1/6/12
Randolph-Macon College has launched a comprehensive new program,
The Randolph-Macon Edge, within the innovative new
Center for Personal and Career Development, which will be available to all R-MC students. This new initiative aims to help Randolph-Macon graduating students lead the pack when competing for jobs and top graduate schools by focusing on their personal and academic development throughout their educational experience at R-MC.
“The college’s intent, quite simply, is to help our students focus and refine their skills and abilities while they’re here – and even earlier in their college career – to give them a
competitive advantage in the marketplace, whether it’s for a career or acceptance to top choice graduate schools,” says Randolph-Macon College President Robert R. Lindgren. “This new strategy should enable us to take a much broader and well-rounded approach to the traditional career development model and opens a wealth of local and global opportunities for our graduates.”
R-MC Dean of Students Grant Azdell says that this program will “build on the existing strengths of our successful career services program, enormously successful
Bassett Internship program and highly effective individualized student advising, which is a distinctive hallmark of a Randolph-Macon liberal arts education.” Additionally, Azdell believes this new initiative will help coordinate and encourage even greater inclusion from the entire R-MC community. “This program will further capitalize on the connections of the college’s faculty and staff outside of the classroom and in their fields of expertise, ultimately benefiting our students by providing them with unlimited experiences before and after graduation.”
Within this integrated four-year preparation program, a series of yearly workshops and individual counseling sessions will be offered to students throughout their tenure at R-MC:
• the first year will focus on career and vocational identification;
• the second year will address preparation for pre-professional programs and grad school;
• the third year will integrate internships and work experience; and
• the fourth year will address the job search process or graduate school applications—the nuts and bolts of how to gain a competitive advantage when job-seeking or applying to first-rate graduate schools.
“Our staff and faculty will work with our students beginning as freshmen to help them explore their passions, gifts and talents,” says Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs William Franz. “That information will inform even more personalized academic plans, which will serve as a comprehensive resource to guide students throughout their four years at Randolph-Macon.” Franz says this approach will focus less on “what students want to do” and more on “who they want to become” and prepare them for success after graduation. “We want to nurture the ‘whole person’—and help develop not only better scholars, but more involved, engaged citizens,” says Franz.
Lindgren says
The Randolph-Macon Edge addresses a key component of the college’s Strategic Plan, which focuses on outcomes or preparation for life after graduation. “This is an important issue for parents, too,” says Lindgren. Additionally, Randolph-Macon’s engaged network of alumni will play a critical role in working with students to serve as mentors and career coaches and by providing internships and job opportunities.
“We expect this outcomes-based program will be a significant benefit to students, enabling them to use even better their four years at Randolph-Macon to prepare themselves for their next big step after graduation,” says Lindgren. “We consider this program a ‘road map’ for success, both personal and professional. Combined with our curriculum, which teaches students how to think analytically and critically and problem-solve creatively, this initiative will make a Randolph-Macon College education even more valuable and prepare students to excel in a competitive and changing society.”
Frank E. “Pepper” Laughon Jr. ’59 and his wife, Stuart Laughon, have provided critical start-up funding to help establish
The Randolph-Macon Edge.
“We offer our heartiest thanks to Pepper and Stuart for their generosity,” says Lindgren. “The R-MC community is grateful to the Laughons for their incredible support in so many areas of the College.”