For years Fairfield students have asked for a change in the Career Planning Center. They are getting what they asked for now that Cathleen Borgman has been appointed the new director of the Career Planning Center.

A graduate of the Fairfield class of 1980, Borgman brings enthusiasm to her position which she will begin on June 1, 2006.

“My life has taken many different turns, and I am excited to incorporate my past into helping students,” she said in a recent interview with The Mirror. Currently, she is director of Corporate Relations for Fairfield’s development department.

Being a graduate of Fairfield University is an advantage for Borgman because of her passion for the school.

“I believe in the students, and I also know what I need to work on to better the Center,” she said.

Borgman has a bachelor of science in psychology and has worked as a marketing representative at IBM. From there she worked as senior account manager and major account executive at Applied Learning International before returning to Fairfield.

Vice President for Student Affairs Mark Reed, who announced the appointment, said he is confident in Borgman.

“She brings experience in the private sector and a solid relationship with and understanding of many of the corporate partners and industries that are vital to successful career planning,” said Reed.

The Career Planning Center has had its share of criticism. Many students think it is great at getting jobs for business students. Only liberal arts students feel that they are looked over.

“As a communications major, I felt like it was almost a waste to go to the Career Planning Center because it is so geared toward business majors.” Caitlin Bartlein ’08 says.

Borgman said she sympathizes with students.

“I understand that it seems as if business students get placed in jobs, they are the easiest to place; it was the same way when I was a student here. I think students need to realize that they need to take the initiative,” she said. “Students quickly dismiss the Center because of the criticism that they have heard.”

Fairfield is not the only school with problems in career planning for liberal arts students. The University of Kansas said its liberal arts college is “not built to give students both the academic advising and career planning that the professional schools – business, journalism and others – offer. Advising is left up to departments in the school, which means students often must either do their own advising or seek out a professor for help.”

Borgman said she has heard similar complaints and encourages students to come to her with any problems they may have.

Borgman plans on meeting with students, faculty and young alumni to fix the problem. She also wants to meet with recruiters to understand what they are looking for and relay this information to students.

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