learning sessions 1

Thursday, November 9, 2023 | 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM

Building and Flying the Airplane All at Once: Reimagining and Codifying Experiential Learning on Your Campus

Presenters: Margaret McGuire, Saint Louis University; Jeffery Jackson, Saint Louis University

Topic: Experiential Education

Instructional Level: All Levels

Target Audience: Colleges

This breakout session will provide attendees with a four-step process for building out, standardizing, and tracking their experiential learning activities, based upon the successes of the new Saint Louis University process.  Prior to 2019, the process of tracking Experiential Learning activities at Saint Louis University was unique to each school/college, making data tracking inaccurate, and the registration process unclear to students and faculty. While students still landed experiential learning opportunities, they had little incentive to pursue academic credit for their experiences. In response, the Career Services office at Saint Louis University undertook to codify Experiential Learning with partners across the campus, including individual schools and colleges, the Registrar's office, deans, and student-facing service departments. The Career Services office leveraged Handshake and its Experiences tab to provide better service and a standardized process to all campus stakeholders. Collaborating with the deans and Registrar's office, we created customizable templates and reports utilizing Handshake and DocuSign, and incentivized student reporting and faculty involvement with a reduced tuition rate and revenue sharing, respectively, for elective internship courses. As a result, we have improved experiential learning data tracking with a streamlined and digitized process for all stakeholders, and a user-friendly experience for students and faculty.

Learning Objective: 

• Identify the needs, solutions, and stakeholders involved in building an Experiential Learning program on your campus.

Developing Community Internship Programs: Strategies for Cultivating Relationships and Maximizing Impact

Presenter: Joshua Lisko, Kenyon College

Topics: Employer Relations, Experiential Education, Small Colleges and Universities

Instructional Level: All Levels

Target Audience: Both Colleges & Employers

The Kenyon College Community Internship Program (KCIP) provides students with opportunities to gain real-world experience in a variety of fields while making valuable contributions to local organizations. This program has been successful in connecting students with local community partners, providing them with the chance to apply their skills in real-world settings, and fostering strong relationships between Kenyon and the surrounding community.  The proposed presentation aims to share the success and benefits of KCIP with other institutions and organizations. We will highlight the unique features of the program, including the rigorous application process, support for local employers, and professional development opportunities. We will also discuss the impact of KCIP on students, community partners, and the college as a whole.  The presentation will be interactive, providing attendees with the opportunity to engage in discussions about best practices for implementing similar programs. We will also showcase the different strategies used to connect with community partners and the importance of cultivating relationships for successful outcomes.  By sharing the experiences and lessons learned through KCIP, we hope to inspire and encourage other institutions and organizations to develop similar programs that benefit both students and the communities they serve.

Learning Objectives:

• By the end of this session, participants will be able to identify the key components of a successful community internship program, understand the impact of such a program on students, community partners, and the college as a whole, and develop strategies for cultivating strong relationships with local organizations.
• Participants will also be able to engage in discussions about best practices for implementing similar programs and leave with a set of actionable takeaways to improve their own programs.

Empowering Students with Disabilities for the Application and Interviewing Processes: Navigating Protected Information Through Career Coaching

Presenters: Tommy Mackensen, Ohio University; Melissa Kulp, Ohio University

Topics: Career Advising & Counseling, Diversity & Inclusion

Instructional Level: All Levels

Target Audience: Both Colleges & Employers

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) means the inclusion of and the opportunity to succeed for everyone—including those with disabilities. Accessibility can easily be overlooked when career coaching students on the application and interview processes. This session will equip career professionals with essential coaching techniques to support students with visible and invisible disabilities during their job/internship search, application submission process, and interviewing techniques. We will discuss navigating implicit bias, the voluntary self-identification of disability form, look at best practices in interviewing with protected information, considerations and strategies from a human resources perspective, and employer feedback on effective interviewing approaches for students with disabilities. Participants will gain valuable knowledge on safeguarding students' protected information while providing them with guidance to increase their chances of securing employment. We hope participants leave the session with an increased knowledge of helping students navigate accessibility in the job search and interview processes and take away resources to incorporate on their own campuses.

Learning Objectives:

• Learn what is means to have a visible and/or invisible disability
• Understand implicit bias and how it can impact a student with disabilities
• Equip career professionals with best practices when coaching students with disabilities through the job application and interview processes

Hybrid, Home, or In-office: How We Thrive

Presenter: Julie Bruns, Illinois Institute of Technology

Topics: Personal & Professional Development

Instructional Level: All Levels

Target Audience: Both Colleges & Employers

Whether you're an individual contributor or a manager of teams, we are all called to be experts, juggling multiple tasks while keeping it all together. But surviving is not the goal. Thriving is. It's not only a better way to live, but it benefits everyone and everything around us. In this session, we'll share practices (and the science behind them) that are simple and easy to implement while being extremely impactful almost immediately. As each person starts to build these concepts into their daily routines, teams will become stronger, people happier, work lighter, and work/life balance more easily achieved.

