Rider University's Amanda Young Participates in New Shadow Program

2012 Jan 31

Through IND 350: The Shadow Experience, a new one-credit course offered during the JTerm, from January 3 through January 20, Amanda Young '13 of Fairless Hills, Pa., a Marine Sciences major, was one of the 16 Rider University students who shadowed successful alumni and community business leaders in the field. Offered by the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the elective course was open to students from all majors.

The Shadow Experience emerged from discussions between Dr. Jonathan Millen, associate dean for the Liberal Arts, and Terri Marriott '03, M.A. '09, senior academic coordinator for Liberal Arts and Sciences, who wanted to create a program that connects student learning in the classroom to the professional environment.

As part of the course, students selected a professional to shadow from a list of participating Rider Alumni. They were then required to take a three-hour pre-experience seminar online, log 20-25 hours of shadowing, keep a journal and attend a three-hour post-experience seminar.

Through The Shadow Experience, Rider students were able to develop meaningful mentoring relationships, connect classroom curriculum to applied practice, explore career possibilities and observe the daily realities of the working environment.

"What we are hoping is that the students will develop a real mentor relationship," Marriott explained. "One that will provide them with an opportunity to network professionally and have an additional avenue for career exploration and development."

At the same time, participating alumni were able to become engaged in the education of today's students and maintain their connection to the Rider community.

"The shadowing program is a good way for the alumni to stay connected to the institution," Millen said. "We're responding to their feedback, finding more ways for them to give back."

Millen and Marriott worked with Natalie Pollard '93, M.A. '98, director of Alumni Relations, to reach out to alumni through e-mail communications in the fall. In less than 48 hours, about 70 alumni and community members had responded to the e-mail expressing their interest in participating in the program.

"Being able to partner with the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences and our alumni on a program that benefits our current students is a win-win situation for all involved," Pollard explained. "In a very competitive job market, it's so important for our students to have the opportunity to gain meaningful, job-related experience prior to graduation. Our alumni are helping to support and promote this transition from education to the world of work through instruction and guidance."

The School of Liberal Arts and Sciences expects to offer the Shadow Experience in the future.

"I'm getting tremendous feedback from student participants, who get to make connections between learning in the classroom and shadowing in a professional environment," Marriott said.