A $300,000 grant from the Strada Education Foundation opens fresh opportunities and funding to integrate career readiness into all levels of the student journey at the University of Central Florida.

The three-year grant will incorporate career resources into three areas: curriculum; the academic success coaching community; and technology.

“A diploma is a starting line for greater things. We want students to leave UCF with the tools and confidence to find success on the job market,” says the grant’s principal investigator, Assistant Vice Provost Kimberly Schneider, who oversees career planning and academic engagement. “This grant represents an opportunity to expand our impact and improve the reach of existing platforms.”

UCF is one of eight universities selected for grants from the Strada Education Foundation, which focuses on “clearing the path between education and work, especially for those with the most standing in their way.”

At UCF the $299,930 grant kickstarts three years of advancing scalable programs that impact the entire student body from the start of their journey as a Knight. It coincides with a period of growth and evolution for Career Services, including a recent $5 million commitment to career readiness programs from longtime UCF supporter Kenneth G. Dixon.

The first focus area is curriculum. Drawing on the expertise of faculty, departments will partner with Career Services to strengthen courses with natural career readiness components. Career Services will also boost faculty interactions by growing a career champions program.

Second is expanding training for academic success coaches to incorporate career readiness into their day-to-day conversations with students. On the horizon are enhanced in-person trainings, web courses and toolkits designed to facilitate and equip ASCs to have those conversations.

Third is growing and marketing current technology outlets like the newly launched VMock resource and online job platform Handshake. With a student body approaching 70,000, it’s critical services are scalable and available 24/7, Schneider says.

“What we’re creating is a comprehensive experience that prepares students from day one for the job market or post-graduate education,” Schneider says.