About the initiative
Connecting our campus, students, alumni and community
We recently surveyed alumni and asked how we could better engage them and help maintain ties to UNB. They told us they wanted to have a direct impact on students and offered to volunteer their time.
In response, we created the Bridge Network, a pilot project supported by the UNB Associated Alumni and UNB Saint John's Vice-President's office.
The Bridge Network builds on the history and great relationship that UNB Saint John shares with the community, offers exceptional learning opportunities for students, and provides alumni with a concrete way to give back.
Ultimately, the goal is to foster grassroots connections between our campus and the community, encouraging students to remain and thrive in Saint John by helping them build strong career and lifetime bridges.
Career exploration
Through workshops and information sessions, students have an opportunity to meet with alumni to hear about lessons they learned during their time at UNB and in the workplace and to discuss challenges and opportunities.
Workshops focus on helping students figure out career direction and how to get there, business etiquette and networking, and the importance of being an active part of a wider community.
Field experience
This component of the program encourages students to volunteer and take part in job shadowing and internship opportunities. It helps guide students in their educational and career choices by offering relevant experience in their chosen fields.
It also gives local volunteer organizations and small businesses an opportunity to get to know our students, as well as giving them access to intelligent and eager minds and to identify potential future interns and employees.
Alumni advising
The UNB Saint John Alumni Advisor Program provides students with the opportunity to contact alumni who have volunteered to provide career coaching. This may include sharing information about a specific occupation, field of employment or industry, or offering tips on entering the job market. Alumni volunteers share their own experience and knowledge and may offer connections in the working world.
Events such as the Speed-Networking sessions, Alumni Speakers in the Classroom, and Alumni Panel discussions complement the Advisor Program and present more opportunities for alumni and students to connect.
For more information, contact Mary Duffley, Alumni Program Manager with the UNB Associated Alumni, at bridgenetwork@unbsj.ca.
