by Felicia Fonseca
Daily Lobo
UNM has a new program in the works to eliminate workplace discrimination one student, one employer and one job at a time.
The Workforce Recruitment Program for College Students with Disabilities serves as a resource to connect disabled students with public and private sector employers, according to its Web site.
The program is co-sponsored by the U.S. Department of Defense and the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment.
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The program has injected more than 300 students into the national workforce, and UNM has become one of three participating institutions in New Mexico.
"It is a network opportunity for students to enhance exposure to employers. Programs like this are catered to their needs, and we just want them to put their best foot forward," said Joann Perrine, UNM recruitment specialist.
The program had its inception in Washington, D.C. and has been successful for about 20 years, growing in size over the past five years, said Rachel Frahm, federal recruiter. It is available free to schools, students or employers.
Students actively seeking a degree or who have graduated within the past year, who are U.S. citizens and have a disability, are eligible to participate in the program.
Each spring, students register for a 30-minute interview with a federal recruiter. However, the space at UNM is limited to 16 students who are on a first-come, first-served basis.
Perrine said ideally she would like all interview times filled so the chance of a UNM student gaining employment is higher.
Students are rated through a formal interview on their qualifications, maturity, communication skills and direction. The final judgment, though, is based on the recruiter's overall rating.
A student can score low in one area, but still have potential, Frahm said. Low ratings do not necessarily mean a student loses the chance for employment, she said.
Following the interviews, the recruiter enters all of the students' information and their scores into a database that becomes available to employers in late March.
Those interested can directly contact students for summer employment and permanent positions through the database, which remains active for one year.
While most students are only involved during the summer months, students will oftentimes be offered a permanent position, especially if they are graduates, Frahm said.
Ninety-nine percent of participating employers are federal agencies with the Department of Defense and the Department of Labor being the largest.
The success of placement among individual institutions depends on the amount of federal employers in that area and a students' willingness to move around the country, Frahm said.
Students can contact Joann Perrine at 277-6077 by 5 p.m. on Jan. 28 to schedule an interview. Interviews will be conducted on Feb. 2 at the UNM Human Resource Service Center at 1730 Lomas Blvd.
