Career Success Lab in the I.D.E.A.L. Summer Academy
Friday Aug, 09 2024
Austin, TX – August 9, 2024 – Huston-Tillotson University’s (HT) team and stakeholders are assisting our students with becoming academically ready, career ready and Ram ready. During the summer of 2024, HT hosted seventy-eight students in its I.D.E.A.L. Summer Academy where students were being challenged through robust academic and career education experiences. Several academic classes were offered to students who were on different academic tracks, and a career readiness class was offered to all I.D.E.A.L. students regardless of their academic track or major. This class, a UNIV 1001 College of Arts and Sciences course is called, “The Career Success Lab”.
The Career Success Lab (The Lab) is a lab designed to assist students with researching, preparing, and completing career readiness assignments. It is called a “lab” because the
assignments complement the material being taught in the academic classroom. The Lab also increases awareness about career readiness competencies and how these competencies impact career success. The Lab supports career exploration, career engagement and career development in equitable and accessible manners. The Lab supports the social and emotional aspects of learning, specifically self-awareness, self-management, and informed decision-making.
To ensure that career education and academics work in tandem, specific career readiness assignments and events played intricate roles in the Lab. Students had assignments on
understanding their workplace values, looking at academic majors, researching careers that interest them, and writing a career reflection paper. These assignments helped students to have better understanding of career readiness and career pathways. The I.D.E.A.L. students also had the opportunity to earn soft skills certificates using one of our career readiness technology platforms, HT Certified (HT’s soft skills training platform). Students also completed a Personality Assessment through HT Certified.
In addition to career readiness assignments, the instructor of the Career Success Lab, Ms. Tina Reed, Director, Quality Enhancement Plan and Director of Career Education for the I.D.E.A.L. Summer Academy hosted career readiness events. These events included: Dinner with the Deans, A Panel Discussion on Careers and Money, and Resume Ready with Employers (Texas Department of Information Resources)
On the last day of the Lab, HT’s president, Dr. Melva K. Wallace visited the Lab and engaged with the I.D.E.A.L. students by sharing words of wisdom on careers, on matriculating through
college, and on having a good, wealthy life after college. President Wallace encouraged the students to start their career now. “You don’t have to wait to start that business,” said President Wallace. “You can start it now.” She also encouraged the students to start thinking about becoming billionaires now.
The Career Success Lab is a powerful addition to the University. Our students are becoming Academically Ready- Career Ready- and Ram Ready.
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About Huston-Tillotson University
Huston-Tillotson University, the first institution of higher education in Austin, Texas, has roots dating back to 1875. HT is an independent, church-related, historically black, four-year liberal arts institution located on a 23-acre tree-lined campus near downtown in East Austin. Huston-Tillotson University’s mission is to nurture a legacy of leadership and excellence in education, connecting knowledge, power, passion, and values. The University offers associate and master’s degrees in addition to Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees in more than 19 areas of study. Huston-Tillotson University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate, baccalaureate and master’s degrees. HT is also an NC-SARA school. For more information, please visit www.htu.edu.
