Spider Road Trips

Connecting Current Students, Alumni, and Employers Live!

The CDC @ UR University of Richmond3,000 students Private, Liberal ArtsUndergraduate focus92% live on campus all 4 years

Career Development Center

11 full-time staff10 student assistants

Session OutlineSpider Road Trips Program Summary

Historical Overview

Theoretical Underpinnings

Applying the Concepts

An In-Depth Look

What is a Spider Road Trip?

The Program History2002 – an involved and invested trustee from

Wall St.2005 – Media & Communication in NYC

2008 – Spiders for the Common Good in DC

2009 – Richmond Road Trips

2010 – what’s on the horizon?

Taking Theory to PracticeKolb & Experiential Learning

Transitioning to the World of Work

Connecting with the Millennial Generation

Engaging Young Alumni

Now, Let’s apply this to you….

In your small groupIndustry focusDestination (city, organization,

etc.)Student population

Ideas from the Group – Careers ConferenceUse alums from the high school to make connections to careersConnect with Deans & Faculty to find connections Iowa – wind energy – explore employers and degree programs Health Science / Healthcare AdministrationPenn State – diversify connections with employers and industry not

traditionally on campusNuclear TechniciansGrill teams at high school level visit Johnsonville, Sargento Alternative Spring Break – Kansas State Univ.Underrepresented students in engineering – funding from College

of EngineeringPartner with Chamber of Commerce; large local employers; other

colleges in local areaFind grants; Federal/State funding?Connect with local community to keep grads engaged/employed in

areaWhat do you do with a business major? What are careers in

business? How can you do this via the web?

UR’s Learning OutcomesParticipants will be able to use connections with alumni

and other career professionals for network expansion and job and internship searches. 90% of participants will actively maintain relationship with

trip participants throughout the academic year. Track using the blackboard site as a place for information

sharing and staying connected

Participants will compare career path options and opportunities. Each trip will have a minimum of 6 stops with a minimum of 4

different sub-industry settings represented among the stops.

Participants will apply informational interviewing techniques. 100% of participants will generate informational interviewing

questions and 100% of participants will apply questions in the meetings during the trips.

Factors for SuccessNumber of participants – 90% of available spots on

each trip will be filled with students.

Connection to CDC Strategic Plan – career exploration & alumni outreach/connection

Connection to Richmond Promise – Fifth Year Experience; Experiential Education

Financial cost – each trip must stay within allotted budget ($5,000-$7,000 for each trip outside of RIC & $250-$500 for each trip in RIC)

Student satisfaction & learning – pre & post tests will be administered to each group to capture satisfaction with experience and key take-aways

An In Depth Look...Planning timelineBrainstorming the

itineraryContacting potential sitesTransportation, Housing,

& FoodRecruiting and choosing

participantsParticipant OrientationFinalizing the Details

Sample Itinerary – Day 19:00am Meet at Tyler Haynes Commons – 1st Floor entrance9:30-11:30am Travel to DC

12:30-2:00pm Stop #1: Partnership for Public ServiceAssociate Manager, Education and Outreach

2:00-2:15pm Travel

2:30-3:30pm Stop #2: U.S. Department of Justice Paralegal – UR Alumna 2009

3:30-4:00pm Travel

4:15-5:00pm Stop #3: Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs

Associate Director, Women's & Infant Health5:00-5:30pm Travel to hotel

7:00-9:00pm Young Grad Alumni Dinner

Sample Itinerary – Day 27:45am Meet in Hotel Lobby8:00-8:30am Travel 8:30-9:30am Stop #1: Center for Nonprofit Advancement

Director of Communication and Membership9:30-10:00am Travel / Restroom Break

10:00-11:00am Stop #2: American Public Transportation Association International Programs Manager - UR Alumna 2004Educational Services Program Manager

11:00-1:15pm Travel & Lunch at Union Station

1:30-2:30pm Stop #3: Higher Achievement Program Media and Community Outreach Coordinator - UR Alumna 2009

2:30-3:00pm Travel3:00-4:00pm Stop #4: U.S. Public Interest Research Group & Environment

AmericaStaff Attorney - UR Alumnus 2006Democracy Advocate; Recruitment Administrator

4:00-5:30pm Free time at the US Capitol, Library of Congress and the National Mall5:30-7:00pm Wrap Up & Dinner

Sample BudgetSpiders for the Common Good Budget Budget (2) Budget (3) Actual Notes

Staff Travel $500.00 $500.00 $300.00 $187.00 Incidentals for staff

Student Hotel $1,800.00 $1,800.00 $1,800.00 $1,967.82Est. on rate of $99 /room

10.25 % tax

Student Travel $2,500.00 $1,500.00 $0.00 $1,130.00 Bus and metro cards

Student Meal $500.00 $500.00 $0.00 $1,079.333 meals, plus alums &

staff

Reception $1,500.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00No reception, dinner

instead

Total $6,800.00 $4,300.00 $2,100.00 $4,364.15

Finding Alums & Sites Recent graduates you know

Alumni Affairs and/or Advancement Office

University’s Career Network – on-line alumni groups

Partnership for Public Service

LinkedIn.com – the Advanced Search!!

Mapping your Route

Participant Orientation Welcome and Visual Explorer – choose a picture that represents what you expect from the

Common Good experience

Introductions (pass around sign in/DOJ sheet)  Set Expectations

Purpose of trip, Expected to attend each stop, Expected to represent UR, Employer/Alumni Expectations

Review Logistics and Stops Review draft itinerary (handout), food allergies/requirements

  Researching Organizations

Select question point person(s) for each location; 3 questions to answer on Blackboard by January 4th What to do, how much to do, how to prepare (handout)

Tips and Reminders Tips about walking around DC: Dress (shoes), Umbrella, Government issued id (driver’s license,

passport, visa), Casual dress for dinner, meals and stops

Sign travel waiver (handout) & Roommate Selection (sign-up sheet)  Pre-Trip Evaluation   Conclusion and Questions!

ReferencesEvans, N., Forney, D. & Gudio-DiBrito, F. (1998)

Student Development in College

Gardner, J., Vand der Veer, G. & Assoc. (1998) The Senior Year Experience

Howe, N. & Strauss W. (2003) Millenials Go to College

Pascarella, E. & Terenzini, P. (2005) How College Affects Students

Visual Explorer: Picturing Approaches to Complex Challenges (2007); Center for Creative Leadership

http://www.ccl.org

Contact Me!

Joslyn DiRamio Bedell

Assistant Director

jbedell@richmond.edu

804-289-8140