Career Services Receives LGBTQ Certification

May 5, 2011—The University of Wisconsin-River Falls Career Services Department recently received certification in OUT for Work, an organization that helps in the total educational experience of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LBGTQ) students.

“By obtaining this certification, our office will gain access to a variety of tools, resources and training materials including an extensive electronic library to improve the quality of support to LGBTQ students,” says McKenna Pfeiffer, UWRF career counselor.

The initial goal of OUT for Work is to provide academic institutions and students with an evaluation of the support available to LGBTQ students facing employment and workplace challenges.

“OUT for Work assigns us an individual consultant. The first step after certification is to participate in a 30 minute consultation with our assigned consultant to learn more specifics about the resources we now have access to, and generating ideas of how we can continue to grow as a staff,” says Pfeiffer.

The mission of OUT for Work is to enhance LGBTQ specific resources in academic career centers across the United States. Through this program, LBGTQ students’ needs are primarily addressed in their development, evaluation, initiation and implementation of career plans and opportunities. OUT for Work is best known for its Career Center Certification Program.