Thirty-nine faculty and staff members at the University of Cincinnati Blue Ash College have completed a training program that puts career guidance into everyday classroom conversations.

The Blue Ash campus recognized the group for finishing the Career Champions program during the 2025-26 academic year. The college announced the milestone Oct. 21.

Career Champions, created by the UC Blue Ash Career Services Office, launched in 2023. At the time, one career services professional served nearly 4,300 students. Enrollment has since grown past 5,000.

The program asks participants to complete about 10 hours of training. Topics include Handshake, the online job-search platform used by UC; standards from the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE); career-readiness competencies; and skills-based hiring. Participants then weave those tools into their classes and student interactions.

Nicole Carver, assistant professor of psychology, said the training helped her support students whose career goals fall outside her discipline.

"I love this program because I think it is really easy for faculty to be out of touch with the kinds of careers our students are interested in/end up in," Carver said.

Brandi Thomas, a criminal justice professor, said she has used the program to bring Career Services staff directly into her classroom. Thomas said she arranges visits tailored to where students are in the program, whether they are new freshmen or students in their final semester.

The college said the program's impact is beginning to extend beyond the training itself, with increased collaboration between faculty and Career Services, more employers visiting campus and opportunities for students to participate in mock interviews and classroom presentations. JD Fye serves as program coordinator for Career Services.

UC Blue Ash reported enrollment of 5,074 students for fall 2026, a 3.7% increase over the prior year. The Career Services Office partners with nearly 200 local companies and hosts career fairs each spring and fall.

The 39 certified Career Champions span multiple departments across the Blue Ash campus. The college celebrated the group at a luncheon marking their completion of the program.

The Career Services Office hosts its next career fair later this fall on the 135-acre Blue Ash campus.