What challenges do students face in connecting what they learn in class to their future careers, and how does Career Week help bridge that gap?
"Students often struggle to see how classroom skills like research, critical thinking, collaboration, or writing translate into professional settings. Career Week bridges this gap by giving them opportunities to articulate those skills in conversations with employers, test out networking in a supportive environment, and see how alumni and professionals apply similar skills in a diverse range of industries. It helps make the connection between academic work and future pathways more visible and tangible."
Are there particular Career Week events that you think pair especially well with classroom discussions or assignments?
"Events like Career Convos would be a strong fit for students in the humanities and social sciences, since this event is designed to help students practice talking about the skills they’re developing in class. There will be a different group of majors highlighted through this series each term. Resume Reviews align well with assignments that ask students to reflect on their experiences or practice professional communication. Our Home Building & Real Estate Industry Day can also spark discussions around applied learning, career pathways, and the realities of different roles within this industry. There will be a different industry highlighted each term.
Through the Career Week catalogue, you'll see the broad range of events that will be offered throughout the week. There are likely others that would be a great fit to bring into your classroom discussions."
How can instructors—regardless of discipline—integrate Career Week into their courses or syllabi in simple, meaningful ways?
"Even small steps can have an impact:
- Adding Career Week to your syllabus calendar. Here is a Google document with all event names, dates, times, and registration links that can be shared on a syllabus or on Canvas.
- Offering extra credit for attending an event.
- Dedicating a few minutes in class to share the event catalog and highlight something relevant to your students’ majors.
These small integrations normalize career development as part of the academic journey, no matter the discipline."
Faculty often balance helping students build career skills with encouraging them to think critically about the systems they’ll be working in. How does the Career Center support that kind of mindful and critical engagement during Career Week?
"Career Week emphasizes not just 'getting a job' but building awareness of how skills, identities, and values intersect in the workplace. Many events highlight alumni who share their own nuanced career stories, including challenges and systemic barriers they’ve faced. This creates space for students to critically examine industries while still practicing key career skills, bridging career readiness with deeper reflection."
Looking ahead, what kinds of partnerships or faculty involvement would you love to see grow around Career Week?
"We’d love to see more faculty integrate career-related discussions into their classes during Career Week whether through assignments, guest speakers, or simply encouraging attendance. Partnerships could also expand to include co-hosted panels, classroom visits by employers or alumni, or discipline-specific networking events. The goal is to create a shared ecosystem where academic learning and career development reinforce one another."