SCADforward is a fulfilling 10-week summer program that challenges SCAD students and alumni to develop their identity as creatives, envision their potential futures, and connect with creative and professional communities in their field. Participants who complete the program receive a digital badge.
Choosing to attend SCADforward is a choice to set aside time and space for self-knowledge and self-awareness. Students who complete SCADforward report having more confidence and a clearer sense of purpose. They are also 60% more likely to obtain an internship prior to graduation.
SCADforward is free for all SCAD students and alumni and is offered virtually and in-person. Interest meetings for this summer's program are now open in the new SCAD Career Planner events tab.
Participants identify having a clearer sense of purpose and are able to communicate that vision with greater confidence. They are also 60% more likely to land professional opportunities prior to graduation!
These results align with a recent study by the Strategic National Arts Alumni Project (SNAAP) that found that alumni in the arts who develop a strong social network and connections (especially those offered by their university) raise the odds that they will remain in the arts by as much as 125 percent, when compared to those who do not.
Introduction: Empathy & The 5 Levels of Listening
Wednesday June 11th, 10:00 am - 12:00pm EST (2 hours)
All participants come together to identify the expectations of the course, and establish the rules for engaging and supporting each other. Participants create a safe space by practicing attentive listening and empathic listening as strategies that encourage self-reflection, allow everyone to feel heard, and support their ability to take action.
Session 2: The Journey to This Moment: Connecting the Dots, Looking Back
Friday June 20th, multiple sections (1.5 hours)
Introduction to the journey map: Participants reflect on their life’s journey and create a journey map to examine the path that has led them to the present moment, to reframe this moment as success, to identify the people, strategies, experiences and circumstances that facilitated their present moment, and support their self-efficacy.
Session 3: Future Journeys: Connecting the Dots, Looking Forward
Friday June 27th, multiple sections (1.5 hours)
Participants create journey maps to envision the multiverse that lays ahead. Participants are encouraged to lean on their past experience and successes to identify the people, resources and strategies they can use in the present to achieve the future they imagine. This exercise is the basis for the capstone project.
Session 4: Personal Identity Statement: Identify Your “Why”
Friday July 4th, asynchronous (1.5 hours)
Participants will reorder their view of themselves through use of the Golden Circle, built around a centralized mission or purpose that can guide them in skill development and project conceptualization.
Session 5: Personal Alignment: Identifying Your Values & Strengths
Friday July 11th, multiple sections (1.5 hours)
Participants identify their strengths and values to examine how they relate to the purpose they have identified. Participants examine the alignment and/or the discrepancies between their skills, strengths, and their Why.
Session 6: Aligning Identities: Community & Employer Perspectives
Friday July 18th, multiple sections (1.5 hours)
Having established their own Golden Circle, participants use it as a tool for researching and aligning themselves within desired spheres of influence, professional organizations, or institutions.
Session 7: Engaging your Professional Community
Friday July 25th, multiple sections (1.5 hours)
After understanding the basic elements of alignment, participants will identify their professional communities and practice engagement within their networks through gratitude.
Session 8: Building Relationships
Friday August 1st, multiple sections (1.5 hours)
Participants will explore and implement strategies to foster and grow connections into lasting professional relationships. They will draft an outreach message to request an informational interview with an alum or professional of their choice.
Session 9: Narrating Your Experience
Friday August 8th, multiple sections (1.5 hours)
Participants will learn the importance and elements of sharing personal narratives to better communicate their skills, values, and alignment with others. They revisit their outreach for an informational interview and incorporate personal narratives where relevant.
Session 10: Student Capstone Presentations
Friday August 15th, multiple sections (2 hours)
The capstone project is the culmination of the participants' work during SCADforward. Presentations include elements of the participants' personal identity statement (their Why), an analysis of top strengths and values, their goals and career vision.
Time Commitment:
SCADforward meets weekly for an hour and a half. We anticipate most participants will require an additional 2 – 3 hours per week outside of class to complete their independent work.
Participant Outlook:
SCADforward participants are expected to be intellectually curious and actively engaged. We will challenge you to cultivate your curiosity, embrace your imagination, and take intentional action steps toward the goals and interests that you identify.
Commitment to Participate:
- Participants are expected to exercise their voice, practice empathy, and contribute to a safe space for personal exploration during class discussions, and on the Blackboard discussion forums.
- Virtual participants are required to have their camera on during class meetings.
- All participants are expected to unmute and exercise their voice.
- SCADforward is not a space for an asynchronous and passive presence.
- Students seeking the certificate of completion must submit each weekly exercise to Blackboard.
Attendance:
The SCADforward digital badge will only be issued to students with no more than three absences.
Capstone Presentation:
The program culminates with capstone presentations.
Through SCADforward participants explore their purpose and how it relates to their creative vision. They create a journey map to envision their future and define success. Participants will be challenged to:
o Identify a personal statement and mission.
o Define an action plan for steps that move them beyond the SCADforward program.
o Create a target list of creative opportunities, such as internships, exhibitions, publications, contests, informational interviews, jobs, residencies & more.
o Develop tangible professional connections, including a professional introduction to SCAD alumni or industry professional.
o Compile a resource toolkit consisting of guidebooks, articles, member organizations, LinkedIn Learning courses, and other resources.
o Share and contribute to the development of their peers.
SCADforward is open and free to all SCAD students and alumni.
SCADforward is designed to support the development of our students and alumni, increase their ability to form bonds within their communities and the likelihood that they pursue and land internships and other professional opportunities during their time at SCAD.
SCADforward is offered exclusively as part of our summer programming. Our next session takes place this summer 2025.
Our first meeting takes place on the Wednesday prior to the first week of the academic quarter, and meets every Friday through week 9 of the academic quarter. This allows for participants to complete the program the week before finals.
