Career Services is pleased to announce that through a new Illinois state-wide partnership, Illinois State University students will now receive free access to Kaplan’s industry-leading test prep resources for graduate admissions exams, licensure, and credentialing exams, as well as skills development courses.  This new program, called Prepare for Illinois’ Future Powered by Kaplan’s All Access License is administered by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC). These educational tools augment any existing resources and help prepare students to take the next step in their career journey after graduation. This program will provide students with free access to over 40 courses, equipping them to take required exams such as the GRE, GMAT, MCAT, LSAT, and many more. Highlights of the program include: Test prep courses—The course options available will vary depending on their degree level. Cost—The test prep courses are completely free to Illinois State students. Access—The portal to enroll and begin courses is now available from the Career Services website. Students must sign up using their school email address to get the free resources.  Faculty/staff orientation Kaplan will host program orientation sessions beginning the week of March 24. The goal for the sessions include: Gain a deeper understanding of the tools and support available to certain program areas Discuss strategies for effectively utilizing Kaplan resources in your programs Engage with Kaplan experts and academic consultants “We are thrilled to offer this free and necessary resource to our current Redbird students,” said Career Services Director Quanisha Kumi-Darfour.  

Call for Nominees for the Commitment to Career Excellence Awards Nominations due April 7 Career Services is proud to announce the inaugural Commitment to Career Excellence Awards. These prestigious awards aim to celebrate the collective responsibility we uphold in preparing Redbirds for their futures. By recognizing the outstanding contributions of students, faculty, staff, alumni, and employers, this event highlights our shared dedication to career development. Nominations are now being accepted for Illinois State University students, registered student organizations, faculty, staff, alumni, and employers and are due April 7 by 4:30 pm. Access the award descriptions, nomination form, and more information at Commitment to Career Excellence Awards. Award Categories: Career Champion of the Year  Career Services Staff Member of the Year Employer of the year   Career Services Student Staff Member of the Year Employer of the Year (for-profit and non-profit) Engaged Alumni Award Internship Coordinator of the Year Intern of the Year RSO of the Year   If you have questions or require assistance submitting your nomination, please contact Tamanna Tasmin at ttasmin@ilstu.edu. Thank you for your support!  

Students Ending Rape Culture (SERC), an Illinois State University Registered Student Organization (RSO), is delighted to share various Sexual Assault Awareness Month events happening during April. All events are free and open to the ISU community. Day of NO Silence Wednesday, April 9th, 2025; Schroeder Plaza; 11am-2pm Rain Location: Bone Student Center Concourse Day of (No) Silence is a nationally recognized day of action created to spread awareness about the impacts of bullying and harassment of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning students. SERC’s tabling is meant to help prepare for Friday, April 11 when individuals across the world break the silence to combat the repression and erasure of the LGBTQ+ community. GLSEN.org/dayofnosilence Consent Day Wednesday, April 16th, 2025; Schroeder Plaza; 11am-3pm Rain Date: April 23rd Consent Day, an event hosted by SERC brings together various campus organizations to explore the different ways consent plays a vital role in our daily lives. IPV/SA and LGBTQ Workshop “Implementing Supportive Practices for the LGBTQ Community with Stepping Stones” Thursday, April 17th, 2025; 11:30am-1pm This event is hosted by Queer Coalition and the Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Program at ISU. Representatives from Stepping Stones will host a workshop on intimate partner violence, sexual violence, and the LGBTQ+ community. If you require accommodations to attend, please contact wgstudies@ilstu.edu Advanced registration is required: Register Here Clothesline Project Wednesday, April 23rd, 2025; Quad Flagpole; 11am-2pm (The event will be canceled if there is inclement weather.) The Clothesline Project is an art installation that displays T-shirts created by survivors of interpersonal violence from our community. Survivors can create their own shirts to add to the collection. Denim Day Wednesday, April 30th, 2025; Schroeder Plaza; 11am-2pm Rain Location: Bone Student Center Concourse Denim Day is a worldwide campaign that began after a rape conviction was overturned. The Italian Supreme Court justices felt that since the victim was wearing tight jeans, she “must have helped the person who raped her remove her jeans, thereby implying consent.” The following day, women in the Italian Parliament came to work wearing jeans in solidarity with the victim. We continue this tradition 24 years later. Join us in wearing denim to show your support for survivors of sexual violence and to help eliminate victim-blaming attitudes. DenimDay.org If accommodations are needed for Day of NO Silence, Consent Day, Clothesline Project, or Denim Day, please contact wellness@illinoisstate.edu    

Are you ready to advance your academic and professional journey? Whether you are interested in personal growth, career advancement, or changing careers, applying for graduate school is a major decision that can shape your future. “Your graduate degree can provide greater employment prospects, higher earnings, and industry-specific knowledge,” said Career Services Associate Director Scott Summers. “While you are learning, you will network with peers, instructors, and industry professionals that can help you identify jobs and opportunities to collaborate. Having an advanced degree can also help you move into leadership positions.” In addition, many professions require or prefer candidates with a graduate degree, which may also be essential for career progression. “Graduate school challenges students with experiences that can develop their critical thinking, problem-solving, and research abilities,” Summers said. “They will also have access to research facilities and be able to utilize other academic tools, which can enhance their learning. A graduate degree will help you be more prepared for your profession, in a way that is greater than with an undergraduate degree alone.” Assistance with applying to grad school Career Services assists Redbird students and alumni when deciding if graduate school is right for them by offering personalized career advising. A career advisor can help identify job market information, assist with graduate school applications, and help to identify the steps to one needs to be well-prepared and confident in graduate school. Graduate School Series Career Services also hosts the Graduate School Series. Offered each semester, students get helpful tips and insights such as how to choose the best graduate school program, financing graduate school, and much more. The Graduate School Series this spring includes the following sessions: Researching, Choosing, and Paying for Graduate School  Accepted? What’s Next? Life of a Grad Student Graduate school can be a transformative step in your academic and professional journey. With the support of Career Services, you can confidently navigate the decision-making process and take the next step toward achieving your career goals.

As the semester ends and you are preparing for the next step in your academic and professional journey, Career Services is pleased to provide you with free access to test prep resources for graduate admissions exams, licensure, and credentialing exams, as well as skills development courses.  Offered through the Prepare for Illinois' Future Powered by Kaplan's All Access License, you can access over 40 different graduate admissions, licensure, and credentialing exams, and skills development courses. Get expert guidance and comprehensive materials to help you prepare for crucial exams like the GRE, GMAT, MCAT, LSAT, and many more. To get started, visit go.kaplan.com/illinois for a complete list of available courses, registration details, FAQs, and guidance on how to best utilize these resources based on your individual goals. A direct link to the Kaplan site is also available on the Career Services website. "We are confident this program will be a tremendous asset as you pursue your career goals," states Career Services Director Quanisha Kumi-Darfour.

We are accepting submissions to be published in our very first zine issue! This issue is all about community and connection. Send us your creative writing, collages, drawings, comics, poetry, photography, etc about the theme and we will compile the submissions into our zine! Submissions are due 3/28