Trends Continue for Career Services’ Location, Reporting Structure

Trends & Predictions
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Spotlight for Career Services Professionals

Career centers are being housed less frequently in student affairs, more frequently in other divisions, and increasingly in various parts of the institution, according to results of NACE’s 2018-19 Career Services Benchmark Survey.

This continues a trend seen in past surveys. Some schools have even located the career center in its own division. The “other” category reflects somewhat unique joint divisions of the available options, such as enrollment management and institutional advancement. (See Figure 1.)

This was the first year that NACE included the options of joint division of student and academic affairs, office of the president, and career services as its own division. It appears that this large shift away from student affairs began around 2008, coinciding with the Great Recession.

Data from the 2018-19 Career Services Benchmark Survey were collected from December 17, 2018, to March 22, 2019. NACE member institutions were surveyed, resulting in 662 respondents, which translates to a 34.8 percent response rate. The comprehensive survey report details various aspects of college and university career center operations. This year’s survey was refined with the help of a research advisory committee, consisting of both NACE employer and college members. The 2018-19 Career Services Benchmark Survey Report for Colleges and Universities will be available this fall.

Figure 1: Location of Career Services, by Percent of Respondents, 2008-2018

Year
2018
Student Affairs46.4%
Academic Affairs24.9%
Other10.4%
School Within Institution5.0%
Enrollment Management4.2%
Institutional Development3.4%
Joint Div. of Student and Academic Affairs2.0%
Career Services as Own Division2.8%
Office of President0.8%
2017
Student Affairs48.8%
Academic Affairs22.7%
Other12.8%
School Within Institution6.2%
Enrollment Management4.7%
Institutional Development3.5%
Joint Div. of Student and Academic Affairs-
Career Services as Own Division-
Office of President-
2016
Student Affairs51.6%
Academic Affairs23.5%
Other9.9%
School Within Institution7.2%
Enrollment Management4.3%
Institutional Development3.6%
Joint Div. of Student and Academic Affairs-
Career Services as Own Division-
Office of President-
2015
Student Affairs54.6%
Academic Affairs22.5%
Other10.2%
School Within Institution5.6%
Enrollment Management3.9%
Institutional Development3.3%
Joint Div. of Student and Academic Affairs-
Career Services as Own Division-
Office of President-
2014
Student Affairs55.1%
Academic Affairs20.2%
Other11.0%
School Within Institution6.9%
Enrollment Management4.1%
Institutional Development2.7%
Joint Div. of Student and Academic Affairs-
Career Services as Own Division-
Office of President-
2013
Student Affairs59.0%
Academic Affairs18.9%
Other9.1%
School Within Institution6.5%
Enrollment Management3.7%
Institutional Development2.9%
Joint Div. of Student and Academic Affairs-
Career Services as Own Division-
Office of President-
2012
Student Affairs57.4%
Academic Affairs21.7%
Other9.8%
School Within Institution5.4%
Enrollment Management3.0%
Institutional Development2.5%
Joint Div. of Student and Academic Affairs-
Career Services as Own Division-
Office of President-
2011
Student Affairs59.4%
Academic Affairs22.4%
Other12.4%
School Within Institution-
Enrollment Management6.0%
Institutional Development2.1%
Joint Div. of Student and Academic Affairs-
Career Services as Own Division-
Office of President-
2010
Student Affairs63.6%
Academic Affairs24.0%
Other3.4%
School Within Institution-
Enrollment Management3.1%
Institutional Development3.0%
Joint Div. of Student and Academic Affairs-
Career Services as Own Division-
Office of President-
2009
Student Affairs63.1%
Academic Affairs21.5%
Other10.8%
School Within Institution-
Enrollment Management2.8%
Institutional Development1.5%
Joint Div. of Student and Academic Affairs-
Career Services as Own Division-
Office of President-
2008
Student Affairs68.3%
Academic Affairs19.6%
Other7.5%
School Within Institution-
Enrollment Management2.8%
Institutional Development1.8%
Joint Div. of Student and Academic Affairs-
Career Services as Own Division-
Office of President-
Year Student Affairs Academic Affairs Other School Within Institution Enrollment Management Institutional Development Joint Div. of Student and Academic Affairs Career Services as Own Division Office of President
2018 46.4% 24.9% 10.4% 5.0% 4.2% 3.4% 2.0% 2.8% 0.8%
2017 48.8% 22.7% 12.8% 6.2% 4.7% 3.5% - - -
2016 51.6% 23.5% 9.9% 7.2% 4.3% 3.6% - - -
2015 54.6% 22.5% 10.2% 5.6% 3.9% 3.3% - - -
2014 55.1% 20.2% 11.0% 6.9% 4.1% 2.7% - - -
2013 59.0% 18.9% 9.1% 6.5% 3.7% 2.9% - - -
2012 57.4% 21.7% 9.8% 5.4% 3.0% 2.5% - - -
2011 59.4% 22.4% 12.4% - 6.0% 2.1% - - -
2010 63.6% 24.0% 3.4% - 3.1% 3.0% - - -
2009 63.1% 21.5% 10.8% - 2.8% 1.5% - - -
2008 68.3% 19.6% 7.5% - 2.8% 1.8% - - -
Source: 2018-19 Career Services Benchmark Survey Report for Colleges and Universities, National Association of Colleges and Employers
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