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There are two jobs for every unemployed Coloradan — and the skills mismatch means that almost 100,000 residents are unemployed despite almost 200,000 job openings.
The Classroom to Career Hub at MSU Denver is
The Solution.
Developing Colorado's Talent Pipeline
Partnering with Industry to Shape the Future
The C2 Hub represents a thoughtful approach to career development for MSU Denver students by integrating career activities more intentionally throughout the full Roadrunner experience.
The outcome is a well-trained, educated and work-ready community of graduates prepared to enter Colorado’s workforce.
Grounded by intentional partnerships between industry and higher education, the C2 Hub is keenly focused on Colorado’s economy and is a key player in addressing pressing issues like labor shortages, the mismatch between employer-employee skills, credential gaps and the demand for diverse talent. Colorado must secure a skilled talent pipeline, and the C2 Hub at MSU Denver is the solution.
Over 94% of Colorado’s top jobs require postsecondary training; only 63% of Coloradans have any. (2023 Colorado Talent Pipeline Report)
MSU Denver can fill the gap.
Ensuring That All Students Plan For Their Futures
According to the 2023 National Alumni Career Mobility (NACM) Annual Report, around 50% of alumni decide on their career after they obtain a bachelor’s degree. Given the timing of career decisions, institutions must invest in teaching career skills that go beyond the logistics of finding their first job and include strategies to explore career paths, gain valuable skills and navigate their career post-graduation. This is what the C2 Hub does.
The C2 Hub is the intentional programmatic effort to ensure that all students are connected to the resources, education and skill development needed to explore and launch impactful careers. Students are supported as they create personalized career development plans that consider career pathways and corresponding coursework, experience real-world relevant work, and develop their professional networks.
By leveraging mentoring programs, exploring career opportunities that fit student skills and interests, and funding internship opportunities, the C2 Hub will provide accessible career development opportunities for 100% of the nearly 23,000 students attending MSU Denver or CCD by 2030.
Program Spotlight: Earn & Learn
The Earn and Learn program was designed to address equity barriers within experiential learning. This program provides funding to support both undergraduate and graduate students who are in need of financial assistance to participate in unpaid, off-campus internship opportunities.
Through the Earn and Learn program, MSU Denver has leveled the playing field of experiential learning and continued to provide critical financial support to our students so they can engage in career-shaping opportunities through this high-impact practice.
Student Experience:
“To know that I have financial support is a huge relief. For a nontraditional student like me, Earn and Learn makes it more realistic that I can graduate on time and get into a career that serves the community.”
Crystalann Archuleta
Master of Social Work (’21)
Research & Impact:
“While the greatest impact of [Earn and Learn] money was a reduction in financial stress, there were other non-financial outcomes as well. For example, many students reported that they were able to spend more time on classwork.”
“The Impact Of Scholarships on Unpaid Internships”
Rhonda Eaker, Ph.D. and Alyssa Marks, NACE
Connecting Industry and Higher Education
Employers often find it difficult to navigate many universities’ landscapes to recruit skilled talent. Further, small businesses, which employ half of all Coloradans, do not have the resources to fully engage in campus recruiting programs. MSU Denver created the Industry Partnerships Team within the C2 Hub to solve these and many other problems.
The Industry Partnerships Team ensures that every business and nonprofit have a personal concierge at MSU Denver. Our staff help partners build a brand at MSU Denver, create recruitment programs, connect to faculty and scholars, provide guest speaking and mentoring opportunities, and engage fully in the Roadrunner community.
In addition to recruitment support, the C2 Hub also trains employers on state-of-the-art methods to recruit and retain diverse talent and help companies connect with academic departments to inform curriculum development so that our students are work ready upon graduation.
Above all else, MSU Denver partners with industry to facilitate convenings to address complex workforce challenges.
MSU Denver currently has over 5,500 partners across 21 industries
Help us increase that to 7,000 by 2030
Combining Academic Excellence with Career Pathways
In order to meet Colorado’s workforce needs, students must engage in a comprehensive academic experience that develops hard skills, expertise and the emotional intelligence to succeed.
MSU Denver provides high-quality and effective curriculum and empowers faculty to create new and innovative courses, certifications, micro-credentials, badges and other flexible credentials and up-skilling opportunities.
The intentional incorporation of work-based learning experiences into the academic curriculum sets MSU Denver apart. From field experience and internships to apprenticeships and co-ops, over 95% of MSU Denver’s academic programs provide credit for students’ hands-on experience.
The opportunity to apply knowledge gained in the classroom with supervised practice in the field makes MSU Denver students well-equipped and work-ready upon graduation.
Program Spotlight: The Apprenticeship Model
Over 87% of MSU Denver students work while going to school, but in a recent survey of Construction Project Management and Civil Engineering Technology students, only 20% of students were working in their chosen field. MSU Denver’s apprenticeship program (piloted in the construction industry) allows for transition of those students from hourly, unskilled labor into construction apprenticeships where they can earn both income and academic credit while they learn.
Apprenticeships provide relevant, enriching experiences with the power to kick-start students’ careers.
By connecting credentials to careers through valuable hands-on training, MSU Denver students are well-equipped to be work-ready upon graduation.
Student Experience:
“My license has helped me to become a lead person at RK Mechanical and get the ball rolling on a promotion to foreman. MSU Denver was accommodating while I was getting my license — I could take classes online, at night and on the weekend and not miss out on work.”
Anthony Miller
Construction Project Management (’23)
Journeyman, RK Mechanica
Support Our Work
Consider making a gift to support and further the impactful work of the C2Hub.
Every gift – no matter the size – supports our students as they pursue the American Dream of earning a college a degree at MSU Denver. Your generosity secures a brighter future for every current and future Roadrunner.
MSU Denver's Impact
Metropolitan State University of Denver is a leader and innovator in higher education, a university committed to fostering an equitable culture while offering a high-quality, accessible college experience.
Click the link below to get a snapshot of who we are, academic offerings and our economic, civic and community impact.
