Family Connections is a publication designed for the parents and families of Robert Morris University students. It is compiled by

the Office of Student Life and printed in cooperation with the Office of Public Relations and Marketing. Editions are printed in

the fall, winter, and spring of each academic year. We are interested in your feedback about this publication. Email your

comments and suggestions to studentlife@rmu.edu.

SPRING IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER….

FAMILYConnections

ROBERT MORRIS UNIVERSITY WINTER 2015

ROBERT MORRIS UNIVERSITY FAMILY CONNECTIONS 1

Welcome back to a new semester at RMU. While snow and cold temperatures surround the campus, our students, faculty and staff arecreating a lot of energy in and out of theclassroom. We are already in full swing for thissemester. Spring Break and Commencementplanning for our graduating seniors and theirfamilies is now just around the corner.

At RMU we believe that career success starts witha plan. This issue of Family Connections focuseson programs, opportunities and resources thatsupport the professional development of ourstudents. We invite you to explore this issue andtalk with your student about the opportunitiesand resources that they can, and should be,

taking advantage of on campus. Information fromour Career Center and our Student EngagementTranscript take center stage in this issue.

We are also pleased to share with you that RMU was recently selected as a College ofDistinction. Please see inside to learn more about this prestigious recognition for theuniversity. Enjoy the issue!

Sincerely,

John MichalenkoVice President of Student Life and Dean of Students

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CAREER SUCCESS STARTS WITH A PLANWhile students attend college for many reasons, most do so with the ultimate goal of getting a job and pursuing a career upongraduation. The Career Center is committed toassisting students and alumni in the successfulrealization of challenging, meaningful andrewarding careers. The Center and its staffpromote Professional Focus, one of theUniversity’s six core values, and help studentsachieve their goals through a variety of servicesand resources. The staff also stresses theimportance of career planning in order forstudents to acquire the necessary knowledge,skills and experience employers seek.

According to the Job Outlook 2015, published by the National Association of Colleges andEmployers, in addition to considering GPA,the following represent the top ten attributesemployers seek on a candidate’s resume:

• Leadership• Analytical/quantitative skills• Ability to work in a team• Technical skills• Written Communication skills• Verbal Communication skills• Problem-solving skills• Initiative• Strong work ethic• Computer skills

In addition, 72.5 percent of employers surveyedindicated they prefer to hire candidates withrelevant work experience. Only 3.9 percentresponded that they do not factor workexperience into their hiring decisions.

Consequently, students are presented with quite a challenge during college. They must do well academically while gaining relevantwork experience. In order to develop anddemonstrate the variety of skills sought byemployers, they must also engage inextracurricular activities such as clubs,organizations, volunteering, study abroad, etc.To meet this challenge, planning is key.

Each fall, the Career Center staff speaks to first-year students in Freshman Seminar classes.Included in the presentation is an overview ofBuilding Your Future: A Career Planning

Guide for Students. The guide outlinesimportant goals for each year in college:

• Freshman Year: Adjusting to college and increasing academic and career awareness• Sophomore Year: Making and confirming decisions while exploring options• Junior Year: Clarifying career goals and testing options• Senior Year: Seeking professional employment or graduate school acceptance

It also provides specific suggestions and actionitems for each year. To view the complete guide,please visit the Students/Exploring CareerOptions section of the Career Center website atrmu.edu/careercenter.

ROBERT MORRIS UNIVERSITY FAMILY CONNECTIONS 3

The Career Center also offers a variety ofresources, programs, courses and events to assist students:

RESOURCESCareer counselors are available for individualappointments to assist in all aspects of makingcareer decisions and conducting an effective jobsearch. The center offers an interest inventory toassist students with decisions regarding majorand career options. Counselors also offerpersonal assistance with resume and cover letterwriting, interviewing, strategies for theinternship and full-time job search, and graduateschool planning.

The Career Library contains books, videos and other resources relevant to researchingcareers and searching for jobs. It also containsover 20 Tip Sheets on a variety of career-relatedtopics such as resume writing, employmentletters, etc., as well as Career Resource Guidesfor each major. The guides provide an overviewof career options for the major, relatedprofessional organizations, employmentwebsites, salary information and a list ofinternship and full-time employers. The TipSheets and Career Resource Guides are alsoavailable online through the Students/Resourcessection of the Career Center website.

COLONIALTRAK allows eligible students toregister online for on-campus and off-campusrecruiting and to view announcements for part-time, work-study, internship, full-time and graduate assistantship opportunities posted by the RMU Career Center.

