Career Advising and Transition Services Referendum - March 15th - 29th, 2016

Dear SCS students,

We all decided to enroll at the School of Continuing Studies (SCS) for various reasons, one of which is to further our professional competencies, knowledge and skills. With each of us having varying professional goals, it has become more and more important that specialized career services are made available to us in order to achieve our individual goals.

In efforts to meet that need, the SCS created a pilot program – The Career Advising and Transition Services (CATS) to give specialized attention and services to the diverse group of students at the School with varying levels of professional experience. Through research conducted by the School, the top-ranking services requested are career advising, internships, and mentorship programs.

With temporary funding, CATS has been offering some career-related services, including individual advising sessions and workshops focusing on developing value propositions, resumes and cover letter writing, etc. Since the pilot phase began in 2013, about 3,000 students have participated in an offering provided by CATS and the program has received extremely positive feedback. Through stable funding through the proposed fee of $15 per term, these services would be continued and expanded to include programs for internships, mentorships, a job fair, and a job board to help facilitate the acquisition and development of marketable skills, and provide opportunities to interact with employers.

If sufficient financial resources are available, the “Career Advising and Transition Service” which would be accessible to registered SCS students during their studies and up to one calendar year following their graduation. All registered students who will pay the fee, beginning Fall 2016, would have access to the “Career Advising and Transition Services”.

MACES is holding a Referendum from March 15th – 29th, 2016 where YOU, the students, will need to VOTE electronically on the following question:

Do you agree to a new non-opt-outable fee of $15 per term, including summer session, per student to support the “Career Advising and Transition Services”, beginning Fall 2016 and continuing to Spring 2019 (inclusive) at which time MACES will bring the fee back to the membership in a referendum to renew the fee?

Make sure you VOTE when the Referendum starts on March 15th!

Do you have more questions? Please read the Referendum Fee Q&A

For additional questions contact: Kia Memarzadeh, MACES CRO – CRO@maceselections.ca