FloridaACE2025

As career services professionals, we know that meeting students where they are both physically and developmentally can significantly enhance engagement and career readiness. Rather than waiting for students to come to us, we've taken the show on the road, embedding career development into spaces and experiences students naturally gravitate toward. This session will explore how the University of Florida's Career Connections Center has strategically partnered with campus partners to integrate career education into existing student programs. From working with Intramural Sports on professional development for students who engage in their programs and experiences to engaging students at Housing's Haunted House and Casino Night, we have found innovative ways to connect career development with students' daily lives. We will also highlight ProfessionalU, an initiative designed to prepare housing students for Career Week. Attendees will leave with practical strategies to forge campus partnerships, lessons learned, and ideas for future engagement.

Objectives:
Attendees who attend this session will:
1. Explore Innovative Career Integration Strategies: Attendees will learn how to embed career development into campus partner programming, leveraging existing student experiences to enhance career readiness.
2. Evaluate Lessons Learned & Evolving Approaches: Participants will gain insight into successes and challenges from our partnerships, including key takeaways that are shaping how we refine and adapt our approach to collaboration.
3. Develop Actionable Campus Partnership Plans: Attendees will leave with strategies to initiate, strengthen, and sustain career services partnerships that effectively engage students where they are.