Bountiful Winter Session offerings reflect successful integration within Mendoza Graduate Programs
In early November, Dean Cremers wrote in the Mendoza Exchange about the efforts of both the University and NDIGI to keep students engaged during the Winter Session. Today, I am pleased to share news of the efforts of the faculty and staff in Mendoza Graduate Programs to create learning opportunities for Specialized Master’s students during the months between the fall and spring semesters. (Many are also open to MBA students). A full list of offerings is available on the Specialized Master’s Student Portal.
- Career Workshops: Our colleagues in Career Development will be busy as of Dec. 2 with workshops designed to help graduate students make the most of the Winter Session, jumpstart their job search in the new year, learn more about functional career areas, and hone their skills in interviewing and networking.
- Digital Badges and Certificates: In collaboration with others across the University, our colleagues in Mendoza IT have created an immersive learning experience on learning platforms Percipio and Udemy that will allow students to earn online certifications and virtual badges. Students will have access to high-quality, on-demand courses covering a range of topics such as data science, finance, programming, leadership, business strategy and professional development. Tailored learning paths that complement Mendoza curriculum have been curated for each Specialized Master’s program.
- Virtual Leadership Academy: This four-day leadership boot camp, led by Angela Logan and Joan McClendon, will integrate students across all Specialized Master’s programs. Topics include DE&I in the Workplace, Effective Communication, Emotional Intelligence and Spiritual Leadership
- Communication Bootcamp: Presented by colleagues in the Fanning Center for Business Communication, this bootcamp will ask students to commit six hours to taking their communication skills to the next level. Sessions will target skills critical to the job search process and are open to all Mendoza Graduate Programs.
- For-credit courses: Optional, for-credit courses will be offered in Nonprofit Management & Leading with Social Impact, Board Relations & Management, and Special Topics in Tax. The students who choose to enroll in these courses will be able to accelerate their degree requirements, expand their elective set and/or free up time in the traditional spring semester.
- Crossroads Classic Analytics Challenge: Open to both undergraduate and graduate students, this first annual event is co-sponsored by Teachers Credit Union, Butler University, Indiana University, Purdue University and the University of Notre Dame. Students will have the chance to sharpen their predictive modeling skills and win cash prizes.
- Virtual Christmas Cookie Contest: Sponsored by the new Specialized Master’s Council, students will use social media to engage with each other during the holiday with a virtual contest.
As you scroll through this message, it’s likely not lost on you that this set of offerings is both impressive and extensive. This amazing work is reflective of the dedication of Mendoza faculty and staff that is always evident in a normal year, but particularly notable during this unusual one. As soon as the new and experimental Winter Session was announced by the University, our colleagues reacted by swiftly identifying the needs of students across all programs and creating meaningful content. We carefully balanced the importance of keeping students engaged and connected to Mendoza during the Winter Session and using the time to reset before (what is likely to be) a tumultuous spring semester.
This amazing work is also reflective of successful integration across nearly all academic and functional areas in Mendoza Graduate Programs, including Career Development, Student Services and Operations, Experiential Learning and Leadership Development, and Mendoza IT. The collaborative efforts of the academic directors of the Specialized Master’s programs, faculty and staff merged seamlessly to serve the best interests of our students. I can personally attest to the fact that our students are grateful, too. Now more than ever, I feel blessed to be part of our Mendoza community, and in particular, our Specialized Master’s program teams.
I wish everyone in the College well-deserved joy this holiday season.
In Notre Dame,
Kristen Collett-Schmitt
Associate Dean for Specialized Master’s Programs
Associate Teaching Professor of Finance
Associate Dean for Specialized Master’s Programs
Associate Teaching Professor of Finance