I asked ChatGPT for the most common reason a student attends college.

Its answer?  “Career & Earning Potential — higher lifetime income — access to more job opportunities — job security.” (ChatGPT really likes “—”.)  

But here’s the twist: at this very moment, AI tools like ChatGPT are reshaping the job market. Career preparation can’t be static. It can’t wait until you are about to graduate. And whatever you assumed about the job market when you started college, it’s not the same today.  

That’s why Career Services is one of the 45 initiatives in TCU’s Lead On: Values in Action strategic plan and an important example of how strategy turns into impact. 

Why Career Services Rose to the Strategic Level 

In the strategic plan, the four pillars shape our direction. The initiatives define our path. Initiatives align resources, reinforce accountability, and move ideas from conversation to execution. As part of the Student-Centered Growth Pillar, TCU’s Center for Career & Professional Development demonstrates that shift in action. Specifically, the Career Services initiative is defined as expand the breadth and depth of TCU career services to support students throughout the entirety of their career search journey. 

After graduation, every TCU graduate will progress to work, graduate school, or military service. According to the Center’s Executive Director, Mike Caldwell, “We want to make sure their four years spent on campus have prepared them to make that transition successfully.” That preparation, he notes, means students leave TCU with meaningful internship or research experience, a clear understanding of their chosen field, and the skills to make an impact on day one. Employers consistently affirm that foundation, praising the work ethic, communication skills, and professionalism our graduates bring to the workplace.  

I've heard this same sentiment from employers and parents alike. He’s right. Families everywhere are asking the same questions. 

As we grow, compete with institutions, and navigate a workforce that continues to evolve, we must ensure that career preparation is embedded throughout the student experience. We don’t do that by changing what’s working. We do it by building on excellence.  

Embedding Career Development Across the Student Journey 

Career preparation has long been a strength at TCU. With this initiative, the Center and its partners across campus are building on that foundation by ensuring engagement is consistent, earlier, and more integrated. Today, this integration shows up in practical ways: 

• Increased collaboration with Admissions to engage families earlier in the college decision process
• Career consultants embedded in each academic college, working directly with faculty and deans
• Career conversations that begin earlier and occur more intentionally throughout a student’s academic experience 

The goal is cultural as much as operational. One misconception Mike is quick to correct: Career Services isn't just for seniors facing graduation. His team works with all majors, all class years — helping first-year students begin exploring possibilities, connecting students with on-campus employment, and supporting everything from local nonprofits to Fortune 500 recruiters. The door is open from day one. 

New Resources 

An existing full-time position has been reoriented to focus specifically on internships and experiential education. Elevating internship access is a clear priority. 

A new career outcomes data tool has been launched to make post-graduation results more transparent and accessible. This tool helps current students understand possible career pathways, allows prospective students and families to see tangible outcomes, and enables staff to identify strengths, gaps, and emerging employer opportunities.  

Employer outreach has also expanded to intentionally broaden industry representation to reflect the diverse interests of TCU students, including niche and emerging fields. 

Expanding Access to Experience 

Currently, 82% of TCU students graduate having completed at least one internship, and 36% complete two. Internships take many forms. Student teaching, practicums, research placements, and other experiential opportunities all contribute meaningfully to professional readiness. Ensuring those experiences are recognized and captured strengthens student success. 

Access also matters.  

Some internships, particularly in nonprofit and community settings, are unpaid. Intern scholarship funding, provided in collaboration with Financial Aid, helps ensure opportunity is not limited by income. 

Through our partnership with Handshake, an industry-leading technology platform linking over 1 million employers directly with universities and student job seekers, students have access to AI-enabled tools that allow natural-language internship and job searches, making opportunities easier to discover and more tailored to individual interests. 

Stronger employer data, outcome tracking, and parallel efforts, like the initiative focused on the Office of Corporate Engagement and Strategic Partnerships, create a more responsive approach. Together, these efforts help students identify relevant opportunities earlier and allow staff to adjust outreach as the market evolves — as it is now with the emergence of AI. 

What Success Looks Like 

The Class of 2025 outcomes reflect strong momentum: 

• 70% reported full-time employment following graduation
• 24% continued their education
• Median starting salary reached $70,000, including $68,000 for graduates who received financial aid 

Those outcomes matter. But long-term success is about more than first-destination data alone. As the team continues to implement this initiative, students will graduate not only with opportunity, but with confidence in their preparation, confidence in their adaptability, and confidence in their ability to navigate what comes next. 

“In a world shaped increasingly by algorithms, that kind of preparation remains profoundly human.” – ChatGPT’s conclusion after “reading” this blog.  

ChatGPT opened this blog with a prediction about why students go to college. It closed it with a reminder that human preparation still matters most. Both times, I'd say the same thing: it's right. 

What gives me confidence isn't the algorithm, though. It's Mike Caldwell and his team, the faculty and staff partners embedded across our colleges, the employers who keep coming back, and the students who leave TCU ready to lead on. Through this initiative and the Lead On: Values in Action plan, student success today becomes even greater success tomorrow.