Cascades Edge is a campus-wide initiative at OSU-Cascades designed to bring Career Development to ALL students on campus. This initiative is unique in that it provides career touch points in every term from introductory courses through capstone to their first job. Nationwide, early 80% of college students rarely or never access the campus career development office according to a 2018 Strada-Gallup survey. Underrepresented, minoritized, first-generation, and low-income students have an even larger gap in seeking access. Bringing career development to where students are, in the classroom, will help to ensure that they receive the career skills and competencies necessary to secure a meaningful career.
A report released by the Chronicle of Higher Education states “college graduates can no longer rely on their degree to accurately signal their fitness for a job. Instead, they will need to clearly spell out the competencies they have acquired.” Cascades Edge focuses on the 8 National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) career readiness competencies (Career and Self Development, Communication, Critical Thinking, Equity and Inclusion, Leadership, Professionalism, Teamwork, and Technology) and an added skill of Financial Literacy. Being able to talk to these skills with potential employers will give OSU-Cascades students an “Edge” when it comes to getting that first job. Through networking, job shadowing, and internships, students will gain experience that will launch their careers.
Cascades Edge is also designed to provide career competencies outside the classroom through a robust set of co-curricular programming that will bring corporate, government and non-profit leaders to campus to discuss career pathways of interest to students who are looking for an opportunity to impact the future.
Stay tuned to learn more about Cascades Edge as the development and implementation plan continues throughout the rest of this year. Cascades Edge will fully launch this coming Fall 2023 term!
You can watch a video on Cascades Edge here:
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