Foundations of Career Services is a self-paced, interactive online Canvas training course that introduces UW–Madison staff to the undergraduate career services landscape on campus.
Designed for new career services colleagues, the course covers the purpose, structure, and core functions of career services work. It also highlights key resources and support available to help staff members thrive in their role. This course complements unit-level onboarding by providing a campus-wide view of how career services operates at UW–Madison.
Academic advisors and other campus partners are welcome to take the course to better understand our career services landscape. Note that the content is primarily geared toward career services staff who work directly with undergraduate students.
Note: The full course takes approximately 4.5 hours to complete. You are not required to finish it all at once—your progress is saved as you go.
You’re also welcome to choose material most relevant to your role as you go, focusing your time where it matters most.
Frequently Asked Questions
This is an accordion element with a series of buttons that open and close related content panels.
Who is this course for?
This course is designed mainly for new undergraduate career services staff at UW-Madison. More seasoned career services professionals, supervisors, and those serving graduate or professional students may also benefit.
Academic advisors and other campus partners are also welcome to engage with the course to better understand the career services landscape.
What will I learn in this course?
After completing this course, you will be able to:
- Identify the purpose, values, and core functions of career services, and key characteristics of the students we serve.
- Recognize how career services can be structured in higher education, including learning about the decentralized structure at UW–Madison.
- Define the role of the Office of Academic & Career Success (OACS) in supporting career services at UW–Madison.
- Recall key opportunities and resources that support professional development, staff involvement, and community building within UW–Madison’s career services.
The course is broken up into four modules that further dive into each of the four learning objectives above.
What makes this course interactive?
The course is designed with a variety of activities that complement many different learning styles and features a companion workbook to help participants engage more deeply with the course.
Interactive elements include videos, quizzes, internal reflection prompts, opportunities for discussion with peers and/or supervisors, online discovery, and much more!
How long does the course take to complete?
This course will take approximately 4.5 hours to complete in full. The estimated time required for each module is listed on its introduction page. Please note that these are only estimates– some staff may need more or less time depending on their pace and the content assigned by their supervisor.
Do I need to complete the course all at once, in order, or in its entirety?
No. You do not need to complete the course in one sitting—your progress is saved as you move through the content. Also, while the course is designed to make the most sense when completed in order, you’re free to explore content in any sequence.
We’d love for you to take advantage of everything this interactive course offers, but please know that all modules and activities are optional; we recommend working with your supervisor to prioritize the sections most relevant to your role and available onboarding time.
As a supervisor, how can I best incorporate this course into my new hire’s onboarding?
This will vary by the new hire’s career services office, role, and prior experience. If you need help brainstorming the best way to build the training into your onboarding plan, please reach out to info@careers.wisc.edu.
Who can I reach out to with questions?
For technical issues or have questions about Canvas, please contact the DoIT Help Desk. If questions come up about course content, reach out to info@careers.wisc.edu.