University of South Alabama Faculty Enhance Curriculum with Career-Readiness Mini-Course
Posted on June 6, 2024 by Michelle Hale
University of South Alabama Faculty Enhance Curriculum with Career-Readiness Mini-Course
The Office of Academic Enhancement, in collaboration with the Innovation in Learning Center and Career Development, is pleased to announce the successful completion of the "LevelUP Your Course: Enhancing Curriculum-Based Career Readiness" mini-course by 11 South Alabama faculty members from five colleges. This initiative, part of the LevelUP Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP), equips faculty with the tools to integrate career-focused activities into their courses, ensuring students gain valuable skills aligned with employer expectations.
The mini-course guided participants through designing discipline-specific, career-focused activities that incorporate the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) competencies and the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) employer-valued skills. Participants engaged in four in-person meetings, dedicated 2-4 hours to online activities, and completed extensive course design plans, ultimately leaving the course with practical strategies for embedding these competencies into their curricula. Through the mini-course, participants:
- Defined the importance of career-readiness language and applied NACE competencies to their upcoming courses.
- Designed discipline-specific, career-focused activities that align with high-impact practices and employer-valued skills.
- Reviewed and integrated career readiness resources into their courses.
"The LevelUP mini-course has significantly empowered our faculty to bridge the gap between academic learning and real-world success," said Julie Estis, Ph.D., Executive Director of Academic Enhancement. "By equipping our educators with the tools and strategies to integrate career-focused activities into their curricula, we are enabling our students to not only excel academically but are also making sure they are well-prepared for their next steps."
Please join us in congratulating the faculty who completed the mini-course: Jenny Manders and Brandy Rhodes, College of Education and Professional Studies; Andy Cobb and Hannah Kibby, School of Computing; Steven Clontz, Kelly Major, Robert O'Berry, Hunter Tallent, and Melissa Walter, College of Arts and Sciences; Christina Baughn, College of Nursing; and Courtney Broadfoot, Covey College of Allied Health Professions.
Upon completion of the mini-course, faculty members now have access to ready-made resources and evidence-based learning strategies that can be directly implemented in their classes, enhancing the career readiness of their students.
About the LevelUP Quality Enhancement Plan:
The University of South Alabama’s LevelUP: Uniquely Prepared for What Comes Next Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) is a campus-wide initiative aimed at uniquely preparing students for what comes next. Through metacognitive reflections, students will synthesize connections among learning opportunities inside and outside of the classroom as they look ahead and plan for their future. LevelUP provides enhanced opportunities for students to develop career readiness competencies that prepare them for life after their degree, as confident, ready, and capable members of the workforce or well-equipped graduate students.