Faculty and Staff FAQs

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I have an idea for a career development program that would benefit students in my department. How can I partner with the CCE to co-sponsor an event? What kind of support can the CCE offer?

The Career Development Office (CCE) welcomes collaboration on career-related events and programs and has worked with other departments, student organizations on campus and outside organizations to co-present events and programs. It is best to set up an in person meeting with one of our Career Counselors at the CCE to discuss your idea for collaboration. Please call (845) 437-5285 to schedule a meeting.

I keep in contact with a number of former students who now have careers in my field. I also have other employer contacts as well. How can I share this information with CCE? What can the CCE do to cultivate relationships with employers and alums to increase career development and professional opportunities for current students in my department?

The CCE offers several ways for employers and alums to become involved with students.

Susan Smith (Associate Director for Employer Relations) is dedicated to helping employers recruit qualified Vassar students and alums for full- and part-time employment and internships by providing full-service recruiting assistance. The CCE seeks to cultivate and maintain positive relationships with employers, coordinating both on and off campus recruiting events, and oversees job and internship listings on Handshake. If you have employers that you work with that might be interested in posting jobs or internships for Vassar students and alums or participating in on or off campus recruiting events, please direct them to our Employers section.

How do you support students interested in graduate school?

Vassar students are admitted to medical school, law school, and other professional schools at rates that are significantly higher than the national average, and that are comparable to those of other highly selective liberal arts colleges and universities. Vassar has a dedicated pre-med advisor as well as as pre-law advisor who is housed at the CCE. The advisors at the CCE also assist students with questions related to graduate and other professional schools. Students interested in pursuing PhD programs are also strongly encouraged to seek guidance from Vassar faculty in their selected discipline.

Does the CCE maintain a reference/credential file for students? If so, how can I go about submitting letters of recommendation on behalf of a student?

Every Vassar student can create a reference/credential file and store their recommendations at the CCE. Upon request, the CCE will send these recommendations to potential employers or graduate schools, rather than the student having to repeatedly ask for recommendations. The Center for Career Education will continue to maintain a hard copy of the student’s credential file for 10 years after their graduation date, and an electronic copy will be maintained indefinitely. Should a student wish to extend the hard-copy credential service beyond the tenth year, they must contact the CCE in writing.

To learn more about this system, please see our the Letters of Recommendation section of our website. Students must complete a Reference File Registration (86K) form prior to faculty members submitting letters of recommendation on their behalf. Students must also complete the Waiver Form for References (16K) and get the recommender’s signature on that form.