UAH spotlights career services, experiential programs and employer partnerships

Ronnie Hebert, UAH vice president for student affairs and dean of students, told the Board of Trustees on April 4 that the university’s career services office has expanded experiential learning and employer engagement to help students transition into the workforce.

Hebert said programs such as Mentor Charger, a Mentor/externship month,“What’s Up Wednesday” employer meet-and-greets, and large-scale career fairs bring employers and students together, while a systemwide career-development platform called SteppingBlocks has more than 2,000 active users on the UAH campus since its launch.

Hebert described a multi-tier program with industry partners: “The I4 program is a years long partnership with Northrop Grumman that provides a 4 year talent pipeline for students participating in the program. Participants receive mentorship, professional development, co op opportunities and a culminating experience which includes a sponsored senior design project.” He also outlined an interview-suite renovation project to convert underused space into a private, professional interview area for employers and students.

Students and alumni who spoke during materials and video excerpts credited campus career services with tangible outcomes. Maddie Eason, a senior information systems major with a concentration in cybersecurity, said internships and co-ops helped her earn certifications and advance technical skills: “With cybersecurity and more technical fields, certifications are everything and being able to get those through co op opportunities and through academic opportunities kind of puts you in a really good middle ground.”

Samuel Arnold, a double major in chemistry and physics who conducts laser-based materials research at UAH, described the value of early undergraduate research opportunities: “It's these experiences that can truly set students apart in their job search process.” Other students and alumni recounted first co-op and internship placements found via career services and Handshake, and one alum said the office’s support led to their first job out of college.

Why it matters Career services and experiential learning feed the region’s employer needs: Hebert noted that roughly 75% of UAH graduates remain in Alabama after graduating, a statistic he used to emphasize the campus’s role in the local workforce pipeline. The career office’s employer partnerships, fairs (about 185 employers and 2,000 students at the large fairs), and student preparation programs aim to increase employability and expand regional talent pools.

Speakers - Ronnie Hebert — UAH Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students (presenter) - Maddie Eason — Senior, Information Systems (cybersecurity concentration) - Samuel Arnold — Undergraduate student researcher (chemistry and physics) - Chris — featured alumnus (first name only in the materials; described internships and a fellowship)

Clarifying details - Career fairs: UAH hosts two large all-majors career fairs each academic year and multiple college-based fairs; recent fairs brought roughly 185 employers and over 2,000 students together. - SteppingBlocks: The campus reported over 2,000 active users since launch and was asked to serve as a case study by the vendor. - Interview suite: Project will convert underused storage/workroom space on the second floor into an interview suite for on-campus employer interviews and private student Zoom/phone interviews.

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Ending Hebert closed by thanking the board for support and inviting trustees to upcoming employer events; the committee recorded the presentation as part of the information items for academic affairs and student affairs.