CAREERSPOTS provides 24-hour access to 20 videos on job search-related topics. It also provides access to the Career Channelthat features informational videos on 550careers. CareerSpots can be accessed throughlinks on the Career Center website and inColonialTRAK.

The Robert Morris University Career Network is a LinkedIn group managed by the CareerCenter. It provides an opportunity for RMUstudents, alumni, faculty and staff to connectwith each other about career-related topics.Students may connect with other members to explore career information and learn aboutspecific career fields. The Career Center alsoposts information about career planning,resumes, employment letters, interviewing, job search strategies, networking events and job fairs.

PROGRAMSThe Academic Internship Program is anacademic employment learning experience. The Career Center coordinates the program by assisting students through the applicationand internship search process.

The Student Employment Program coordinateson-campus and off-campus work-studyopportunities as well as graduate assistantships.

For more information on these services andresources, please visit rmu.edu/careercenter.

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COURSESFYSP1010 CAREER EXPLORATION & DECISION-MAKING is targeted toward first and second-year students who are exploring academic majorsand/or career options and clarifying goals. This one-credit course is offered during the first eight-week term of the spring semester. The course format consists of lectures,discussions and experiential learning activitiesdesigned to help students analyze their interests,skills and values and relate them to careers,occupational fields and work settings. Self-assessment includes the use of established careerassessment inventories, reflective writing andvarious activities. Students also discuss theircareer goals in an individual appointmentfacilitated by a career counseling professional.

FYSP1011 TRANSITIONING FROM COLLEGE TOCAREER is geared toward juniors and seniors who are preparing for the job search and lifeafter college. This one-credit course is offeredduring the second eight-week term of the fall semester. The course guides studentsthrough the job search process and how toeffectively market themselves to employers. It also provides information and resourcesto help students make wise decisions as theyembark on their professional career and includesthe topics of professionalism, first job successstrategies and financial wellness. Throughout the course students receive feedback andguidance from experienced career counselorsand industry professionals.

EVENTSCareer fairs provide RMU students and alumni theopportunity to meet with employers to discusspart-time jobs, internships and full-time positions,as well as graduate school representatives toexplore graduate school options. The Career

Center sponsors one career fair each semester:

the Career Expo (fall) and the Spring Career Fair.Workshops and seminars are offered throughoutthe year on a variety of career planning and jobsearch-related topics.

Networking events provide students the

opportunity to talk with representatives from a

variety of organizations and fields. The CareerCenter sponsors and co-sponsors severalnetworking events each year. In addition to eventssponsored by RMU, the Career Center alsoprovides information about other events, heldregionally and nationally, that students mayattend. For a complete list of career fairs,workshops, seminars and networking events,please refer to the Calendar of Events on theCareer Center website and the Events section ofColonialTRAK.

As the old proverb states, “Those who fail to plan,plan to fail.” Focusing attention on career planningis the first step to career success. However, thesuccess of a plan is reliant on the student beingactively engaged in their own career developmentprocess. The Career Center encourages students tomeet with their career counselor, utilize theservices and resources available to them,participate in career-related events, developmarketable skills and gain relevant experience.Career Center staff members are available to helpduring every step throughout the process.

ROBERT MORRIS UNIVERSITY FAMILY CONNECTIONS 5

Robert Morris University has been honored

as a College of Distinction for the 2014-2015

school year. RMU is one of a select group ofcolleges to earn this prestigious designation,based on its excellence in four distinctions:engaged students, great teaching, vibrant campus communities and successful outcomes.

High school college counselors and educators nominate colleges and universities for recognition by Colleges of Distinction, whichthen evaluates each school based on qualitativeand quantitative research.

Colleges of Distinction looks beyond rankings and test scores to find colleges that are the idealplaces to learn, grow and succeed. The selectionprocess reviews such factors as the school’s firstyear experience, general education program,experiential components of the curriculum, thestrategic plan and alumni success and satisfaction.

To view Robert Morris’ profile or to find moreinformation about the online guide visitCollegesofDistinction.com.

RMU WAS RECENTLY SELECTED AS A COLLEGE OF DISTINCTION

Is your student interested in a career ininformation technology or business? Do they likeworking with technology or people? You canencourage your student to explore his or herinterests with on-campus jobs with RMU'sInformation Technology department and find (ornarrow) his/her passion.

FIRST YEAR Opportunities are available with theResNet office, which provides insight into anentry-level IT job. Visit rmu.edu/resnet.

