Where will the event be held?

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Franklin Center

Mississippi State University

201 Locksley Way

Starkville, MS 39759

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What kind of hotel accommodations are available in Starkville?

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Because the expected number of out-of-town attendees is not large enough, we were unable to reserve a block of rooms.  There are a number of hotels very near to the MSU Franklin Center listed below in order of proximity.  None is more than a 6 min drive.

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• Hampton Inn (2 min walk)

• Courtyard Marriott

• Holiday Inn Express

• La Quinta Inn

• Hilton Garden Inn

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Is there a dress code?

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We recommend business-casual.  No need for coats and neckties.  We recommend students and faculty wear university colors and apparel.  Company representatives are welcome to do the same. 

 

How long are the presentations?

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One speaker from each university/company/association will speak on behalf of their organization. Each speaker will have the following time limits.  We ask speakers to practice before coming to ensure talks don't run over on time.  All presenters should bring their presentation on a USB flash drive as Internet connectivity is not 100% reliable. 

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• University faculty: 10 minutes

• Companies/Associations: 6 minutes

• Students: 3 minutes

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What kind of content should the presentation contain?

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• Universities -- An overview of your forest products (or adjacent) program. Items of interest might include:​​

  • Name of your program (department and majors)

  • Topical scope of your program

  • Overview of academic program (undergrad, masters, PhD, coursework, etc.)

  • Student enrollment in your program

  • Number of faculty

  • Faculty profiles

  • Facilities

  • Research areas

  • Services offered 

  • Partnerships

  • Companies that have hired your graduates

  • Pictures

  • QR codes

  • Videos

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• Companies/Associations -- An overview of your business, products and career opportunities. Items of interest might include:

  • Company's business scope ​

  • Company's products/services 

  • Locations of plants and offices (especially in the South)

  • Number of employees

  • Company leadership

  • Company history

  • Career opportunities 

    • Frequency of hiring​

    • Types of opportunities

    • When to apply 

    • How to apply

    • Desired skills and background

  • Pictures

  • QR codes

  • Videos

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• Students -- A very brief self introduction.  Items of interest might include:

  • Name​

  • Universities attended or graduated

  • Work experience

  • Research (if applicable) at a layperson's level

  • Career interests (kinds of companies, kinds of areas, kinds of jobs, etc.)

  • Core and special competencies (e.g. product testing, statistics, foreign languages, public speaking, etc.)

  • Pictures

  • QR codes

  • Videos

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Do companies need to set up a booth?

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While there will not be dedicated booth space for each company/association, organizations are welcome to bring brochures and other materials to distribute.

 

How much is the fee for this event?

 

Because this is the first event of its kind, there will be no event fee.  Lunch and dinner will be provided on Monday, January 8 only. Attendees are responsible for their own hotel accommodations and transportation.

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Is this a conference?

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No. This event focuses on forest products career awareness, opportunities and networking.  There will be no hard core scientific presentations, though universities and students are free to briefly mention (at a layperson's level) the kind of research they conduct within the time allotted.  

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Is this a career fair?

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No. There will be no booths. The day will be filled with brief presentations, student career sessions and a company focus group.

 

Must I be an FPS member to participate?

 

No. 

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What will happen in the focus group for companies?

 

The faculty will ask company representatives' opinions regarding the kinds of university graduates, skills, knowledge and experience they are looking for to help our universities better understand the staffing needs of our stakeholders. The results will not be published.

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Which universities will be attending?

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Mississippi State University (co-host), Auburn University (co-host),
University of Arkansas at Monticello, and University of Georgia.

 

What kind of companies will be attending?

 

Companies and associations that represent diverse segments of the forest products industry such as lumber; composites; preservation; inspection, testing and quality control; bio-energy; adhesives and coatings; utility; and government labs.

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For what kind of participant is this event intended?

 

Graduate students, high-potential undergraduates, post docs and representatives from the forest products industry.  Priority is given to universities and companies with locations in the South.  

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