Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp, through his Chancellor’s Century Council members, has donated $5,000 to Texas A&M University-Texarkana to help create a “suit bank” to lend clothes for student job applicants to wear on interviews.
“We all know that first impressions can be lasting impressions,” said Dr. Emily Cutrer, president of Texas A&M University-Texarkana. “It’s important for the university to support our students throughout the interview process. The Chancellor’s Century Council ‘suit bank’ initiative will be a wonderful complement to our Career Services program. We look forward to working with our Student Government Association, Campus Activities Board and Student Life representatives to determine how best to implement the suit bank on our campus. We also are exploring the possibility of partnering with local organizations to augment this program with the collection of gently worn interview apparel.”
Andrea Hamilton, director of Career Services at A&M-Texarkana, said the donation will enable the university to further establish its partnership with local organizations to create a career closet for students.
“The ‘suit bank’ announcement was the highlight of my month. It’s an initiative that will give wings and funds to the career closet network idea birthed at A&M-Texarkana in fall 2013 with the re purposing of former SGA blazers for mock interviews,” said Hamilton. “The opportunities for donations have already started. These resources coupled with some ‘Dress for Success’ classes and some guided shopping trips will really help our students put their best foot forward.”
The Chancellor’s Century Council has committed a total of $70,000 to the initiative, which will establish funds either to start a program, or to supplement existing efforts to help job applicants with their wardrobes, at each of the eleven A&M System universities.
“The suit bank is a great idea. I know we are very happy to be part of the donation from the Chancellor’s Century Council to get this started,” said Jack Matz, chairman-elect of the Chancellor’s Century Council. “It reminds all of us how we think about the students and how they look to the outside world when they are interviewing. We know that these kids are the best kids going to one of the best universities in the country but that next step of getting hired after they have graduated is of the utmost importance and to put their best foot forward in front of the interviewer is paramount.”
Fred Orr, Chancellor’s Century Council member, agreed, “Appearance ranks high on all categories/situations in life…especially as one prepares to enter the beckoning world of college graduates.”
For more information on the initiative at A&M-Texarkana, please contact Andrea Hamilton at Andrea.Hamilton@tamut.edu.
