Fox Cities News

More University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh (UWO) graduates are beginning their careers in Wisconsin, with many securing jobs before graduation, according to the university’s most recent “First Destination” survey. The results were presented on August 11 at ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah, where university leaders highlighted partnerships that have led to increased employment for UWO alumni.

The survey found that more than 81% of 2023-24 graduates who engaged with UWO’s Career and Professional Development (CPD) team secured employment prior to completing their degrees. Many of these positions are located in the Fox Valley region. The full report is available at www.uwosh.edu.

Chancellor Manohar Singh stated, “To prospective students, moms, dads and employers: In so many ways, college is most definitely worth it, and here’s more proof courtesy of talented Titans and the university partners providing them incredible opportunities to learn and earn.”

Singh also emphasized the benefits students receive through real-world career connections during their studies. He said, “UWO students see additional return on their investments thanks to all the real-world career connections. Why wait until after graduation to get started? Local businesses, hospitals, schools and government offices are opening doors for our students while they’re still progressing through UWO. The need for locally generated and locally retained talent is essential to any thriving region. Having community partners like ThedaCare—now building a state-of-the-art ThedaCare Medical Center-Oshkosh just down the river from campus—is a game changer for our students and the local economy.”

Among employers hiring UWO graduates, ThedaCare stood out by employing 48 members of the class of 2023-24—the highest number among individual organizations.

Provost Ed Martini discussed trends identified in the survey data:

- Over 91% of Wisconsin-born UWO graduates now remain in-state after graduation—a rise from 88% since tracking began in 2016-17.

- More than 40% of out-of-state graduates from this year’s class have chosen to start their careers in Wisconsin.

- Starting salaries for new graduates have increased over time; average starting pay rose from $41,975 in 2011-12 to $59,064 in 2023-24.

- Use of CPD services has grown: nearly 82% of recent grads who used CPD landed jobs before graduation compared with 67% seven years ago.

Martini also referenced findings from UWO’s latest National Alumni Career Mobility survey, which measures early career outcomes among alumni:

- Seventy percent responded favorably when asked if “My institution helped me understand career opportunities,” surpassing peer institutions’ rate of about 58%.

- Sixty-six percent said “My institution helped me envision my career options,” compared with about 54% at peer schools.

- About fifty-five percent felt UWO helped them network with employers; this was higher than responses from comparable institutions.

“UWO’s commitment to career readiness and our efforts to build partnerships with Fox Valley companies, nonprofits and government employers is giving students so many outstanding opportunities to apply what they learn right away.” Martini said. “It is helping shape future leaders faster, clearly driving alumni success.”

He added that support from regional partners helps extend learning beyond campus: “College here clearly extends beyond the campus. And having so many community and regional partners like ThedaCare invested in students’ professional growth and development is making a difference, helping students get one step ahead while driving the region’s growth and economic vibrancy.”

UWO’s collaboration with ThedaCare includes several initiatives:

- A Rural Telehealth Initiative funded by a UW Innovation Grant trains nurses on telehealth technology for rural communities.

- Through an affiliation between UWO and ThedaCare School of Radiologic Technology, enrolled students can access federal financial aid via the university.

- In fall 2024, ThedaCare received a Universities of Wisconsin Regents Business Partnership Award recognizing its work with UWO.

Lynn Detterman, President of North Region at Froedtert ThedaCare Health, described how these partnerships benefit both organizations: “To achieve our vision of reinventing health care and being proactive partners in health and well-being, we must adapt the way we deliver care and enhance the way we recruit and retain our team members,” she said. “The collaboration with education partners such as UWO helps provide future ThedaCare team members with the knowledge, skills and development they need to continue our mission of improving the health and well-being of the communities we serve. They are a great benefit to the organization, passionate about serving patients and families, and dedicated to providing high-quality care for our communities.”

Additional information about studying at UWO or using its Career & Professional Development resources can be found on its official website.