Learning Objectives:

• Learn how employees and students can thrive regardless of their work model.
• Discover routines and best practices to fortify stronger employees and team managers.
• Learn the importance of how and why wellness goes beyond productivity, including the tried-and-true facts and scientific perspective behind it.

learning Sessions 2

THURSDAy, November 9, 2023 | 2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Intentional Career Services Strategies for Employer Engagement that Increase Equitable Hiring and Student Success Outcomes

Presenters: Amy Hawkins, Columbus State Community College; Kristine Topmiller, Columbus State Community College

Topics: Career Advising & Counseling, Diversity & Inclusion, Employer Relations, Experiential Education

Instructional Level: All Levels

Target Audience: Both Colleges & Employers

 Columbus State Community College's Employer-Student Engagement Coordinator and Lead Career Counselor will discuss a menu of programs they have successfully facilitated, as a college, to increase diverse hiring and student/employer engagement in a way that addresses barriers for underrepresented students.  Examples of programs and strategies include career exploration events, employer education, partnerships and recruitment activities, and cohort model experiential learning programs with high touch advising that has contributed significantly to student retention and success.  Participants will walk away with a deeper understanding of how to navigate critical conversations with employers regarding diversity in hiring and how to get there.  Best practices for offering a variety of programming to increase students' sense of belonging in industry while making career-establishing connections with employers early on will be discussed. Tips and program success data for addressing student barriers and offering high touch advising will also be shared.

Learning Objectives:

• Participants will learn how to navigate critical conversations with employers to increase equitable hiring outcomes.
• Participants will receive practical suggestions and learn best practices for facilitating career development, experiential learning, and employer engagement programs that reduce barriers  for underrepresented students.

Open Your Mind to Apprenticeship: A  Tale of Two Successful State Apprenticeship Programs

Presenters: Dan Ortego, College of Lake County; Jennifer "Nicci" Pagan, Gateway Technical College; Jerry Donahue, College of Lake County

Topic: This program provides an awareness of the apprenticeship career pathway option for students as demonstrated through the efforts of two college apprenticeship programs

Instructional Level: All Levels

Target Audience: Both Colleges & Employers

It is a well-known fact that Apprenticeship is an investment that works, but do you know why? It is partially because Apprenticeship is not a "one size fits all" program. It can be adapted to address local business and community workforce needs like filling the talent pipeline and the transfer of tribal knowledge. This session will discuss how apprenticeship meets these needs, the types of apprenticeships available, how they function, and compare how colleges in two states - Wisconsin and Illinois.- use apprenticeship to support the employer's goals and college's mission.

Learning Objectives:

• Gain an understanding of the versatility of apprenticeship through the comparison of two state apprenticeship programs, including connecting grades 9-12 students' awareness as a career pathway.
• Develop an understanding of what types of apprenticeship programs are available and identify how apprenticeship helps support employer, institution and community success.
• Learn what resources/donors exist to support apprenticeship programs.

Three-Pronged Approach to Closing the NACE Competency Gap

Presenters: Julie Nosal, Elmhurst University; Soni Simpson, Elmhurst University

Topic: Assessment and Data Analytics, Career Advising & Counseling, Experiential Education, Personal & Professional Development, Small Colleges and Universities

Instructional Level: All Levels

Target Audience: Both Colleges & Employers

Interactive session reviewing primary analytics regarding student awareness of career readiness competency importance, student perception of their career-readiness in NACE competencies, and employer perceptions of competency performance among recent graduate hires. This research was applied in a three-pronged competency development program at a liberal arts university of 3,500 students. WCPE 299/399 - Through a survey of internship cites, mentors, and HR leaders we re-imagined our CPP299 "Professional Foundations of Career Development" course for 1st and 2nd year students to include oral communication tag.  Created CPP399 "Professional Preparation" course designed for 3rd and 4th year students focusing on NACE career competencies.   SoB Edge

Concurrently, a School of Business faculty studied NACE competencies with students & hiring managers and presented to WCPE and SoB members. The Elmhurst Edge program was developed, including four eight-week courses for business students and competency learning outcomes infused curriculum, with the core business and marketing majors as first adopters. Marketing CBP

This research also increased focus on competency development through Client Based Projects (CBP) in the classroom at multiple levels of marketing classes (in-class resume experience), leading to additional research.  Students, graduates, and professional success stories will be shared.  Closing with ideation and audience sharing.

Learning Objectives:

• Apply research to generate stronger career-readiness outcomes.
• Drive career-readiness competency development into career specific course learning outcomes.
• Generate additional solutions to career-readiness competencies across all majors.

