In today’s job market, candidates with a solid professional image get hired. One of the key elements of a solid professional image is the way you dress. The Office of Career Services is excited to offer a professional development series focused on building professional skills with our students. This unique program, called the Classroom to Career Professional Suit Certificate Program, guides students through a variety of career-related steps to build their career competencies and professional image. At the completion of these steps, students will earn a free, fitted, professional business suit.

The Classroom to Career Program is open to juniors and seniors from all majors. Emporia State has partnered with the professional staff at Dillard’s in Topeka, Kansas to provide the sizing for the suit program. Emporia State University Career Services provides the ongoing funding for the suit program, as well as gifts from our generous donors.

Eligibility (Dates To Be Announced Soon)

To be eligible for this program, students must:

1. Be a current junior or senior in any major by credit hour at the start of the Spring 2024 semester, while also holding a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher.
2. Be enrolled full-time for the Spring 2024 semester.

*Students who graduate in December 2024 are not eligible to participate in this program.

3. Apply online for the program in the month of October by completing the application. Applications will not be made available or accepted before October of 2024.

4. Students will be selected by a Selection Committee based on their applications and will be notified if they are selected in November.

5. Complete all required certificate steps in Canvas.

***NOTE: This program is limited to 40 students, so not everyone who applies will be selected. It is NOT first-come, first-served as in the past. Students who have already participated in the program cannot participate again.

This program is based on the NACE Career Competencies.

Questions? Contact us!

Joel Ewy, Associate Director of Career Services, jewy@emporia.edu

Shamar Thomas, Graduate Assistant of Career Services, sthoma23@emporia.edu

Kaitlynn Ray, Graduate Assistant of Career Services, kray2@emporia.edu

TEACHING MAJORS

The Teachers College operates a career closet in Visser Hall for all teaching majors. For more information, go to The Teachers College career closet home page.

Professional dress resources

Log into your Handshake account and click on RESOURCES to access valuable tips on professional dress. Also, click on the CAREER SPOTS video library for great videos on professional dress.