Suiting Up for Success

 Thanks to a considerable donation from the Ohio University Student Senate, the Center for Advising, Career and Experiential Learning’s Career Closet now has a wider array of clothing items to pick from. 

Ohio U students in need of business professional and casual clothing for interviews, internships or any formal events, have to look no further than the Center for Advising, Career and Experiential Learning’s Career Closet. 

Located in the Walter Success Center, the Career Closet provides students with a variety of free apparel for students in need and, thanks to a large donation from the Ohio U Student Senate, its collection has expanded. 

The donation of nearly 100 newly bought clothing items and hangers was made possible with money from the $50,000 student engagement grant given to Student Senate for this academic year. 

Reagan Farmer, Student Senate’s Treasurer, led this donation in an effort to improve Student Senate’s dress code for the upcoming academic year. "I think it's important that we look the part and look professional because we are the representatives of the students, but there’s a cost barrier when it comes to dressing professionally and accessibility is certainly an issue when it comes to buying a new suit,” Farmer explained. “The solution that I came up with was utilizing the Career Closet to our benefit, while also being able to assist other members of the student population.”

Farmer expressed that her goal was to be able to provide fully new clothes in a wide variety of sizes and styles so students would be able to have access to all the possible clothing they may desire.

The donation has already seen significant use, with many of the items donated already utilized after being added to the closet. “It was super exciting to walk down there and see all the dress shoes that we bought were totally gone,” Farmer described. “So we've made another round of purchases that should be going into the Career Closet within the next week or two to replenish what's been taken but it's super exciting to see that students are able to use it and seem to be enjoying it so far.”

Farmer has hopes of a continued partnership between the Career Closet and Student Senate, whether that be through more donations or help in advertising. “This grant money that we have does end at the end of the academic calendar so fingers crossed we continue to get a $50,000 grant every year,” Farmer said. “We would certainly love to continue this project but there are some financial constraints when it comes to that, but they definitely do need more advertising and I think that's something that Student Senate can help with.”

Students looking to access the Career Closet can visit the Center for Advising, Career and Experiential Learning’s office in Baker University Center 417 and ask to be escorted to Walter Success Center.