Implementation Timeline
Our implementation timeline spans from 2025 to 2028, with activities organized across four key phases: planning, pilot testing, expansion and sustainability. Year one focuses on partnership development and capacity building. Years two and three emphasize program delivery, scaling and evaluation. Year four is dedicated to institutionalizing successful strategies, sustaining partnerships and reporting outcomes. This phased approach allows us to iterate, improve and embed long-term change.
Year One (2025–26): Planning and Capacity Building
The first year focuses on partnership development and capacity building. Key activities include:
- Establishing the Steering Committee and governance structure
- Identifying and formalizing employer partnerships through MOUs
- Developing data collection systems and baseline metrics
- Launching pilot career-connected learning experiences in select programs
- Building faculty awareness and support for the initiative
Years Two to Three (2026–28): Program Delivery, Scaling and Evaluation
Years two and three emphasize program delivery, scaling and evaluation. Key activities include:
- Expanding internship, co-op and applied learning opportunities across academic programs
- Scaling the Curriculum to Careers series and other career-readiness programming
- Increasing student participation in micro-credentials and skill-based certifications
- Strengthening advisory board engagement at college and program levels
- Collecting and analyzing outcome data to assess progress and refine strategies
- Sharing findings and best practices across the university
Year Four (2028): Sustainability and Reporting
The final year is dedicated to institutionalizing successful strategies, sustaining partnerships and reporting outcomes. Key activities include:
- Embedding career-connected learning into standard curriculum and program requirements
- Transitioning initiative leadership to permanent university structures
- Developing long-term employer partnership agreements
- Preparing and submitting the final report to the Higher Learning Commission
- Publishing recommendations for sustaining and expanding the work
Timeline at a Glance
| Phase | Year | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Planning | 2025–26 | Partnership development, capacity building, pilot launch |
| Pilot Testing | 2026–27 | Broad implementation, evaluation and refinement |
| Expansion | 2027–28 | Broad implementation, evaluation and refinement |
| Sustainability | 2028 | Institutionalization, final reporting, long-term planning |