Every fall semester, Lasell hosts a Career Readiness Symposium. The event aims to highlight students’ work in a public setting that all faculty, staff, and students are encouraged to attend.
Normally, Lasell hosts a Symposium in December where students have a chance to share the work that they’ve accumulated throughout the entire semester. This year’s organizers adjusted the date of Symposium to October with the goal of benefiting students in mind. The Symposium aimed to provide students with knowledge and insight into their prospective fields.
The Career Readiness Symposium this year was developed and executed by Assistant Professor of Communications Jovonte Santos and Assistant Professor of Sport Management Libby O’Hara.
Professor Santos expressed his belief that, despite the scheduling change, this event was one that students could take something away from. “With finals in December and then winter break, the idea was to break up the normal schedule in October so that students have time to digest the information and get more support before the semester ends. Students do not have to wait until spring to think about internships or their first job. Especially if they’re a senior, the work starts now.”
Provost Porter stressed that the main goal of the Connected Learning Symposium is for students to get access to the information they need: “If there’s a core to this, it’s that we can say that as a university, we have opportunities that 100% of the students can have access to information about their careers.”
Professor Santos shared a similar sentiment about the goal of the Symposium: “This format was for students to receive from outside voices that are hiring, leading, and managing employees. It allowed students to get into the minds of those in the marketplace who will hire them. For students to get this insider view on what to focus on can allow them to pick classes, join clubs and land internships that align with their career goals.”
Based on this, it’s clear that Lasell students were placed at the centerfold of the Symposium, regardless of whether or not they were aware of it. Provost Porter reassured that faculty are “continuing to modify and challenge ourselves as a university to make [these student-focused events] better,” and more beneficial to students.
There seemed to be a lot of confusion this year around the Connected Learning Symposium. Many students and staff were unsure why the date was changed, what the event would now offer, and how students and faculty would be affected by the date change.
“Conversations about changing career readiness, the one that was in December, started maybe a year ago. A lot of it had to do with the history of that particular day, where there was a grant that was involved that involved faculty. And that’s kind of the origin story of how the day even started happening. But the grant is no longer there. So, we as a university have kind of just let the day turn into some different things.”
When asked if students would still have an opportunity in the future to showcase their work, Provost Porter explained: “Before, students used it as a day to give presentations, to show different displays, case studies, things like that. That can still happen. That is, it is just now dependent on schools and faculty choosing to identify a day. And I will say moving forward, outside of this academic year, we can put another date on the calendar that happens towards the end of the semester. Where again, that was not the goal of this. This particular date was actually for students not to showcase anything and to actually receive.”
The goal of the Connected Learning Symposium was to educate students on their prospective fields and allow them a chance to interact with professionals and ask questions. Provost Porter explained that students, either later this year or during the next academic year, will have a chance to present their work to the school.
Despite the goal of giving students access to information about their future careers, many students didn’t have the opportunity to attend the Symposium in person or virtually. Whether it be timing issues or confusion on whether or not the event was mandatory, many students missed the Zoom and, in turn, missed an opportunity to connect with the professionals and faculty who spoke at the event.
When discussing these struggles of getting the entire university on the same page, Provost Porter shared that “It feels like different people had different experiences, which I think is good. I won’t say that was necessarily the goal, but it’s actually been really interesting, and that’s something to think about as we continue forward with it. […] We’re definitely going to have more student voice in terms of what they’re looking for. And the faculty. I keep saying we can only go up from this point.”
When asked if there was a way to make the Symposium more accessible, Provost Porter explained that it was created with the intent of being shared in all classrooms. “It was an official event for the university, even in the format that it was offered. But individuals made decisions.” Provost Porter then went on to explain that this situation also speaks to students and their own decisions regarding their careers. “It is also an exercise of what is important to you. The university can make information available, and we should make information available. But the thing with careers is that you also have to seek it.”
Professor Santos had a perspective that aligned closely with this idea of students taking the reins and thinking about their futures. For him, this event was all about students putting themselves first and taking the steps to develop academically and professionally. “I may not remember all your work, but I remember the presence you brought into the room and the effort you made. Go for both the skills, your passions, and the bag. Change the world and make money while doing it. Why not go for it all?”
–Dec. 8, 2025–
