Professional Assessment

Unlock the Power to Drive Your Career Forward

Program Overview

High Point University students selected to serve as Presidential Scholars Interviewers will have the opportunity to engage in an elite experiential learning opportunity that sharpens their skills in leadership evaluation, communication, professionalism, and critical thinking. Through this role, students conduct interviews with Presidential Scholarship finalists, helping identify candidates who best reflect the values, drive, and character aligned with HPU’s mission of excellence. This program is only open to High Point University Presidential Scholars who engage assess interviews.

This selective experience qualifies students for the Certification in Professional Assessment, a microcredential that highlights their ability to assess talent, represent the university with integrity, and engage in high-level decision-making environments.

Program Objectives

Develop Professional Interviewing and Evaluation Skills: Train students to conduct thoughtful interviews and assess leadership potential with discretion and clarity.
Enhance Communication and Listening Abilities: Encourage professional communication practices and active listening in formal settings.
Strengthen Critical Thinking and Judgment: Challenge students to think independently and assess nuanced leadership and character traits under time-sensitive conditions.
Model Professionalism and Organizational Representation: Teach students to discern an organization’s brand values while serving as ambassadors it.
Encourage Ethical Decision-Making: Foster fair, unbiased evaluation practices grounded in character, leadership, and academic potential.

Professional Assessment Certificate

The most significant shortcoming for Gen-Z workers is a lack of critical interpersonal skills, often referred to as “soft skills.” This includes communication, problem solving, creativity, collaboration, adaptability, conflict resolution and other skills that are typically developed through first-hand experience—rather than instruction—and are vital to professional success.

Forbes December 23, 2024

Program Structure
Participants will engage in the following components to earn their certificate:

Professional Training Session

Overview: Prior to Interview Day, students complete a training session covering HPU’s expectations, professional demeanor, the interview process, developing effective questions, practicing verbal and non-verbal communication skills. And learning to manage bias.

Key Topics Covered:

Active listening and follow-up questioning
Avoiding bias in interview settings
Representing HPU’s brand and values
Verbal and non-verbal communication

Presidential Scholars Interview Day

Overview: Students serve as official interviewers for High Point University’s top merit-based scholarship program. Over the course of a 6–7 hour day, participants conduct interviews with prospective students and collaborate with other interviewers and faculty to determine candidate ratings/interview score.

Key Skills Practiced:

Professional and respectful communication
Leadership potential evaluation
Collaborative decision-making
Ethical and equitable assessment
Organizational brand representation

Reflection and Post-Program Requirement

Reflection Essay: Students must submit a reflection essay detailing how the experience impacted their leadership abilities, communication skills, and understanding of the admissions process.
Evaluation Summary: Participants may be asked to submit a brief summary highlighting the thought process behind their creation of questions, the criteria they used to evaluate candidates and how they approached tough decisions.

Program Requirements

To qualify for the Certification in Professional Assessment, students must:

Be selected to serve as a Presidential Scholars Interviewer
Attend mandatory training prior to Interview Day
Complete the full Interview Day assignment (6–7 hours)
Submit a reflection essay and evaluation summary

Target Audience
Presidential Scholars who demonstrate:

Professionalism and integrity
Strong communication and interpersonal skills
An interest in leadership, admissions, or talent development
A commitment to representing High Point University’s values

Recognition and Benefits
Upon successful completion, students will receive:

Certificate of Achievement in Professional Assessment
Recognition on LinkedIn and HPU platforms
Enhanced resume credentials demonstrating experience in candidate evaluation and institutional representation
Opportunities to be considered for future student leadership and admissions ambassador roles

Are You Ready to Land Your Dream Job?

Start your journey toward professional excellence with High Point University’s Certification in Professional Assessment. Equip yourself with the mindset and skills employers value most.

Questions? Email us with questions at [email protected]. We want to hear from you!