Times are a-Changin'! Implementing Dynamic Change Management Theory into your Human Capital and New Employee Orientation Strategy

Presenters: Aaron Meyers, Meyers Workforce Solutions, LLC

Topic: Assessment and Data Analytics, Employer, Employer Relations, Personal & Professional Development

Instructional Level: All Levels

Target Audience: Both Colleges & Employers

 How many organizations have a strategy that specifically addresses their human capital? Better yet, how many have an orientation strategy to implement college graduates into the traditional workforce? As a consultant to companies across the country, I found that most have goals to measure their people metrics and an idea of what an orientation process should look like, but more often than not they are without a foundation, measurement, and/or expectations of what success looks like. Today's workplaces are riddled with generational adaptation problems and low retention rates. This presentation offers a glimpse at a proven design that addresses human nature, expected resistances to change, and the solutions-oriented approaches that will drive the betterment of organizational employee engagement. The data within this presentation is supported by personal research that was accumulated from hundreds of collegiate leaders across the country. It examines the state of preparedness for college graduates about to enter the workforce and is based on the NACES career readiness model.

Learning Objectives:

• Orient executives, human resources, direct managers, and non-supervisory employees into an annual strategic framework nested within change management theory (this presentation focuses on Kotter's 8-Step Method.)
• Examine the environment of college graduate's readiness levels from the perspective of hundreds of career centers, employer engagement, and other collegiate professionals from across the country.

Revolutionizing Recruitment: The 12twenty Advantage for Employers

Presenter: Emily Richer, 12Twenty

Instructional Level: All Levels

Target Audience: Employers

In the ever-evolving landscape of talent acquisition and career development, 12twenty has emerged as a game-changer for employers seeking top talent and seamless recruitment processes. With a commitment to simplifying the complex world of university recruiting, we have developed a robust platform that streamlines and optimizes the entire employer experience.

During this session, you will discover the multitude of ways 12twenty can transform your hiring and campus engagement strategies. Our expert speakers will guide you through the following key areas:

1. Efficient and Targeted Recruitment: Learn how 12twenty enables you to identify, engage, and hire the most suitable candidates through advanced filtering, streamlined job postings, and access to a vast network of universities and students.
2. Seamless Event Management: Explore how our platform simplifies the planning and execution of career fairs, interviews, and information sessions, ensuring you make the most of your campus visits.
3. Data-Driven Decision-Making: Witness the power of data analytics and insights, allowing you to make informed recruitment decisions, track key performance metrics, and refine your strategy for better results.
4. Enhanced Branding and Outreach: Discover how 12twenty facilitates a strong presence on campus, helping you to build your employer brand, reach a wider student audience, and foster valuable relationships.
5. Integration and Customization: Explore how our platform seamlessly integrates with your existing systems and offers customizable solutions to fit your unique needs and processes.
6. User-Friendly Experience: Learn how 12twenty prioritizes user experience, making it easy for employers to navigate the platform, connect with students, and establish meaningful connections.

learning SESSIONs 3

Friday, NOVEMBER 10, 2023 | 8:30 AM - 9:30 AM

Generative AI - ChatGPT and the coming revolution in hiring and career services

Presenters: Martin Gahbauer, Elmhurst University; Jerry Donahue, College of Lake County

Topic: This topic relates to the use of Generative AI tools like Chat GPT in the talent acquisition aspect of the recruiting process including recruiting documents, i.e., resumes, cover letters, etc., and their review/evaluation by employers

Instructional Level: All Levels

Target Audience: Both Colleges & Employers

 The rapid evolution of Generative AI-powered tools and their influence on our professional lives will be comparable to the introduction of the Internet or smartphones.  In the talent acquisition and career service realms, the AI tool ChatGPT is quickly becoming a game changer.  Its potential impact on career documents like resumes and cover letters, position applications, and even career skill development will be extensive for job seekers and employers alike.   To help navigate the brave new world in talent acquisition, this session offers a panel of employers, college career services staff and an Open AI representative that will examine Generative AI tools and discuss what college students and employers will need to consider going forward in the recruiting process.  Participants will be encouraged to interact in a dialogue and to share possible best practices during the session. In addition, resources available online through websites and articles reviewing developments with this tool will be provided to all participants.

Learning Objectives:

• What is ChatGPT, its development and efficacy in the college recruitment realm?
• How is it, or can be, used in the recruiting and candidate evaluation process by potential employers?
• What resources ae available to inform students, employers and college staff about the efficacy of this AI tool.

Handshake Session

Target Audience: Employers

Details forthcoming!

