Campus Connection

Student employment builds skills, connections, future careers 

For many students, working on campus is a vital aspect of the college experience. It offers not only financial support but also the opportunity to develop valuable skills, gain hands-on experience and build lasting connections. 

On-campus jobs, especially within University Centers, provide students with a unique work environment that allows them to balance their academic responsibilities while gaining professional experience. Supervisors are often mindful of students’ course loads, understanding the importance of academic success, and accommodating schedules to ensure students maintain a healthy work-life balance. 

For students like Caleb Bekkum, on-campus employment offers a supportive environment to develop new skills. 

"I've learned event planning, professional communication and time management," says Bekkum, a junior who works as a program assistant in the Leadership & Involvement Center in the COVE. "Before this job, I’d never been in a position where I was one of the driving forces of planning a large-scale event, so I’ve gained a lot of experience." 

The benefits of working on campus extend beyond practical skills. Bekkum shares that his job has enhanced his college experience by giving him a deeper connection to the UWL community.  

"I’m always aware of the different events happening on campus, and I often get to attend them," Bekkum explains. Additionally, his involvement in civic engagement initiatives through the COVE helps him identify philanthropic opportunities for his fraternity, Delta Sigma Phi, where he serves as the philanthropy chair. 

Like Bekkum, Delaney Gelder’s work with University Centers as an administrative assistant has provided her with practical skills in addition to a sense of belonging and community 

"I’ve made many new friends who are my coworkers, and the full-time staff are amazing," says Gelder, a senior majoring in elementary/middle education. "It’s helped me feel more comfortable on campus and connected to a group of people."

Alumni, such as Kelsi Faust and Mark Moralez, look back on their campus jobs as a formative experience that led them on their future career paths. 

For Faust, a University Centers administrative assistant from 2015 to 2019, her job sparked an interest in working toward a career in higher education.  

“I spoke to my supervisor, Tricia Aleckson, about my interests, and she helped mentor me on what I wanted to do with my career,” Faust says. “She connected me with a staff member who took the path I was interested in. After the meeting, the advice and suggestions the staff member shared made me decide that I wanted to go into higher education.” 

The helping hand of University Centers proved effective, as Faust is now an adjunct professor for Caroll University and UW-Milwaukee, and an academic advisor for public health and nutrition students at UWM. 

Moralez, an audio and visual lighting services student worker from 2015 to 2019, also decided to pursue further education after his experience as a student employee. 

Even as he works toward a PhD in educational leadership and policy analysis, Moralez remains in touch with many of his mentors and colleagues from UWL.  

It’s another example of the transformational impact of working on campus, and the lifelong connections it helps create. 

“I met a lot of people just through being involved, always being in Cartwright and the Union,” Moralez says. “I was able to network and build connections. I still hold true that being involved on campus is so important to the college experience.”