SOPHOMORE YEAR If your student enjoyed his/herResNet position it may be time to move up withinthat department. Students can progress up to arole of a ResNet manager. Or, if the job content atResNet isn't your student’s passion, there is

potential to move into an applications role, such as coding or training, or basic security ornetworking role.

JUNIOR YEAR The IT Dept. loves to see studentemployees snag internships and work with theCareer Center, and his or her advisor to help findthe right fit. After completing summerinternships, students are welcome back in the fallto apply what they learned.

SENIOR YEAR The Career Center offers resumeservices and will help your student frame his/herexperience with the IT Dept. It's amazing to lookback on the students’ career progression at RMU.

OFFICE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SUPPORTSSTUDENT CAREER PLANS

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The fall 2014 semester launched a new course and a major change was made to an existingcourse. TESP1000 was introduced for first-semester transfer students and FYSP1000, thecourse for first-year students was altered to have a stronger career focus.

Ten students registered for TESP1000, a one-credit, eight-week course co-taught byCassandra Oden, director of the Center forStudent Success and Kishma DeCastro-Sallis,director of the Career Center. The course focusedon introducing students to the support services at RMU, as well as preparing them for theirchosen career paths. By having the two directorsco-teach the course, it allowed students toimmediately develop a working relationship with the two offices to ensure academic andcareer success—relationships that have developed beyond the eight-week class session.

The fall 2014 semester also brought a change to the FYSP1000: First-Year Seminar course, which is a requirement for all first-year students.This one-credit seminar is designed to acclimatenew students to the University and the supportservices that are available. During the summer of 2014, the staff revised the curriculum to focuson career planning.

First-year students during the fall are stillrequired to create a profile in ColonialTrak, but the Career Session was restructured to have a stronger focus on resume creation. Anaddition to the course required each student tocreate a resume, which was turned into the Career Center for feedback, and then returned to the student to strengthen and streamline. The idea behind this assignment is two-fold—students are creating resumes earlier in their academic career so they are preparedfor career opportunities when they presentthemselves, and students are encouraged to meetwith their Career Counselors during their firstyear at RMU.

While all students in the past have beenencouraged to start their relationship early with their Career Counselor, this year’s transferand first-year students clearly understand theimportance of this relationship.

OPPORTUNITIES: THE CENTER FOR STUDENT SUCCESS

ROBERT MORRIS UNIVERSITY FAMILY CONNECTIONS 7

Last March I sat on the home bench of the XcelEnergy Center as our hockey team practiced fortheir upcoming NCAA Tournament game and I just looked around and reflected. I reflected on my first day on campus, a nervous and shyfreshman unsure of what I was to do. Now I’min my fourth year with the Athletic Department,and it all started during my freshman year as avolunteer worker. I became the marketing internfor football and basketball during mysophomore year, and last year they showed theirrespect and faith in my abilities by entrustingme to run the ticket office. Very few collegiatejuniors get to be in charge of a Division 1 ticketoffice but because I got out of my comfort zone,I got that experience.

As a Sport Management student and soon to be graduate, the best advice I can give anyone is to get involved. Get involved in anything you can do. Volunteer, get internships andattend as many conferences as you can. Ingeneral, as a student, I’d say in your first yearwhile getting acclimated to life at college, dothings that get you out of your comfort zone,learn a new skill, and experience new things.How you go about your freshman year willdetermine and help set your future career path.You will develop skills and habits that candefine your work ethic for the rest of your life so be careful how you go about it.

I had just one internship during my collegiatecareer but you never have to limit yourself. Doas many internships as you want to and gain

experience doing different things. During my internship RMU hosted the University of Kentucky Wildcats men’s basketball team in one of the biggest sports moments in RMUhistory. I get to say that not only was I there but I was working the Kentucky game, and that is something that I will always have on my resume. College is the time to work on yourresume, put everything together and keep itorganized. Do as much as you can to add to it.

Your sophomore and junior years are the besttime to add to your resume, make connection,and gain experience in your field. You’ll learnimmensely from your time spent on theseexperiences. The men’s ice hockey trip toMinnesota for the NCAA tournament is whatmade me reflect on everything I hadaccomplished in three years and excited meabout the future and what it held for me in myposition even after graduation.

