Key challenges and focus areas:
1. Minimal digital presence and limited staff capacity
2. Time-consuming, manual resource management
3. Low visibility of career services across campus
The challenge: One person, one mission—building career readiness for all
When Nick Edwards stepped into the role of Guided Career Advisor at Hardin-Simmons University (HSU), he inherited a common but difficult reality: a team of one, a tight budget, and a limited digital presence. He was solely responsible for supporting more than 1,500 students, yet the existing resources—many outdated—were scattered across emails, PDFs, and departmental websites. Many students weren’t aware that career services was available to them, or how to access the support they needed.
With no centralized digital presence and limited visibility on campus, Edwards knew he needed a scalable solution to engage students and build a culture of career readiness.
That motivation came from personal experience, he shared:
“A lot of this came from thinking about my own experience as an undergrad. I was a non-traditional student—a single dad raising two girls—so I had to do everything virtually. I was an online student, and I remember what it felt like to need career help at 1 or 2 a.m., but not knowing where to turn. That’s the kind of student I’m thinking about.”
The need for better visibility, more scalable operations, and a centralized online presence was clear—but with limited bandwidth, Edwards needed a solution that could amplify his impact without adding to his workload.
The solution: A scalable, centralized, and customizable Virtual Career Center (powered by uConnect)
As a team of one, Edwards needed to make the biggest possible impact with limited capacity and resources. He wanted a platform that would let him track engagement, deliver relevant content efficiently, and offer ongoing support to students even when he wasn’t available.
Using Title III grant funding, he launched HSU’s Virtual Career Center (VCC) in just four weeks. He worked closely with uConnect’s onboarding team to configure the platform in a way that would work efficiently for a team of one—streamlining setup, simplifying content curation, and creating a structure that wouldn’t require daily maintenance. Drawing on their support and best practices from other universities, Edwards quickly launched customized career pathways aligned with HSU’s academic programs—without getting bogged down in day-to-day upkeep.
“We finally have one central place to send students, faculty, and even alumni,” Edwards shared.
With uConnect, Edwards was able to create customized career communities—digital hubs where students can explore career resources, events, job opportunities, and more, all tailored to their interests. The platform also integrates with tools HSU already uses, such as Focus2 and Handshake, and allows for branding customization that gives the VCC a cohesive campus feel.
Since launching the VCC and optimizing its integration with Handshake, HSU has seen a 100% increase in student usage of Handshake, according to semester reports and engagement tracking—meaning more students logging in and applying to jobs.
But perhaps the most meaningful value came in the form of curated content.
“It was the skills and the professionalism—and just having a one-stop shop for everything—that drew me to uConnect,” Edwards said. He began building communities devoted to emerging workforce skills like AI fluency, teamwork, and communication. “I created a whole page for students to become more AI fluent—skills they may or may not be getting in class, but that are critical in today’s job market,” he explained.
This relevance, customization, and ease of use made it simple to gain buy-in—especially on a small campus.
The impact: Saving time, scaling reach, and building campus collaboration
By implementing uConnect Edwards has transformed career services at HSU and reclaimed 15-20 hours each week while increasing student engagement and strengthening campus collaboration.
Edwards has significantly cut down on time spent answering repetitive questions, sharing links, and hunting for documents. This time savings allows him to focus on one-on-one student coaching and strategic initiatives that truly move the needle.
The platform has also boosted outreach to alumni, providing easier access to career support post-graduation. Students and faculty actively use the VCC, often incorporating live tours in classroom visits to highlight available resources.
Key outcomes:
15-20 Hours Saved Weekly
Centralizing tools and streamlining communication has freed up significant time—time now reinvested in personalized support, building partnerships, and strategic growth.
13x Increase in Visibility and Engagement
Since launch, daily pageviews have grown more than 13x, significantly increasing the visibility of career resources. The platform’s professional design and easy accessibility have made it easier for students and faculty to discover and engage with support.
Stronger Cross-Campus Collaboration
Departments like Business, Nursing, Social Work, and Alumni Relations view career services as an active partner. Faculty frequently promote the VCC, while alumni support has expanded through the platform.
For small teams looking to maximize their impact, Edwards offers this advice:
“Utilize technology the best that you can. Let uConnect help expand your reach without increasing your workload. Focus on creating scalable solutions to help you meet the larger student body all at once while still maintaining the ability to offer that one-on-one.”
About Hardin-Simmons University
Hardin-Simmons University (HSU) is a private, faith-based institution in Abilene, Texas, committed to providing a transformative education rooted in Christian values. HSU serves approximately 1,500 students across undergraduate and graduate programs.
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