New Grant to Fund Additional Career Development Staff for Student Success

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Students in the Fulbright College and College of Education and Health Professions will soon have the opportunity to work with two new career development staff members, thanks to a new grant.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Students in the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Education and Health Professions will soon have more connections to employers in Northwest Arkansas and worldwide.

With the help of a $556,906 grant from the Walton Family Charitable Support Foundation, the Career Development Center at the University of Arkansas will add two new positions to help undergraduate and graduate students in both colleges, expanding the center’s efforts to create more comprehensive career services.

“By the mere fact of its geographic location, the University of Arkansas serves as a leader in the community and a major recruitment pool for local companies and organizations,” said Angela Williams, assistant vice chancellor and executive director of the Career Development Center. “When U of A graduates remain in Northwest Arkansas or in Arkansas to work, it makes a tremendous economic impact on the community, driving everything from real estate and research to hospitality and health care. It is imperative that positions exist on the U of A campus that work to facilitate conversations between local and regional employers and faculty, staff and students within each college.”

With more than 8,700 students, the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences houses more students than any other college on campus and represents the largest variation in degree plans.

The grant will allow the college to add to the programming that is already in place by hiring an associate director of employer relations and career education and offering topics for new and expanded programs – such as emerging careers, professionalism in the workplace, entrepreneurship and the gig economy, industry networking, capitalizing on industry trends, and career planning and preparation.

“Support to expand our career services is such an incredible gift because these kinds of roles, programs and opportunities have the potential to positively affect our students, graduates and economy for generations to come,” said Todd Shields, dean of the Fulbright College. “What a wonderful way to better the future of all those in our Northwest Arkansas and Arkansas communities and beyond.”

Similarly, the College of Education and Health Professions, with more than 5,400 students, will also have the opportunity to hire its first director of employer relations to assist with their career development efforts.

The college, which is the university’s third largest, includes students who rely heavily on experiential learning and employer connections as part of their preparation for post-graduation job success. 

New programming that can potentially be offered includes finding target markets, health-related career options in Northwest Arkansas, grant writing and fundraising, starting a business, new opportunities through technology, growth mindset and alternatives to the traditional, investment and modernization, job and internship searching, and policy initiatives and trends.

Creating a director of employer relations position will also provide a singular point of contact for local and regional companies who hope to recruit and hire U of A students from the college.

Brian Primack, dean of the College of Education and Health Professions, said, “We are excited that this grant will increase the success of both our students and local employers. Our college is community-oriented. As the home of the caring professions, this grant will directly link our graduates to opportunities that benefit the Northwest Arkansas area."

Williams noted, “We are very grateful to Dean Todd Shields and Dean Brian Primack for their partnership and collaboration on this grant. It is going to create more meaningful career connections for the students in their colleges.”

In spring 2022, the new Student Success Center will open with offices for both colleges’ academic advisors and success counselors, so adding these new career development opportunities will further highlight the robust services offered to all students at the U of A.

About the University of Arkansas: As Arkansas' flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $2.2 billion to Arkansas’ economy through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the top 3% of U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation. See how the U of A works to build a better world at Arkansas Research News.