Title: Pre-Pandemic and Pandemic Career Center Student Participation
Presenters: Jeremiah Sawyer
Department: Career Center
Abstract: COVID 19 broadly impacted the world and resulted in many aspects of work life to find virtual options. This study was conducted to elucidate how utilizing Webex and other digital platforms to conduct job fairs and appointments impacted student participation. Data was collected via CSM’s Symplicity Software (UMBCworks) and Qualtrics. Student demographic and participation numbers were compared during Fall 2019 and Spring 2020 (last in-person semesters) to Fall 2020 and Spring 2021 (first virtual years) in Microsoft Excel and Access. Data showed that while student participation in job fairs and appointments dropped (a trend observed across the nation by many universities), overall satisfaction with job fairs and appointments remained high. In future studies, we would like to further discover hidden barriers students face when accessing appointments and job fairs in virtual spaces.
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