UW-Parkside selected for national campus to career initiative focused on career-connected opportunities.
KENOSHA, Wis. — 
The University of Wisconsin-Parkside has been selected as one of 16 colleges and universities nationwide to participate in From Campus to Career, a national initiative supported by the Lumina Foundation designed to scale career-connected high-impact practices (HIPs) and strengthen workforce outcomes for students.
Through the initiative, UW-Parkside will receive $100,000 over two years, along with technical assistance and cohort-based support from national higher education partners to expand and strengthen career-connected learning opportunities.
High-impact practices such as internships, undergraduate research, service learning, capstone projects, and student employment are widely associated with increased student engagement, deeper learning, and higher completion rates. The Campus to Career initiative focuses on intentionally connecting these experiences to career pathways and labor market demand so that students graduate prepared to demonstrate the skills employers need.
“At UW-Parkside, we are committed to ensuring that our students graduate not only with a strong academic foundation but with meaningful experiences that connect learning to career opportunity,”
“At UW-Parkside, we are committed to ensuring that our students graduate not only with a strong academic foundation but with meaningful experiences that connect learning to career opportunity,” said Chancellor Lynn Akey. “Through the Campus to Career initiative and Parkside Works, we are expanding access to experiences that graduates need to thrive while developing high-demand talent for the region.”
UW-Parkside’s participation will support the Parkside Works: Campus to Career Accelerator, an initiative designed to embed career-connected high-impact practices across the undergraduate experience. Building on the university’s longstanding commitment to community engagement and regional workforce development, the project will expand access to internships, community-based learning, and work-integrated learning opportunities.
Faculty will have a vital role with opportunities to expand course-based experiences that align with National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) competencies and regional workforce talent needs. The initiative will also introduce tools such as digital credentialing, enabling students to earn verifiable badges in competencies such as data analytics, AI literacy, communication, and leadership.
UW-Parkside will also develop a high-impact practices data dashboard to track participation, retention, graduation, and employment outcomes. The system will help departments and university leadership identify opportunities to expand career-connected learning and ensure that these experiences are accessible to all students.
Regional partnerships will be strengthened through Parkside Works, UW-Parkside’s office for partnerships and workforce innovation. The university will host faculty–employer design sessions and sector roundtables with business and community partners to align curriculum with regional workforce talent priorities and expand high-impact learning opportunities.
Lumina launched From Campus to Career to help institutions scale career-connected high-impact practices that strengthen the value of a bachelor’s degree.
“Too many students complete meaningful academic experiences without clear pathways to translate those experiences into career opportunities,” said Jasmine Haywood, strategy director for credentials of value at Lumina. “If a credential is going to hold value in the labor market, students must graduate with the ability to demonstrate the skills and competencies employers need.”
The 16 selected institutions represent a diverse cross-section of higher education, including regional public universities, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), and large research universities. Together, they will serve as national models for integrating academic learning with career preparation.
“In an era of rising skepticism about the value of college, strengthening the connection between learning and work is essential,” said Debra Humphreys, vice president of strategic engagement at Lumina. “When students can clearly see how their education prepares them for meaningful careers, the value of a credential becomes tangible.”
The initiative is implemented in partnership with Excelencia in Education, the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU), and the Center for Innovation in Postsecondary Education (CIPE), which will support participating institutions through technical assistance and cross-campus learning opportunities.
________________________________________
About the University of Wisconsin–Parkside
Since its founding in 1968 The University of Wisconsin–Parkside has been a trusted partner for the region’s higher educational needs, empowering students to thrive, advancing applied knowledge, and developing talent for the future. The university offers undergraduate and graduate degrees, as well as certificates and pre-professional programs, designed to foster personal and professional growth through real-world and impactful learning experiences. Located in the dynamic Chicago-Milwaukee corridor, UW-Parkside offers unmatched access to world-class internships, professional networks, and endless career-building opportunities, placing students at the center of it all.