Redefining Federal Work-Study Programs: Support Students in Their Academic and Professional Success by Developing Their Career-Readiness Skills

The need to create higher quality customer service for UMKC constituents and equity in employment experience across campus for work-study students was the catalyst for creating a new program. Because of the university's kangaroo mascot ('Roo for short), and the program targeting professionalism and career readiness, this new initiative became known as Professional Readiness Opportunities for Roos (PRO Roos). Information gathered in those meetings indicated that supervisors who conducted short check-ins every two weeks shaped a betterquality experience for students. [...]bi-weekly check-ins were designed as a time for supervisors to offer student employees assistance in building professional skills and for students to suggest desired instruction. Preparing Leadership, Supervisors, and Students Stakeholders with campus-wide leadership roles-academic program deans, vice-provosts, vice-chancellors, unit department heads, faculty, and administrative leaders-were identified and informed of the new program. Because the support of administrators was crucial for successfully engaging them in the new program, multiple presentations to stakeholders outlined the goals of the program and the anticipated increase in workload for those supervising FWS student employees. Once students accepted a work-study position, they were invited to an in-person meeting with the PRO Roos staff and included in a campus Learning Management System course that housed the three progressive levels of professional development.