Virginia Tech integrates Career Readiness Toolkit into biological systems engineering curriculum
Virginia Tech is embedding the Career Readiness Toolkit into its biological systems engineering program to help students develop professional skills alongside technical expertise.
(From left) Priscilla Baker and Heidi Gilbert at the Advising Matters Conference. Photo credit: Priscilla Baker.
Virginia Tech has introduced the Career Readiness Toolkit into its biological systems engineering curriculum, aiming to better align student preparation with employer expectations.
The initiative, led by Priscilla Baker, undergraduate academic and career advisor in the Department of Biological Systems Engineering, integrates structured career development into required courses.
Virginia Tech, a public research university in Blacksburg, Virginia, offers a range of undergraduate and graduate programs in engineering, science, and professional studies. The Career Readiness Toolkit, developed by Career and Professional Development, forms part of the university’s Career Everywhere initiative. It provides interactive modules, assignments, and activities that can be adapted to different disciplines.
Baker said the goal is to address the gap between how students perceive their career readiness and the skills sought by employers. “The main thing I wanted to relay to our students is how much value we, as a department, place on their development as young professionals, not just as engineers,” she says.
Expanding professional skill-building across the curriculum
The toolkit covers areas such as resume writing, career fair preparation, networking, interviewing, job search strategies, and salary negotiation. Baker combined lectures, toolkit modules, quizzes, and tailored assignments to reach students who may have missed earlier opportunities for career development.
Department head Dwayne Edwards describes the project as having a significant effect on employability: “Ms. Baker’s initiative is significantly elevating our students’ professional competitiveness, not only for their first job, but also for internships and other opportunities that we know are critical. It’s an excellent solution to a longstanding challenge.”
Career and Professional Development reported that, in fall 2024, 345 students across all majors accessed toolkit content and 399 took part in facilitated activities. Faculty engagement has also grown, with 69 faculty and staff from more than 32 departments requesting access, and 58 percent of them incorporating the resources into their teaching.
Matthew Cowley, associate vice provost for Career and Professional Development, says the toolkit enables a broader integration of career readiness content. “The Career Readiness Toolkit, however, empowers faculty to integrate career into their curriculum on their own terms, leveraging high-quality content developed by CPD that can be embedded directly into their existing Canvas courses,” he says.
