PROVIDENCE IMPACT
Student Life > Career Services > Providence IMPACT
Ensuring that graduates connect with career opportunities is a crucial part of the University of Providence Argo Advantage. The Providence IMPACT program offered by the Career Services Office was designed with that goal in mind.
MAPPING FOR
The Providence IMPACT is a documented Career Readiness Commitment between students and the University of Providence. The agreement is open to all full-time undergraduate students (U.S. citizens or permanent residents).
Providence IMPACT's commitment to students:
If students are unemployed or underemployed within six months of graduation, they may either:
Enroll, tuition-free, in undergraduate courses recommended by a UP career coach to enhance skills.
Enroll, tuition-free, in up to three graduate courses at the UP.
Providence IMPACT also offers professional job search consulting at no cost to the graduate. This includes:
Unlimited access to UP Career Center's coaching and resources.
Up to 6 sessions of paid UP contracted professional coaching services in their current employment search location.
Student Requirements
To take advantage of the program, the Providence IMPACT Commitment requires students to:
Declare a major by the beginning of the second semester at UP.
Graduate with a bachelor's degree with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75.
Complete graduation requirements during 4-years/8 semesters of continuous enrollment.
Maintain full-time status (12 or more credits per semester), unless on a school sponsored co-op or internship.
Complete the following 1 credit, 8-week courses:
200 Level – Career Preparedness and Internship Preparation
300 Level – Leadership Development
400 Level – Transition from Academics to Career
Complete one UP-sponsored Experiential Learning Opportunity in each of the following areas:
Internship, or Practicum
Service Learning Opportunity
Attend at least one Internship and Career Fair event (per semester.)
Attend at least three career preparation workshops each year offered by the Career Center.
Actively work with assigned Career Services staff.
Demonstrate a good-faith effort to find a job after graduation.
Register with the Career Services Office
Be able to pass a standard background check in their professional field of employment.
Transfer students who complete at least 60 credits at UP (20 in the major) are eligible for the program.
Students interested in signing up for the Providence IMPACT Program, should contact Rodney Johanson at the Career Services Office on the first floor of the Student Center, or by email, rodney.johanson@uprovidence.edu or phone, 406.791.5216.
The Career Center offers individual assessment and the development of professional skills, as well as alignment of core competencies and extra-curricular successes to the communication, leadership and critical-thinking skills that employers seek. Graduates will be able to explain to future employers what they've learned and how it applies to jobs for which they are applying.
Students leave the University of Providence as life-long learners with the confidence to reach their personal and professional goals.
Q: How does the IMPACT program define job placement?
A: Job placement is defined as a student receiving one job offer within the salary specifications. The minimum salary for said position is defined to be within 25 percent of the 25th percentile of the quarterly salary survey. That survey is available at the Career Services office and is published by the National Association of College and employers for each degree program.
Q: If after graduating, students are accepted into graduate school, how does that affect the IMPACT status?
A: Attending graduate school counts as a job offer if students choose to pursue graduate studies rather than entering the workforce.
Q: If I finish coursework in the fall, but don't go through commencement until that spring, when does IMPACT consider the start of the six-month timeframe I have to find employment before I am eligible for additional classes through the program?
A: If a student finishes a program in May, the 180-day period starts from the day of commencement. If the student graduates in August or December, however, the 180-day period starts from the day of the FOLLOWING May commencement. It's defined as within 180 days of the conferral date of his or her degree or the date the last class was completed, whichever date is later.
Q: How does the IMPACT program define a transfer student?
A: Transfer students are considered students who come to UP with 24 or more transfer credits. Transfer students entering UP at the junior or senior level who have maximum credits per semester will receive a tuition waiver for required coursework for Providence IMPACT participation.
Q: What does the IMPACT program consider to be full-time student status?
A: Full-time status means a student is enrolled in 12 or more credits per semester.
Q: I've gone 6 months after graduating and I do not have a job offer with a competitive salary. Now what happens?
A: UP connects students with a professional career counselor service, as long as the application for services is made within 220 days of your degree date. Professional services are equivalent to 6 sessions of additional career training and placement assistance. One session is equivalent to one hour of counseling.
UP may also grant a tuition waiver for up to 24 undergraduate or 12 graduate credits. Application for this benefit must be made within 220 days of the graduate's degree date. Courses recommended by a UP contracted professional career counselor are to be within a 12-month period while student continues to look for employment through the UP Career Center. Once a student has received a job offer, the university's commitment has been fulfilled and the institution has no further obligation to offer the tuition waiver.
Career Services Office
The University of Providence Career Services Office supports students seeking employment while enrolled at UP, and upon graduation. Individual appointments are available as well as workshops and other activities to support career preparation and planning. Career Services is located on the first floor of the Student Center.