dual career network university of iowa

Dual Career NetworkDual Career Network University of Iowa University of Iowa

Development, History Development, History and Perspectivesand Perspectives

Joan MurrinJoan MurrinOctober 2104October 2104

Texas A&MTexas A&M

About The University of Iowa…About The University of Iowa…

Established in 1847, 59 days after IA became a stateEstablished in 1847, 59 days after IA became a state

First university in the country to admit women and men on First university in the country to admit women and men on equal basisequal basis

11 Colleges: College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, Medicine, 11 Colleges: College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, Medicine, Business, Education, Law, Engineering, Nursing, Dentistry, Business, Education, Law, Engineering, Nursing, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Public Health, Graduate CollegePharmacy, Public Health, Graduate College

100 areas of study with 7 terminal degrees100 areas of study with 7 terminal degrees

Over 31,000 students: 60% from Iowa, 24% from adjoining Over 31,000 students: 60% from Iowa, 24% from adjoining states states

Located in small town (70,000) with larger town close Located in small town (70,000) with larger town close (Cedar Rapids, 130,000) (Total population of all counties: (Cedar Rapids, 130,000) (Total population of all counties: 312,000)312,000)

About The University of Iowa…About The University of Iowa…

1700 faculty; 13,000 staff1700 faculty; 13,000 staff

$2.4 billion annual budget$2.4 billion annual budget

Highlights:Highlights:--UIHC: 711-bed academic and regional medical centerUIHC: 711-bed academic and regional medical center

-National Advancing Driving Simulator-National Advancing Driving Simulator

-International Writer’s Workshop-International Writer’s Workshop

-Big 10 Sports-Big 10 Sports

-Dual Career Network (DCN)! (Originally “Faculty and Staff -Dual Career Network (DCN)! (Originally “Faculty and Staff Spouse/Partner Placement Program”Spouse/Partner Placement Program”

Evolution Of Dual Career Services…Evolution Of Dual Career Services…

1994 climate:1994 climate:--Small number of U.S. universities were addressing the Small number of U.S. universities were addressing the needs of dual career couples. (One international program needs of dual career couples. (One international program in Zurich, Switzerland)in Zurich, Switzerland)

U. of Minnesota, Purdue, and U. of Nebraska, U. of Minnesota, Purdue, and U. of Nebraska, KearneyKearney

-Email not yet widely used -Email not yet widely used

-Websites were not yet “invented”-Websites were not yet “invented”

-Healthy stereotype-Healthy stereotype of the “trailing spouse” still existedof the “trailing spouse” still existed

-Conversations about dual career issues were almost taboo-Conversations about dual career issues were almost taboo

Before Starting The Program…Before Starting The Program…

Conducted SurveysConducted Surveys

--Internally and nationally to determine needInternally and nationally to determine need

Survey results:Survey results:

--Departments were indeed struggling with this issueDepartments were indeed struggling with this issue

-No one seemed to know how to handle it-No one seemed to know how to handle it

-Best defense was to “find a position” for the “trailing spouse”-Best defense was to “find a position” for the “trailing spouse”

--Many questions came into play once the topic was talked aboutMany questions came into play once the topic was talked about

-Decided to start program; hired me-Decided to start program; hired me

Getting Started…Getting Started…

Got “buy-in” from administratorsGot “buy-in” from administrators

--Pitched program to Deans, Departmental Administrators, Central Pitched program to Deans, Departmental Administrators, Central AdministratorsAdministrators

- Asked for their clear and unwavering support to help with launch- Asked for their clear and unwavering support to help with launch

-Talked at faculty meetings about how I would be able to help -Talked at faculty meetings about how I would be able to help them with their faculty searchesthem with their faculty searches

-Consensus to offer program to both faculty and staff -Consensus to offer program to both faculty and staff spouses/partners.spouses/partners.


Determined FundingDetermined Funding

--Estimated first year costs (determined budget after first year)Estimated first year costs (determined budget after first year)

-Utilized students/interns to help with initial launch-Utilized students/interns to help with initial launch

Determined reporting structure Determined reporting structure

Defined all program stakeholders and how Defined all program stakeholders and how best to work with thembest to work with them


Created program guidelines:Created program guidelines:

WHO will we serve?WHO will we serve?

WHAT services will be provided?WHAT services will be provided?

HOW long will we provide services?HOW long will we provide services?

HOW would we turn away people who don’t qualify?HOW would we turn away people who don’t qualify?

WHAT kind of process will be developed to record client WHAT kind of process will be developed to record client progress?progress?


