Last week, the Midwestern Higher Education Compact (MHEC) announced its award of a $250,000 Strategic Impact and Innovation Grant to provide all 11 North Dakota University System (NDUS) institutions with access to Compass. This is also great news for regional employers!
Thanks to this initiative, all North Dakota students soon will have access to Compass from middle school through college graduation. This will provide them with continuous support for career and college exploration, employer connections, and securing their future careers.
Currently, four of the 11 institutions are highlighting their schools and programs in Compass: Bismarck State College (BSC), Mayville State University, North Dakota State College of Science, and North Dakota State University. BSC is also the first college to provide Compass access to its current students for internship matching.
The initiative will expand and enhance these services across all 11 schools for both current and prospective college students.
It also supports statewide workforce development by allowing employers to highlight their companies, careers, work-based learning opportunities, and other experiences to students throughout their educational journeys. Compass fosters student, employer, and college connections, helping students find careers that fit and understand how they can get there.
What does this mean for your company specifically?
Five ways the NDUS grant for Compass supports employers:
1. Expanding your Career Profiles’ reach to college students
We will soon give colleges and college students access to Career Profiles in Compass. You will be able to choose whether to show your careers to high school schools, college students, or both.
Remember, our updated Career Profile design is now the default setting. This new format includes more photos, an embedded video, and an easier-to-navigate layout. Here are a few examples:
- Operating Engineers Pathway Pre-Apprenticeship at Local 49
- HVAC Technician at H.A. Thompson & Sons
- Heavy Line Auto Technician at Red Rock Auto
2. Creating work-based learning (WBL) opportunities for both high school and college students
College internships are currently available in Compass only for BSC students. Soon you will be able to offer your opportunities to all college students, selecting your audience in much the same way as you will with Career Profiles.
3. Extending Compass features for college use
We’re extending many of our key Compass features to colleges, including job shadow functionality, agreement workflow and management (if needed), events, and more. These features will make it easier for you to build college student connections, highlight your company, and find your future talent.
4. Complementing other systems, like Handshake
Some colleges are already working with Handshake and other platforms for internships. We’re not looking to replace these services. Compass can complement processes already in place, providing additional opportunities and support services.
5. Gathering your feedback as Compass grows
Your goals, needs, and ideas are important to us. As we expand Compass’ reach, we’re also gathering employer feedback on Compass and other Golden Path services. Please watch for more information about our upcoming employer survey.
Watch for more updates on the NDUS Compass initiative and how it will help drive workforce development through student connections. Read the press release for more information.
Contact us with questions or if you need help accessing any features or services.