calling shuffle. ters, and the name-your-salary days are
many prospective employees and only Some advice for job-hunting grads mostly gone in the flat economy of
choosing a few. It is important to stand this summer: Be prepared. be sharp and 2001.
CDC and local companies provide job-seeking advice
Experts agree: a good Grade Point
Average, communication skills, and
internships are needed to land that ideal
job. Bahend's Career Development
Center recently hosted representatives
from Marconi Communications, Erie
Insurance, and Merck Pharmaceuticals
in a career preparation presentation for
faculty. The topic was "Student Suc
cess: Faculty Role in Preparing Stu
dents for the Workforce."
The group met last Wednesday for
the brown bag lunch discussion in room
114 in , the Reed Building to talk about
different:issues regarding teaching skills
and what the students' best interests are
as they prepare for job interviews after
graduation. The Undergraduate Stud
ies Committee of the Faculty Organi
zation chaired by Tracy Halmi, invited
all trieaers of Behrend's staff and fac
ulty to the first meeting of the 2001
sprxtg Fulmer.
Mary Beth Peterson, director of the
Career Development Center, presented
Halmi with;the idea of the faculty's role
toward students and felt these were
important issues that needed to be
brought to their attention. lb help with
Wesley
Church
Station Road at South Street
just off Buffalo Road
For more inkwnsation please call,
8141993302
814.899.3648 fax
wcoffice@vebxity.net
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Starting
aster
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stair wrtier
New Service April 15th
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ColtenrxmarY
Praise Band with Guitars, Drums
Message of Hope
Soothe your Spirit
En 'o
this discussion, representatives from
these companim were brought in to give
information to the faculty on qualities
their companies look for when inter
viewing students for a position.
Each representative was given a
chance to explain what their company
expected students to have after gradua
tion. Similarly, they all mentioned what
they called the "total package," a com
bination of communication and expe
rience as critical factors for a potential
employee.
The area they stressed the most in the
"total package" was good communica
tion skills, written and oral. Most com
panies look for good communication
because there is teamwork involved in
the job description; also, there is usu
ally a product to be sold. If students
don't have this basic skill it will be dif
ficult to have a productive interview.
Internships or work related to a
student's major is also very valuable to
these companies or any other company
when applying for a position. They
need to know that their potential em
ployees have taken the steps necessary
to get their feet in the door, Other re
lated experience could come from part
time and summer work.
The reps stressed teamwork as an
important topic as well as good work
ethic. The discussion of a student's
career plan was mentioned. Compa
nies like to know what a student is look
ing for when finished with college.
School and community involvement is
also important and in some cases ex
pected.
Another critical element not to be
overlooked is a student's Grade Point
Average (GPA). These representatives
did not place as much emphasis as has
been placed on the GPA in the past,
but it is still very important. Students
with a lower GPA but good communi
cation skills and an internship are still
eligible for a good position, according
to the representatives. But, they added
that some companies will not even ac
cept an application if the GM is not
high enough.
One of the problems that the repre
sentatives stated the companies are hav
ing is that students are not happy with
entry-level positions. The reps warned
that in some cases it is necessary to start
at the bottom and work your way to the
top.
Peterson feels that this was an im
portant area for the faculty to discuss
and hopes to have a session for the stu
dents in the fall semester.
What we have
to offer you
Every Sunday
8:00 am Traditional Worship
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610 pm Youth OUTCRY
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Also
Small Groups, Alpha Course,
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Nov. 14
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last Novemb
church grew
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unitive to
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(after cbwth Oro Nev. ias, 280)
FRIDAY, APRIL 13, 2001