The International Career Collective

Yasir Kurt, Director of Life Design-Graduate Programs

The Johns Hopkins University

The International Career Summit, a core initiative of the International Career Collective (comprising 24 institutions), is dedicated to bridging the skills gap between US-based and international students. Spearheaded by the Life Design Lab at Johns Hopkins University, the Summit offers tailored workshops and engages expert speakers to provide invaluable insights. Launched in April 2023, the inaugural event featured over 30 experts and attracted 474 attendees only from Johns Hopkins University. Building on this success, the second iteration in November 2023 expanded to include 11 collaborating institutions, hosting 20 experts and engaging 2,118 students over five days with 20 hours of content across 21 sessions, including popular topics like AI-driven resume creation and visa options. Comprehensive attendee data analysis and surveys revealed a 96% satisfaction rate and a Net Promoter Score of 40, highlighting the Summit's impact on attendees' career preparedness. The outcomes have set the stage for future expansions, including a membership model (already doubled the member size in a few months), hybrid delivery methods, and more proactive involvement of employers and alumni, demonstrating the International Career Collective's commitment to empowering international students through innovative career and life design initiatives.

Accelerating Community Engagement in the Classroom: A New Model for Faculty Development

Annie Kurtin, Senior Associate Director, Integrated Learning Partnerships
University of Arizona

This session will describe the Experiential Learning Design Accelerator (The Accelerator) at the University of Arizona and its impact on our campus and local communities. Together we will examine how members of the University of Arizona campus including faculty, staff, and local community members from Tucson and greater Southern Arizona came together to conceive a new model for community engaged teaching and learning, faculty development and curriculum design. This session will address the key programmatic components of the Accelerator including incentivized faculty training within a community of practice to explore themes of reciprocity and mutual benefit within partnerships; career competencies embedded in student-facing assignments; the co-design and execution of effective learning tools; and meaningful assessments of learning and collaboration through IRB-approved pre and posttests. In this highly facilitated session, participants will reflect upon, explore, and prototype concepts of reciprocity and mutual benefit in university-community partnerships and walk away with actionable insights and next steps to meaningfully advance community engaged experiential learning at their home institutions.

Revolutionize Your Career Path: Unconventional Strategies for Integrating Passion into Your Professional Journey

Brooke Buffington, Assistant Vice President of the Student Professional Development Center

Kristen Aquilino, Director of International Student Services

Elon University

Inspired by the transformative “World Domination Summit,” I partnered with an international student services expert to launch an innovative career course: "Charting Your Unconventional Career Journey." This isn’t just another career development class; it's a bold adventure into crafting a career that aligns with your deepest aspirations.
Forget the traditional syllabus—our course introduces a groundbreaking reflection journal that serves as a student's personal roadmap. This journal guides students through a process of self-discovery, helping to peel away external pressures from family and society to uncover what truly defines a remarkable life for each student.

In this course, students embark on an exhilarating exploration of cultural competencies, personal and team strengths, and creative ways to make a meaningful impact on their community and the world. We challenge students to rethink the conventional career path and embrace the journey as an evolving adventure rather than a fixed destination.

A Toolkit for Leading Change in Career Services

Genevieve Harclerode, AVP, Career Services

Dr. Andy Wilson, Associate Vice President, Student Success

Loyola University Chicago

Career Services practitioners are regularly called upon to lead change initiatives. This program will offer a toolkit for leading change in Career Services and Student Success, more broadly. The framing is grounded in the reimagination of Career Services at Loyola University Chicago that utilized Kotter’s change model to lead this effort.  Presenters will share their insights and experiences over the course of a year leading a significant structural re-imagining for Career Services at Loyola Chicago. Participants of this session will be introduced to the Kotter change management framework that can be applied to their own unit/institution/project. Reflections and best practices on leading organizational change will be shared.

Better Together: Supporting Student Success through Alumni Engagement

Krysta Foster, Associate Director, Career Services
Michigan State University

Our alumni are an incredible resource for students, but their time is valuable, and their free time is limited. Over the course of the last five years, we have developed a series of virtual mentorship series committed to supporting student success through alumni engagement at Lyman Briggs College – a residential college at Michigan State University. Through this virtual programming series, students get first-hand access to alumni mentors as they explore different career paths, develop essential career skills and grow their professional networks. In addition, these strategic programs simultaneously build the donor pipeline creating opportunities for meaningful engagement and stewardship. As a result of attending this presentation, attendees will learn about the logistical and strategic framework for developing a programming series that engages alumni in student success initiatives, while supporting the fundraising and development goals of their institutions.

Feeding 4000 with 4: How PLNU Scaled Career Services to Meet Students Needs

Tré Watkins, Director of Talent Development, Career Services

Peter Alkatib, Director of Strategic Partnerships, Career Services

Point Loma Nazarene University

How did a team of five effectively serve a campus of over 5,000 students? During this informative and engaging session, the PLNU Career Services team will share a case study of their innovative transformation from a traditional, reactive model to a versatile and inclusive model that effectively meets students where they are.

Our presentation will:
Provide a glimpse into the history and context of PLNU Career Services, discussing key milestones and strategies that have shaped its transformation.
Detail the PLNU Career Services structure and strategy, supported by data that highlights our impact.
Discuss plans for the future of PLNU Career Services, including an exploration of past and current challenges that have informed our growth.

Three Strategies for Innovation:
Structural Changes: To create an effective, scalable, and equitable career development program, PLNU Career Services has overhauled its reporting structure, staffing model, and department name. These changes have elevated the profile of career readiness at PLNU and have been crucial in meeting the needs of a diverse student body.
Strategic Initiatives: We have implemented the "Career Everywhere" strategy to ensure career education is accessible to all PLNU students. By shifting from one-on-one advising to group advising sessions, we can serve more students efficiently and inclusively. This strategy also emphasizes building cross-campus relationships and engaging with students in classrooms and co-curricular activities, breaking down university silos to enhance student engagement and career readiness.
Digital Expansion: Recognizing the importance of accessibility and flexibility, PLNU Career Services has developed a range of online tools, including a comprehensive website with resources, a career course, and learning modules. These tools provide 24/7 access to career support, ensuring a greater reach and tailored assistance for all students, regardless of their schedule or location.

Metrics of Success:
PLNU Career Services successfully engaged with over half of our student population, demonstrating the reach and impact of our initiatives. Additionally, our new online learning modules are currently being tested in six online classes, with the potential to reach over 2,000 online-only students, further expanding our engagement and support.
By continually evolving and adapting to meet the changing needs of our student body, PLNU Career Services remains dedicated to fostering an inclusive environment that supports the career aspirations of every student. ​

Amplifying Career Initiatives for International Students

Rachel Zhang, Career Coordinator for International Students

Joelle Fundaro Randall, Assistant Director
University of Michigan - University Career Center

This session starts with introductions and an overview of the international student landscape at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, highlighting the collaboration between the University Career Center (UCC) and the International Center (IC) in providing embedded career coaching. Through a case study activity, the session addresses job search challenges faced by international students. The discussion covers four key factors influencing international students' experiences: confidence building, understanding work authorizations, effective networking, and navigating the U.S. job market. UCC and IC initiatives, such as specialized workshops, networking events, targeted career coaching, and Interstride, will be presented. The session concludes with a focus on how participants can implement these strategies at their own institutions, followed by a Q&A session.