About the Institute

In 1997, a small group of West coast career directors who shared a passionate vision for the advancement of excellence in career services founded the Career Services Institute, dedicated to the professional development of all career center staff members. By popular demand, in 2007, a second Institute was launched in Eastern United States, CSI East. The third annual CSI East will be held on the campus of the University of Richmond, Richmond, VA, August 10th & 11th, 2009.

These programs have never been as important as they are during these very challenging times.

Today's successful career centers involve and depend on motivated employees who have diverse roles, skill sets and backgrounds, and who together can…

• provide an evermore caring, sustainable, and accessible environment for increasingly diverse student populations,
• foster collaborative partnerships across their respective campuses,
• cultivate employer relationships rooted in sound and professional business protocols,
• prevail over the constant reality of resource issues such as budget cuts, departmental mergers or reorganizations, and pressure to be self-supporting,
• market and promote the value of their counseling, programs, and service offerings to students,
• and embrace and leverage technology as a core component of service delivery.

"Our Staff, Our Profession" embodies the spirit of the Institute, recognizing that it takes the contributions of every staff member, performing at every level and in every capacity, to fulfill our quest for excellence. At the Career Services Institute, the playing field is leveled -- we are enriched by the participation of all career services staff, sharing our unique approaches, discovering our mutual interests, and creating new relationships that we will enjoy and benefit from, long after we return to campus.

Click here for a Photo Gallery of the 2008 CSI East Conference