This Reunion Weekend, we celebrated two beloved Gettysburg College employees who have shaped our campus in profound ways and strengthened the bonds between us as Gettysburgians: Gail Sweezey, Dean of Admissions, and Joe Lynch ’85, Executive Director of Alumni Relations.
Gail and Joe retired this summer having devoted their life’s work to our educational mission—and their legacy will endure for generations to come. Much like the remarkable alumni, faculty, and staff showcased in this edition of GETTYSBURG College Magazine, Gail and Joe have led lives of consequence in service to something greater than themselves. This is precisely what we want for today’s students as well.
We discover the power of our education when we’re given the opportunity to apply it. Student participation in such high-impact practices has long been a hallmark of a Gettysburg education and, in February, we announced that we will be building upon this institutional strength by guaranteeing a Career-Ready Experience for every student within our Guided Pathways—a defining element of the Gettysburg Approach.
A Career-Ready Experience can include at least one of the following Guided Pathways experiences:
- Off-campus or on-campus internship
- Working on a long-term Center for Public Service project
- Global study and travel through the Center for Global Education
- Campus leadership role
- Faculty-mentored research
In addition, every student participating in the Guided Pathways will have the opportunity to compete for grants ranging from $1,000 to $4,000 that can be applied to their select Career-Ready Experience, including for housing, travel costs, professional conference registration fees, and more.
Why are we deepening our commitment to Career-Ready Experiences? Because they change how our students view themselves and the world around them—and these experiences matter more than ever.
When paired with a quality academic foundation, Career-Ready Experiences have consistently proven to positively affect student learning outcomes and success. Research underscores that these experiences are more effective in the aggregate than in isolation. They benefit all students, particularly those from historically underrepresented backgrounds, and they will help Gettysburgians stand out as top job candidates.
In fact, according to a 2023 American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) study, The Career-Ready Graduate: What Employers Say about the Difference College Makes, 97% of employers report that “hands-on application of ideas,” when coupled with classroom learning, helps to position college graduates to succeed in their careers.
We have a responsibility to prepare our students for the world that awaits, and this work begins by immersing our students—every Gettysburg student—in the world of today.
I’d invite you to learn more about our guaranteed Career-Ready Experiences and consider how you can get involved. Like Gail and Joe before them, our students have the potential to uplift entire communities—and this work starts by learning how.
Sincerely,
Bob Iuliano
President