As we make strides into the new year, it is with immense pride and excitement that we reflect on the remarkable progress made by the Fordham Career Center in empowering our students and alumni toward successful career paths. Our commitment to developing emotionally prepared, well-rounded young professionals remains unwavering. As we look ahead, we aspire to continue to build our legacy and to become a Career Center for the future, especially in highlighting our progress in equity and inclusion, alumni mentorship, and technology.
Equity & Inclusion Advancements
Our equity and inclusion (E&I) programming has become central to our Center’s mission. We’ve witnessed an inspiring 229% increase in E&I efforts during the 2022-2023 academic year over the previous academic year. Although this isn’t just about numbers; it’s about fostering an environment where every member of our community feels valued and supported in their career journey. Our inaugural E&I Career Closet exceeded attendance expectations by 260%, a testament to the demand for such resources for our entire community. Moreover, our partnerships with over 30 employers on E&I initiatives underscore our commitment to driving meaningful change in the workforce. We’ve continued this momentum in the current academic year, expanding our E&I Career Closet to the Lincoln Center Campus, and will continue to push forward by developing more collaborative and innovative programming.
Alumni Connections and Mentorship
Our alumni are the bedrock of our community, and we’re thrilled to report significant strides in alumni engagement. The Ram Connect platform, hosted on PeopleGrove, saw a remarkable 28% increase in total users compared to 2022, facilitating meaningful connections between alumni and current students. While we added hundreds of new users, our platform growth was reflected in the user experience; our vibrant community landed 37% above the average response rate. Our formal mentoring programs continue to expand, too. The Fordham Mentorship Program (FMP) boasted 159 mentor-mentee matches and engaged 67 new prospects through targeted campaigns. Additionally, the relaunch of the RAMS Helping RAMS program has seen phenomenal engagement, with over 175 students benefiting from the support and guidance of their peers. These two programs continue to grow and welcome new Rams, and we plan to add new programs to reach even more students and alumni.
Resources and Technology
At the Fordham Career Center, we understand the pivotal role of technology in shaping modern career development. In our eyes, technology is essential to becoming a future-forward Career Center. Our core platform, Handshake, witnessed a 14% increase in postings, providing students and alumni with a plethora of opportunities at their fingertips. Moreover, we’ve expanded our virtual library with curated video resources, ensuring accessibility and convenience for all. Our newsletter open rate has seen a remarkable 26% increase in the 2022-2023 academic year from the previous academic year, reflecting the growing engagement and interest in our offerings. This year, we’ve continued to move into the future by implementing new and inventive AI programming and resources.
As we celebrate these accomplishments, we remain steadfast in our commitment to continuous improvement. Our vision for the future is one where every member of the Fordham community can discover their mission, vision, value, and purpose with all of the resources necessary to be well-equipped for any career in an ever-changing landscape.
The Fordham Career Center is committed to building a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship while providing a bridge between the classroom experience and the world beyond. Throughout the job and internship search process, it is our goal to help students, alumni, community partners and employers alike understand the extraordinary value of a Fordham education. To learn more about our offerings and connect with the Career Center, visit fordham.edu/career.
