Connecting classroom learning to career success
Introduction
Help students connect classroom learning and academic experiences to career success and real-world professional practice through clear career pathways, career-ready curricula, experiential and interprofessional learning, and stronger connections with alumni, employers and the community.
Working Group Leads: Eileen Doran and Mary Keehn
Tactic 1: Integrate and communicate career pathways
Integrate and consistently communicate career pathway opportunities throughout the student experience so students can understand career connections, navigate available opportunities and make informed decisions that support their professional goals.
Target completion date: December 2027 | Progress: 10%
Key activities Tactic 1
- Develop clear, accessible career pathway infographics and maps for undergraduate academic programs.
- Integrate pathway information into advising, orientation, student success programming, curriculum maps and program plans.
- Provide faculty and advisors with pathway resources and communication tools.
- Update and maintain pathway information on AHS academic program websites and the AHS Student Resources Career page.
- Share student success stories, career outcomes and pathway opportunities through multiple communication channels.
Tactic 2: Integrate career readiness competencies
Integrate career readiness competencies throughout undergraduate academic programs in ways that align academic learning with market needs and career outcomes.
Target completion date: May 2028 | Progress: 5%
Tactic 2 Key activities
- Map career readiness competencies and career outcomes to courses and academic programs.
- Align course learning outcomes and curricular maps with employer expectations and career competencies.
- Integrate case-based learning, problem-solving, project-based learning and other career-relevant learning into coursework.
- Embed career planning, professional communication, workplace skills and reflective activities throughout the student experience.
Tactic 3: Expand experiential and interprofessional learning
Increase early and sustained exposure to experiential learning, interprofessional learning, and collaborative practice throughout students’ academic programs.
Target completion date: December 2028 | Progress: 0%
Tactic 3 Key activities
- Expand access to internships, practicums, clinical and field experiences, undergraduate research, job shadowing, workplace visits, and other applied learning opportunities.
- Integrate progressive experiential learning and collaborative experiences throughout academic programs.
- Evaluate experiential and interprofessional learning models at peer institutions to develop an AHS-wide framework.
- Expand community-engaged, interdisciplinary and interprofessional learning opportunities.
- Embed teamwork, communication, leadership and collaborative problem-solving competencies into experiential learning.
Tactic 4: Build and sustain alumni, employer and community Partnerships
Build and sustain partnerships that connect academic programs with employers, alumni, healthcare, industry, nonprofit, and community organizations.
Target completion date: August 2028 | Progress: 5%
Tactic 4 Key activities
- Establish and maintain employer advisory groups, alumni advisory groups or both.
- Develop partnerships with healthcare, industry, nonprofit and community organizations.
- Collaborate with partners to identify emerging workforce needs and expand experiential learning opportunities.
- Increase opportunities for employer and alumni engagement through networking events, panels and other professional activities.
- Develop employer-sponsored projects, capstones and applied learning experiences.