What’s new with Pacific University’s Opportunity Hub?
“The Opportunity Hub is going to be where students come to connect purpose with practicality,” Stephanie Stokamer, Pacific University’s Executive Director of Career and Experiential Learning stated. She goes on to say, “What does it mean to develop practical skills and preparation for what’s next after that? We are here to help you discover that.”
Pacific University’s new Opportunity Hub consists of academic advising, career development, study abroad, and community engagement. What became out of the University’s restructuring efforts blossomed new opportunities and different ways to organize areas of work on campus. “We want to ultimately improve the student experience and think about how we can make a more streamlined experience for students,” Stokamer shared.
Stokamer manages and oversees the Hub and its staff while also helping connect the Hub’s work to other areas of the university. She works closely with academic leaders, student affairs leaders and other campus departments to ensure the Hub’s work is approached holistically and aligns with the university’s broader goals. She also collaborates with faculty at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, who serve as important partners in this work.
Another way to think about how these areas fit together is through the goal of supporting students from the moment they begin considering Pacific, through choosing what they want to study, and ultimately as they look toward their future and what comes next. “We also want to help in between getting here and leaving by getting experiences along the way that can help form their sense of self and who they are,” Stokamer explained. “We want to support them and help them along their entire journey.”
The Opportunity Hub isn’t just designed for student excellence and on campus exploratory, but also to guide individuals on their path as human beings. Stokamer shared with a smile on her face, “We aren’t pushing them towards a specific kind of job, but to fulfilling lives as humans who are well-rounded individuals.”
One of the new additions and adaptations that the Hub is creating community contacts with community partners. “In order to create more experiences for students and have opportunity at the end of the line, we need to create a really robust and thoughtful system of community partners,” said Stokamer. Students creating connections early both on campus and off campus is something that the University aims to help with and grow. “We want work to be one part of what they do, but also engaging in community and being a citizen of the world,” Stomaker explained.
While there is much excitement about the Opportunity Hub opening, it is still fairly new, with more events and opportunities in the works. However, students can already take advantage of the advising webpage, where they can schedule career coaching appointments or connect with the director of global engagement. “It is still in formation and we really want students’ voices to influence how the Hub shapes up,” Stokamer mentioned. “This is a great time for students to tell us what they need and want out of something like this so that we can do it in a way that aligns with what students are wanting.” Reaching out to opportunity@pacificu.edu is a great way to voice your ideas directly, or even paying a visit to the Hub office in Aucoin Hall 129.
Leave a Reply