1

PSS 281 Professional Development: Ecological Agriculture / Sustainable Landscape Horticulture

Spring 2016

Instructor: Deborah Neher, Jeffords 117, Phone: 6-5390, email:

Class is held every Friday: Rowell 102, 10:50-12:20 pm, 1 credit

Office Hours: make appointment by emailing Deb Neher or Anne Marie Resnik ().

Textbooks:

Boldt, L. G. 2010. Zen and the Art of Making a Living: A Practical Guide to Creative Career Design. 2010 Edition. Penguin Putnam, New York.

Blackboard class site: used for announcements, supplemental readings, web links

You are expected to complete the reading assignments before the class period to provide you background for participation in class discussion. Assignments must be turned in by the date due to earn credit.

Course Objectives:

  • Develop and articulate a career[1] philosophy
  • Articulate and refine your own thoughts and goals about the future
  • Improve skills in career development such as writing a cover letter, preparing a resume, prepare for an interview, and negotiate effectively
  • Gain a deeper understanding of your strengths and challenges
  • Recognize your leadership style and appreciate effective leadership
  • Learn about group process, organization function and conflict resolution

Grading

Final grades are based on attendance, participation in discussions, peer review, completing periodic writing assignments, and a career project. Attendance is expected. Grades will be based on a scale of A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D+, D, D-, F.

Attendance and Preparation for class20%

Participation during class25%

Career Project(with intermittent assignments)55%

Career Project– due May 6, 2016 (in lieu of final)

A portfolio that includes all the writing assignments made throughout the semester with the addition of a Table of Contents. Writing assignments are intended to be either reflective or intended to help you progress toward identifying your career and taking the next steps to achieve that goal.

Evaluating the Instructor: At the end of the semester you will have an opportunity to evaluate the course and the instructor. However, you may also send me an e-mail with constructive criticism at any time.

Important university dates: February 1: Add/drop, audit, pass/no pass deadline; April 4: Last Day to Withdraw;

There is no final exam in this class.

Course Schedule (updated 1/25/16)

Wk / 2016
Date / Assigned reading / Topic / Speaker(s) / Task assigned
1 / 1/22 / Introduction / Deb Neher / Briggs Meyer/Kersey test, personal philosophy (due 1/29)
2 / 1/29 / 2-123 / I. Quest for Life’s Work: Who am I? / Deb Neher / Who Am I (due 2/5)
3 / 2/5 / Graduate School / PSS Grad Students: Chase Stratton, Jason Kokkinos, Dana Christel
4 / 2/12 / 423-424 / Jobs in governmental agencies / Eamon Twohig (Watershed Management; Nathaniel Sands (Food & Markets);Corey Brink (NRCS)
5 / 2/19 / Interpersonal conflict skills; People management / Stephen Lunna (UVM Human Resources) / 3 Interviews, Career Shadowing (due 4/29)
6 / 2/26 / 250-271, 285-304, 415-454 / II. The Game of Life’s Work: job search, resume, cover letter / Holly Wilkinson (UVM Career Center) / Job Search, Business Cards, Resume (due 3/18)
7 / 3/4 / 393-394 / NGOs and consultants, international / Abraham Rash (Peace Corps); Ernesto Mendez (NGOs)
3/11 / SPRING BREAK
8 / 3/18 / 365-390 / Securing capital / Maggie Donin, Intervale, Alisha Utter, PSS Grad student
9 / 3/25 / 325-343, 349-353, 373-374, 390 / Marketing, retail and mail order / Mike Lizotte (American Meadows), Adam Wheeler (Broken Arrow Nursery)
10 / 4/1 / Self-employment
Start-up businesses / Dylan Badger (Ausable Brewing), Joe Bossen (Vermont Bean Crafters)
11 / 4/8 / Nonprofits: 355, 357-361, 403-414. Freelance: 391-402, Grants: 395, 411-412 / Working for Non-profits, grants / Megan Camp, Vice President and Program Director, Shelburne Farms; Susie Walsh, Edible Schoolyard & Food Project
12 / 4/15 / Articles on BB / Professional certification tests / Extension jobs / Ann Hazelrigg, Leonard Perry, (UVM Extension), Josef Gorres (soil science certification)
13 / 4/22 / 447-454, 471-475 / Interview & negotiation
Marketing yourself / Amanda Chase (UVM Career Center) / Final Reflection (due 4/29)
14 / 4/29 / 482-551 / IV. School of Life’s Work: Learning to Change / Deb Neher / Career Portfolio due (5/6)

WWW: internet URLs

[1] Some prefer the term ‘livelihood’ instead of ‘career’