EPCS provides specialized support to SOE faculty, staff and students:
Portfolios | Education Expertise | Career Resources | Credential: Reference Service
―Portfolios―
The UW-Madison School of Education K-12 Certification programs have been developing and integrating this developmental learning process over the last decade. All interested SOE programs can duplicate the portfolio process through it's highly structured format. EPCS support includes:
- Consultation on portfolio assignment development
- Session design and coordination expertise
- All necessary technology and software
- Specialized lab space for up to 25 students by appointment to students and instructors
- Coordinating classroom space for 25
- Liaison support
Contact Steve Head , EPCS Director, to get started!
―Education Job Search Expertise―
With expertise in the education job search and connections to school district administrators, EPCS consultants are available to provide:
- Guest speaker connections – panel discussions from school district experts
EPCS staff will coordinate a job search related panel discussion for your department’s students.
- Class visits – EPCS staff can visit your classroom and provide students with valuable job search information including where to start, resume writing tips, interviewing, and trends in the markets.
―Career Resources―
Career Counseling
EPCS provides job-search assistance in all areas and career counseling to students. Students are welcome to make an appointment with a consultant if they are considering a career in one of the SOE degree areas, an alternative career path, or are undecided or anticipating a career change. EPCS Consultants regularly refer students to offices on the UW-Madison campus with expertise in specific areas, such as Education Academic Services (EAS) for academic advising, a departmental advisor with career specific expertise, or Cross College Exploration Center when deciding on a major. EPCS Career Consultants are available to assist candidates in the preparation of their job-search materials, such as resumes, portfolios and letters, and to discuss job-search strategies and skills.
On-Campus Interviews, Workshops and Fairs
Valuable job-search opportunities are available throughout the year. EPCS hosts on-campus interviews and coordinates Education fairs (a fall semester on-campus fair and the Wisconsin Education Recruitment Fair job fair) as well as collaborates with other career offices on campus to provide access to all-campus fairs for SOE students. Workshops and Fair information are listed on the EPCS website.
Career Website and Resource Library
Rich job-search resources available via the careers website including career specific links and access to BuckyNet, the UW-Madison student job posting, fair and on-campus interview scheduler.
―JOB SEARCH ACCOUNT―
EPCS also provides the following job search services which require completing materials to activate a job search account.
Services provided are optional and students are charged a nominal fee. For more details on reference letter storage services and guidelines, see below.
―Authentic Credential Services―
EPCS offers the best deal in credential services! EPCS provides authentic K-12 credential service to all School of Education students and alumni through the Job Search Account. Employers have confidence in the authenticity of the materials they are receiving and letter-writers and candidates appreciate the convenience it affords. K-12 students can send their credential packet to 20 employers for just $40.00! Requests can be done on-line at anytime and anyplace. Service includes copying, packaging and mailing or electronic transfer within 1-3 business days. EPCS staff also provide credential upload support for WECAN and other on-line district application systems.
―Electronic Distribution of Portfolios & the e-Credential―
EPCS will assist in fine tuning portfolios for the job search, and provide direct, secure, electronic distribution to employers, as well as strategies for promoting the portfolio. EPCS will also assist in creating a paper version of highlighted items to use at job fairs and during interviews. The e-Credential is also available to employers when releasing the portfolio for the job search—which many employers have found to be a tremendous benefit.
―Comprehensive Position Vacancy Distribution―
EPCS collects and distributes thousands of position vacancy announcements each year. The EPCS vacancy listings include those sent only to UW-Madison plus all Wisconsin DPI, and WECAN vacancies.
―Direct Job Referral―
School districts contact EPCS to request the names and qualifications of people whom they might hire. EPCS uses its database and the credentials on file to refer candidates. Often, employers request a copy of credentials as part of this referral.
