UMass Dartmouth Awarded $396,415 Grant to Expand Campus-Wide Career Curriculum

Funding will expand career development opportunities and ensure every student graduates with the skills, experience, and direction needed for lifelong success

The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth has received a $396,415 grant from the Davis Educational Foundation to launch a campus-wide career ecosystem, strengthening efforts to embed career readiness and purpose-driven learning across the undergraduate experience.

The three-year grant, Implementing a Career Curriculum at UMass Dartmouth for Purpose Driven Students, aims to integrate career competencies into all academic programs and expand access to career development opportunities for all students. 

“One of UMass Dartmouth’s distinctive strengths is that we prepare students well for great jobs when they graduate,” said Chancellor Mark Fuller. “We rank #2 in social mobility, and 95% of our graduates are employed or in graduate school within 6 months. We are proud of how we launch young people into trajectories of lifelong success, and this will further strengthen our ability to do that.”

The initiative builds on UMass Dartmouth’s broader strategy to create a seamless career ecosystem that connects coursework, advising, internships, and co-curricular experiences. Key components of the project include:

• Development and integration of career-focused curriculum within general education and major programs
• Faculty-led efforts to embed career competencies into coursework
• Expanded professional development opportunities for students, faculty, and staff
• Dedicated administrative and career services support to sustain the initiative

“This investment allows us to scale a comprehensive approach to career preparation,” said Provost Ram Balasubramanian. “By aligning academic learning with professional skills, we are ensuring that every student graduates with the confidence, experience, and direction needed to thrive.”

The initiative complements UMass Dartmouth’s campus-wide career ecosystem, which ensures that students—regardless of major—gain access to meaningful career pathways, experiential learning, and professional skill development.

The funding was provided by Davis Educational Foundation, established by Stanton and Elisabeth Davis after Mr. Davis’s retirement as chairman of Shaw’s Supermarkets, Inc.