Career readiness used to be a fixed target. Learn the material, build a resume, graduate, get hired.
That target has moved. What employers screen for has changed, what students want from work has changed, and AI is reshaping entry-level roles faster than most curricula can respond. Students, meanwhile, remain confident: 83.8% say their education has prepared them for the workforce, while only 37% of recruiters agree.
The NSLS's State of Higher Ed 2026 report maps where that target has actually landed. In this roundtable, our panel digs into what employers are screening for now, why so many students are still preparing for the market that existed five years ago, and what institutions can do about it right now.
This webinar covers:
The readiness divide: 83.8% of students feel career-ready, but only 37% of recruiters agree
What recruiters actually rank first when hiring, and why students are guessing wrong
The experience gap: why only 19.4% of undergraduates have completed an internship, and how institutions can expand access
The career services conversion problem: high awareness, much lower usage, and what closes that distance
How AI fluency is becoming an employability signal rather than a classroom concern
Practical strategies to build readiness into existing programming without major new investment
GUEST SPEAKERS:
Kevin Prentiss
Head of Product and Technology, The NSLS
Kevin Prentiss is a dynamic technology and product leader recognized for driving innovation, operational excellence, and sustainable growth. He's focused his career on helping individuals and groups thrive.
With deep expertise in digital transformation, data-driven decision-making, and AI-powered innovation, he has built resilient organizations capable of adapting to fast-evolving market demands.
His leadership philosophy fosters collaborative, highly-aligned, and mission-driven cultures where high performance and continuous improvement are the norm. He brings a future-focused, execution-first mindset paired with a grounded understanding of operational realities — a rare blend that enables companies to not just envision the future, but build it.
Dr. Rich Schultz
College of Health Professions Program Chair and Faculty Advisor, University of Phoenix
Dr. Schultz has served as Program Chair for the College of Health Professions at the University of Phoenix for 11 years, where he supervises 117 faculty serving more than 12,000 students and facilitates roughly 30 classes annually.
He earned his doctorate in Public Health with a concentration in Epidemiology from Walden University, and his dissertation research led to the redefinition of "Alzheimer's disease" as "Classic Alzheimer's Disease Symptoms" in the DSM-IV and ICD. His 2025 publications explore artificial intelligence in higher education. He also advises the UOPX chapters of NSLS and Upsilon Phi Delta, and serves as Director of Talent Acquisition for his family's healthcare businesses.
Hannah Stoneburner
Director of Program Development, The NSLS
Hannah has been with the NSLS for nearly seven years, building on a decade-long career in traditional higher education. Prior to joining the NSLS team, Hannah spent 10 years working on college campuses, including several years in Residential Life and later serving as the Director of Living Learning Communities. Hannah's work centered on student retention initiatives and implementing high-impact practices. Hannah holds a Master's degree in Student Affairs Administration from Ball State University.