Developed SIMPLE program materials for Developed SIMPLE program materials for launchlaunch

-Brochure (to be used in recruiting packet materials)-Brochure (to be used in recruiting packet materials)

-Intake Form (to capture vital information)-Intake Form (to capture vital information)

-Program Evaluation (to evaluate effectiveness)-Program Evaluation (to evaluate effectiveness)

Getting StartedGetting Started……

Decided which program metrics to trackDecided which program metrics to track

Numbers served – Length of service – Service categories Numbers served – Length of service – Service categories

Success/failure rate – Females/males served – Departments servedSuccess/failure rate – Females/males served – Departments served

Occupations of clients – Numbers hired by the UniversityOccupations of clients – Numbers hired by the University

How many cities clients worked in (labor shed information)How many cities clients worked in (labor shed information)

Total annual starting salaries (economic impact) Total annual starting salaries (economic impact)

Increase/decrease in standard of livingIncrease/decrease in standard of living

Ethnicity information – Which services were used Ethnicity information – Which services were used

Maintaining The Program…Maintaining The Program…

Formation of Advisory BoardFormation of Advisory Board

Developed process to receive job openingsDeveloped process to receive job openings

Developed process to be included in Developed process to be included in recruitment “loop”recruitment “loop”

Provided social events to help newcomers Provided social events to help newcomers get acquaintedget acquainted

Became expert in all facets of job search Became expert in all facets of job search methodologies (membership in professional methodologies (membership in professional organizations: NRWA, PARW CDI, etc.)organizations: NRWA, PARW CDI, etc.)

Program Statistics…Program Statistics…

Assisted average of 125-135 people per yearAssisted average of 125-135 people per year

Had a success rate of between 60-85%!!!Had a success rate of between 60-85%!!!

Worked with mostly women until 2007Worked with mostly women until 2007

Worked with HIGH percentage of minorities and womenWorked with HIGH percentage of minorities and women

Created service categories to track: Created service categories to track: successful hire, unsuccessful successful hire, unsuccessful hire, continued service, discontinued client, unsuccessful hire, continued service, discontinued client, unsuccessful recruitment effortrecruitment effort

Created “limited service appointments”Created “limited service appointments”

Moved from writing client notes to using voice recognition Moved from writing client notes to using voice recognition softwaresoftware

Created alternative revenue streamCreated alternative revenue stream

College of Medicine used the program most oftenCollege of Medicine used the program most often

Ensuring Success…Ensuring Success…

Do what you say you are going to do! Provide excellent Do what you say you are going to do! Provide excellent service!service!

Keep administrators/referring departments apprised of Keep administrators/referring departments apprised of challenges and successeschallenges and successes

Align program with overall recruitment strategiesAlign program with overall recruitment strategies Review materials and methodologies annually to align with Review materials and methodologies annually to align with

stakeholder needsstakeholder needs Develop ROI statement about program effectivenessDevelop ROI statement about program effectiveness

Stay on top of new work force trends, especially locallyStay on top of new work force trends, especially locally

Document your work! Tracking results can demonstrate Document your work! Tracking results can demonstrate successsuccess

Develop PARTNERSHIPS with all stakeholders!Develop PARTNERSHIPS with all stakeholders!

How Far We Have Come Since 1994…How Far We Have Come Since 1994…

Interest in this issue has increased and will Interest in this issue has increased and will continue that trendcontinue that trend

Dual career conversations are “out of the Dual career conversations are “out of the closet”closet”

Faculty/staff candidates are asking for Faculty/staff candidates are asking for services as part of their decision-making services as part of their decision-making processprocess

Terminology has changed to Terminology has changed to “accompanying partners”“accompanying partners”


Assisted over 65 universities in fact-finding or Assisted over 65 universities in fact-finding or consulting to start programs/servicesconsulting to start programs/services

Annual dual career conference since 2003, hosted Annual dual career conference since 2003, hosted each year at a different universityeach year at a different university

Development of HERC (Higher Education Development of HERC (Higher Education Recruitment Consortium)Recruitment Consortium)

Development of IHEDCA (International Higher Development of IHEDCA (International Higher Education Dual Career Association)Education Dual Career Association)

Global exposure/ties/community (German dual Global exposure/ties/community (German dual career association)career association)


Research and publications about dual Research and publications about dual career issues and programscareer issues and programs

A.A. “ “Meeting the Needs of Dual Career Couples in Academia,” Meeting the Needs of Dual Career Couples in Academia,” Printed 2003, CUPA/HR JournalPrinted 2003, CUPA/HR Journal

B. “Results from the 2005 Dual Career Program Survey”B. “Results from the 2005 Dual Career Program Survey”

C. “Dual-Career Academic Couples – What Universities Need To C. “Dual-Career Academic Couples – What Universities Need To Know,” the Michelle R. Clayman Institute for Gender Research, Know,” the Michelle R. Clayman Institute for Gender Research, Stanford University, 2008Stanford University, 2008

D. **Upcoming article in Chronicle of Higher EducationD. **Upcoming article in Chronicle of Higher Education

E. Other resources listed on the IHEDCA websiteE. Other resources listed on the IHEDCA website

Future Predictions/TrendsFuture Predictions/Trends

Dual career hiring is becoming more competitive as more Dual career hiring is becoming more competitive as more universities provide these services.universities provide these services.

Recruits getting more savvy about asking for these services up Recruits getting more savvy about asking for these services up frontfront

Social media is becoming more widely usedSocial media is becoming more widely used

Effective “onboarding” of new employees is enhanced by these Effective “onboarding” of new employees is enhanced by these servicesservices

Economic development groups and Chambers of Commerce Economic development groups and Chambers of Commerce very very interested in these servicesinterested in these services

Dual career programming continues to enhance the hiring and Dual career programming continues to enhance the hiring and retention of minorities, women and STEM occupationsretention of minorities, women and STEM occupations

The town/gown relationship is enhanced through this collaborationThe town/gown relationship is enhanced through this collaboration

dual career network university of iowa

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