During the last year, the University Center gained a new resourceful addition to its halls: the Office of Career Planning and Development.
The CPAD is a relatively new office staffed with people to help students complete their college career with success.
According to CPAD Director Mark McCloud, one of the greatest problems that many students face is figuring out what they are going to do with their major or even selecting a major. The CPAD office helps students determine what their best fit in a major is, or what job opportunities are available in their field.
CPAD staff members help students develop majors and career paths by analyzing their personalities and interests through different assessment options, including determining personality type.
“We don’t know ourselves as much. You’ve got to explore and figure you out as a person and then figure out the good fit (for a major),” McCloud says .
CPAD is staffed by six people. McCloud says each staff member not only has administrative duties within the CPAD office, but is also a liaison to each of the colleges within UTM.
“We will work directly with the deans and faculty to give specialized programming for that particular school,” McCloud says.
Each liaison is linked directly to one of the colleges within UTM. McCloud also acts as the liaison to the College of Business and Global Affairs. Assistant Director Katie Mantooth is the liaison to the College of Engineering and Natural Sciences. CPAD Coordinator Renard Miles is the liaison to the College of Education, Health and Behavioral Sciences. Dr. Annie Jones is the liaison to the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences, as well as to the Nursing Department and Diversity Initiatives on campus. Lastly, Melanie Young is the liaison to the College of Humanities and Fine Arts, as well as to the UTM Centers.
If any student needs to make an appointment with the CPAD office or one of its counselors, the administrative assistant, Amy Bates, can coordinate that via a phone call to 731-881-3712.
