April 25, 2023The Shocker Experience

Career Fair Helps Students Network With High-Profile Employers

By Rebecca Martin

Students chat with members of the Wichita Police Department during the career fair sponsored by the School of Criminal Justice.Courtesy of the School of Criminal Justice
Students chat with members of the Wichita Police Department during the career fair sponsored by the School of Criminal Justice.

 

Hello Future Shockers!

With graduation right around the corner - the Wichita State University School of Criminal Justice (SCJ) and Criminal Justice Student Association (CJSA) sponsored a career fair on April 5 on the third floor Beggs Ballroom at the Rhatigan Student Center. A career fair gives students and employers a chance to meet one another and discuss potential job and/or internship opportunities. This FREE event for both employers and students hosted over 35 agencies and/or businesses specializing in careers in Criminal Justice, Homeland Security, Forensic Science, Law Enforcement, Corrections, Court Services, Police Science, Private Security, Public Safety, and more! This event has been going on for more than 15 years.

As I walked around the room visiting the booths, I saw students learn what it takes to secure the homeland by visiting with representatives of the Department of Homeland Security - US Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol, learn the importance of a drone in criminal investigations by the Rose Hill, Kansas Police Department, and what evidence can be recovered at a crime scene by the Wichita Police Department (WPD) Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) Team and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI). By the way, did you know the WPD CSI are civilians and not sworn law enforcement officers? I witnessed students do push-ups for a free US Air Force t-shirt, learned that Ascension Via Christi is hiring security officers and they have over 80 medical-type facilities in the state of Kansas. I was also so excited to visit with a former FBI colleague who drove down from Kansas City to recruit for the agency!  What I enjoyed most about this event was watching all the students fully engaged with all the prospective employers and not to mention the occasional selfie being snapped with the agency rep for of course the “extra credit” offered by SCJ Instructors!

Students visit the FBI table during the School of Criminal Justice career fair.Courtesy of the School of Criminal Justice
Students visit the FBI table during the School of Criminal Justice career fair.

 

By way of background, Wichita State University - a forerunner in criminal justice education - was the fourth institution in the United States to offer college coursework in police science. Since its beginning in 1934 as a police program, it has broadened its scope to include the total criminal justice system. The SCJ not only hosts an in-person and online Criminal Justice degree, but is home to the Forensic Science program, the online Homeland Security major, and the Master’s in Criminal Justice degree. SCJ students may participate in cooperative education and internship programs which provide related employment opportunities with local and federal criminal justice agencies.

The CJSA provides networking opportunities to members by bringing speakers to campus and scheduling tours of various agencies. Membership to the CJSA is open to any WSU student and they hold bi-monthly meetings during the school year.

If you are interested in any of the SCJ programs, don’t hesitate to reach out to me!

Stay safe!

Rebecca L. Martin

 
 
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