Congratulations to the five proposals that were funded in 2024!
1. Career Center Industry Immersions
The Career Center will host an Industry Immersion in the Bay Area focused around AI. Students will immerse themselves through experiences like company visits, executive talks, behind-the-scenes tours, and student-alumni networking. To obtain a complete picture of the industry, students will also visit and volunteer with nonprofits, community-based organizations, and activist organizations that operate within or adjacent to these industries, and complete nightly reflections.
2. Grand Challenges Scholars Program
The Grand Challenges Scholars Program (GCSP) is a nationally recognized program by the National Academy of Engineering that calls for engineers to serve people and society by working towards the “continuation of life on the planet, making our world more sustainable, secure, healthy, and joyful." Scholars do this by completing work in 5 competency areas - Talent/Research, Multidisciplinary, Business/Entrepreneurship, Multicultural, and Social Consciousness. The Board of Regent’s grant will help: (1) build an interdisciplinary GCSP network at SCU; (2) support 5 of these scholars travel to the Annual GCSP Conference and present their work; (3) support an EFolio event on campus for all GCSP participants; and (4) provide books for a few students with the highest need.
3. Silicon Valley Executive Presence
This new program will facilitate executive lunch career conversations for 45 undergraduates per quarter and include a workshop to prepare students for success in these types of settings. The goal is to build confidence in students as they participate in more professional networking settings like a business lunch or dinner, and expand internship preparation, skill development, and career exploration.
This new program will support: (1) A campus-wide presentation on appropriate and affordable workplace wardrobes; (2) a career wardrobe shopping trip prioritizing limited-income and first-generation college students; and (3) the expansion of the Center for Sustainability’s Swap for Good thrift pop-up to a permanent thrift store.
5. AWE USA XR Industry Conference
Extended reality (XR; augmented and virtual reality), is offering a growing number of career opportunities in Silicon Valley and beyond. Faculty from numerous departments engage students in cutting-edge XR education and research, including Panich (Anthropology), Lueck (English), Heitmuller (Art), Ramirez (Philosophy), Scott (Bioengineering), Jeong (Communications), and Lukoff (Computer Science & Eng). This proposal will support student career exploration at AWE USA, the leading conference in the XR industry with about 6000 attendees. At the 3-day conference in Long Beach, students can attend recruiting events, meet with industry leaders, test out the latest experiences on the expo floor, and, if selected by the conference organizers, give a talk about their own work.