The Experience Guarantee at UA’s College of Business

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Description

The University of Akron’s College of Business has transformed student success through its innovative “Experience Guarantee,” powered by Suitable. With a strong focus on career readiness, students engage in resume-building activities, workshops, and real-world experiences. This initiative, embedded in first-year seminars and aligned with industry needs, has driven 59% student participation and over 17,000 completed activities. Backed by robust digital badging and strategic employer partnerships, the program positions students as career-ready professionals. Looking ahead, UA plans to expand its impact with new badges, student org competencies, and ongoing program refinement to stay aligned with evolving workforce demands.

About the School

The University of Akron is located in the heart of downtown Akron, Ohio. The university offers over 200 majors, minors, and certificate programs. The university has approximately 8,982 undergraduate students and 2,234 graduate and law students, and it also boasts a healthy Early College High School partnership.

The College of Business is doubly AACSB accredited and has 1,522 undergraduate and 286 graduate students. Each department or unit has its own advisory board to offer personalized counsel and industry emphasis. The online MBA is ranked 77th in the world by CEO Magazine, and the part-time MBA ranks 183rd by U.S. News & World Report.

College of Business offers a life-altering education through cutting-edge programs, global thought leadership, rigorous professional development, and meaningful industry connections.

Challenges Before Suitable

Before implementing Suitable, the University of Akron was searching for a mobile-first solution that would centralize administrative tasks, enhance the student experience, enhance reporting and tracking, and feature gamification and digital badging. Suitable was especially enticing because of its student-centric design, robust marketing features, and advanced digital credentialing capabilities.

In 2017, UA's Coordinator of Professional Development, Kim Hefferman, brought the EDGE program on board to place career preparedness at the forefront. In 2018, UA partnered with Suitable and incorporated EDGE into the College of Business as a flagship program. In 2019, they unveiled the Anthony J. Alexander Professional Development Center.

By 2022, a new dean emphasized innovation and proposed mandatory internships. This led to a soft introduction of the "Experience Guarantee" at a Spring 2024 Dean's Dinner to 70 of the most admitted students, and the entire rollout took place in Fall 2024.

Life with Suitable

As part of its transition into Suitable, UA distilled its EDGE framework into five action-oriented competencies: Career Management & Professionalism, Communication & Critical Thinking, Technology, Global & Cultural Engagement, and Leadership, Teamwork, & Self.

These were the pillars of the Experience Guarantee, an activity program that provides a clear, resume-building roadmap to career readiness.

Experience Blue, which became mandatory for graduation for all College of Business students, combines in-class and co-curricular milestones. Highlights include resume workshops, LinkedIn and Handshake profiles, "Real People, Real Careers" sessions, Business Communication Speaker Events, Suit-Up Week Participation, and Attendance at the UA Career Fair. Screenshot 2025-05-06 at 3.59.17 PM

The students also complete at least three additional activities such as mock interviews, company tours, online course modules, or joining leadership initiatives.

Experience Gold Honors is a voluntary addition to Experience Blue for high achievers, with additional advanced development activities such as internships, study abroad, leadership experience, or competition. Screenshot 2025-05-06 at 3.59.44 PM

Officially debuted in Fall 2024, the initiative took hold with integration into first-year seminars, and emphasized career relevance, community engagement, and global mindsets.

Marketing campaigns supporting the College's new brand, "Experience Business", with the taglines "Career Connected & Ready" and "What Makes You Different?". Suitable and Client Success collaborated on designing digital badges for students.

Key Takeaways

The Experience Guarantee embeds career development into academics through hands-on, real-world activities.
Student engagement soared with 59% participation and 17,000+ completed career-building tasks.
Digital badges and gamified learning showcase student skills and achievements to employers.
Experience Blue and Gold offer structured, industry-aligned career readiness pathways.
UA plans to expand badges, student org competencies, and milestone celebrations to stay workforce-relevant.

Outcomes Achieved

Student participation has reached an all-time high of 59% since the Experience Guarantee with Suitable was launched, with more than 17,000 professional development activities completed.

A recent survey revealed that 75% of College of Business graduates took part in an internship or co-op, including major partners J.M. Smucker Company and Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company.

Administratively, the platform enhanced tracking, data analysis, and feedback, streamlining approval workflows and making more flexible, asynchronous learning opportunities possible.

The University found that activity-based programming—implemented into first-year seminars—was more effective than point systems. The College has also established professional development as part of its institutions by extending it into graduation cap and gown choices and department-specific digital badges, solidifying its significance across the campus.