Polk State launches Online Career Resource Center
Polk State College’s Career Services Department has launched the Online Career Resource Center to provide students with a virtual hub of valuable career and skill-related information as well as resources that support success as part of the College’s Quality Enhancement Plan, Explore to Complete.
Located within the learning management system Canvas (https://canvas.polk.edu/enroll/4WNHW4), students can enroll in the Online Career Resource Center as a course – but don’t worry, it’s free and you won’t be graded!
Within the Online Career Resource Center, students have access to tools to assess interests, aptitudes, and skills related to careers; explore career paths as well as internship and experiential learning opportunities; and connect with employers and members of the Career Services Team. The Center also links to Handshake, which connects students with hundreds of employers – from local businesses to Fortune 500 companies.
“The launch of our Online Career Resource Center provides students with a one-stop-shop that they can access conveniently, any time of day, from their homes and mobile phones,” said Jeannette Grullon, Director of Career Services on the Winter Haven Campus.
“This is one exciting benefit of the diligent work by faculty, staff, and students as part of the Quality Enhancement Plan and the Career Services Department is thrilled to offer this resource to students in addition to the support they can receive on our campuses.”
Polk State’s QEP, Explore to Complete, is a comprehensive five-year plan for institutional improvement that is part of the process for reaffirmation of accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). The College achieved its reaffirmation of accreditation in June 2021 and is actively implementing its QEP, Explore to Complete, which engages students in career exploration, developing career goals, and selecting and persisting on academic pathways to complete their degrees.
“Our QEP, Explore to Complete, seeks to increase participation in career services across the College,” said Megan Cavanah, Professor of Mathematics and Co-Chair of the QEP Committee. “Over the coming years, students will have the opportunity to participate in activities that will help them prepare for their future careers. The Online Career Resource Center is just one of several of these initiatives.”
“In particular, the Online Career Resource Center is well-timed as many of our services have remote options due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic,” she added. “This initiative will allow all our students to access our career resources whether that be on our campuses or online.”
Students are also encouraged to connect with Career Services by emailing careerservices@polk.edu with questions, for more information, and to connect with Career Services representatives for career planning and exploration. Contact information is also available within the Online Career Resource Center at https://canvas.polk.edu/enroll/4WNHW4.