Write a ONE PAGE letter to a political figure explaining why developing student self

regulation is a political, not just educational, issue. Take whatever stance you see fit and
defend it with ideas about where education (public, private, charter schools, vouchers, etc.)
should be headed. Take it whatever direction you like . . . standards, testing, accreditation,
teaching/instruction, pedagogy, race-class-gender, whatever you like. Use the following
form (remember, no more than a page):
February 8, 2014
To: Nathan Deal, Governor, State of Georgia
From: Sarah Schanck, Assistant Director- University Career Center, Georgia College & State
University
Re: SELF REGULATION IN HIGHER EDUCATION
Dear Governor Deal,
Thank you for the support that you have shown higher education in the past. We have placed
great focus recently on the Complete College Georgia initiative and getting our post-secondary
students enrolled, retained, and graduated. What comes next? In this economy, shouldnt it be
more than just sending them out the gates of our institutions with a degree? Ideally, we should
be preparing our students through proper career development to get jobs, retain employment, and
be successful and contributing state citizens. Georgia College has continued to have success as
Georgias Public Liberal Arts University. As such, I would like to suggest an initiative to be
piloted at this unique institution with the intent to eventually expand it to the other University
System of Georgia institutions. The concept of self-regulation (a piece of social cognitive
learning theory) involves the ability for an individual to learn through observation with the
ultimate goal of using this knowledge to control their thoughts and actions. I suggest that
through the concepts of self-regulation, required career development be introduced to our states
college students.
What if we gave students the correct tools and strategies to succeed in gaining employment and
therefore be prepared as college graduates to contribute to our states economy in an immediately
impactful manner? Self regulation is developed through observational learning and providing
solid feedback as students go through the learning process. Through this initiative, over their
four years of undergraduate education, a student would go through the process of exploring
majors and careers, preparing and polishing a professional resume, completing an internship, and
preparing for a strategic job or graduate school search. The self-regulation stages would allow
students to observe what success means in each of these areas and give a multitude of
opportunities for students to achieve confidence and self-efficacy in their own abilities.
Students would receive feedback on their development from professional career advisors and
trained faculty mentors. The ultimate goal would be to show students how their skills and
experiences as a graduate of a USG institution can translate into becoming a contributing
Georgia citizen.

When a student or graduate has excellent self-concept of their own skills and abilities, their
ability to find gainful employment and begin to quickly contribute to the states economy is
increased. Therefore, I propose that we not only retain and graduate our students, but that we
also prepare them to become successful once they leave our institutions.
Sincerely,

Sarah Schanck
Assistant Director- University Career Center
Georgia College & State University