Cal State LA becomes first campus in the nation to receive NACE Curriculum Endorsement

Cal State LA is the first college campus in the nation to achieve the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) Curriculum Endorsement, recognizing the university's innovative approach to integrating career readiness into the academic experience.

"Being the first campus to achieve the NACE Curriculum Endorsement is a tremendous honor and affirms Cal State LA's commitment to student success," said Cal State LA Provost Heather Lattimer. "Our faculty and staff are dedicated to ensuring that our students graduate prepared to secure their first career job, successfully navigate the career ladder, and lead change in their professions, communities, and our broader global society. The first pillar of our newly adopted academic plan is Transformational Learning, Career Readiness, and Community Uplift."

The endorsement was awarded to the Center for Effective Teaching and Learning's (CETL) Career-Engaged Departments Program and its faculty development curriculum. The distinction recognizes the program's strong alignment with the NACE Career Readiness Framework and its evidence-based approach to help faculty embed career-readiness competencies throughout the curriculum.

CETL's Career-Engaged Departments Program is a year-long faculty learning community that supports academic departments in integrating career readiness across their curricula. During the 2024-25 academic year, 70 faculty members-some working individually and others as part of 10 department teams-incorporated career-readiness skills into their classrooms, impacting approximately 2,800 students. Since its launch in 2022, the program has engaged 167 faculty members representing 22 academic departments.

"Students spend more time with faculty than anyone else on campus," said Catherine Haras, CETL executive director and interim dean of the College of Professional and Global Education. "Faculty influence how students make meaning-and career readiness is about finding meaning in work. Cal State LA is proud that NACE has recognized faculty leadership as essential to professional success."

NACE noted that the program's focus on stakeholder engagement, assessment, and continuous improvement represents a leading model for career-integrated learning.

"Your program has the potential to change the conversation around faculty engagement in career-integrated learning," said Niesha Taylor, director of career readiness at NACE. "Your model shows how faculty can engage as leaders in the evolution of this work, which has the power to drive greater social and economic mobility for your students."

As the first campus in the nation to receive this recognition, Cal State LA is helping establish a national model for career-integrated learning while empowering faculty to serve as career advocates for students. This endorsement underscores the university's ongoing commitment to student success, workforce readiness, and upward mobility.

Established in 1956, NACE is a professional association that connects more than 17,000 college career services professionals, early talent recruiting and university relations professionals, and business solution providers that serve this community.

California State University, Los Angeles is the premier comprehensive public university in the heart of Los Angeles. Cal State LA is ranked number one in the United States for the upward mobility of its students. Cal State LA is dedicated to engagement, service, and the public good, offering nationally recognized programs in science, the arts, business, criminal justice, engineering, nursing, education, and the humanities. Founded in 1947, the University serves more than 22,000 students and has more than 260,000 distinguished alumni.