Wheaton's career and life-planning programs cited by 'The New York Times' as example of new trend at US colleges
June 14, 2000
The personal and professional planning programs run by Wheaton's Filene Center for Work and Learning exemplify the broad-based approach to counseling that colleges are beginning to take, according to New York Times columnist Lisa Belkin, who focuses on issues of life and work.
The college's Filene Center counsels students, beginning as freshmen, about the "triangle" of life-work, significant relationships and community service, Belkins notes approvingly in her June 7th column. Dan Golden, Wheaton's dean of Work and Service Learning, is quoted in the article.
"Just look at the name of Mr. Golden's department," Belkin writes. "No longer 'career services,' his office of Work and Service Learning holds seminars throughout the year, with recent graduates returning to tell students about the real world.
"'We don't want them to come back in 20 years,"' he explains, "'and say, 'Why didn't you tell us how hard it was going to be?"' [To read the entire column, click here. Please note: The New York Times site is free, though registration is required.]
The Filene Center also assists students in arranging internships that connect to academic work and career goals, and it provides traditional career planning services. The center serves as the administrative home of Wheaton's unique requirement that all students complete at least one documented internship or other field-learning experience to graduate.
For more information on the programs run by the Filene Center, or to speak with Dan Golden, contact the Wheaton Communications Office at 508-286-8235.