Business, Education, Nursing, and Veterans Services Programs Also Recognized
Niagara University’s Career Services has received national recognition by Colleges of Distinction for excellence in the way it prepares students to graduate with confidence, clarity of direction, and a heightened sense of purpose. Through student-centered programs that include one-on-one counseling and mentoring, comprehensive access to internships and other real-world experiences, and special scholarships, students are well-equipped for leadership in their chosen profession.
Career Services’ signature Pathways program is a holistic approach to career and professional development that offers a number of unique opportunities to students as they progress through every stage of career exploration, development, and application. In addition to providing career advisement and resources, Career Services partners with faculty across the university to provide industry-specific workshops and resources as part of the curriculum, and with employers across the country to place students in internships and jobs. The Mentoring NU program connects students to College of Business alumni and business executives to facilitate opportunities for them to learn how these professionals have developed in their own careers, and a recently established Career Internship Discovery Fund provides a stipend for students who participate in unpaid, credit-bearing internships.
“Career Services at Niagara University offers a number of resources to our students, including resume and cover letter review and practice interviews. But networking with professionals in the field and completing internships are critical in helping our students gain clarity of direction,” said Stephanie Morris, executive director of Career Services. “Our unique mentoring and scholarship programs are designed to assist students obtain the support and skills they need to gain meaningful employment after graduation.”
Schools honored with the Career Services badge are selected on the basis of their integrated approach to career exploration; the accessibility of their programs and training; their experienced, career-centered staff; the use of assessments to help students identify their strengths, interests, and professional goals and develop a four-year plan that will help them realize these goals; and the employer relations and corporate partnerships that lead to job and internship opportunities.
“The Career Development recognition goes beyond a job board and résumé writing,” said Tyson Schritter, chief operating officer at Colleges of Distinction. “Niagara University has shown inventiveness in connecting with students throughout their academic careers and beyond. Students and graduates are fully supported by its outstanding Career Services.”
In addition to Career Services, Niagara University’s business, nursing, education, and veterans services programs were also recognized as being among the best in the country.
Colleges of Distinction’s selection process comprises a sequence of in-depth research and detailed interviews with the schools about each institution’s freshman experience and retention efforts alongside its general education programs, career development, strategic plan, student satisfaction, and more—and accepting only those that adhere to the four distinctions: engaged students, great teaching, vibrant community, and successful outcomes. These principles are all informed by the high-impact practices to prioritize the ways that institutions enable students to have a fulfilling, individualized college experience.