Big changes for Career and Academic Advising

Next year introduces a remodeled Advising Center and plans for a new Career Center in Templeton

By Angelica True /// Staff Writer

Next year, the Career Development Center will be receiving a new home and a new name. The Career Development Center, soon to be the Career Center, will be relocated to Templeton for fall 2015.

 “We’re being relocated and they’re building a new space for us that will be in front of the Trail Room attached to Templeton. It’s going to be about 1500 or so square feet and it will be brand new,”  interim Career Development Center Director, Nina Olken said.

The expansion of Templeton to include the new Career Development Center was one of many projects approved by the Board of Trustees on Feb. 20 and, according to Olken, a long awaited change. “I’ve been here for about four years and it’s been discussed on and off for that time, now was just a time when the stars aligned and we were able to work it into our budget.”

The new addition will include a roof deck. It will also include green features such as a bioswale and an earth tube for geothermal energy.

In addition to the relocation, Lewis & Clark will also be adding a new Academic Advising Center.

“The College Advising Center staff will move into the Career Center’s previous space in Albany Hall shortly after the Career Center moves to Templeton,” Assistant Dean for Student Success and Retention Carla Harcleroad said. “Before the College Advising Center staff moves in, the space will receive new paint, new signage and some sound-proofing,” Harcleroad added.

The new Academic Advising Center will consolidate advising resources and staff in one location, which Harcleroad believes will make it easier for students to get assistance.

“[Although] we currently have an Advising Team in place, this team does not have a shared office location. The implementation of a College Advising Center will enhance the advising team’s capacity to serve Lewis & Clark students, faculty and staff through reception desk services, increased workshop offerings, and the hiring of two new College Advisors to join current Advising Team members.”

Olken also views the relocation of the Career Development Center as a way to better serve students. “It will benefit students because it will be a lot more convenient. Right now we’re kind of at the bottom of the hill and now we’ll be more in the center. It will be a lot easier for people to stop in.”

 Olken also hopes that Center’s more visible location will encourage greater student participation in its events and lead more students to take advantage of the center’s resources.

Both additions will bring changes to the departments, which Olken called a “plus all around.” In the new Academic Advising Center, two staff members will be hired in the spring in addition to the four current advising staff, with Harcleroad serving as the managing director and Janet Davidson, Associate Professor of Psychology, as the faculty director. Harcleroad stated that the “Model is similar to the one used by our Entrepreneurial Innovation program.”

While the Career Development Center is undergoing less drastic internal restructuring, Olken says that what excites her most about the change “Is having a fresh and clean brand new space that we can make our own. In the space that we have now, we’ve had to make compromises, and we won’t have to do that in the new space.”

She also stated her excitement about the increase in student traffic. Both Olken and Harcleroad hope that the changes will make it easier, both for students to receive help and staff to give it. “I want more students to know who we are and how we can help because that’s what we’re here to do.” Olken said.