Newspapers / University of North Carolina … / Oct. 24, 1978, edition 1 / Page 9
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Page mne/Carolina Journal/October 24, 1978 Oct. 30 — Nov. 3 Minorities start career at disadvantage By Gary Nelson i According to Dr. Joseph Roberts who is chairing the panel discussion concern ing job opportunities for minorities, the purpose of the panel discussion will be to give specific information on what kind.of knowledge, decision-making skills and values different types of employers are looking for in prospective employees. “The minority student is sort of in the -atch-22 situation,” he explained, “they ion’t have sufficient minorities in their espective communities in upper positions ~ they don’t have role models to follow.” In addition he noted, statistics show the minority who graduates with a four year k9ree, is faced with having to prove hemselves when searching for a position. In his opinion and according to fetistics from the National Institute of duration, there is a great emphasis plac- " on quality preparation for minorities, inch more so than for persons who are lot of a minority group. He also noted due to past problems in istitutional education, some of the minority groups are not aware of the op- ortunities they might have when they iceive their degree, other than the tradi- 'onal roles such as teaching, religion, sports or entertainment. This can lead the minority student to be ill-prepared for employment upon gradua tion. For this reason, Roberts recom mends the minority student utilize the university facilities for career planning and to clarify career goals, placing special em phasis on their individual weaknesses as well as their strengths. “It is very impor tant, ’ he added, “when the person has determined a career goal, he take courses which tend to be more relevant to his career.” According to statistics Roberts has reviewed, those students tend to do better in college, the courses become more rele vant and the student then has a firm hold on his future plans. Roberts also recommended the student who has made the decision concerning his career contact his professors and ex plain what career plans he has and ask the professor for guidance and clarity on how a particular course might lend itself to that career. He further recommended becoming in volved with both professional and student organizations which are geared for that same career. He stated this is an in valuable way to reinforce some of the topics which are learned in the classroom, and gives the student additional exposure Internship program By Gary Nelson Summer internship programs are a practical way to learn more about a career possibility, but at UNCC are not always used to the ultimate. Dr. Steve Panyan, director of the Summer Internship Pro gram noted last year the program placed some 40 students in internships, but had to the career as well as providing contacts for employment upon graduation. Roberts continued by saying it is very important the student realizes a great part of the learning process in college involves initiative. The student must take the in itiative to gear his course load around his career aspirations. Roberts noted UNCC making ef fort to establish a just and fair environ ment for all students, which is one of the reasons for a program of this nature dur ing career week. He also noted the university is trying to achieve a more diverse student population by recruiting and educating students from other nations, such as Egypt, Kuwait and a tentative group from Germany. This approach not only gives the foreign student exposure to the American educational system, but it also allows UNCC students to interact with those students, and helps to add depth to their overall college experience. In his opinion, the university is trying to develop individual dignity, is placing students in role negotiating situations and is showing them how to use their in itiatives in a fair and just way. to be expanded nine openings not filled due to lack of ap plications. Panyan who just recently returned from the International City Manager Associa tion meeting in Cinncinnati, a group utiliz ing students for summer internships, noted this year the plan will be to expand the internship program and get more in terested students involved. The presentation during career week will be one based on interaction. The for mat will include mini-presentations by students who participated in the intern ship program last year, as well as promi nent business figures who will give addi tional information on what the internship will involve and where career needs may exist. A good portion of the program will in volve fielding questions from attending students as well as a general information segment at the end of the panel discus sion, to allow the students to ask in dividual questions about prospective in ternships. Dorothy Gilchrist, who acts as Panyan’s assistant will also be answering questions. Gilchrist, who holds a Masters degree, in counseling has had a good deal of experience in this area. Panyan emphasized it is important the student realizes he may obtain academic credit from an internship and there are ad justments made to gear the internship to a specific learning experience. For instance, last summer one of the in terns worked at a local small business, and researched the procedures involved in establishing a small business. Panyan also added most of the intern ships pay very well for summer positions and hopes as a result of the program to stimulate an interest in the program for more students who may not have con sidered an internship or may not even have been aware of the possibility of in ternships.
University of North Carolina at Charlotte Student Newspaper
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Oct. 24, 1978, edition 1
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