Nine SCICU member colleges and universities pooled their resources to sponsor a Teacher Recruitment Fair on the campus of Presbyterian College on April 8. Recruiters representing 40 school districts spent the day interviewing some of the more than 100 education majors who came dressed for success and ready to go to work. Lynn Downie, assistant director of career programs at PC, reported that there were a number of bona fide job offers made on the spot with lots of call backs promised.
This was the first time in many years that the SCICU schools sponsored a separate event for teachers. Most recently, teacher recruitment was part of the greater SCICU Career Fair and Interview Day held during January in Columbia. With the demand for teachers growing steadily, early January conflicts with practice teaching schedules, and the fact that districts wanted to interview later in the year when they have a better idea about their employment needs, the SCICU Career Services Directors decided to have a separate event in the spring just for education. Responses from both employers and students have encouraged the organizers to plan another event for next year.
This year’s event was held during Independent College and University Week and was part of a series of events celebrating the many contributions of private non-profit colleges and universities to their students and to the larger world outside their campuses. Graduates from SCICU member institutions are valued for their imagination, creativity, critical thinking, communications, and strong sense of purpose and moral integrity.