ACE defends program
Letter to the Editor
We wish to thank the authors of a recent letter for calling attention to the perception that ACE, though "worthwhile and commendable," may represent a last resort for many Notre Dame seniors in the college of Arts and Letters. Our hunch is that this perception is not widely held, but on behalf of the exceptionally generous and talented applicants to ACE, we felt it important to respond.
First, we are heartened that ACE is perceived as a post-graduate service. Indeed, service through teaching is fundamental to ACE's identity and mission. At the same time, ACE provides its participants with a first-rate graduate degree and two years of employment experience, in large part so that their service may be as effective as possible and be connected to the discernment of their professional calling, be that in education or some other area.
This year's applicants to ACE are similar to their forerunners in that they have multiple options for employment, professional school, and other graduate programs — this fact is one reason why their generosity is so moving; ACE teachers give abundantly. They also receive abundantly, not so much in economic terms (though a tuition-free Notre Dame master's degree is no trivial benefit) as in the challenges that lead to personal, professional and spiritual growth.
ACE alumni have achieved professional success in diverse fields. The majority have stayed in Catholic education to this point, but former ACE teachers are currently enrolled in graduate, law and medical schools at some of the nation's most prestigious institutions (Harvard, Stanford and Duke to name a few). Others have entered corporate America with great success. Many have returned to work at Notre Dame. Most claim that teaching is the hardest thing they've ever done, and they're grateful for the experience.
Both Jake and Ashley were correct in stating that liberal arts students are well rounded and possess a diverse array of skills and abilities suitable for many career opportunities. Recently, The Career Center has initiated some exciting career programs and services for Arts & Letters students that may not yet be known by the wider campus community.
For example, we hired a new A&L career counselor to expand individual career advising and group programming on campus. We created a special Arts & Letters career newsletter featuring two fall editions with internship listings, job leads, career exploration information and relevant web sites. We implemented new Career Center on-call hours for A&L students in O'Shaughnessy and LaFortune Halls every Monday afternoon.
We increased the number of liberal arts students who scheduled individual appointments during fall semester from 307 in 1995 to 552 this past fall semester. Our internship job fair featured a new "resume drop"that increased the number of summer opportunities for students. Currently, we are planning an A&L Job Fair and have early commitments from such organizations as the U.S. Department of Justice, ABC News, ESPN, John Wiley Publishing, Brown & Wood International Law, Easter Seals, Chicago Tribune, U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission and many others.
These are only a few examples of The Career Center's future direction. Many non-business employers hire A&L graduates in April, May and even after graduation. Non-profit organizations, advertising/public relations agencies, educational institutions, international companies, public policy think tanks and publishing houses are examples of "just in time" recruiters. That means most of these employers do not hire in advance like banks and consulting firms.
Thus, many A&L prospective employers do not visit many college campuses. However, it will continue to be our duty to find these career opportunities and communicate the application strategies to A&L students. We also need to tap into the Notre Dame alumni network to gain contacts and career leads that will open doors to the "hidden job market."
Finally, it is important to note that many candidates for ACE do not hail from the college of Arts and Letters. This year we have applicants from every college at Notre Dame, including Engineering and Architecture. Three chemical engineering majors from last year (graduates with many options) currently teach with ACE, including the University's valedictorian. From its inception, ACE has been blessed with widespread interest across the campus. We are humbly grateful and can only hope and pray that this trend continues.
Lee Svete
Director
The Career Center
John Staud
Administrative Director
Alliance for Catholic Education
February 17, 2000
All Viewpoint Stories for Monday, February 21, 2000
