Daily Pioneer News

PLATTEVILLE - Each year graduating college students from around the country attend the Oshkosh Placement Exchange at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh where employers meet and interview students for positions primarily in the field of higher education housing and student affairs. Several students from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville attended the annual event this year as part of UWP's efforts to help graduating seniors succeed in the next step of their careers and to screen candidates for current or future positions vacancies in UWP residence hall life.

"Oshkosh does a great job with this event and provides a comfortable space for interviewing that we haven't had in some models in the past. I've been to other career events, which were held in big exhibit halls, with not much room between tables, in a noisy environment, and just not as conducive to a meaningful interview. Oshkosh is set up in such a way as to provide individual rooms for interviewing and workspace," explained Rhonda Viney, UWP director of housing.

During the three day event, which is approaching its 30th anniversary in 2009, students had the opportunity to meet with almost 200 employers from 38 states to interview for 350 listed positions. According to Viney, another development which has increased effectiveness through the years is the fact that all of the interview scheduling is done in advance, so employees and employers can screen and contact one another prior to arriving at the school.

Alisha Slowey, a senior majoring in communication technologies, attended the event this year.

"I feel like the housing department here at UWP has been preparing me for OPE since I expressed interest in the field three years ago. OPE was a great experience and I am so grateful for the help that I got as I prepared for not only OPE but for a career in student affairs. UWP Student Housing has some amazing professionals with a diversity of experiences and a passion for what they do. Although OPE was stressful, it taught me a lot and gave me a lot of practice and experience interviewing. I interviewed with 15 different universities while I was at OPE and got to meet and network with higher education professionals all over the United States," said Slowey.

In the evenings, students have the opportunity to sponsor and/or attend socials. An important part of that process has become the Minority Friends Network, which seeks to help institutions of higher learning make a connection with minority candidates. It was founded in 1992 as a social event to establish a comfortable setting for candidates of color to network with veteran professionals. The increased participation in the social facilitated what is now called the Minority Friends Network.

For its annual travel grant essay contest this year, the Network asked candidates to address "My philosophy about diversity and how I applied it to my undergraduate career." Jordan O'Connell, a UWP history major with three years experience in student affairs and residence hall life was one of five recipients of the award. In his essay, O'Connell wrote about cultural integration efforts at UW-Platteville.

"I wrote that I think the way to achieve cultural integration is to promote the encouragement of open, inclusive and honest conversations at the most basic levels of the university experience. My work in Student Housing, Student Senate, and in the Writing Center have been instrumental in shaping my own optimistic ideology on the promotion of diversity in the public university setting," said O'Connell.

Anyone interested in learning more about undergraduate opportunities in student affairs or about the Oshkosh Placement Exchange may contact Linda Mulroy-Bowden, UWP Housing, at (608) 342-1854.

Contact: Linda Mulroy Bowden, UWP Housing, (608) 342-1845, mulroy@uwplatt.edu Written by: Evelyn Martens, UWP Public Relations, (608) 342-1194, martense@uwplatt.edu