Session Abstract

Session Two explores practical solutions to the question of career placement. Career services and advising has long been an area of critical need for PhDs seeking employment in non-faculty positions. This session focuses on practical solutions for and recent successes in improving career services and advising. It also takes the question a step further, and asks: What specific strategies or cross-institutional collaborations are currently underway (or might be fruitfully undertaken) that could inform thinking and implementation of a career placement model for placing history PhDs in non-faculty positions? Participants will briefly summarize key institutional challenges, while providing positive examples of how some institutions and programs are working to improve career services and advising for history (and other humanities) PhDs. Following the presentations, we will open the floor for a conversation about the practical implementation of these issues on campuses nationwide. We anticipate a mixed audience of doctoral students and directors of graduate studies, and hope for practical discussion about what is happening on individual campuses, and how current practices might improve.