Want to get involved? Visit pirateconnect.southwestern.edu and click on the “COMPASS” tab, then press “Join.”
About The Program
Take your PirateConnect experience one step further and join the Southwestern COMPASS Program!
The Southwestern COMPASS Program stands for Connecting Opportunities through Mentorship, Professional Alumni Support & Shadowing. This program intentionally connects Southwestern sophomores, juniors, and seniors to alumni and community members through two unique opportunities within the program: The Networking Track and the Shadowing Experience
What is the Networking Track?
During the Fall, students will be matched with three different alumni and community members who work in professional fields that align with the student’s interests and goals. While these matches will take place through online engagement in PirateConnect, a staff member will purposefully connect specific students and based on the student’s professional interest, major, student organization, involvement, and other areas of academic and co-curricular life.
Schedule:
Matching will commence on the following dates:
- Match 1: Monday, September 15
- Match 2: Monday, October 6
- Match 3: Monday, November 3
What is the Shadowing Experience?
Following the Networking track of the COMPASS program, students will have the opportunity to enhance their professional development by participating in a single-day shadowing experience/externship at work locations of SU alumni and community members.
The following days have been selected for specific Shadow dates:
- Shadow Day 1: Tuesday, January 13
- This day is over winter break to offer students the opportunity to shadow alumni and community members in their hometowns including but not limited to San Antonio, Houston, and Dallas/Fort Worth.
- Locations are contingent upon the number of alumni willing to host and students interested in attending.
- Shadow Day 2: Friday, February 13
- Shadow Day 3: Friday, April 17
These shadowing experiences/externships will be selected based on student’s interest along with the following criteria:
- Must be in a 5-10 mile radius of SU (with the exception of first shadow day)
- Industry of potential interest to students (e.g. healthcare, business, technology).
- Structured to offer students exposure to a college-level career field.
For Southwestern Alumni and Community Members
The Southwestern COMPASS Program creates intentional connections, through a structured and purposeful engagement model. As alumni or members of the SU community, whether you decide to be a COMPASS Networking Contact or lead a COMPASS Shadowing experience, you have the opportunity to invest in student success. By sharing your experiences and answering their questions, you are expanding their professional networks beyond the SU community. In time, students will develop a professional foundation and be prepared for future options such as internships, jobs, or graduate school search process.