Members of the Volunteer community gathered Friday, March 3 for the second annual Career Outcomes Summit in the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Student Union.
Stephanie Kit, executive director of the Center for Career Development & Academic Exploration, presented data from 2021-2022 graduates on their post-UT outcomes while Dr. Amber Williams, Vice Provost for Student Success, welcomed the panel while also offering closing remarks.
“It was a pleasure to hear directly from our faculty about the nuanced ways they integrate career-readiness into their curriculum. These intentional moments help scholars connect their classroom experiences to their future careers.” said VPSS Williams.
Highlights included a 90% positive career outcome rate for the 2022 graduating class, the highest in UT history. Positive career outcomes are defined as obtaining employment, attending graduate or continuing education, performing military service, or working with a service organization.
Overall, 60% of students who did achieve employment are employed in-state, with a $56,624 mean salary, while 70% completed an internship or similar experience. Top employers include: The University of Tennessee, PepsiCo/Frito-Lay, Pilot Flying J, UT Medical Center, and the Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
During the summit each faculty member, from a variety of colleges and departments, shared ways in which they include career in their curriculum, ranging from hands-on projects that involve employers and community organizations to assignments that allow students to connect what they’re learning in their major classes to the career competencies they are building.
Ultimately the faculty panel’s main goals are helping students to be better prepared to solve the challenges they will encounter in the workforce.
The Faculty Panel consisted of:
• Dr. Leonard Clemons, Associate Vice Provost for Student Success
• Dr. Erin Darby, Associate Professor, Religious Studies and Faculty Director, Undergraduate Research & Fellowships
• Dr. Julie Ferrara, Assistant Department Head and Lecturer, Business Analytics & Statistics
• Dr. Laura Knight, Assistant Professor, Outreach & Engagement Coordinator, Industrial and Systems Engineering
• Ms. Ashleigh Powers, Coordinator of Academic Advising, Psychology
• Ms. Cary Staples, Professor, Graphic Design
• Dr. Liz Derryberry, Associate Professor, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
Sponsored by the Division of Student Success and the Center for Career Development & Academic Exploration, the Summit connects faculty and staff at UT with information on students’ post-graduation outcomes to evaluate their success while at college. The data collected from the career profile enables UT to improve academic and student success initiatives that support scholars as they set and achieve their post-graduation goals, securing employment or continuing education. This strategy aligns with UT’s Strategic Vision, particularly Goal One of cultivating the Volunteer Experience.
The Center for Career Development & Academic Exploration utilizes multiple outlets for getting career outcomes and collects this data for up to six months after graduation. These include attending on-campus events to gather information, participating in calling campaigns, and researching online outlets such as LinkedIn for post-graduation outcomes. National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) provides career outcomes guidelines for higher education institutions on collecting and reporting post-graduation career outcomes.
The center also recently rebranded their What Can I Do With This Major? website. This additional resource features major-specific profiles with information on common career paths, employers in that field, and strategies to maximize opportunities.