The university's Career Center received the 2001-2002 John D. Shingleton Award for "best application of research" at the Midwest Association of Colleges and Employers' annual conference Aug. 14 in Kansas City, Mo.

The award recognizes research that strengthens or enhances career services and recruitment practices.

The Career Center, which assists students and graduates in developing skills to find employment, surveyed 1,100 students immediately after conducting a variety of educational programs during 2001-2002.

The students were interviewed again 30 days later to determine if participating in workshops, advising, and practice interviews led them to use information presented in the programs.

"We've always received wonderful feedback from our students in reaction to our educational programs, but we wanted to know if students retain information, develop skills and apply what they learned," said Nicole Feldhues, task force chair and Career Center assistant director.

Task force members also included assistant directors Melisa Beeson, Joseph Goodwin and Tara King.

The survey found 92 percent of students who participated in individual sessions, such as one-on-one advising, had performed some type of career-planning activity. However, only 41 percent of those participating in group programs, including workshops and etiquette dinners, reported they had put the information to use.

"We were pleased to discover students were accomplishing most of the learning objectives we set." Feldhues said. "We are incorporating changes into our workshops to encourage students who participate in group programs to create action plans based upon their individual needs."

(NOTE TO EDITORS: For more information, contact Feldhues at nfeldhues@bsu.edu or (765) 285-2430)