The plans that students at the University of Hartford make for spring break each year are as diverse as the students themselves.
Some students want to hit the beach while other students would rather brave the snow one more time and go skiing.
Other students would rather use their time off to help others in an alternative spring break doing things such as building houses or helping disadvantaged people, especially those that have been through disasters such as Hurricane Sandy or Hurricane Katrina.
Some students would rather go home and rest while other students choose to use that week off to get career experience for their resumes that can serve as the springboard to a possible internship during the summer.
Such experience is possible through programs such as Express to Success, a career shadowing program occurring during spring break that is available to students at the University of Hartford.
Express to Success is a relatively new option students can utilize for job experience, as Express to Success has been running each spring break at the University of Hartford for three years now.
Students who are in their sophomore and junior years of study are eligible to participate in Express for Success. This program pairs students with alumni in a student’s career of choice, or simply just gives students a taste of how they can apply what they are studying to a real-world career.
This program allows possibilities for job experience and networking opportunities that can be a viable option for that student when he or she graduates from the University of Hartford.
The collaboration that happens between students and alumni during Express for Success is not the only collaboration that exists within the program.
Express for Success is jointly organized by two people from different administrative sections on campus.
Those two people are Stefania Campbell, the Associate Director of Alumni Relations and Linda Schultz, the Associate Director of Career Services.
According to Campbell and Schultz, Express for Success used to be something that was only organized by Alumni Relations.
It is only recently that Career Services has become involved in Express for Success, helping both students and Alumni Relations pair alumni with students to work with during the week of spring break.
As for the careers that are available to students who are interested in applying for the program, there currently isn’t a set number available.
According to Campbell and Schultz, alumni are still asking to work with students through Express for Success.
Careers held by alumni are diverse, ranging from the fine arts to finance and engineering.
Another upside of the program is that students involved can tailor the career shadowing experience geographically.
According to Campbell and Schultz, if a student decides to work with an alumna in their home state or simply work in the state of Connecticut during the timeframe that Express for Success operates, this can be made possible although students do have to keep in mind that they are responsible for their own transportation and housing.