The Dickinson College Center for Career Development values strong, ethical partnerships with employers who are committed to supporting students’ professional growth and career development. The following policies and best practices outline our shared expectations for employers and organizations engaging with Dickinson students through on‑campus or college‑supported recruiting activities.
These guidelines are intended to promote positive, equitable, and transparent recruiting experiences for all participants.
Ethical Recruiting Standards
The Center for Career Development adheres to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) Principles for Ethical Professional Practice and strongly encourages all employers recruiting Dickinson students and alumni to review and align with these guidelines when engaging on campus.
Employers are expected to conduct recruiting activities in a manner that is professional, honest, inclusive, and respectful of students’ academic commitments and personal responsibilities.
Dickinson’s Role and Employer Engagement
The Dickinson College Center for Career Development reserves the right to make final decisions regarding all employer engagement opportunities. This includes determinations related to the dates, times, and locations of recruiting activities; event formats; access to recruiting services; and the level and type of engagement available to an employer. The Career Center may also limit or refuse recruiting services to organizations whose practices do not align with these policies and best practices or that raise concerns related to student welfare or ethical recruiting.
In providing a platform for employers to recruit on campus, Dickinson College does not guarantee the qualifications, suitability, or preparedness of students or alumni who participate in recruiting activities. Employers are ultimately responsible for all hiring decisions, including candidate evaluation, selection, supervision, and employment outcomes.
Recruiting Practices Not Supported at Dickinson
To protect students and alumni and promote fair employment practices, the Center for Career Development does not approve recruiting opportunities that include the following characteristics:
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Upfront costs, required investments, or mandatory purchases as a condition of employment, including fees for training, starter kits, inventory, samples, or materials. This does not include legitimate industry or occupational licensure fees that may be required in certain fields (e.g., insurance or real estate). Requests involving personal financial investment as a condition of employment are not approved.
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Commission-only compensation structures for employment positions. Employers must offer a salary or hourly wage plus commission; commission‑only roles are not approved.
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Recruitment-based income models, in which earnings or performance are primarily dependent on recruiting other individuals, as well as solicitation practices that rely heavily on selling to friends, family, or personal networks are not approved.
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Lack of transparency in employer identity or hiring practices, including “blind” job postings or unclear identification of the employing organization are not approved.
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Recruiting practices that violate or are inconsistent with equal employment opportunity laws, including discrimination based on protected characteristics or the use of hiring criteria that unlawfully exclude candidates are not approved.
The practices outlined above apply to both recruiting and internship opportunities supported by the College.
These policies may be subject to change without notice.