28 Participating Students in 2024-2025
16 Participating Offices/Departments in 2024-2025
The Grow, Persist, Succeed Program (GPS) is a student-focused program that intentionally infuses career development with engaging, hands-on learning experiences that aim to build community and support retention through paid on-campus jobs and career coaching. The GPS Program:
- Is open to first-year, second-year, and transfer students
- Provides intentional one-on-one career coaching according to the National Association of Career and Employers (NACE) eight career readiness competencies
- Utilizes high-impact practices via applied learning experiences with intentional skill building to create meaningful outcomes
- Continues connecting students to paid on-campus job opportunities proposed and hosted by UW-Stout faculty and staff
Applications for the 2024-2025 Academic Year are now closed.
Core Components
- Leverage UW-Stout campus-based applied learning activities
- Develop UW-Stout students career readiness competency skills
- Assists UW-Stout faculty and staff in fulfilling project and operational needs
Goals/Outcomes
- Foster engagement from underrepresented UW-Stout student communities
- Assess the impact of campus-based experiences on student career readiness competency skills
- Impact UW-Stout student retention and persistence rates
Thomas Shamla B.S. Mechanical EngineeringEven though this is my first semester at Stout, I feel I've benefited greatly from the GPS program.
Frequently Asked Questions
On-Campus Offices
- Does the GPS Program pay students through state payroll or work study student employment?
- No. The GPS Program is specially funded program via the Chancellor’s Office to specifically offer paid on-campus job opportunities to first-year, second-year, and transfer students. These student populations often have higher levels of dropping out, stopping out, being undecided, and transferring. If you use up your approved GPS Program amount to pay your student employee, you will then have to rely on either state payroll or work study funds to continue their employment. Funds can be used in unison to support the student employee(s) employment.
- Is the GPS Program only for first-year, second-year, and transfer students?
- Yes. This specific program is meant to create and facilitate student employment opportunities for first-year, second-year, and transfer students. When the position is posted in Handshake, it will specify in the job posting that the opportunity is only for these student populations. Should you desire to hire a student that is not a first-year, second-year, or transfer student, it is recommended to explore state payroll or work study options.
- What is the maximum amount of GPS Program funds and student employees I can request?
- You are welcome to request as many student employees and GPS Program funds as you would like to support your offices efforts. Through the approval process, when the Office of Enrollment and Strategic Initiatives prioritizes requests, they will want to see realistic requests and proposed meaningful work experiences.
- Do I have to hire a student from an underrepresented student population?
- No. The hope is to have as many students hired from this population as possible, but we expect you’ll hire the right student for your opportunity, as long as they are first-year, second-year, or transfer students. Please contact HR if you have any questions regarding hiring practices of student employees.
- Can I submit multiple applications if I have multiple projects or jobs?
- Yes. You may submit as many applications for job opportunities as possible, but please note, you are not guaranteed to get approved for every request.
- Is there any support or training provided to supervisors that received GPS program funding?
- Yes. Every GPS program supervisor must complete a 30-minute Canvas training course, focused on these three areas:
- GPS Program Overview and Orientation
- Creating Inclusive Workspaces
- NACE Career Readiness Competencies
- Yes. Every GPS program supervisor must complete a 30-minute Canvas training course, focused on these three areas:
- Will the student employee be paid for their 3-required sessions, which include the GPS Program orientation, career readiness assessment, and one-on-one career coaching sessions?
- Yes. When the student employee attends GPS Program orientation, career readiness assessment, and their one-on-one career coaching session, they will be on the clock and getting paid. Career Services will inform you (the supervisor) of the number of hours spent completing these program expectations.
- Do I have to have a student for the entire academic year?
- No. You can request funding and positions for just one semester if you so choose.
- Can these student on-campus employment opportunities count as internships or field experiences for academic credit?
- Yes. If you desire to go this route, it is encouraged you speak with the Co-op and Internship Program (CEIP) first to ensure eligibility and internship/field experience requirements can be met, as well as gaining approval from CEIP and the student employee’s academic program.
- Are there a maximum number of hours a student employee can work when in the GPS Program?
- To learn more about this and other Human Resources related questions around student employment, visit Human Resource’s Student Employment StoutCloud page.
- How and where will the GPS program approved positions be posted?
- Once Career Services has received the approved positions from the Chancellor’s Office, the positions will be entered into Handshake and activated (typically on or around August 1st). Once activated, the application window opens, and students can apply. The individual listed as the program/office contact will be listed as the application(s) receiver. Positions will be open until filled.
Student Participants
- How are GPS Program positions different than a regular on-campus job?
- The GPS Program was established with the aim of offering students and supervisors more structured applied learning experiences. This includes intentional training, reflection, and meetings to explore how GPS-funded positions contribute to enhancing students' inclusive work experiences and building career readiness skills.
- What students are eligible to participate in the GPS program?
- All students can participate. The GPS program, however, is meant to create and facilitate student employment opportunities for first-year, second-year, and transfer students. When the position is posted in Handshake, it will specify in the job posting that the opportunity is only for these student populations. Should you be a student that is not a first-year, second-year, or transfer student, it is recommended to explore additional state payroll or work study options or talk with the listed supervisor.
- How will I benefit from participating in the GPS Program?
- The GPS Program has outline specific program goals that frame the impact student participation can have. As a student participant, you will benefit from having intentional career conversations with a career services professional. You will learn to better understand your on-campus position and its relation to your personal career readiness skills and application to future professional career outcomes. Also, you will grow as a student in gaining applied experience that prepared you for future career experiences.
- What are the requirements for a student to participate?
- The program does not have any other requirements other than enrollment. Positions approved for the program may have additional qualifications related to education, skills, and knowledge areas.
- Where do I go to look for GPS Program approved positions?
- All GPS positions will be posted in Handshake and the job title will have a GPS designation in the heading. Positions will remain listed until they are filled.