Center for Career and Academic Planning
By fostering collaborative, student-centered relationships, the staff in the Center for Career and Academic Planning guide students in their development and achievement of meaningful educational goals. Our work is guided by the following values:
- Knowledge: of curriculum, resources, policies, and best advising practices
- Respect: for students, for the College, and for all invested in a student’s success
- Openness: to new ideas and viewpoints, to reflection, and to change
- Equity: of access to appropriate resources for all students
- Growth: as students transition from who they are to who they will become
- Understanding: of self, of others, of our capabilities, and of our place within the larger community
Career Services
The Center for Career and Academic Planning provides a comprehensive menu of services that assist students in all phases of the career development process. Regardless of your starting point, we can provide assistance with self assessment, career exploration, goal identification, decision making, planning, and job search.
Through the Center, students can obtain advice and guidance regarding career and major choices, gain work-related experience, make meaningful connections with alumni and employers, and learn the latest job search strategies. Junior and senior level students are encouraged to enroll in ITDY 109, a credit-bearing course on career development and effective job search strategies.
Students and alumni can remain informed by visiting the Career and Academic Planning website at www.sjfc.edu/student-life/ccap/ for programs and resource information.
Career Counseling and Search Resources
Choice of Major or Career
Individual counseling is available to assist students in identifying, refining, or affirming a chosen major or career direction through the use of assessment activities and inventories, including the Strong Interest Inventory® (SII) and the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® (MBTI).
Online Resources
Handshake – a very user-friendly technology to search for work study, internships, and job opportunities and to learn about career-related events occurring on campus and in the community. It can also be used to research employers and connect with peers about their experiences.
CareerShift – an advanced job search tool that returns search results from numerous career sites, company pages, and job boards. Fisher students and alumni have free access to this tool through the Center..
Alumni LinkedIn Group – an active group where students can connect to alumni in various fields for networking and career advice. The LinkedIn Alumni Group has over 3,500 members representing numerous industries.
Career Guides – on topics such as job searching, networking, interviewing, cover letters, references, and sample resumes are available online and in print.
Research Links – to specific careers, industries, salary information, job outlook, and professional associations.
Workshops and Events
Each semester the Center hosts a number of workshops for students on a range of career related topics such as: Effective Resume Writing, Internships, Job Search Strategies, Interviewing, Networking, LinkedIn, Utilizing Social Media in Your Job Search and Choosing a Major.
Graduate School Fair and Law School Night
Enables students to explore graduate school options, learn about the admissions process and academic expectations, and meet recruiters for diverse graduate programs.
Career Fairs
The Center hosts annual recruiting events that include an Accounting Fair, Nursing Fair, and the Spring Career and Internship Fair. Additionally, in collaboration with a local college consortium, Fisher sponsors a STEM Career Fair, Fall Mini-Conference for Educators, and Teacher Recruitment Day (TRD).
Experiential Learning Support
Internships and experiential learning programs offer students in all class years an opportunity to gain practical work experience in a professional capacity over the summer months or during the academic year. We work closely with many academic departments to source internships that relate to student majors and/or career aspirations.
On-Campus Recruiting
On-campus recruiting provides students with the opportunity to interview with recruiters and hiring managers throughout the academic year. Additionally, employer information sessions are open to all students, offering visibility and exposure to recruiters and potential career paths.
Job Postings
Job postings are updated daily from local and national employers that include full-time, part-time, internships, work-study positions, and seasonal employment opportunities. All postings are available on the Center’s online database, Handshake, which can be accessed by all students and alumni.
The Center for Career and Academic Planning is located on the main floor of the Lavery Library..
Advising Services
While students will be assigned a specific department academic advisor after freshman year and once they have declared a major, all students are welcome to utilize the advising services that the Center has to offer throughout their time at St. John Fisher College. The Center’s advising services include:
- Freshmen advising, seminar, and programming
- New transfer student advising, seminar, and programming
- Guidance and programming for students who are deciding on or changing majors/minors
- Creating success plans to support students to overcome academic hurdles
- Clarifying academic policies and procedures to help students navigate their academic programs
Peer Tutoring
Peer tutoring is a service that students who are excelling or struggling can utilize. The goal of tutoring is to help the students find ways to learn course material more successfully. A tutor can assist by discussing notes, clarifying textbook material and reviewing practice problems. Although tutors do not complete student work assignments, they provide additional support that should complement and reinforce classroom learning. Student effort is required for tutoring to be successful.
Peer tutoring is provided at no cost for a variety of introductory undergraduate courses (many 100-level and 200-level courses) during the fall and spring semesters.
Peer tutors are students who have completed the courses they tutor with a grade of B+ or higher and have received the recommendation of a faculty member or department chair.
Student Accessibility Services
St. John Fisher College is committed to creating equal access for all students with disabilities. The dedicated staff works with each student on an individual basis to determine reasonable accommodations based on appropriate documentation submitted by the student. The Student Accessibility Services Office, in compliance with Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act and Title III of the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA, as amended), ensures access to academic programs, services, and facilities.
If you are unsure if you are eligible for services or have concerns about obtaining the correct documentation, please do not delay meeting with our staff. We are happy to review policies and procedures with you in person and in some cases, may be able to provide provisional accommodations allowing you time to gather any needed documentation.
For additional information, contact Joy Breeden at (585) 385-5252, sas@sjfc.edu, or view our website at www.sjfc.edu/student-life/student-accessibility-services/.
International Student Advising
Upon admission to St. John Fisher College, the Center for Career and Academic Planning will work closely with international students as they navigate the processes required to begin their academic career. These processes include: completing a statement of financial support; gathering all materials needed to apply for and obtain their Form I-20 for nonimmigrant student status; and securing all other documents needed for entry into the United States, which may include an F-1 visa and an I-94 arrival form.
When students arrive, an international student advisor will provide guidance as students make the academic, social, and personal transitions into a new environment, and will create opportunities for international students to interact with the Fisher community as they become more familiar with the campus and the Rochester area. The international student advisor will also work alongside each student throughout their studies to provide important information regarding travel, employment, maintenance of status, and post-degree options. For more information, please contact Matt Lake in the Center for Career and Academic Planning at (585) 385-8050.
The Center for Career and Academic Planning is located on the main floor of the Lavery Library.