Seniors

Overview:

“As college seniors leave their undergraduate careers behind, these new alumni will face the complex demands of a new economy, ever-changing technology, an increasingly diverse America, and a demanding, fluctuating, and highly competitive job market … ” 

“The consensus is that the most basic need of seniors is for opportunities for reflection on the meaning of the college experience, integration and closure, and holistic support during the transition to post-college life”  

Gardner, John N (1999). “The Senior Year Experience.” About Campus: Enriching the Student Learning Experience, vol. 4, no.
1, pp. 5–11., doi:10.1177/108648229900400103.

Our Senior Class initiatives aim to help seniors use this year to:

  • Strategically plan and engage in purposeful Career Development
  • Empower students with financial literacy skills
  • Equip students with transitional life-skills and planning for life after college
  • Engage in meaningful life-long mentoring relationships
  • Balance individual support and helping peers stay connected with their groups
  • Seek life-long sustainable self-care, finding joy, well-being, and thriving
  • Reflect on the meaning of senior’s Pitzer experience and legacy
  • Preserving and continuing traditions; supporting progress towards graduation; the importance of Commencement and celebrating Senior milestones and accomplishments

Steps for Success Workshop Series for Seniors

Thanks to student voice and feedback, below are some of the workshops Seniors can look forward to, to assist with their success this Fall 2020. Seniors are welcome to share ideas anytime with any of the OSA staff members listed below.