Senior year is what everything is about. Hopefully you’ve gained enough experienceand made connections that you can use to startlining up a job for after graduation. Don’tprocrastinate because the time will fly andbefore you know it, you’re signing up tograduate and move into the real world. Throughthree and half years I’ve put together a resume Ican feel happy with when I graduate, and I’vemade connections that can help me in all myfuture endeavors. That’s what college is about,meeting people, gaining connections andpreparing for the future.

MAKING THE MOST OF THE RMU EXPERIENCE:STUDENT PERSPECTIVE

WRITTEN BY RMU SENIOR

KENNY CELELLI

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“We can change the world and make it a better place.

It is in your hands to make a difference.”

- Nelson Mandela

Is your student yet to make up his or her mindabout a career path? Is he or she the type ofyoung adult who wants to make the world abetter place and leave a lasting impact? Thenencourage your student to check out RobertMorris University’s Nonprofit LeadershipCertificate Program.

The not-for-profit sector makes up a verysignificant portion of our nation’s economy.According to the Independent Sector, in 2010, not-for-profit organizations employed 13.7 millionpeople, approximately 10% of the workforce(independentsector.org/economic_role). In the last two decades the sector has becomeincreasingly professionalized with the majority of executive directors and CEOs holdingadvanced degrees. Exciting and rewarding career opportunities exist in human services, the arts, healthcare and education among manyother areas. Professionals with expertise inCommunications, Marketing, BusinessManagement, Computer Information Systems and a variety of other disciplines are needed in today’s not-for-profit organizations.

The Nonprofit Leadership Certificate Program at

RMU is open to all undergraduates and easily

fits with many different majors. Students workon the requirements for the Certificate at theirown pace in addition to completing all degree

requirements. Throughout the program studentsreceive one-on-one mentoring from the director ofStudent Civic Engagement, who has spent her entire career in the not-for-profit sector.Students may begin the program as early as their freshman year or as late as their junior year.

Students are required to take courses inCommunications and Business, as well as non-credit workshops in Nonprofit Managementtaught by RMU’s Bayer Center for NonprofitManagement. Visiting exceptionally well run not-for-profit organizations and networking with their executive leaders is a potentially life-changing part of the program. Additionally,students must complete a 150-hour supervisedinternship at a not-for-profit organization.Students also have the opportunity to participatein a student-run club that engages them involunteerism. No tuition or fees are charged forparticipation in the program. The certificate willhelp to fulfill requirements for RMU’s StudentEngagement Transcript. Upon graduation thestudent will have earned a credential indicating to a potential employer that he or she is qualifiedfor an entry level professional position in a not-for-profit organization.

If your student would like to learn, more pleaseencourage him or her to contact Donna Anderson,director, Student Civic Engagement atandersond@rmu.edu or stop by Nicholson Room250, Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.

RMU’S NONPROFIT LEADERSHIP CERTIFICATE PROGRAM

SENIOR CLASS GIFT Each year, the graduating class comes together to raise money for a gift to the university.This gift is a special way for seniors to leave behind a bit of their personality and begintheir legacy of philanthropic giving to the institution. It shows students, faculty, and staffthe gratitude and appreciation the new graduates have for Robert Morris University.Those interested in serving on the Senior Class Gift Committee will have anopportunity to be involved in coordinating fundraising efforts for their class as theytake their first steps toward becoming a proud alumni.

Famous Robert Morris landmarks, like the RMU Book Fund, Memorial Garden,revolutionary war cannon, Bronze Bob, and International Nursing Scholarship were allgenerated from past senior class gift efforts.

ROBERT MORRIS UNIVERSITY FAMILY CONNECTIONS 9

NEWS FROM THE FINANCIAL AID OFFICE…It’s time to starting thinking about filing the

2015-16 FAFSA (Free Application for Federal

Student Aid). To make the process as easy aspossible, it’s best to submit the FAFSA about 2-3weeks after 2014 Federal taxes are filedelectronically. That way, for most, tax returninformation for both student and parent(s) canbe transferred directly from the IRS to theFAFSA. The FAFSA can be filed at fafsa.gov.

Please note, it is important that Pennsylvaniaresidents file their FAFSA prior to May 1st,which is PHEAA’s deadline to be considered fora state grant.

If you’re interested in filing your FAFSA withthe help of one of our Financial Aid Counselors,please don’t hesitate to contact our office for anappointment - 412-397-6250 or finaid@rmu.edu.We’re always here to help!

For important financial aid news, reminders,tips, policy information and detailedinstructions, please visit our website atrmu.edu/finaid. On the website, we offer a listof external scholarship opportunities. Now is thetime to begin exploring outside scholarshipopportunities for next year!

