How UTSA is helping grads secure careers before they walk the stage

There are career fairs and expos held throughout the year for UTSA students to meet various employers.

DECEMBER 11, 2024 — UTSA electrical and computer engineering major Dalen Ricks will be graduating with his bachelor’s degree this month. He spent the last two summers interning at Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) and will be starting a full-time job there in January as an engineer.

Ricks comes from a military family. His father is retired from the United States Air Force. He was homeschooled through grade school and has always had an interest in solving problems with engineering.

“I do like little personal projects, like I'll do different programming projects,” he says. “I had a big dog and he loved to drink a lot of water, so my family would have to refill his bowl like two to three times a day. I built an automatic water bowl re-filler that would detect when his bowl was empty and just refill it for him.”

“These programs set UTSA apart and demonstrate our dedication to strengthening the workforce and economy through career-ready graduates.”

Dalen Ricks

At UTSA, Ricks’ programming skills flourished as his course work gave him opportunities to elevate his experience level and prepare him for future opportunities in the workforce.

“The fundamentals classes really helped me. I made sure to pay attention in those classes, and that's what ultimately helped me to get my internship at SwRI,” he says. “During my technical interviews, they asked me very fundamental questions.”

He credits UTSA for providing him opportunities in and outside the classroom to set him up for success, including networking opportunities at the STEM Career Fair.

With a job lined up at SwRI, Ricks is focusing on his future.

“It was very relieving. I feel like I didn't have to worry as much about sending applications or really trying to find a place to work. It definitely put my mind at ease,” he says.

Ricks is among the nearly 3,700 Roadrunners who are expected to walk the stage on Saturday, December 14 at the Alamodome.

The undergraduate also represents a growing trend at UTSA: students who are pursuing hands-on knowledge and experience to prepare for their careers.

Key to the success of UTSA’s workforce development initiative has been its Career-Engaged Learning division, which includes the University Career Center, the Center for Civic and Community-Engaged Leadership, the Najim Center for Innovation and Career Advancement, the Office of Undergraduate Research and the Institute for Law and Public Affairs. These centers work together to add to the university’s growing roster of experiential learning programs and to bolster employer engagement among UTSA’s students, says Mario Vela, assistant vice provost of the University Career Center.

The University Career Center offers several services and opportunities for students to take advantage of before and after commencement.

Experiential learning offers students the opportunity to get involved in projects that are engaging, active and hands-on. From internships to lab research assignments, studying abroad and service learning projects, these programs introduce students to the real-world challenges that await them and provide them with the soft skills that today’s workforce demands.

UTSA’s focus on social mobility, and “improving the lives of those individuals we serve,” is also key to UTSA’s approach, Vela continues.

“We start planning for their careers when they arrive on campus,” he adds. “Over the last several years, we have had the most aggressive employer-engagement strategies ever.”

The numbers speak to these efforts.

According to data from the UTSA Office of Institutional Research and Analysis, there are currently 36,690 employers approved to recruit UTSA graduates. This figure includes 363 Fortune 500 companies that have actively recruited UTSA students at events like career expos, tabling events and through Handshake, an online application that connects students and alumni with more than 36,000 employers that are actively recruiting. There were more than 138,000 jobs open to graduating students in 2023, an 82% increase since 2017.

Maria Nazareth Napal

As these graduates reach their professional goals, they are also realizing UTSA’s potential to increase the quality of life for its graduates. Earnings data shows that student who receive bachelor’s degrees from UTSA typically earn a median of $40,000 one year after graduating and about $59,000 five years after graduation. In comparison, Texans with a high-school diploma earn about $28,000.

And the higher the degree, the higher the average salary. Graduates with a UTSA master’s degree earn about $61,000 one year after graduating and over $68,000 by their fifth year. UTSA’s doctoral degree graduates earn about $77,000 one year after graduating and about $90,000 five years after graduation. 

Vela credits UTSA President Taylor Eighmy and UTSA Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Heather Shipley with making experiential learning a top priority at the university.

“At UTSA, we’re committed to preparing students with the skills, knowledge and experiences they need to stand out in the competitive job market,” Shipley says. “Through initiatives like our Classroom to Career program, robust internship opportunities and the development of industry-aligned academic programs, we ensure students graduate ready to make an immediate impact.”

It was at one of UTSA’s career fairs where Maria Nazareth Napal connected with Valero, which ultimately offered her an internship. The Argentinian born college student will cross the stage this weekend with her bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity and information systems — a full semester early. Next month, she will join the oil-and-gas firm full time as a business analyst.

“Valero paved the way for me to start my path into my professional career, where I started to apply my knowledge to my career work,” Napal says. “I am grateful to be starting with them after graduation. I cannot imagine a better place to be.”

Such stories speak to UTSA’s commitment to prepare its students for lifelong success, Vela and Shipley say.

“We listen to the market. We listen to our employers. We give students the knowledge, the curriculum they need to give them a competitive advantage,” Vela says. “These efforts are bolstered by our partnerships with top employers, career-focused advising and experiential learning opportunities, all of which help many of our Roadrunners secure jobs — even before they cross the commencement stage. These programs set UTSA apart and demonstrate our dedication to strengthening the workforce and economy through career-ready graduates.”

— John Elizondo and Tricia Lynn Silva