“Graduation should be a celebration, not a crisis,” Ashley Byrd-White tells her students in University 401. She teaches a special section of the course, piloted specifically for College of Arts and Sciences majors.
The juniors and seniors in the class have their graduation dates in sight, and Byrd-White's job is to help them prepare for life after college by connecting what they learn in the classroom to opportunities for graduate school or starting a career.
As director of experiential learning in the College of Arts and Sciences, Byrd-White leads a host of initiatives on campus, including the new U401 section, that offer opportunities for students to gain experiences and knowledge that will make this transition smoother.
“Experiential learning is about increasing the opportunity, increasing the exposure and increasing the touch points for students to get that knowledge, whether it’s through classes, employer tabling or a career fair,” Byrd-White says. “It’s about creating those moments when they can get that exposure.”
In U401, her students learn how to network with professional contacts and how to navigate job and graduate school interviews. They practice introductions and prepare their resumes to become better able to market the skills they developed while earning their degree.
Byrd-White says this ability is a key – but too often missing – piece for college graduates. Nationally, surveys and employer feedback have indicated concern over whether college graduates are truly ready to enter the workforce.
“It may seem like graduates don’t have these skills, but I don’t think that’s necessarily the case,” Byrd-White says, “Maybe part of the issue is they just aren’t able to articulate it correctly or think about it that way.”
Kaiya Johnson, a junior cardiovascular technology major and a first-generation student, took U401 for exactly this reason.
“When we come to college, we get a lot of knowledge in our classes but don’t always learn how to market that background for potential employers. I’m glad we have this class at USC because I think it’s so needed. It’s a must-take,” Johnson says.
More than one pathway to career-readiness
In addition to University 401, the College of Arts and Sciences offers University 201, which is geared toward students earlier in their college careers. Both courses are tailored to the needs of Arts and Sciences students, helping them prepare for diverse career pathways.
Byrd-White’s work as director of experiential learning goes beyond the classroom as well, with several opportunities available for students across the university community.
For example, Byrd-White organized a career fair for South Carolina state and local agencies at the Russell House last March. The college will hold the career fair again in late March of 2025 at the Russell House, and Byrd-White hopes it will become an annual event.
Meanwhile, Byrd-White has partnered with USC’s Career Center to bring employers to campus on a weekly basis throughout the current semester.
“The Career Center has already built relationships with employers who want to do outreach on campus. And now we know how to get them in front of the students that they’re looking for,” Byrd-White says.
Organizations coming this fall include Teach for America, Peace Corps, City Year, Greenville Police Department, Scout Motors and more, with tables in Gambrell Hall and the Science and Technology Building on Tuesdays or Wednesdays, 10:30 – 2:30.
Upcoming Tabling Events*
AgFirst Farm Credit Bank – Tuesday, October 1, Science and Technology Building
Greenville Police Department – Wednesday, October 2, Gambrell Hall
City Year – Wednesday, October 2, Gambrell Hall
Red Ventures – Tuesday, October 15, Science and Technology Building
Scout Motors – Tuesday, October 22, Science and Technology Building
U.S. Customs and Border Protection – Wednesday, October 30, Gambrell Hall
NC DAC – Wednesday, November 6, Gambrell Hall
Carolina CAP – Wednesday, November 13, Gambrell Hall
Vanguard – Wednesday, November 20, Gambrell Hall
*All tabling is held 10:30-2:30. Gambrell Hall tabling is on Wednesdays. Science and Technology Building tabling is on Tuesdays. Schedule is subject to change, and additional employers will be added as the semester progresses.
Byrd-White also has been working with academic departments, programs and faculty to facilitate more direct routes to student internship opportunities. The political science department has piloted a program that connects students to internships with state agencies.
Byrd-White is helping the Institute for Southern Studies program to develop an internship for students to assist with the transcription of historical documents using artificial intelligence. Her aim is to help each academic program in the college incorporate experiential learning opportunities into more courses.
“That way, no matter what their major, every student will have the chance to practice the skills they gain through their classes and prepare for a career after graduation,” she says. “My job is to help them pull out the meaning from that experience.”
“I always tell my students: 'You’re doing all the things you need to do, but don’t stop now. Put it on your resume. Talk about it in an interview. Now is the time to take all that you’ve learned and leverage it for your next step.'”