Corky’s Closet, which opened almost a year ago, has changed their hours in order to be more accessible to students. Now, Corky’s Closet is open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and it’s come and go, according to Amanda Lickteig, assistant professor in the department of school leadership and middle and secondary teacher education.
“We took surveys and got feedback and changed our hours of operation,” Lickteig said.
The closet offers students access to free, gently used professional attire for interviews and everyday teaching, according to emporia.edu.
“That has been one big change that we’ve made in the last year and I think that’s really helped with accessibility, it’s just allowing more freedom in people’s schedules to come,” Lickteig said.
Originally, Corky’s Closet had volunteers go up and work the closet to help students find clothes, make outfits and bag their selections.
“It made our hours of operation very limited based on who could go up and work at that time,” Lickteig said. “I don’t think students were as comfortable as (compared to) going when they just needed something quick.”
If the new hours don’t work with a student’s schedule, they can email Lickteig to make an appointment.
“I can come after hours or before hours to let people in, especially if they know that they have an interview coming up,” Lickteig said.
Corky’s Closet is also requesting different items that people don’t always think of, based on what is donated the least, according to Lickteig.
“Some of the things in the men’s closet that we are needing right now, like shoe shine polish,” Lickteig said.
They also accept donations for more casual clothes, which tend to go quicker.
The closet has everyday clothes and items such as nicer hoodies and shorts, such as a P.E. teacher would wear, in order to cater to all the different needs of students who are entering student teaching, Lickteig said.
Currently, they have a wide variety of items, such as blouses, shirts, shoes, accessories, pants and sweaters, according to Darcy Stevens, administrative assistant in the school leadership and middle and secondary teacher education. Several male faculty members have also donated suit jackets, Stevens said.