Lessons Learned from My Two-Year Grant on Career Channels and Domestic Minority Students

Presenters: Emily Sager, Beloit College

Topic: Assessment & Data Analytics; Career Advising & Counseling

Instructional Level: All Levels

Target Audience: Colleges

 In this session, Emily Sager from Beloit College will talk about her research project studying two components of Beloit College's new strategic plan that focuses on career readiness. The research focuses both on the new on-campus career initiative called Career Channels and the learning framework, the Integrated Learning Outcomes, which includes some NACE Career Competencies, and their impact specifically on domestic minority students. Emily and Jada Daniel'23, her student research assistant, conducted two surveys and collected data to determine what impact this new initiative had on student's awareness of the college's Integrated Learning Outcomes and of the Career Channels program and its offerings. Through this research, they learned a lot about data needed for career-readiness program evaluation, measuring domestic minority students' engagement in programming, and the obstacles facing consistent data collection on the college-level. They also briefly researched how this program might impact student participation in high impact practices. Emily will discuss their methodology, data, results, and, most importantly, the challenges and lessons learned.

Learning Objectives:

• In this session, participants will learn, about the data needed for career-readiness program evaluation
• Measuring domestic minority students' engagement in programming
• And the obstacles facing consistent data collection on the college-level

Better Together: Supporting Student Success Through Alumni Engagement

Presenters: Krysta Coleman, Michigan State University

Topic: Career Advising & Counseling, Experiential Education, Alumni Mentoring and Networking

Instructional Level: Mid-career

Target Audience: Colleges

 At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, universities across the country encountered the same issues: how do we engage alumni if we can't bring them to campus? How do we support student success while keeping interactions entirely virtual? As the old saying goes: necessity is the mother of invention. At Michigan State University, that invention was a new collaboration between alumni relations and career services. In the past three years, our small residential college at this Big Ten institution has developed a programming series committed to supporting student success through alumni engagement.  Our alumni are an incredible resource, but their time is valuable, and their free time is limited. We discovered we could engage exponentially more individuals across the country due to the flexibility of virtual programming. Through this virtual programming series, students get first-hand access to alumni mentors as they explore different career paths, develop essential career skills and grow their professional networks. In addition, these strategic programs simultaneously build the donor pipeline creating opportunities for meaningful engagement and stewardship.

Learning Objectives:

• As a result of attending this presentation, attendees will learn about the logistical and strategic framework for developing a programming series that engages alumni in student success initiatives, while supporting the fundraising and development goals of their institutions.

learning SESSIONs 4

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2023 | 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

12Twenty Session

Target Audience: Employers

 Details Forthcoming!

Reimagining the Internship Experience

Presenters: April Robles, Miami University; Erin Dunn, Miami University

Topic: Experiential Education

Instructional Level: All Levels

Target Audience: Colleges

We started with academic department silos and independent studies and moved to a more cohesive internship and research student experience at Miami University (Oxford, OH).  Learn about the impact the Center for Career Exploration and Success (CCES) has made to create an equitable and accessible way to promote internship and research experiences for all students.  Starting with leadership support with changes in university policy to creating an infrastructure for scaling the capacity to host more internships across all colleges the Career Center collaborated with departments to establish best practices to create a NACE readiness reflection and evaluation process of the student experience. Additionally, we expanded our ability to provide financial support to students who have unpaid or underpaid internships/research experiences and professional attire grants.  With this information on the student internship and research experience, we were able to create a variety of marketing campaigns to encourage more students to complete an internship or research experience for credit. This academic year, the Career Center facilitated 676 credit bearing internship experiences and 93 Extra-Curricular internship experiences.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the infrastructure developed to scale the capacity for hosting more internships across all colleges within the university.
• Understand the importance of marketing campaigns in encouraging more students to pursue credit-bearing internship or research experiences.
• Analyze the benefits and impact of credit-bearing internship experiences on student learning, career development, and overall academic success.

Reimagining and Embracing AI in the Classroom: Improve Student Outcomes & Reduce Grading Time  

Presenters: Chelsy Cegielski, Jennifer Buelow Fischer, Ashley Petr, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh 

Topic: Assessment and Data Analytics, Personal and Professional Development 

Instructional Level: All Levels

Target Audience: Colleges & Employers

Are students taking advantage of AI (artificial intelligence) tools such as ChatGPT or MyAI or SnapChat to complete homework assignments? You bet they are! Are students seeking immediate feedback on their efforts? You bet they are! It’s time for instructors and career service professionals to embrace and leverage these tools to educate students on how to effectively utilize AI in the classroom and workplace. At the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, the use of an AI tool was implemented into a required Professional Skills in Business course to aid business students in building, tailoring, and improving their resumes. Prior to the use of the AI tool, instructors and staff spent hours manually grading and providing feedback. Despite the detailed resume feedback, students rarely implemented recommendations in future resume iterations. Join members from Career & Professional Development and the College of Business to hear how the AI tool had a significant positive impact on student performance and reduced staff/instructor grading time. 

Learning objectives:  

• Understand the impact AI (artificial intelligence) has on students, staff, and instructors 
• Learn how to leverage AI in the classroom and career services appointments