Over the past three years, the Georgia Institute of Technology Career Center has systematically cultivated meaningful programs and partnerships to address distinctive challenges our underserved communities may encounter in their career development journey. Guided by the framework of Equal Employment Opportunity protected classes and assessing the student landscape at Georgia Tech, we instituted the authenTECH liaison model to engage in concentrated efforts for our high-priority populations: LGBTQIA, First-Generation and Limited Income, Black, Hispanic/Latinx, Women, International, and Students with Disabilities.

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The Georgia Tech Career Center identified these top two priorities in their strategic plan:  

1. Cultivate an inclusive and robust career education experience for all Georgia Tech students. 

2. Advance equitable college hiring practices.
    

Through our 30+ yearly programs and partnership initiatives focused on our high-priority populations, the Georgia Tech Career Center has achieved remarkable results, nearly doubling or, in many cases, more than doubling student engagement across a spectrum of demographic factors including gender, ethnic background, work authorization status, and more. Examples of these programs include:
 

• Diversity First Career Mixer for Students: The Georgia Tech Diversity First Career Mixer provides the opportunity for employers committed to a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workforce to network with underrepresented students in a relaxed setting. Over 200 students participated in spring 2023 and 750+ students in Fall 2023.. In the ensuing employer assessment, 70% of the employers indicated “definitely yes” and 30% “probably yes to the question “Did this event effectively support your DEI efforts at Georgia Tech?”

• First-Generation Shadow Program: In collaboration with First Generation & Limited Income Student Initiatives, the Career Center matched 147 first-gen students with 55 employer hosts.  40% of student participants were from underrepresented populations.  88% of student participants were satisfied with the program and expressed the program expanded their career connections and raised their awareness of additional career pathways.  

• OMED Career Pathways Program: The Career Center partnered for the past three years with the Office of Minority Educational Development (OMED)’s Career Pathways Program by collaborating on a 3-week career immersion.  This program was established as part of the 2-year Career Alliance, which was an initiative designed to ensure full and equal access to career readiness experiences for all students.  20-25 students participated each year, and as a part of the registration process students were asked to rate their confidence and abilities for a variety of career factors (networking, interviewing, etc.) Each year, students indicated an increase in confidence across all measures.
   

Our success shows not only in attendance but is underscored in the 97% event satisfaction rates we consistently received over the past three years. Enrollment has increased at Georgia Tech over the past three years, but the Institute’s growth is not proportional to the dramatic increase in student engagement the Career Center has generated (5,393 student engagements in 2021; 10,937 in 2023). We attribute our authenTECH relationships to our continued success. We have developed a reputation of authenticity and genuine care for our stakeholders of all backgrounds resulting in the success we see today.