Career & Global Engagement: New name, but mission is unchanged

What’s in a name? Plenty.

Just ask Helen Diamond Steele, director of The Office of Career & Global Engagement, who recently introduced the new name for the College of Business resource she leads that prepares students for the professional workforce.

“The Office of Career & Global Engagement is the new name of what was formerly known as Student Enrichment,” Diamond Steele said. “In reviewing all that we do, it became clear the new name more accurately communicates our mission to students and employers and all that we provide them.”

Though the name has changed, The Office of Career & Global Engagement’s mission has not. It exists to engage College of Business students to become effective leaders, successful graduates, and globally competitive professionals.

Though its overall focus remains intact, The Office of Career & Global Engagement has expanded its principal resources for undergraduates in the areas of career preparation, employment opportunities, mentoring and international program participation.

“As we re-envisioned student engagement, we decided to put a sharper focus on two areas extremely important to a student’s preparation for the real world – soft-skills development and employer connections,” Diamond Steele said. “Both of these areas are vital to our students competing and succeeding in a dynamic global economy, which aligns with the College of Business’ vision and mission set forth by Dean Wendy York.”

Students will still have development opportunities, beyond what they receive in the classroom, through CU Business EDGE, a workshop series that provides soft-skill development opportunities such as professional etiquette, resume workshops, interview preparation and dress-for-success workshops, to name a few.

And, the College’s well-established Tiger Ties Mentoring Program and leadership opportunities such as the now university-wide Thomas F. Chapman Leadership Scholars and iLead will continue to supplement students’ development.

New this fall, though, is Business JobLink, a job posting system directed exclusively at College of Business students and prospective employers wanting to post the business-specific position openings. In the future, Business JobLink will also be utilized to schedule virtual and/or on-campus interviews, manage events and send follow-up surveys to determine hiring rates by employers.

“We have also created an Online Career Resource Library that includes tutorials and videos that are available 24/7 for download,” Diamond Steele said. “And, the Career Fairs will continue this semester but will be conducted on a virtual platform. The Tech/Manufacturing/Sciences Fair will be held Sept. 23-30 and a Business Career Fair will be Oct. 1. Students will receive information on both events via the Student Engagement newsletter as the events approach.”

The pandemic has limited The Office of Career & Global Engagement from utilizing traditional international engagement opportunities such as study away and internships abroad this semester. But they are expected to resume in full force once health and travel conditions permit.

Meantime, The Office of Career & Global Engagement is exploring alternative opportunities for students to experience intercultural learning.

“The pandemic has forced us to think beyond traditional parameters and be flexible in providing students the intercultural experience,” Diamond Steele said. “We are looking at international online formats that might have a travel component in the spring semester, for instance.”

She added that students don’t necessarily have to travel abroad to experience different cultures. Career and Global Engagement is also exploring domestic partnerships with multi-national companies in the U.S., and service opportunities with those organizations to complement students’ learning experience.

“It’s vital for us to foster a global mindset in preparing students to rise to the opportunities and challenges they will face in the business world as a global citizen,” she said. “We are hoping business as usual will return for study abroad next summer. But in the field of international education, we are going to have to be flexible and have alternatives in place for students to experience intercultural learning.”

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