Grow, Persist, Succeed Program

The following are the core components of the GPS program:

• Leverage UW-Stout campus-based applied learning activities
• Develop UW-Stout students career readiness competency skills
• Assists UW-Stout faculty and staff in fulfilling project and operational needs

The following are the core components of the GPS program:

• Foster engagement from underrepresented UW-Stout student communities
• Assess the impact of campus-based experiences on student career readiness competency skills
• Impact UW-Stout student retention and persistence rates

Question: Does the GPS Program pay students through state payroll or work study student employment? 

Answer: No. The GPS Program is specially funded program via the Chancellor’s Office to specifically offer paid on-campus job opportunities to first-year, second year, and transfer students – student populations that often have higher levels of dropping out, stopping out, being undecided, and transferring. If you use up your approved GPS Program amount to pay your student employee, you will then have to rely on either state payroll or work study funds to continue their employment. Funds can be used in unison to support the student employee(s) employment. 

Question: Is the GPS Program only for first-year, second year, and transfer students? 

Answer: Yes. This specific program is meant to create and facilitate student employment opportunities for first-year, second year, and transfer students. When the position is posted in Handshake, it will specify in the job posting that the opportunity is only for these student populations. Should you desire to hire a student that is not a first-year, second-year, or transfer student, it is recommended to explore state payroll or work study options. 

Question: What is the maximum amount of GPS Program funds and student employees I can request? 

Answer: You are welcome to request as many student employees and GPS program funds as you would like to support your offices efforts. Through the approval process, when the Office of Enrollment and Strategic Initiatives prioritizes requests, they will want to see realistic requests and proposed meaningful work experiences.   

Question: Do I have to hire a student from an underrepresented student population? 

Answer: No. The hope is to have as many students hired from this population as possible, but we expect you’ll hire the right student for your opportunity – as long as they are first-year, second-year, or transfer students. Please, contact HR if you have any questions regarding hiring practices of student employees.  

Question: Can I put in multiple applications if I have multiple projects or jobs? 

Answer: Yes. You may submit as many applications for job opportunities as possible, but please note, you are not guaranteed to get approved for every request. 

Question: Is there any support or training provided to supervisors that received GPS program funding? 

Answer: Yes. Every GPS program supervisor must complete a 30-minute training, focused on these three areas: 

1. GPS Program Overview and Orientation 
2. Creating Inclusive Workspaces  
3. NACE Career Readiness Competencies  

Training is provided via a canvas training course and run approximately 20 min.   

Question: Will the student employee be paid for their 3 required sessions, which include the GPS Program orientation, career readiness assessment, and 1:1 career counseling sessions? 

Answer: Yes. When the student employee attends GPS Program orientation, career readiness assessment, and their 1:1 career counseling session, they will be on the clock, and getting paid. Career Services will inform you (the supervisor) of the number of hours spent completing these program expectations.  

Question: Do I have to have a student for the entire academic year? 

Answer: No. You can request funding and positions for just one semester if you so choose.  

Question: Can these student on-campus employment opportunities count as internships or field experiences for academic credit? 

Answer: Yes. If you desire to go this route, it is encouraged you speak with the co-op and internship program first to ensure eligibility and internship/field experience requirements can be met, as well as gaining approval from the co-op and internship program and the student employee’s academic program is required. 

Question: Are there a maximum number of hours a student employee can work when in the GPS Program? 

Answer: To learn more about this and other Human Resources related questions around student employment, visit Human Resource’s Student Employment SharePoint page. 

Question: How and where will the GPS program approved positions be posted? 

Answer: Once Career Services has received the approved positions from the Chancellor’s Office, the positions will be entered into Handshake and activated (typically on or around August 1st)  Once, activated, the application window opens, and students can apply. The individual listed as the program/office contact will be listed as the application(s) receiver. Positions will be open until filled.