Career Closet Offers Office-Ready Threads for UC Clermont Students

UC Clermont College students in need can now graduate with not just a degree, but free professional fashion — thanks to the Career Closet, an initiative spearheaded by the college’s Career Services office.

The idea for the Closet, which is located on the UC East campus in Batavia and open to all UC Clermont students, came about in 2016 when a number of students couldn’t meet the professional dress code for UC’s Uptown Campus Career Fair, said Monika Royal-Fischer, director of the college’s Career Services.

“I realized that they couldn’t be the only ones,” Royal-Fischer said. She immediately began planning and raising funds for the closet, including securing a community grant from Wal-Mart, and officially opened its doors in January. Faculty members connect students in need of professional clothing for practicums, internships and job interviews with the closet, which features racks of donated new or gently used clothing, shoes and accessories for men and women. There’s even a handful of dressing rooms available onsite, including one that is wheelchair accessible. The clothes encompass a variety of sizes and styles.

Royal-Fischer said that resources like the Career Closet are becoming more common on college campuses as institutions realize not only the need among students, but their unique position to help. “The responsibilities of colleges to students have changed; it’s not just academics now, it’s holistic,” Royal-Fischer said. “More students need help now; they need these clothes. They’re willing to sacrifice everything to go to school. This is just one more way to help students succeed.”

Moving forward, Royal-Fischer plans to partner with a local consignment store and is looking into the possibility of expanding the service reach of the closet to the greater community. For more information or to donate, contact Monika Royal-Fischer at 513-732-5277 or

monika.royal-fischer@uc.edu

. Donations should be dry-cleaned on hangers and business formal to business casual in style.