Meet UIndy: Building Stronger Connections Between Employers and Greyhounds

Written by Troi Watts

More than 30 employers joined the Stephen F. Fry Professional Edge Center at the University of Indianapolis for Meet UIndy, an event focused on building stronger connections between employers and UIndy students and recent graduates.

The event explored strategies for effective recruitment, highlighted opportunities for collaboration, and introduced the University’s new Employer Partner Program. With projections indicating that more than 72% of jobs will require a college degree by 2031, the importance of building intentional partnerships between higher education and industry has never been greater.

“Meet UIndy was designed to introduce employers to the energy, talent, and potential that define our students, faculty, and staff,” said Jessica Sremanak, director of employer engagement. “By building these connections, we’re opening the door to stronger partnerships and more meaningful opportunities for everyone involved.”

Hearing Directly from Students: What Works in Recruitment

The event began with a student panel featuring current UIndy students and recent graduates who shared candid reflections on their job-search experiences. Panelists discussed what drew them to particular job postings, how they prefer to be contacted by recruiters, and what made an employer stand out.

“I learned to look for roles that align with my values and skills,” said Emma Foutz ’25 (Communication). “It’s easy as a new graduate to mass apply to all these jobs and hope something sticks, but I’ve learned that it’s better, for both the company and for myself, to take the time to learn about the role and the values of the organization.”

A key takeaway? Personal connection matters. While email was considered the most convenient method of communication, in-person conversations were described as the most meaningful.

“Maybe I’m a little old school, but I want a phone call,” said Allison Bowman ’24 ’27 (Chemistry, DPT). “I feel like you need to hear the inflection in my voice to know what I’m saying, rather than a text or email, where you could misinterpret tone or meaning. I’d also love to go get coffee or see you at a recruiting event.” 

Other significant takeaways included that students and recent graduates:

• Use LinkedIn, X (formerly known as Twitter), and Reddit to seek out employment opportunities and research companies. 
• Prefer emails to text (and, yes, they will check their spam folders regularly).
• Appreciate simpler, more straightforward application processes, where they can upload their resumes without having to enter the information multiple times manually.

The panel concluded with one last piece of advice for recruiters and employers: show genuine interest and empathy.

“Remember what it was like to be in our shoes, especially as new graduates,” said Foutz. “This job market is hard. It’s very competitive for those of us applying to entry-level roles.”

Keynote from Brad Rhorer: Growing Talent in Indiana

Brad Rhorer, President and CEO of Ascend Indiana, delivered the keynote address, highlighting how strategic partnerships between higher education and employers can drive workforce development across the state. He pointed to UIndy’s collaboration with Ascend Indiana as a standout example.

“Ascend has been in partnership with UIndy for some time, and the statistics we’re seeing from UIndy are much higher than those from across the state. So congratulations to the UIndy team,” said Rhorer. “Over 80% of UIndy students come from Indiana—and that’s not a common theme across our universities. UIndy is focused on growing talent right here in the state.”

He pointed to the Roche Academy and UIndy’s partnership with Community Health Network as examples of programs that benefit both students and employers.

“These partnerships give UIndy students real-world experience in competitive, high-demand fields,” said Rhorer. “The Roche Academy creates a direct path into a global company, and the Nursing Academy has helped Community Health Network reduce turnover and reimagine how they hire UIndy graduates.”

Through these initiatives, Rhorer emphasized the value of collaboration between higher education and industry—not only to meet workforce demands, but to create long-term, sustainable pathways for Indiana’s emerging talent.

Engaging with Industry: UIndy Faculty Share Insights

The event also featured a panel of UIndy faculty members, who spoke about how their programs equip students with the skills and experiences needed to succeed in today’s workforce.

“Academically, we focus on broad-based learning,” said Dr. Kevin Whiteacre, associate provost and chair of the Department of Criminal Justice. “We have an inclusive curriculum that allows students to pursue additional majors, minors, and interdisciplinary opportunities. Employers play a vital role in this by speaking in our classes and helping us shape programs that meet industry needs.”

Dr. John Kuykendall, dean of the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences, emphasized the importance of experiential learning.

“We try to create opportunities where students develop confidence in their ability to lead,” he said. “Our curriculum is also built with employer feedback in mind. We want to know what skills you’re looking for so we can better prepare our students.”

Faculty highlighted several successful partnerships:

• School of Business students worked with Endress+Hauser to improve efficiency in robotic material handling.
• Kinesiology students redesigned a tactical obstacle course for the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy to better assess cadet fitness.
• The R.B. Annis School of Engineering collaborates annually with industry partners on DesignSpine projects, developing real-world solutions to real-world problems.

Partner with UIndy

The University officially introduced its new Employer Partner Program, designed to foster deeper engagement between organizations and the UIndy community. The program offers:

• On-campus promotional opportunities
• Premium access to events like job fairs
• Exclusive entry into executive education programs at the Sease Institute

The program is open to organizations of all sizes and industries—including nonprofits—and aims to create long-lasting, mutually beneficial relationships.

“Eighty-five percent of our students are from Indiana, and the majority stay here after graduation,” said Sremanak. “There is an incredible talent pool right in your backyard, and the Employer Partner Program is designed to help you tap into it, while deepening your connection with our campus community.”

Jake Berry, deputy athletic director for external operations and revenue generation, invited attendees to engage with UIndy Athletics, noting both the University’s championship-winning record and strong academic performance among student-athletes.

“Our average team GPA is 3.41—six-tenths higher than the NCAA national average,” said Berry. “We want our student-athletes to feel supported both on the field and in the workplace. Your involvement helps create an experience they’ll never forget—and one that encourages them to stay and work in Indianapolis after graduation.”

Rick Graycarek, chief financial officer, wrapped up the day by introducing the University’s Tuition Benefit Partnership, which offers tuition discounts for employees and their dependents.

“This helps employers retain talent by making education more affordable and accessible,” said Graycarek. “And as employees upskill, they become even more valuable to your organization.”

Interested in Partnering with UIndy?

If you’d like to participate in future employer events or learn more about UIndy’s Employer Partner Program, please contact Jessica Sremanak, director of employer engagement, at sremanakj@uindy.edu.