CPP Launches First-of-its-Kind Career Initiative on a CSU Campus, Expanding Student Opportunities
This spring, Cal Poly Pomona has launched Bronco CareerWorks, expanding student opportunities for hands-on learning opportunities, internships, jobs and personalized employment coaching (or career pathways).
The public-private partnership with Ultimate Staffing Services, a business line of Roth Staffing Companies, will strengthen students’ transition from earning their degree to meaningful employment and graduate-study opportunities.
“This initiative strengthens our career ecosystem and positions Cal Poly Pomona as a thought leader in career-connected learning and economic mobility,” said CPP Interim President Iris S. Levine in a message to the campus community on Jan. 26.
A major component of the new program is an embedded, dedicated professional recruiting team on campus, bringing additional industry expertise, employer engagement and connections, and labor market insight.
“Bronco CareerWorks represents a bold new chapter in how Cal Poly Pomona supports our students on their journey from classroom to career. By embedding industry recruiters directly within our Career Center, we are expanding access to meaningful, career-aligned opportunities and strengthening the bridge between education and employment,” said Terri Gomez, CPP Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.
The first staffing-in-residence model on a California State University campus, the partnership enhances and builds on existing Career Center services by bringing new industry expertise and employer connections to campus at a time when students nationwide are navigating a rapidly changing career landscape.
The new partnership will also offer a streamlined point of engagement for external partners seeking to hire diverse, career-ready candidates across majors and disciplines.
Bronco CareerWorks reflects Cal Poly Pomona’s proactive implementation of the CSU Student Success Framework, which aims to improve opportunity outcome gaps, strengthen career readiness and advance social mobility for all CSU students. The program promotes free, paid work-based learning opportunities for students, removing financial barriers for those who must work while enrolled and contributing to economic mobility.
“This partnership reinforces our commitment to equity, experiential learning and ensuring that every Bronco graduates not just with a degree, but with a pathway to success,” said Gomez.
The program is fully funded through philanthropic support provided by a $40 million grant made by MacKenzie Scott in 2022, leveraging private dollars to advance public goals without reliance on state appropriations.
This semester, the Career Center will continue to offer targeted career programs by major and industry, along with virtual events open to all students. College-specific expos and departmental partnerships will provide ongoing opportunities for students to meet with employers. The current calendar of events can be found on the Career Center website.
Last year, the Career Center hosted 133 workshops and campus outreach events, had 1,089 career advising appointments and 743 students drop-in for career advising assistance. The center also hosted 59 employer events connecting students with employers.