Peirce alumnus makes generous gift to the College at annual Spring Reception

“Two essential ingredients of the bond between alumni and school are pride and gratitude.”

At the Spring Reception on May 21, Peirce alumnus Albert G. Cederstrom, Jr., announced he is making a $50,000 gift to the College to start the “Albert G. Cederstrom and Emilie I. Cederstrom Memorial Fund for Human Resource Management.” This gift is being made in honor of his parents and in appreciation for the role Peirce played in his own professional successes.

A member of the Class of 1943, Mr. Cederstrom announced his gift as he was accepting the Peirce College Alumni Association’s 2012 Distinguished Alumni Award. The Award was bestowed in recognition of the impact he has had on Peirce, his community, and his profession over the years. His contributions to the College have been numerous. In addition to serving on Peirce’s Alumni Association Board of Directors, Mr. Cederstrom has been a generous donor and a dedicated volunteer for decades. In 1996, he was honored as a member of Peirce’s Wall of Fame. Hit play on the video below to watch highlights from Mr. Cederstrom's speech and the announcement of his gift.

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Career Day 2012: Everything you need to know about getting a job

The following guest post was written by Monica Patterson, CDS graduate intern.

What does it take to get you up bright and early on a Saturday morning? A giant cup of coffee? The smell of breakfast cooking? How about a Career Day packed with the promise of helpful advice from employers, job search resources, and networking with successful professionals?

That did the trick for everyone who came out to our second annual Career Day earlier this month. Hosted by the CDS team and supported by our Alumni Association, the event prepared Peirce students and alumni for entering the job market and securing next-level opportunities. It was a great day, jam-packed with actionable advice about everything from cover letters to salary negotiations, as well as the chance to practice the skills necessary for career advancement.

Two different workshop tracks were presented to fit the needs of attendees in varying stages of their careers. Track 1 ("From Backpack to Briefcase") was designed for entry-level employees, and Track 2 ("Strategies for the Seasoned") for more experienced candidates seeking to advance their careers.

Here are some of the key topics we covered with our entry-level job seekers, or those transitioning to a new field. Whether you were in attendance at Career Day or not, use this as a checklist to make sure you're prepared to enter the professional world.

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College navigation made easy with the help of the GPS team

CROSSROADS: Peirce GPS team
is here to help you navigate college

How did we survive before the GPS? Without it, it was too easy to find yourself wandering down the wrong road. Then along came the GPS, making it much harder to get lost anymore! Well, now there’s a GPS for your college experience that provides those same benefits -- it tells you where you are and shows you how to get where you want to go.

The GPS (Guided Peirce Services) team is your college tour guide, from day one until the day you graduate. The team is made up of a group of Peirce experts whose job it is to point you in the right direction and make your college experience more manageable.

If you don’t know where to go, GPS is here to tell you. They’re ready to answer your questions or put you where you need to be to get them answered. The GPS team is essentially a one-stop-shop responsible for connecting you with the appropriate person or department who can help to answer any questions you have. Here is a sample of some of the issues they can help you with:

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Get a sneak peek into Commencement 2012 with keynote speaker Patricia Coulter

We're thrilled to have Patricia Coulter lined up to deliver the keynote address at this year’s Commencement ceremony on June 11, 2012. Pat is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Urban League of Philadelphia, a position she has held since 2002, serving as the first woman to lead the organization.

We had the chance to sit down with Pat for a few minutes during her visit to campus last week. Watch the video below to see what she had to say about meeting Peirce students and how she feels about the upcoming Commencement ceremony.



Pat's career has included leadership positions in a variety of corporate and nonprofit organizations. She has also made her mark as a civic leader in the Philadelphia community, serving on various nonprofit boards and associations.

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Philadelphia college students celebrate graduation season with Mayor Nutter

On Friday, May 11, 14 Peirce students from the 2012 graduating class joined Mayor Michael Nutter; U.S. Congressman Chaka Fattah; City of Philadelphia Chief Education Officer Dr. Lori Shorr; former lead singer of Sister Sledge, Kathy Sledge; and other students and educators from across the region at a citywide graduation celebration.

PEIRCE GRADUATES: Members of the class of 2012
pose with Mayor Michael Nutter during the citywide graduation celebration

The event honored Philadelphians who have earned their college degree and celebrated the city’s focus on education and degree attainment. Among attendees representing Peirce College were Atiya Goldsmith-Irby, the 2012 Commencement Student Speaker, as well as Daria Ward, one of Peirce’s eldest graduates.

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How to get a job from an internship: Avoid these common internship mistakes

INTERNSHIP BLUNDERS: Avoid these mistakes to
increase your chances for getting the full-time job

The fact is, internships can be a crucial part of every job seeker’s resume. Not only can full-time jobs be hard to come by in this economy, but an increasing number of companies are offering internships as a way to see if an applicant will be a good full-time fit down the road. If you are able to snag a coveted internship, make sure you’re putting your best foot forward and avoiding some of the most common pitfalls interns can fall into.

Ritika Trikha, of U.S. News & World Report, asked for my perspective for her article about the biggest mistakes interns can make. She shared eight common blunders every intern should avoid if they want to make a positive impression.

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ACBSP reaffirms the quality and excellence of Peirce’s business degree programs

The Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) has reaffirmed our Business Administration degree program accreditation, which we’ve held since 2002. ACBSP also granted accreditation for our new Accounting degree program, one of only seven in the country to receive accreditation separate from the business program.

I’ve talked before about how colleges get accredited and why it’s important to students, alumni, and the entire institution. For a refresher, the ACBSP is a leading specialized accreditation association for business education programs. The organization promotes continuous improvement and recognizes teaching excellence in the accreditation of business education programs around the world. The ACBSP has accredited over 330 U.S.-based business programs and over 70 business programs outside the U.S. 

Peirce College is one of just 32 colleges and universities worldwide with a business program accredited by ACBSP at both the associate and baccalaureate levels. This is a testament to our commitment to quality education as well as our efforts to provide superior student support services. Thank you to all who were involved in making this happen -- it takes a true team effort to continue to achieve this recognition.