Imagine working and learning differently

Connect and collaborate with peers to help reimagine the working learner experience. Leverage expert guidance and ready-to-use tools to start your transformation.

TheWork+Collective

 

Introducing a collaborative virtual space where curious individuals and groups can access and share resources in the quest to inspire and support rethinking student employment. Our work is informed by the Work+ Institute which is comprised of national cohort teams, guided by Arizona State University’s Work+ leadership as they transition from pilot programs to craft intentional strategies to rethink student employment for their institution.

 

Be part of the community.

Our platform is designed to provide you with personalized resources and insights to help you achieve the goal of improving working learner outcomes. You will be able to connect with others working towards the same goal, receive notifications about new resources, and be the first to hear about upcoming events and opportunities. 


When you join The Work+Collective, you also become a member of the W+C LinkedIn Community! This allows you to directly engage, chat and ask questions with other members of the community.

Join The Collective

NACE
Their Words, Their Worries: A Grounded Look at Career Readiness From the Student Perspective
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This article shares early findings from a three-year study on how students define and experience communication readiness as they prepare for the workforce. The research, grounded in a redesigned organizational communication capstone course, highlights student-identified concerns—including conflict, identity, emotional labor, and workplace ambiguity—that are often overlooked in traditional career preparation. Rather than viewing communication as a polished skill set, students called for more adaptive, relational, and ethically grounded support.
UCF
How UCF Career Services is Elevating On-Campus Student Employment Through Work+
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At the University of Central Florida, on-campus jobs are more than a paycheck for students — they’re a launchpad for key career skills.
strada
Connecting the Dots in Education-to-Career Guidance: Supporting Students’ Academic and Career Goals
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As a new academic term gets underway, students and educators — and those of us in the fortunate position to support them — have the opportunity to reflect on what we’ve learned and collaborate with others for the work ahead. Over the past year, the two of us have connected and reflected on what we’ve learned in our work with institutions — in particular, the innovative advising and coaching practices that support students in education and career preparation.
Career Skill Badging for Student Employees
Microcredentialing and badging are growing areas of interest as students and their families seek a tangible return on their investment in higher education, and as employers seek graduates ready to work.
September 23, 2025 13:00pm - 14:00pm EDT

Virtual

National Student Employment Association- NSEA Together
NSEA Together is a monthly virtual gathering exclusively for NSEA (National Student Employment Association) members—a space to connect, collaborate, and engage in open, honest conversations about the dynamic world of student employment.
September 25, 2025 14:00pm - 15:00pm EDT

Virtual

2025 NACE (National Association of Colleges and Employers) Competency Symposium
Discover groundbreaking practices for implementing and assessing career readiness competencies on your campus or in your organization.
November 13, 2025 09:45am - 17:00pm ET

Virtual

The value of integrated work and learning

Work experiences that are integrated with learning and career interests empower students and provide access to valuable opportunities to learn by doing. Inclusive opportunities that provide support to working learners is key to academic progress and building skills that employers need.

80%

of all college students are employed during their undergraduate education

90%

of employers indicate they are more likely to hire a student who participated in a work study program or other form of employment during college

1.9x

more likely to “strongly agree” college was worth it if they had a mentor who encouraged them to pursue their goals and dreams

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Research key insights

 

Graduates whose work aligns with their values, strengths and interests are three times more likely to find a high purpose in their work. Explore research that can help inform and expand your understanding of where we are now and where we need to be.

 

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Pie graph showing the graduation rate of part-time workers is 63%.

A study by Georgetown University found that students who work part-time while in college are more likely to graduate than those who do not work at all, with a graduation rate of 63% for part-time workers compared to 45% for non-workers.