Imagine working and learning differently

Connect and collaborate with peers to help reimagine the working learner experience. Leverage expert guidance and ready-to-use tools to start your transformation.

TheWork+Collective

 

Introducing a collaborative virtual space where curious individuals and groups can access and share resources in the quest to inspire and support rethinking student employment. Our work is informed by the Work+ Institute which is comprised of national cohort teams, guided by Arizona State University’s Work+ leadership as they transition from pilot programs to craft intentional strategies to rethink student employment for their institution.

 

Be part of the community.

Our platform is designed to provide you with personalized resources and insights to help you achieve the goal of improving working learner outcomes. You will be able to connect with others working towards the same goal, receive notifications about new resources, and be the first to hear about upcoming events and opportunities. 


When you join The Work+Collective, you also become a member of the W+C LinkedIn Community! This allows you to directly engage, chat and ask questions with other members of the community.

Join The Collective

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Connecting the Dots in Education-to-Career Guidance: Supporting Students’ Academic and Career Goals
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As a new academic term gets underway, students and educators — and those of us in the fortunate position to support them — have the opportunity to reflect on what we’ve learned and collaborate with others for the work ahead. Over the past year, the two of us have connected and reflected on what we’ve learned in our work with institutions — in particular, the innovative advising and coaching practices that support students in education and career preparation.
higher ed
Deepening On-Campus Job Experience for Student Success
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To support students’ career outcomes, colleges and universities are investing in professional development for on-campus student workers.
VCU
The student employee experience is at the heart of a first-ever VCU training seminar for supervisors
| news.vcu.edu
When Virginia Commonwealth University wanted to provide leadership training to faculty and staff who oversee student employees (“working learners”), it turned to a unique choice in presentation partners.
Identifying and Embedding the NACE Career Competencies in Student Employment
Join us for March's Work+Collective Community Call on embedding the NACE Career Competencies into student employment. We’ll explore how to incorporate competencies into job descriptions and supervisor training, align projects and tasks with career readiness, and leverage tools like our conversation cards. Gain practical strategies to make student employment a high-impact, career-building experience!
March 26, 2025 10:00am - 11:00am AZ time

Virtual

The Collective 2025 Annual Conference
Join The Career Leadership Collective in New Orleans to invigorate your perspectives, reignite valuable relationships, and envision the trajectory of your career center. From historic homes and streetcar rides to above-ground cemeteries and world-class museums the opportunities for exploration in New Orleans are truly endless.
April 22, 2025 00:00am - April 24, 2025 00:00am

The Barnett Hotel, New Orleans

The value of integrated work and learning

Work experiences that are integrated with learning and career interests empower students and provide access to valuable opportunities to learn by doing. Inclusive opportunities that provide support to working learners is key to academic progress and building skills that employers need.

80%

of all college students are employed during their undergraduate education

90%

of employers indicate they are more likely to hire a student who participated in a work study program or other form of employment during college

1.9x

more likely to “strongly agree” college was worth it if they had a mentor who encouraged them to pursue their goals and dreams

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Research key insights

 

Graduates whose work aligns with their values, strengths and interests are three times more likely to find a high purpose in their work. Explore research that can help inform and expand your understanding of where we are now and where we need to be.

 

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Pie graph showing the graduation rate of part-time workers is 63%.

A study by Georgetown University found that students who work part-time while in college are more likely to graduate than those who do not work at all, with a graduation rate of 63% for part-time workers compared to 45% for non-workers.