SARASOTA, Fla. (June 18, 2019) – A dozen USF Sarasota-Manatee students and recent graduates learned about law enforcement careers and internships as part of a unique program on Friday organized by USFSM, the Sarasota Police Department, Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office and Florida State Attorney’s Office for the 12thJudicial Circuit.
The students met with law enforcement representatives and toured the agencies as part of the daylong program. Traveling by van, they stopped first in downtown Sarasota to meet Deputy Chief Pat Robinson and other police officials before heading to the 12thJudicial Circuit for a sit-down with State Attorney Ed Brodsky.
Then the students traveled across the county to meet Sheriff’s Deputy Chief Col. Kurt Hoffman and other deputies and civilian personnel.
It was all part of an effort to help the students make professional connections and gain
knowledge about careers in the authentic context of the workplace. Additionally, the students delved into investigative procedures, including evidence gathering, digital and forensic analysis and other civilian support positions.
Some students brought resumes. Others attended to explore career interests. Almost all were seniors or recent graduates.
“Networking with these criminal justice professionals was a great experience for our students as they seek to identify career options,” Murat Haner, PhD, the criminology program coordinator at USFSM, said. “Previously, they did the coursework and online searches, but this field trip enabled them to walk inside several agencies, see the working environment, listen to job tasks and descriptions, and experience what the culture was like by sitting down with real people with real experience. They got to see where they would potentially be working in the future, and hopefully this experience made them more confident about their career options.”
Haner was among the event’s organizers, which also included USFSM Associate Professor Melissa Sloan, PhD, Director of Business Outreach and Engagement Jay Riley and Veteran Services Administrator Carlos Moreira. The event was patterned after similar career-related experiences at government agencies in Sarasota and Manatee counties.
The students said the experience opened their eyes to the range of local law enforcement career options.
Olivia Kulaw, who graduated with a criminology degree this past spring, said she’s open to a variety of law enforcement careers. She’s always maintained an interest in law enforcement and likes the idea of public service, she said. That idea was strengthened after talking with law enforcement professionals on Friday.
“I like the investigative process, and I really could see myself as a detective,” Kulaw said. “This event makes me want to go home and do some research and learn more about the police academy.”
Catlyn Kingsland, a senior criminology student, said she’s likewise open to a variety of career choices, although she’s most drawn to working in a crime lab. Traveling to the sheriff’s crime lab in southeast Sarasota County reinforced that interest.
“I’ve always been fascinated by forensics,” she said. “It’s always an interest for me. I felt like I could see myself doing that job for 20-plus years.”
English major Tyler Williams, a senior, brought along an armful of resumes. He said he came to the event to meet Brodsky and other attorneys from the 12th Judicial Circuit in downtown Sarasota. Brodsky is also a USF alum and an adjunct instructor at USFSM.
“It was nice to meet people in the field and talk with them about what they’re doing and to hear first-hand about how they’re able to do their jobs,” said Williams, who hopes to enter law school after graduation next year. “I feel like this event really helped me to make some connections and brought me closer to my goal of becoming an attorney.”
Riley said the importance of making connections can’t be underestimated as students prepare to enter the job market. He said he hopes to work with other agencies in the future to develop more such meetings between employers and students.
Learn about master’s degrees on Saturday at USFSM
The University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee will hold a Master’s Degree Information Session on Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., at the USFSM campus, 8350 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota.
Undergraduates and active professionals can learn about graduate degrees, including MBAs, and find out about tuition, scholarships, financial aid and convenient weekend, evening and online classes. Attendees will receive a waiver of the $30 application fee.
“The Master’s Degree Information Session is a wonderful event for prospects and applicants to learn what life is like as a graduate student at USF Sarasota-Manatee,” admissions counselor Cassidy Garbutt said.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, median annual earnings for workers with a master’s degree are $12,000 higher than for those with a bachelor’s degree.
USF Sarasota-Manatee offers graduate degrees in the following areas:
- Business
- Criminal justice
- Educational leadership
- Education: Online teaching and learning
- Elementary education
- English education
- Hospitality management
- Social work
To register for the session, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/masters-degree-information-session-registration-61957784401.
For more about USFSM graduate programs, visit usfsm.edu/admissions/index.aspx.
Critical Thinking Conference open to faculty, students
This year’s conference is set for Oct. 3-4 at USF St. Pete.
The deadline for submissions to this year’s Critical and Creative Thinking Conference has been extended to July 1. USF Sarasota-Manatee faculty and students are encouraged to submit proposals for conference presentations, workshops and poster sessions.
This year’s conference is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 3, and Friday, Oct. 4, at USF St. Petersburg and will showcase the work of USFSM and USFSP faculty and students.
The conference’s theme is “Critical and Creative Thinking at the Core” to emphasize the integration, assessment and importance of critical and creative thinking in general education courses.
Conference tracks include:
- Scholarship of Teaching and Learning as it applies to Critical and Creative Thinking
- Embedding Critical and/or Creative Thinking in Courses (Tools, Techniques, and Tips)
- Operationalizing Critical and/or Creative Thinking: It May Not Be What You Think It Is
- Assessing Critical and/or Creative Thinking
- Quick Picks for Implementation
- Creative and Critical Thinking Student Projects
- Poster Sessions (may include research, students’ projects, ideas and examples)
Attendance is $150, which includes breakfast and lunch for both days. Registration is free for student presenters.
To submit a proposal, visit https://usf.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bBFbTel6aCsCwsJ.
Dr. Ali creates YouTube research channel
Faizan Ali, PhD, of USFSM’s College of Hospitality & Tourism Leadership, has created a YouTube channel for research-related videos. He invites USF Sarasota-Manatee faculty and others to view and share videos from the channel.
Visit the channel here, www.youtube.com/c/ResearchBeast.
“I intend to make this channel a valuable platform for researchers and to produce content that can contribute in learning and development of researchers around the world,” Ali said. “The videos on this channel can be used by graduate students, research faculty and those who teach research methods and related courses.”
The channel launched March 27 and has more than 1,700 subscribers. Its videos have been watched 14,000 times by viewers worldwide.
So far, he’s uploaded 16 videos:
- How to Publish Papers Successfully
- Crafting Literature Review
- Advances issues in PLS-SEM
- Qualitative Data Analysis using NVivo
- Basic Mistakes in Quantitative Research
- Scale Development
- Experimental Research Design
- Importance of Positive Attitude
- Airport Physical Environment and National Identity
- Experimental Research Design: An Online Panel
- How to find a Research Idea?
- Challenges of an Assistant Professor in Mentioning a Research Pipeline
- What are Higher Order Models and How to Estimate them
- Model Assessment using smartPLS
- PLS Predict and its Standard Reporting Guidelines.
- 20 Microsoft Word tips and tricks, specifically for researchers
E-Learning Services offers training, support to faculty, students
E-Learning Services reminds faculty that it’s offering an array of professional development opportunities this summer, including an “Introduction to PlayPosit,” “Canvas Certification (C3)” and a “Technology Showcase.”
Visit /academics/academic-resources/e-learning/professional-development.aspx to register or learn more.
The “Introduction to PlayPosit” session is set for Wednesday from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. in room B342. PlayPosit is a tool integrated within Canvas to allow users to transform passive observation into active learning in face-to-face, hybrid and online courses.
In addition, E-Learning will host “Canvas Hacks and Summer Snacks” to provide on-demand Canvas and instructional technology support for new and returning students.
The Canvas Hacks and Summer Snacks sessions will be held in the Information Commons on the following days:
- Monday, June 24, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
- Tuesday, June 25, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
- Wednesday, June 26, from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
For more information, stop by E-Learning Services.