Career Development & Life/Plans After College
  •  Meet With Career Services
    • We conduct individual career advising appointments virtually through Zoom or by phone. Head to Handshake to schedule an appointment https://pitzer.joinhandshake.com/
  • Industry Series
    • Every Tuesday during the academic year, Pitzer alumni, parent/family member, and employers from a variety of industries will discuss opportunities in their field. All are welcome to these informal conversations
    • Tuesdays, 5:30pm PDT Find out more information and register for these weekly events through Handshake https://pitzer.joinhandshake.com/
  • Graduate School & Fellowships 
  •  Applying for Fellowships  
    • Consider opportunities and join in for a fellowship focused session geared toward Seniors! 
      • September 24, 2020 12:30PM 
      • Presented by: Sandy Hamilton 
  • Cultivating Meaningful Life-Long Mentoring Relationships 
    • Mentoring relationships are often transformational relationships that empower students on their personal and success pathway. Join in dialogue about the impact mentors have had on your life and pathway, how to sustain these relationships for a lifetime, and how to pay it forward.   
      • October 21, 2020 5:45PM-7PM 
      • Presenters: Brad Tharpe, Miriam Merril, and Sandra Vasquez 
  • #PZSeniorLifeGoals: Planning for Life Transitions after College  
    • Get a head start planning for life transitions after college. Learn about helpful life transition planning tips and words of wisdom from alumni. Be prepared to engage in personal reflection and to create a road map of your #PZSeniorLifeGoals.  
      • October 28, 2020 5:45PM-7PM 
      • Presented by: Brad Tharpe, Stephanie Hannant and Sandra Vasquez 
      • Alumni Participants: TBD 
  • Thinking about Strategic & Innovative Ways to Use a Gap Year? 
    • Explore effective ways to make a gap year count to your advantage and help build your resume, competencies, and skills! 
      • October 22, 2020 4:15PM-5:15PM
      • Presented by: Career Services 
Preserving and Continuing Traditions
  • Reflections on the Meaning of your Pitzer Experience & Vision for your Legacy 
    • During your new student orientation, together you manifested “I am destined for greatness!” at the start of your Pitzer experience. Come together to engage in reflection about the meaning of your Pitzer experience, transformational moments, and help create a virtual vision board for the legacy you wish to leave behind.  
      • November 11, 2020 5:45PM-7PM 
      • Presented by: Sandra Vasquez 
Senior Thesis 
  • How to Get Started on your Thesis  
    • This will be a two-part workshop. Part I will include a panel of faculty and Part II will feature alumni who successfully completed their thesis. Opportunities to join the Writing Center at Pitzer for virtual thesis write-ins for seniors and other workshops are also forthcoming! 
      • September 25, 2020 5:45PM-7PM
      • Confirmed Part I faculty panelists so far:  
        • Susan Phillips (Environmental Analysis) 
        • Menna Bizuneh (Economics) 
        • Phil Zuckerman (Sociology) 
        • Ruti Talmor (Media Studies) 
        • Nancy Williams (Keck Science) 
        • The Pitzer Writing Center 
      • How To Get Started On Your Thesis Part I: Zoom Video
      • Part II: October 16, 2020
  • The Pitzer Writing Center
    • The Writing Center is one of Pitzer’s most popular academic resources, holding more than 1,600 consultations last year. This fall, the center will offer comprehensive virtual support to students enrolled in Pitzer classes. This includes one-on-one video conferences with peer Fellows trained to work with writers on assignments across the disciplines and at any stage of the writing process, from brainstorming ideas to polishing a final draft. The Writing Center will also continue to host a range of online workshops and events, including regular “write-ins” that build community and foster resilience around the writing process. Specialized consultations are available for senior thesis, fellowship, and multilingual writers. In addition, a research librarian offers weekly consultations on all aspects of the research process. For more information or to book an appointment, visit https://www.pitzer.edu/writing-center/
  • The Claremont Colleges Library  | Website
    • We encourage thesis writers to meet with their subject librarian early and often! Librarians can help you refine your topic, find and evaluate scholarship, assist in questions of citing or copyright, and many other research needs. 
    • Check out New To Using the Library to get oriented to the Library’s core services and resources. Please refer to their COVID-19 web page for the most up-to-date information about Library services, as they are subject to change in response to the state of public health recommendations. Some highlights of our remote resources and services include the following: 
      • All of the online resources—databasesjournals, articles, and e-books—are available off campus. Anyone with valid Pitzer credentials (what you use to login into Sakai or your college email account) has access to them by going through the Library’s website
      • Once you have your login credentials, materials that are available in print can be requested online through the Resource Sharing service. You can request that they be mailed to your home address (mailing limit 5 per person, per semester). 
      • If you find a book or article you would like but it’s either checked out from the Library or not in the collection, you can request it through the free Resource Sharing service. The library will make every effort to find an electronic version of your request. They hope to begin providing this service for print resources later this summer. 
      • Research consultations with a librarian are available via Zoom. They also have chat and email research support. We’re here to help you get acclimated to college research! 
      • Special Collections staff are available to answer questions you might have about accessing their materials or conducting primary source research. For those who are not familiar, Special Collections houses distinctive and unique resources, including rare books, maps, photographs, posters, college archives, and more. You are encouraged to explore and browse the digital collections
    • The library automatically acquires all course readings that faculty submit to the Huntley Bookstore, and they are doing their best to provide access to e-versions of them whenever possible. Search the Library’s website to see if the course readings for your classes are available. If you don’t see them, reach out to your professor and let them know to contact the Library 
    • Scholarship @ Claremont is a growing archive and academic record of the scholarship and publications produced by students, faculty, and staff of The Claremont Colleges. Though Pitzer does not require students to submit their thesis in S@C, we encourage students to do so as a way to share your scholarship with the world or TCC community. More information about S@C is available on our Scholarship @ Claremont webpage
Well-Being & Self-Care
  • Self-Care Workshop 
    • Juggling thesis, grad school applications, employment, athletics, clubs and other commitments on campus? Get extra support for your Senior year! Workshop will go through different aspects of self-care, health and well-being campus resources/referrals and hold space for students to talk about their accomplishments and challenges during their senior year. 
      • September 11th 12PM (PST) – 1PM (PST) 
  • Mindfulness for Seniors 
    • Mindfulness workshop leads a student through a variety of grounding, relaxation and wellness activities to help stay in the present moment. 
      • September 18th 12PM (PST) – 1PM (PST) 
  • Wellness Wednesdays
    • A weekly email of tips, videos, tools, and resources promoting wellness 
      • Every Wednesday 
      • Topics to be Covered Include: 
        • Welcome to Wellness Wednesdays! Meet the PASS team! 
        • Adjusting to College Life 
        • Fall Semester Self-Care 
        • What is Resiliency? 
        • Time Management and Study Skills 
        • World Mental Health Day 
        • Mental Health Resource Tool Kit 
        • Health Resources 
        • Pitzer Resources 
        • Election 2020 
        • Finding the Joy 
        • Gratitude 
        • Winter Break Blues 
Financial Literacy 
  • Attaining Financial Freedom – Personal Finance/Budgeting/Life Plan Transitions 
    • Date/Time: TBD 
    • Presented by: TBD
Highlighted initiatives and programs (all times are PST):  
  • Wellness Wednesdays 
    • Every Wednesday via email 
  • Industry Series 
    • Tuesdays at 5:30PM 
  • Self-Care Workshop:  
    • Sept.11th 12PM – 1PM 
  • Mindfulness for Seniors:  
    • Sept. 18th 12PM – 1PM 
  • Applying for Fellowships 
    • Sept, 24, 2020 12:30PM 
  • How to Get Started on Your Thesis: Part I
    • Sept. 25th 5:45PM-7PM
  • Cultivating Meaningful Life-Long Mentoring Relationships 
    • Oct. 21st 5:45PM – 7PM 
  • #PZSeniorLifeGoals: Planning for Life Transition after College 
    • Oct. 28th 5:45PM – 7PM 
  • Reflections on the Meaning of your Pitzer Experience & Vision for your Legacy 
    • Nov. 11th 5:45PM – 7pm 
  • Thinking About Strategic & Innovative Ways to Use a Gap Year 
    • Date/Time: TBD 
  • Attaining Financial Freedom – Personal Finance/Budgeting/Life Plan Transitions  
    • Date/Time: TBD 
  • DIY Workshops with Zenia Gutierrez 
    • Dates/Times: TBD 

Resources & Links for Seniors

Connect with your Senior Class OSA Staff

We are here to support you throughout your first semester of your Senior year at Pitzer. Send us an email if you would like to connect or need some questions answered. We look forward to hearing from you!