By Kyle Peveto, Opinion Editor

Departments assisting students in career counseling and finding post-graduate work will merge at the end of this semester, a decision forced by budget cuts announced Tuesday.

The offices of Career Services and Career and Academic Development will group together next semester when Career Services Director Jack Stewart and the administrative coordinator for that office, Phyllis Trevathan, retire at the end of the academic year.

Career Services’ responsibilities, such as coordinating job fairs, printing the Marketplace newsletter, assisting in resume preparation and filing references for former students, will be switched to the Career and Academic Development office.

“It makes a lot of sense to put these together,” said Dr. Jeff Reese, director of career and academic development. “It would be a more seamless endeavor.”

Reese said the merger would have happened eventually without the budget cuts forcing the issue. Career and Academic Development’s four professional staff members will be ready to distribute the added responsibilities through the office next year.

“One of the things we’re most excited about is connecting alumni to students” for jobs and internships, Reese said.

More specific details, not yet decided, may change the structure or title of the office, but services will “not be lessened but will probably be enhanced,” Reese said.

This semester no changes will occur, and Career and Academic Planning will continue to offer career counseling for freshmen and sophomores as a part of the Discovery Program, which allows students to take career aptitude tests in University Seminar and take a career counseling class the following semester if they have not yet decided on a major.

“Instead of waiting on students to come to us, we’re becoming embedded in the curriculum,” Reese said.

Career Counseling is available this semester for all students in the Career and Academic Development Office located in Room 124 in the Administration Building.