In an effort to attract more students to a central location at Boston University, the Office of Career Services has set up shop in an office in the George Sherman Union.
OCS Assistant Director Deborah Halliday said the office opened the second location because students complained the main office at 19 Deerfield St. in Kenmore Square was too far away – and some students did not know it existed.
The Educational Resource Center, on the fourth floor of the GSU, will host the OCS office and serve students twice a week. ERC representatives said they hope the new location will raise student awareness of resources at both offices.
“Anytime we can offer programs anywhere it’s a good thing because the campus is so big,” said ERC Assistant Director Gin Schaffer. “It’s a win-win. It’s killing two birds with one stone.”
The satellite office will offer half-hour counseling sessions to students by appointment Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. In the next few months, OCS will monitor student traffic to the office, and if its GSU location gets enough attention, a third day may be added for appointments in the spring.
“My assumption is because of our increased presence, there will be an increase in the number of students attempting to set up appointments,” said OCS Director Richard Leger. “The office is critical to good, strong student development.”
Leger said the office helps provide direction for students, adding he hopes to see strengthened links between the ERC and OCS to integrate student experiences.
Four counselors work at the OCS main office, and one employee at a time will be sent to the GSU location on a rotating schedule.
OCS offers workshops, events, career expos, online databases of available jobs and individual counseling. In addition to helping students find jobs after graduation, the office aims to get internships for undergraduates.
College of Arts and Sciences junior Aditya Banerjee said OCS should work more on advertising its services to students.
“I think [the GSU location] is an obvious good choice,” he said. “It might make students more inclined to at least check it out.”
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