Academic Advising/Career Counseling Program 

This program is unique in that it integrates academic advising and career counseling in a seamless manner that allows shifting from one to the other as needs dictate.  It’s often hard to determine what direction to take when making academic and career decisions.  Our academic advising and career counseling support—as well as assessments of self, career and academic choices—are available to help you make these important decisions.  Some students enter Thiel College with their majors already chosen, but even these students often change their minds when faced with real world choices and reality testing.  Many students change their majors a number of times before settling on their “best one”, and their academic experiences often play an important role.  Our advising/counseling services are intended to help evaluate choices in a way that assists students to arrive at an optimum decision early enough so that time, money and energy are not wasted.  With our help, you can decide which direction is best for you on all dimensions.  Later in your college career we are there to help you narrow your career choices from broad fields to specific types of positions.  Contact Melissa Philson at 724-589-2201, mphilson@thiel.edu or Kateri Linn at 724-589-2015, klinn@thiel.edu both located on the first floor of the library.

Faculty/Staff Collaboration and Support Program

Through this program, CLA staff consult and collaborate with faculty and staff about student advising, career choice, e-portfolios, subcultures and values; about learning needs and methodologies; about strengthening connections between the activities and the experiences of the first year; about early intervention to confront potential student problems, about Individual Success Plans (ISP); about ways to improve student satisfaction, retention, and graduation rates across campus; about enabling student learning; about learning communities; etc.  They also refer students to faculty advisors, student assistance offices, curricular redesign, intervention teams, etc. as indicated by special student needs or situations.  They make available special professional development seminars, workshops, presentations, etc. needed by faculty and staff groups.  Contact Dr. Patricia Kelvin at 724-589-2239, pkelvin@thiel.edu located on the first floor of the library.

Internship Program

Thiel’s internship program is an exciting way for students to parallel their academic coursework with actual working opportunities.  The Program is designed to apply theory to the world of work—producing a combination of applied knowledge and experience essential to the educational process.  When it comes to “having the right stuff” that employers look for in potential candidates, they look for individuals with relevant experience.  An internship is one of the best ways for students to gain such experience.  To be considered, a student must complete one semester at Thiel and maintain good academic standing with an overall GPA of 2.0 or higher.  Many students have found excellent placement opportunities.  Internships can provide many advantages to students, including: 

Exploring and clarifying career goals Acquiring skills and experience related to career goals Making educational experience more rewarding by bridging academics with the professional career world

Gaining practical on-the-job experience The possibility of having internship income Making post-graduation job contacts

Contact Coordinator John Rindy in the lower level of Roth Hall, by phone at ext. 2181, or via email at jrindy@thiel.edu.

Career Services

Services include:

Career information publications/videos Information about best on-line job search websites Computerized programs that help students relate self to alternative careers Opportunities for participation in community service activities related to areas of interest Professional development seminars

Special topic/need seminars Alumni/professional speakers Career-related field trips Alumni mentoring network Sample model resumes Job listings Placement credentials services

The Center also provides coordination and announcement of on-campus employer recruiting.  Contact Director Heather Balas in the lower level of Roth Hall, by phone at ext. 2014, or via email at hbalas@thiel.edu.