The Business Career Center, formerly known as Career Services at CBA, hosted the sixth annual Employer Partners Day at Nebraska Innovation Campus on May 16. With a record-breaking attendance, more than 120 attendees learned about new University of Nebraska–Lincoln College of Business initiatives to advance students’ career development and new building features employers can utilize in college updates from Dr. Kathy Farrell, interim dean, and Dr. Rachel Larson, director of the Business Career Center. They also gained strategies to strengthen their campus recruiting efforts during breakout sessions and a keynote presentation.
 
Culminating another year of collaboration with employer partners, Larson presented two awards which recognize one organization and one College of Business faculty or staff member who goes above and beyond their commitment to business students’ career development. Nelnet received the 2017 Employer of the Year Award.  
 
“Nelnet is an outstanding employer partner because of the variety of opportunities they provide within the College of Business. They are in the top two for hiring the most students from our class of 2015-16 graduates. They also hosted 38 interns this past year. Nelnet offers a career pathways internship program for underclassmen where students rotate departments to help figure out what area of business they want to pursue. Additionally, Nelnet actively seeks out ways to support the college and its programs including the Honors Academy and sponsoring events like the Senior Sendoff and Graduate Good-bye,” Larson said.
 
Dr. Aaron Crabtree, director of the School of Accountancy and associate professor of accountancy, received the 2017 Sue Vagts Faculty/Staff Partner of the Year Award. Crabtree was chosen for his efforts to build relationships with employers and enhance career development, education and opportunities to help students succeed.
 
“Aaron was nominated for this award three separate times – by two employers and one individual. He tirelessly advocates for the future career success of his students by continuously interacting with employers and getting feedback about what our students need to do better in order to help guide the School of Accountancy’s curriculum,” Larson said. “One example of innovation that has come from his relationships with employers is the school’s accounting internship program, which allows students to take a full-time class schedule in the spring while interning in the busy tax and audit season.”
 
The event featured a keynote address by Dr. Amber Williams, assistant vice chancellor for academic services and enrollment management. She discussed Nebraska’s enrollment projections and what types of students the university is actively recruiting to help inform employers about the future graduates they will seek to hire.
 
Employer partners also chose to attend two of four breakout sessions. They included topics on the future of the college’s career preparation, ways to maximize campus recruiting, changes in the international business curriculum at the college and ways to attract and retain millennials.
 
Chris Timm, associate director of employer experience and outreach, said, “The breakout sessions provide a great professional development opportunity for our employers to maximize their recruiting efforts. In one breakout session, we discussed with employer partners ways to strengthen our efforts to make students ready for them. They provided great insight to help advance our Professional Enhancement Program curriculum. They also reinforced that what we are doing is having a positive outcome as our students are graduating being well-prepared to begin their career.”
 
To learn more about the Business Career Center, visit: http://business.unl.edu/careers. Published: May 22, 2017