A mandatory portfolio would be a requirement for Honors students to complete before they can graduate with “Honors.” This portfolio would consist of reflections on each of the Honors courses the student has taken as well as examples of some of their best work (Figure 5). The Honors student would have some creative freedom with this project to be able to express themselves and convey who they are on this platform. A mandatory portfolio would meet our needs statement “Honors students need to be able to articulate their Honors experience.”
Through our research, we have learned it is important for students to reflect on their experiences, values, and newly learned skills to articulate those to potential employers or graduate admissions and to guide their decision-making. This portfolio can be completed using a Google site. Possible pages can include “About Me,” “Transferable Skills from Honors Coursework,” “Reflection on My Honors General Education,” “Leadership Experience,” “Senior Project,” and “Community Engagement.” This portfolio will be worked on throughout an Honors student’s undergraduate career. For example, nearing the end of each Honors course the student takes, they can reflect on what they have learned and what skills they have gained and add that to their portfolio. These reflections can also be shared with Honors faculty to see how their students have grown and what they learned most from their class.
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Figure 5. Honors student portfolio of experiences
HONORS STUDENT SURVEY:
The survey will be emailed to all GVSU Honors students to fill out. To ensure
participation, students could enter into a raffle for a prize if they complete the survey and Honors faculty would be encouraged to announce the survey in their courses. The first part of the survey will begin by collecting some basic background information, such as the student’s year, major, and career aspirations. Students will also be asked about career-related experiences they have had, like jobs, internships, or career events they have attended through the Career Center, their department, or another organization. The second part of the survey will assess Honors students’ knowledge of the Career Center and which services (if any) they have used in the past and why. A possible survey item would be a list of Career Center events (or potential events) and
participants will be asked to rank which events they will be most likely to attend or will be most interested in. Another question will ask what Honors students feel they need help on or want more information about for life after graduation. This part will not only provide helpful
information to the Honors College and the Career Center but also to the Honors students because they will be provided with information about the Career Center in the survey. We predict that if
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students learn more about the Career Center, they will be more likely to utilize its services and thus become more prepared for life after graduation (Figure 6).
Figure 6. Example of Honors Student Survey Question
CAREER EVENTS/ REQUIREMENTS:
The career events innovation builds from existing events put on by other organizations at the University and creates new requirements for Frederik Meijer Honors College students. These events will encourage students of the FMHC to be proactive in their search for a career and ensure that they are on track for success throughout their years at Grand Valley. It will be a requirement for Honors Students to attend a certain number of events per year (Figure 7). One of the events must be the Career Fair, in which students can further improve their soft skills and narrow their job search. The Career Fair is also a great event for networking, and students who attended this may be able to find a future employer. A mandatory job shadow will also be a new
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requirement for Honors students. Students will have the choice to shadow a professional in a certain field of their choosing, or if undecided, be placed in a field that utilizes multiple majors. Doing so will not only help guide students’ career choices, but also give them an opportunity to interact with professionals in a work-like environment, further preparing them for post-
graduation. Failure to complete these requirements will result in the removal of “Honors” status upon graduation.
Figure 7. Honors student requirement to attend career events
ADVISING FOR SUCCESS EVENT:
During Transitions every year, freshmen in the Frederik Meijer Honors College will attend an event where GVSU advisers from multiple departments will give talks, and after the talks, will have booths set up to provide opportunity to chat with the students individually.
Honors Advisors, Career Center Advisors, CLAS Academic Advisors, and even GVSU Financial Aid will be present (Figure 8). All of these service providers will give a short lecture about their services and range of assistance. After which, students will be able to walk around to different tables, get more information, get promotional materials, and make appointments. This event will last about two hours; depending on the class size, there can be a meet and greet with one of the advisors of the students choosing. This meeting will be very informal, but students will be instructed to prepare at least one question before they meet with a service provider; or an advisor will guide this meeting with general advice, motivating stories, and helpful tips to welcome the
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student.
Figure 8. Honors students meet the university advisors innovation
CAREER COUNSELING INFORMATION SESSIONS:
In order to help Honors students better understand the services provided at the Career Center, career counselors will come in and talk at least once to every Honors class throughout the semester (Figure 9). Many Honors students do not use the Career Center, simply because they do not know where it is, nor do they know what services are available. This innovation will provide an excellent opportunity for students to interact with career counselors in a small
classroom setting, which will take the pressure off scheduling an initial visit, as well as allow for open-ended Q&A. Students will learn more about what services the Career Center offers, and stress the importance of getting involved with the Career Center sooner rather than later. By sending a few representatives of the Career Center to Honors classrooms each semester, it will also allow students to find a specific person they can reach out to for advice at the Career Center and feel comfortable. Instead of forcing the students to seek out the Career Center on their own, by bringing the Career Center to them it will, in theory, lead to larger numbers of Honors
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students utilizing its resources, which could help them feel more prepared for anything from their resume format, to their upcoming job interview, to their graduate school application.
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