KICKSTART IS A PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT EXPERIENCE THAT EQUIPS NEW CAREER SERVICES STAFF WITH THE SKILLS TO BECOME STRATEGIC AND INNOVATIVE.
Kickstart is for new career services professionals who have been in their role for 0-2 years. The curriculum has been developed with a diverse audience in mind, both from education, background, and years of experience.
Kickstart is for professionals new to career services who may or may not have previous experience in higher education or at other offices on campus. They might be recent master's or Ph.D. graduates or recent hires from industry.
The program has also been designed to cater to career professionals with various career services roles such as career education, employer relations, internships, and experiential learning, or marketing/data/operations. Join the Kickstart community!
October 28-29, 2026
In Baltimore @ Towson University
The StartUp at the Armory
+ Four Months of Virtual Cohort Sessions
WHY KICKSTART?
Kickstart leverages cohort-based learning with a group of peers who have diverse backgrounds and professional experiences.
In addition to your cohort, Kickstarters are also engaged in small community C-groups that provide regular feedback and support.
This program connects you with veteran leaders who share their insights and experiences.
Much of the content is focused on trends in the field, insights from The Collective’s work with hundreds of campuses, and contemporary best practices curated by the training team.
Participants learn how to maximize their roles and contribute at a high level early in their careers.
In addition to gaining expertise in the profession, participants also engage in relevant skill-building, like data competency, strategic planning, and connecting with stakeholders.
This program involves 2 days of in-person training and networking AND four months of virtual cohort sessions.
2026 KICKSTART SCHEDULE
October 28-29, 2026
In-person: Towson University @
The StartUp at the Armory
All Times EASTERN
Day 1
2:00 - 3:00: Check-in & Networking
3:00 - 6:00 pm: Welcome + Program Begins
6:00 - 8:30 pm: Dinner on Your Own with Community Groups
Day 2
9:00 - 3:30 pm: Kickstart Training Program
+ 4 Additional Sessions of Online Video Training & Community with Your C-Group
For info purposes only: https://www.towson.edu/startup/
HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS
Hotel is on your own and we do not have room blocks, due to small size of the program. Here is a link to a recommended hotel close to campus: https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/bwiskht-home2-suites-towson/
You are welcome to stay at any hotel that best suits your needs.
GETTING TO CAMPUS
The cheapest and most convenient option is to take the BWI Airport Tram to Lutherville, then transfer to the MTA Line 75 bus to Towson University, which takes about 1h 17m and costs approx. $4
Instead of taking an Uber or Lyft to the airport, you can take a MARC train from Penn Station to BWI that costs $6, and there is a free shuttle from the BWI train station to the airport. https://baltimorecollegetown.org/shuttle
PARKING
Location: The address of the garage is 505 Virginia Avenue, Towson, MD 21286. The garage is located below the Cinemark movie theatre complex.
Daily parking is $2.00 for the first hour and $1.00 each additional hour (or any part thereof), with a daily maximum charge of $10.00. There is an Early Bird Special of $5.00 per day Monday-Sunday if the vehicle enters the garage by 9:00 AM and exits by 6:00 PM https://www.baltimorecountyparking.com/towson-square-garage
RESTAURANTS
Here is a link to recommended restaurants close to campus: https://baltimorecollegetown.org/colleges-and-universities/towson-university#ip_paragraph_adv-366
2026 KICKSTART COSTS
Early-bird pricing available through Sept. 15:
Campus-wide Member Rate: $989
Campus-wide Plus Member Rate: $949
Non-Member Rate: $1089
Includes: Two days of onsite training, materials, and community with your Kickstart cohort + Four online sessions
October 2026 TEACHING TEAM
Monique Frost
Consultant
The Career Leadership Collective
Sharon Attaway
Partner Engagement & Executive Search Consultant
The Career Leadership Collective
Are you new to career services, but feeling a bit too seasoned for Kickstart? Check out:
ASPIRE: For Mid-manager career professionals
MASTERMIND: For Top-level Career Leaders
Kickstart Curriculum
October 2026 Cohort Logistics
TRANSPORTATION ON YOUR OWN
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The cheapest and most convenient option is to take the BWI Airport Tram to Lutherville, then transfer to the MTA Line 75 bus to Towson University, which takes about 1h 17m and costs approx. $4
-
Instead of taking an Uber or Lyft to the airport, you can take a MARC train from Penn Station to BWI that costs $6, and there is a free shuttle from the BWI train station to the airport. https://baltimorecollegetown.org/shuttle
FAQs
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Are seats limited? Yes, registration is first-come, first-served.
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Can I save a spot for a future new hire whose name I don't know yet? Yes, you have this option at registration if you are hiring a new staff member right now and want them to come.
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Can I send a graduate student who works in our office? Yes, but we recommend the investment only if you are likely to hire them full-time.
Want to chat about Kickstart before registering?