Please also be sure to like us on Facebook -facebook.com/RmuFinAid.

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THE STUDENT ENGAGEMENT TRANSCRIPT (SET) ANDTHE CAREER PLAN

The Student Engagement Transcript (SET) is agreat tool in preparing for your student’s career!By seizing opportunities to complete meaningfulactivities, students equip themselves with theskills needed to succeed while building animpressive resume. As students follow RMU’sfour-year career plan, participation isencouraged by recording many of the activitieson the SET.

By participating in volunteer projects andcommunity service activities, students are ableto create a network, develop skills and exploredifferent career paths. Upon completing 30hours of community service, these activities areincluded on a student’s SET.

As students join campus organizations, they areable to explore interests and make connectionswith other students. Their leadership roles arealso documented on the SET. This serves todemonstrate a student’s willingness to takecharge to potential employers.

The SET’s professional experience categorydocuments different activities, from internshipsand field-specific training, to job shadowingexperiences and attendance at workshops andconferences. Completing these activities shows acommitment to one’s future as studentsthoroughly explore their career options, makeconnections in their field and preparethemselves for a competitive job market.

Students who successfully complete all six

categories, plus a seventh “special recognition”

category, during their time at RMU earn the

Renaissance Award at commencement. Strivingfor the Renaissance Award is a great way toshowcase proficiencies in areas outside a chosenfield while also making a statement aboutparticular interests within the field.

ROBERT MORRIS UNIVERSITY FAMILY CONNECTIONS 11

BENEFITS OF THE RMU SETLet’s face it, students come to college to gain the education and skills they need to succeed in their chosen careers. But recent evidencesuggests that doing well in the classroom is notenough to be the complete professional employerswant. The Gallup-Purdue Index, released in 2014,

reports that college graduates who felt the most

engaged in their lives and in their profession

were more likely to have made meaningful

connections in college.

They had at least one college professor who actedas a mentor, believed in them as a person andmade learning exciting. These students undertooka lengthy, deep and well-researched project, oftenled by a professor. They completed at least oneinternship and they were heavily involved inleadership roles on their campus.

Guess what? The Student Engagement Transcript,created years before the Gallup-Purdue study,aligns with those initiatives. As a studentcompletes each of these categories, he or she willmature as a person, be challenged ethically andemotionally, and develop an inner-confidence thatwill stay with the student after graduation.

As a student sits with a prospective employer, heor she can talk about unique experiences thatmight just open professional doors today andsustain the student’s enthusiasm for a careertomorrow. With the official Student EngagementTranscript formally documenting theseexperiences, a student can use his or her SET as aspringboard for this conversation and gain an edgeover other candidates. RMU graduates whoinvested the time and attention to their SET reportthat the sense of accomplishment translates intothe fast-paced, ever-changing careers they are in.

So, GET READY to GET SET!

For more information about the RMU StudentEngagement Transcript, please visit rmu.edu/SET.

FAMILYConnections

STUDENT LIFE

6001 University BoulevardMoon Township, PA 15108rmu.edu

UPCOMING EVENTSVisit rmu.edu for the university’s full calendar of events.

FEBRUARYBLACK HISTORY MONTH (VARIOUS EVENTS SCHEDULED)

10 Internship Seminar

3:30 – 5 p.m. – Sewall Center

11 Evening Networking Reception

5 – 7 p.m. – Sewall Center

11–15 Colonial Theater presents Bare – Massey Theater

18 Pittsburgh Speakers Series presents P.W. Singer

8 p.m. – Heinz Hall

19 Diversity Speakers Series presents Chaz Kellem

4:30 – 6 p.m. – Sewall Center

21 Carnegie Museum Trip

Noon – 4 p.m. - $10 – Sign up in Student Life Office

27–1 Little Sibs Weekend (various events scheduled)

MARCHWOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH (VARIOUS EVENTS SCHEDULED)IRISH-AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH (VARIOUS EVENTS SCHEDULED)

9–13 Spring Break

11 WestPACS Job Fair

10 a.m. – 3 p.m. – Monroeville Convention Center

18 Jump Start Your Job Search

4 – 6 p.m. – Sewall Center

19 Diversity Speakers Series presents Bibhuti Arayal

4:30 – 6 p.m. – Sewall Center

23 –27 Greek Week (various events scheduled)

26 Women’s History Month Luncheon

Noon – Sewall Center

28 Student Leadership Conference (details to be announced)