UPDATED: Feb. 15, 2016 at 4:27 p.m.

Sixteen students were selected from 186 applications to participate in a Syracuse University workplace preparedness program this year.

As a part of the Dulye Leadership Experience (DLE), students will travel to the Berkshires, a rural region in the mountains of western Massachusetts, from April 1-3 to engage with SU faculty, professional executives and DLE alumni to further individual student skills.

The three-day retreat was founded in 2008 by SU alumna Linda Dulye, a Class of 1977 graduate, who said she felt inspired to do more than just write a check to the university. She said she wanted to give back and assist in developing students’ interpersonal and professional skills.

“Students are graduating with a lot of debt, a hard job market and high expectations,” Dulye said. “When I look at the curriculum, (colleges) do a lot to prepare students within their major but not a lot to prepare them for the work force and to get hired.”

Dulye said she promises to make students desired employees through the initiative. At the Berkshires, students participate in a variety of learning sessions — from getting success tips from recent graduates to learning business dining etiquette, Dulye said.

“The program is designed to be unique and different than any other program,” Dulye said. “It’s designed to shape student discovery, decipher who students are from a professional standpoint and what makes them so invaluable to employers.”

Dulye said she wants selection into the program to be balanced and to include individuals who know what they want to do and others who do not.

During the selection process, DLE leadership chooses 28 students to proceed to the interview portion, Dulye said.

Phil Kramer, a junior economics major and 2016 DLE participant, said the interview portion was introspective.

“(The panel) wants you to think of who you are,” said Kramer, who is also the comptroller of SU’s Student Association. “The goal was to reveal something real and honest about yourself, and luckily they saw something in me.”

Uche Imoka, a senior communication and rhetorical studies major, said she felt enthusiastic and honored to be accepted into the DLE. Ninety percent of students who complete the program are hired for a job or internship within three months, according to the DLE website.

“When I did get in, I knew this was an opportunity I needed to take advantage of,” Imoka said. “The people I’ve seen that have been in the program are doing well, and that gives me hope since I will be graduating soon.”

It takes 11 months to prepare for the retreat, Dulye said. Preparation for the event is done by volunteers because there is a tremendous amount of comradery in the DLE, she added.

“We have built a family from the DLE,” Dulye said, “The best part is that our students have great careers representing Syracuse University.”

CORRECTION: In a previous version of this article, Linda Dulye’s name was spelled incorrectly in some instances. The Daily Orange regrets this error.

Published on February 14, 2016 at 11:07 pm

Contact Bianca: bcastro@syr.edu