Career services teams from UM-Flint, UM-Dearborn strengthen partnership at first joint retreat

Career services professionals from the University of Michigan-Flint and the University of Michigan-Dearborn recently came together for a first-of-its-kind joint retreat to trade best practices, deepen partnerships and find new ways to strengthen career development for students. Hosted at UM-Dearborn's Renick University Center, the daylong event drew 17 career professionals from academic units and career offices across both campuses.

The Office of Student Career Advancement and Success helped lead the effort on the UM-Flint side, and the retreat fit squarely within its mission. OSCAS works alongside university, corporate and community partners to broaden career exploration, professional development and experiential learning for students.

"This is exactly the kind of work our office exists to do — breaking down barriers so students can reach every opportunity available to them," said Antonio Riggs, associate director of OSCAS at UM-Flint. "When Flint and Dearborn share what's working, students are the ones who benefit."

The day opened with networking and an overview of each campus's career services structure, giving participants a window into the distinct strengths, resources and approaches each uses to support students. Representatives from schools and colleges and centralized career offices shared how they engage students, work with faculty and build employer partnerships.

The group then turned to collaborative discussions on decentralized career services models, employer relations, student engagement and innovative programming. By comparing what works and naming shared challenges, the teams looked for ways to better align their services and open more doors for students on both campuses.

The retreat produced concrete commitments, with participants agreeing to develop shared best practices for cross-campus work and to expand employer engagement by encouraging students at both universities to attend career fairs, networking events and employer programs hosted on either campus. It also forged closer ties among professionals serving similar academic colleges, creating new openings to coordinate programming and collaborate on future initiatives.

"The most valuable part of the retreat was the shared commitment across UM-Flint and UM-Dearborn to strengthening student success from college to career," said Amanda Williams, College of Arts, Sciences & Education internship program manager at UM-Flint. "Our collaboration reinforces that students deserve equitable access to high-quality career services that prepare them for meaningful transitions into the workforce."

Broader access to career fairs, networking opportunities and employer events across both campuses means greater exposure to employers, industries and professional connections throughout Southeast Michigan — backed by the combined expertise of both teams.

UM-Dearborn colleagues shared the enthusiasm.

"We were so grateful for the opportunity to meet and collaborate with our colleagues at UM-Flint," said Mai Qazzaz, assistant director of career services at UM-Dearborn. "It was so valuable to share ideas, learn from one another, and strengthen our partnership. We look forward to continuing our work together to support student success and create more collaborative career opportunities for our students on both campuses."

Laurel Draudt, director of career services at UM-Dearborn, agreed. "Bringing together the Flint and Dearborn career teams created a valuable opportunity to exchange ideas, share best practices, and explore new ways to strengthen our work," she said. "Learning from one another was incredibly impactful and opened the door to meaningful new collaborations."

The summer retreat is the first formal collaboration of its kind between the two teams, and both campuses intend to make it an annual tradition. UM-Flint will host the next gathering in June 2027.

"Connecting with the Dearborn team reinforced our shared commitment to intentional career programming," said Sharmee Dixon, career advisor for the College of Innovation and Technology at UM-Flint. "Future meetings include time for strategic planning and SWOT analyses to strengthen collaboration and ensure students are prepared for meaningful and successful career paths."

For Riggs, the retreat is a starting point rather than a capstone. "We're not looking at this as a single event," he said. "The aim is a lasting partnership that connects our students to a broader network of employers, mentors and experiences across Southeast Michigan."