Grossman School of Business students already scale impressive mountains in their free time -- and now they can add new heights to their academic life, too.

The Professional Engagement and Knowledge System (PEAKS) is a brand-new professional development and credentialing program debuting in fall 2020. Using the Professional Development Series (PDS) courses as a launch pad, PEAKS will combine curriculum with extracurricular events and activities to guide students through the levels of becoming a true "career expert." As students complete assignments to hone their resumes, cover letters, and workplace skills, they will also receive credit for networking activities like attending career fairs, interviewing alumni, and holding internships.

Each task is assigned a National Association of Colleges & Employers (NACE) competency, such as Critical Thinking, Leadership, Cultural Awareness, Written Communication, or Teamwork. Students can track their progress in each competency, helping them better understand their skillset as it grows.

Using Suitable, a credentialing platform used at business schools nationwide, students will receive badges that show off their skills -- and tell employers about their preparedness for the workplace. Badges can be shared on LinkedIn, resumes, and through an online portfolio. Employers are able to see exactly how each badge was earned, making each badge tangible evidence of success that goes well beyond a resume.

Madison Berry, the Employer Engagement Liaison in the Grossman Center for Student Success, says PEAKS will give Grossman students an edge in a crowded and competitive employment market.

"Our PDS series is already a best-practice among business schools, building our students’ career foundation through exploration and skill building over three years. PEAKS will help us translate that even more effectively to employers," she said. "It also gives our students a more concrete understanding of their own skills -- they'll be able to better communicate what they're good at, and why."

Amy Tomas, Director of Undergraduate Programs in the Grossman School of Business, says “one of the benefits of PEAKS is the flexibility of credentialing systems. The possibilities to create achievement badges across our curriculum and engagement opportunities are tremendous. Although we are starting with a modest set of credentials to launch the program, there is no limit on the number of credentials that can be built into PEAKS.”  PEAKS will eventually grow beyond the PDS course, offering credentials for non-curricular engagement, career focuses, and more. For now, it is an exciting way to encourage engagement in a unique semester.

"This fall semester is challenging for many of our students, never mind adding stress about whether they are progressing in their career goals," said Berry. "We're so excited to have PEAKS and Suitable to help students grow their skills in a tangible, fun, and structured way."