Purpose by Design – �Career and Purpose Development in the Classroom

Leslie Harris + Laurie Marks+ Kristin Pitt

Why is Career Content in the Classroom Important?

92% of students believe faculty should play a role in career development such as sharing how careers in their field are evolving or helping them find internships.

3^rd most cited reason for leaving UWM is not sure what they want to do when they graduate or how college applies.

Why is Career Content in the Classroom Important?

• Only 36% of UWM students engage directly with the Center for Student Engagement and Talent
• In L&S, only about 26% of students engaged directly with SET
• If not from faculty, and not through SET, then where are students engaging with career content?

What is Purpose Development?

“An active commitment to accomplish an aim that is both meaningful to the self and of consequence to the world beyond the self.”

Get curious. Talk to people. Try stuff.

Invite Employer Partners Into the Classroom

• Students appreciate employer partner visits
• Allows students to ask questions and network
• Provides space to imagine themselves in the world of work
• Nurtures confidence

World Languages & Cultures Employer Visitors

• Javier Cometta, Global Procurement Manager for Electrical Devices, S.C. Johnson
• Alyssa Fehrman, Relocation Counselor, WHR Global
• Rachel Haos, Chief Operating Officer, Soberalski Immigration Law
• Brett Lipschutz, Multilingual Psychotherapist, Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers
• Eric Johnson, Adult Literacy Librarian, Chair of Adult Literacy and Immigration and Refugee Services Committees, Milwaukee Public Library
• Anna Savary, Director of International Programs, International Institute of Wisconsin

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Who Would You Invite?

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Make a plan with a partner!

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• Where do your students land after graduation?
• Who do you know who works in that field?
• How do you maintain contact with alums and industry partners?
• Panthers Connect alumni and student networking
• What support do you need to do this?

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Life Design:��-- Experiment�-- Don’t be afraid to fail�-- Put yourself in new situations�-- Meet / connect with people

Possible Lives

Instead of prematurely committing to one path, if you start with multiple ideas in parallel, your mind stays more open and able to receive & conceive more novel innovations.

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Three Versions of Me

• Create 3 radically different 5-year timelines…

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Life #1:

The story you tell today

Life #2:

What if life #1 was no longer an option?

Life #3:

The wild idea with no constraints

3-6 WORD DESCRIPTIVE TITLE

TIMELINES

• Major Milestones
• Professional & personal (bucket list)
• At least one per year

Questions about

this path

DASHBOARD:

THE DASHBOARD

GOT STUFF?

• $$
• People
• Competencies
• Tech / Materials

LIKE IT?

• Feels great!
• Pretty good
• Seems OK
• Yikes !

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FEEL IT

WILL WORK?

• YES!
• Probably so
• Maybe
• Doubtful

A REAL YOU?

• Authentic
• Fits you
• Not just “should”
• Your voice

Try It

• Choose 2 radically different paths for yourself. Take 5 minutes for to chart out each path.
• Was this challenging for you? Why or why not?
• What questions do you have about your different paths, and how can you go about answering those questions?
• Can you pull something meaningful out of your different paths to help you create a more purposeful life?

Discussion Questions�

• What is the changing role of every person on campus in helping students find a career path and life purpose?

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• Where do you see being able to incorporate into your work with students inside or outside of the classroom?

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• In what ways can UWM support you to help students find their purpose?