Blog Posts by Laura Phillips

It’s common knowledge that internships are an important step on the path of professional development—but did you know that, according to recent studies, 65% of employers expect college grads to have at least two internships? That’s just one reason that our team members are encouraged to find part-time internships in addition to their work at the CATLab. In addition to bolstering your portfolio, pursuing multiple internships can broaden your experience, strengthen your marketability, and deepen your understanding.

After months of working remotely, we may be getting used to engaging with our jobs, schools, and social lives through our computers—but are we using these powerful machines to their full capacity? Today’s post comes from CATLab member Jordan Douthit, who, as both a coder and a creative, has picked up some tips and tricks to make remote work easier, no matter what project you’re working on!

One of the defining characteristics of Westmont College—and, by extension, the CATLab—is a commitment to the liberal arts.

Among the unique challenges that this year has presented, something we have all been navigating is how to stay connected even though we’re apart. A few weeks ago, we looked at how to get a team started in a remote environment. Once you’ve got a team up and running, how do you make sure people can collaborate effectively in spite of the distance?

Since the CATLab is a dynamic program that brings together talent from across disciplines and departments, it’s not always clear to people outside the program what our developers are actually building. This summer, our goal is to make it possible for high school students to apply to Westmont through a custom application process. We’re improving both sides of the process—externally, improving the user experience for high schoolers; and internally, improving the way for admissions counselors and officers to process those applications.

Our work this summer is inseparable from the unique historical moment in which we find ourselves. At the CATLab, we’ve been exploring these issues both as a team and individually, and we think it’s important to share some of those stories.