Vocational Plan

UPWARDS OF 2,000 biographical blanks have been returned to Hanover in reply to the mailing to all Dartmouth men in the armed forces last month. The material was sent from the Personnel Office of the College directed by Prof. Francis J. Neef. Included were a letter explaining the Dartmouth Vocational Plan for postwar re-employment of alumni and a blank for indicating complete biographical information, service record, and the postwar career in which alumni service men are most interested. The Dartmouth Plan was described in full in an article in the December issue of the ALUMNI MAGAZINE.

Mr. Neef states that about one-third of the men replying to date plan to continue their education after demobilization. Roughly one-third have jobs in civilian life waiting for their return, and another third definitely count upon the help and guidance of the Dartmouth Vocational Plan to secure reemployment. Mr. Neef emphasizes that these proportions cannot be relied upon to apply to the entire mailing list of 7500 alumni in the service. Returns to date are heaviest from alumni on duty in this country.

NATIONAL ORGANIZATION

Officers of the Alumni Council are setting up the national and regional directors for committees who will handle activity of the Vocational Plan in behalf of the Council and the sectional alumni clubs and associations. The personnel of the Dartmouth men who will serve as regional leaders in the plan will be announced later.

The highly successful procedure of alumni-interviewing of applicants for admission is the pattern that will be followed in the Dartmouth Vocational Plan. For example, a director will be announced for the state of Connecticut. All alumni who indicate a desire to locate in a Connecticut city or community will be referred by Mr. Neef to the Connecticut chairman. The Connecticut director will eventually put the applicant in direct touch with his regional assistant according to the location desired—Hartford, Bridgeport, Waterbury, or another part of the state.

In the process of organizing the work the Alumni Council gratefully acknowledges receipt of encouraging evidence of widespread interest among the Dartmouth "Old Guard" who are on the home front. One such letter, from a Dartmouth man in an executive position with a large industry in Kansas City, is quoted below:

"I have heard some talk about Dartmouth having a re-employment program for service men coming back from the war.

"It is very possible that we will be able to use some of the men and fortunately, they will not have to be highly trained in a technical way. I would appreciate it if you would give my name to the committee so that I might receive added details and give them our possibilities."

Since the announcement of the Dartmouthre-employment service for its alumni, numerous colleges have requested full information and are planning to offer a similar program to their service men.