CCK offers flexibility. Qualifying freshman are strongly encouraged to take advantage of the reduced-cost First Year Experience (FYE), to sign up for a mentor and to continue into the Kickstart Career Seminar.  

All qualifying current students can attend workshops and presentations, meet with our career advisor or explore the earn-to-learn employment network. Sophomores and upperclassmen can apply for paid, trained peer mentor positions – providing new USD students with support and encouragement. 

Embrace the full Kickstart experience and earn a digital badge or do as little as you need. But don’t wait too long! Career planning and skills develop incrementally; it is not advisable to defer decisions and skills-building until your senior year. 

Eligible freshmen can register for the fall Kickstart First Year Experience course when you register for fall classes. The grant allows us to offer the course at the externally-funded $40/credit hour rate. That’s almost $275 in savings.

The Kickstart Career Seminar course will be offered to 2nd semester freshmen and sophomores for the same reduced cost. In the Kickstart Career Seminar, you will design a self-reflective career journey, connect with alumni, and learn how to develop and leverage your experience and skills for internship and job searches.

Mentorship comes in many forms. In the Kickstart Program you can elect to have a peer mentor and/or an alumni mentor. Kickstart peer mentors are students who support you during your first semester. They offer a roadmap to USD. They show you the overall map, where you are, routes that may get you to where you want to go, and the positives and negatives of taking a detour.

Participants can also ask to be matched with an alumni mentor. The USD alumni community includes 70,000 alumni in all stages of life, industries and occupations, and locations across the country. Kickstart students will have direct access to this network of human resources!

Kickstart members can also choose to become peer mentors to new students. These trained, paid positions offer more than the chance to help new students. Through your efforts to encourage your mentees to experience new things, you continue to grow your own confidence and skill set.

Looking for a paying job with a local employer? How about a summer internship close to home? We can help you tap into local networks and resources for your job search, review your resume and offer a mock interview.

If you need professional clothing or accessories for an interview or new job, the Coyote Career Closet allows all USD students five free items each semester.

Of course, Kickstart students may also participate in leadership development experiences, undergraduate research, student organizations, study abroad and more. You will utilize other resources made available through the USD Alumni Association, Academic and Career Planning Center, Student Services, and other departments. Each student will follow a unique path, but by the time you graduate, you will posses the skills and confidence needed to excel in the workforce and to manage a successful and rewarding career journey.