Story & Photo: Lisa Sollie
The baby直播 was recently honored with the 2024 Achievement Award for Internal Information/Educational Programs from the baby直播 Association of Colleges and Employers (AACE).
The achievement award, presented annually to just one college or university in the state, recognizes the university鈥檚 鈥淧ro-Certified Workplace Ready鈥� Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) program. UWA鈥檚 QEP is designed to better equip students for the workplace by integrating targeted networking opportunities, skill development, and resources tailored to the unique needs of UWA students in their last year of undergraduate degree completion. This program was also developed as part of the accreditation process with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
Gena Robbins, career services coordinator at UWA, accepted the award on behalf of the university鈥檚 QEP committee at the annual AACE meeting in Huntsville, baby直播, in July.
鈥淭he UWA QEP is a campus-wide effort targeting our graduating students as they transition from college to the workplace,鈥� noted QEP director Dr. Amy Jones, who also serves as dean of UWA鈥檚 College of Liberal Arts. 鈥淎s a critical component of our QEP, Gena Robbins and the Career Services Office provide personalized support to each student through resume critiques and mock interview experiences. Our data shows that students feel more confident sharing their professional skills with potential employers after working with experts like Ms. Robbins.鈥�
Robbins said that support from University leadership, along with collaboration throughout the QEP team, has been an integral part of the initiative鈥檚 success in equipping students. Robbins said that the team鈥檚 support and understanding of the overall mission and goals of the Career Services Office, partnerships with other entities, including faculty and staff, industry, alumni, and the local community, and the investment students have made through the 鈥楶ro-Certified Workplace Ready鈥� program, 鈥渋s why this program has been successful.鈥�
The Career Services Office collaborates with UWA colleges, divisions, organizations, professional associations, and employers to provide career-related programs and services to UWA students and alumni.
The AACE is a consortium of cooperative education, career services, and employers and is the state affiliate of the National Association of Colleges and Employers.