Abstract
Training competent and successful students for career readiness is an ever-changing puzzle. These puzzle pieces include an understanding of the student demographics, consideration of the vision and mission of the department, engagement with alumni, and awareness of opportunities for employment and industry needs. These pieces require the development of a curriculum model that can evolve and respond to these components in a timely way. My career at two universities in roles including Undergraduate Coordinator and Director of Undergraduate Advising has given me the privilege to teach and work with nearly 5,000 students while addressing these puzzle pieces. Students enter with a limited understanding of career opportunities within Animal Sciences but are eager to learn more and are seeking opportunities to do so. As faculty, we can provide meaningful high impact experiences for our students, both inside and outside of the classroom, that also directly align with our appointments and expertise in research, teaching, and Extension. Success requires creating a departmental culture that fosters creativity and a willingness to experiment with new ideas and practices. These high impact experiences provide our students with greater awareness and appreciation for career possibilities that they had not considered before. As the Undergraduate Coordinator, I lead strategic conversations and planning with our faculty to discuss how our departmental core courses and supporting coursework prepare our students professionally. This includes discussion of our annual program assessment, identifying areas of strengths, where our resources may be limited, and how we are teaching to inspire, challenge, and meet the needs of our students. As we all strive to continually improve academic excellence within each of our programs, we must remain nimble and arrange the puzzle pieces to best serve our students.