October Assessment 365 Recap: The Career Center Takeover

If you supervise student employees, mentor student leaders, support international or graduate students, or work with students in any capacity, you will want to check out the recording of this month's Assessment 365 Career Center Takeover. Colleagues from UMBC’s Career Center presented innovative work using student voice as data, uniquely identifying and supporting graduate students, and highlighting the evolution of experiential learning at UMBC. A sincere thanks to Michelle Breen, Dr. Rowena Winkler, Marykate Conroy, and Adam Morris for their presentations!

"Nothing for Students Without Students"

Michelle Breen shared work conducted by both her and Annie Byrd on how they meaningfully collected multiple sources of data to both affirm anecdotal accounts and identify areas for growth. What I appreciated about their approach to engaging students is that they did not pursue a one-size-fits-all model. Additionally, their Career Center Student Advisory Council is unique because it serves as a source of feedback while simultaneously engaging students in shaping solutions.

One thing mentioned during this presentation was the University Innovation Alliance (UIA). Since we are a part of the UIA, you can request free access to the University Innovation Lab- an online community that advances innovative initiatives to improve outcomes.

Knowledge of Resources vs. Engagement with Resources

My main takeaway from Dr. Rowena Winkler’s work on understanding graduate student engagement was the ways data can support small, targeted adjustments to effect real change. Through a mixed-methods approach, Dr. Winkler established a roadmap for refining how the center collaborates with campus partners to meet the unique needs of graduate students.

Refining the Wheel Can Be Stronger Than Reinventing the Wheel

Marykate Conroy and Adam Morris provided insights into UMBC’s long-running PRAC courses and their alignment with UMBC's Transformative Experiences Framework (TEF). TEF is built on five core elements: intentional design, mentoring/coaching, experiential learning, reflective practice, and demonstration of impact.

Something that stood out to me in their work was the mutual benefit of student reflection. The department gains insight into areas where they can strengthen the experience being offered, while students gain confidence in clearly articulating their growth and skills. his presentation referenced the NACE Career Readiness Competencies. Learn more about these competency areas.

Watch this Assessment 365 video recording

After watching this video, please complete our two question, 15 second evaluation, thanks!

Reflection Questions for Viewers

In the spirit of trying something new, I want to pose these reflective questions to reflect on in your teams, privately, or feel free to reply in the comments.

• What stood out to you about the strategies employed by the Career Center and how might you incorporate them in your work?
• What hidden friction points (e.g., timing, trust, delivery channels) might be preventing students or staff from engaging with your services, and how might you leverage "trusted nodes" (like staff, faculty, or student leaders) to bridge that gap?