APRIL 30, 2024 — UTSA is a national leader in empowering students for career success and the University Career Center (UCC) is the driving force behind this effort. Through innovative strategies that foster employer-student connections, investments in best-in-class professional development technologies, and a commitment to offering hands-on opportunities, the UCC helps UTSA students imagine, discover, experience and design their future career.
Now, thanks to a gift from longtime employer partner GM Financial, the UCC has transformed part of its front lobby into the Career Lab powered by GM Financial — a dedicated communal space where students can receive guidance on anything related to their professional interests and pursuits. Designed to be inviting and highly interactive, the space will be staffed by career consultants and include laptops for students and alumni to use while they are there.
The career lab builds on the series of lab-style workshops the UCC rolled out earlier this semester as a pilot program. Consultants guide students and alumni as they work on their resumes, explore career options, search for jobs and internships, and learn how to use the many workforce-building tools and resources available to them. Held both in person and virtually, these highly interactive work sessions are giving Roadrunners the chance to improve their professional outcomes by providing dedicated time and space to help them with a variety of strategies to develop their careers.
With this new dedicated lab space, the UCC will be able to dramatically expand the number and frequency of these types of engaging sessions, making its services far more accessible for students at various stages of career exploration, whether they are trying to identify what jobs they can pursue based on their major and interests or seniors gearing up for their first full-time job.
The new Career Lab powered by GM Financial will be available starting May 1 in the UCC’s Main Campus location in the Student Union (SU 2.02.04).
“The Career Lab powered by GM Financial is not just a physical location; it represents a paradigm shift in how UTSA approaches career readiness,” said Mario Vela, UTSA assistant vice provost of career-engaged learning and executive director of the career center. “The Career Lab will provide interactive, experiential learning opportunities that address students’ and alumni’s needs in real time. By offering hands-on workshops and personalized guidance, UTSA aims to empower Roadrunners to confidently navigate their career journeys and pursue their professional aspirations. We are immensely grateful for GM Financial’s ongoing partnership and commitment to supporting UTSA students.”
Wayne Saiz, senior vice president for consumer services at GM Financial, shared enthusiasm for his company’s partnership with UTSA.
“At GM Financial, we believe in our active partnership with UTSA to invest in its students as they continue to produce highly educated workforce-ready graduates within our community,” Saiz said. “The Career Lab Powered by GM Financial represents an opportunity to support UTSA students as they explore, discover and design their own professional journeys. We are proud to partner with UTSA in this endeavor and look forward to seeing the impact it will have on shaping the careers of tomorrow's leaders.”
GM Financial is the financial services division of General Motors and has nearly 10,000 employees around the world. In 2017, the company opened its San Antonio service center and began engaging with UTSA to recruit its students. The partnership has grown over the years, and today GM Financial is one of the UCC’s primary corporate partners, regularly participating in recruiting events and other opportunities to support career development. GM Financial currently employs 38 UTSA students and alumni in San Antonio.
The University Career Center helps Roadrunners discover, pursue and achieve their unique professional goals by offering career and job search tools and resources, including individual counseling, mock interviews, resume reviews and professional networking assistance. It is one of seven units within the UTSA division of Career-Engaged Learning, which is giving students opportunities for experiential learning in the real world to prepare them to be career-ready Roadrunners.
UTSA Today is produced by University Communications and Marketing, the official news source of The University of Texas at San Antonio. Send your feedback to news@utsa.edu. Keep up-to-date on UTSA news by visiting UTSA Today. Connect with UTSA online at Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and Instagram.
All UTSA students, faculty, staff, alumni, and families are invited to march with the UTSA delegation in San Antonio's 38th annual Martin Luther King, Jr. March. Free transportation will be provided from the Main and Downtown Campuses.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Academy, 3501 Martin Luther King, Jr., San Antonio, TXJoin the UTSA Alumni Association for free coffee and breakfast to celebrate the start of the fall semester.
Sombrilla PlazaWarm up with a hot cup of coffee or a hot chocolate with Wellbeing Services to kick off the start of the Spring Semester! The Wellbeing team will be in the Window Lounge to welcome you to the first day of classes and highlight our events and programs for the semester.
Dreamers Resource Lounge, Main CampusJoin us in the HCAP Student Success Center for refreshments and get to know your HCAP Ambassadors, Peer Mentors, and staff!
HCAP Student Success Center (MS 2.02.36), Main CampusKlesse College is excited to welcome back our Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design students! Join us for a fun day full of community, food, and fun events. Food is free for all KCEID Students. Come get your T-shirts and connect with student organizations.
Atrium, Biotechnology, Sciences and Engineering Building, Main CampusStop by the Alvarez Student Success Center to learn about our services, meet our staff, and grab some goodies! Students can earn Career Compass spirit points by taking a photo with our frame and uploading it to the app.
Alvarez Student Success Center (BB 2.01.08,) Business Building, Main CampusCome meet student organizations and learn about different volunteering opportunities at the Spring 2025 Get Involved Fair.
HSU Ballroom (HSU 1.104-1.106,) Main CampusThe University of Texas at San Antonio is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through research and discovery, teaching and learning, community engagement and public service. As an institution of access and excellence, UTSA embraces multicultural traditions and serves as a center for intellectual and creative resources as well as a catalyst for socioeconomic development and the commercialization of intellectual property - for Texas, the nation and the world.
To be a premier public research university, providing access to educational excellence and preparing citizen leaders for the global environment.
We encourage an environment of dialogue and discovery, where integrity, excellence, inclusiveness, respect, collaboration and innovation are fostered.
UTSA is a proud Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) as designated by the U.S. Department of Education .
The University of Texas at San Antonio, a Hispanic Serving Institution situated in a global city that has been a crossroads of peoples and cultures for centuries, values diversity and inclusion in all aspects of university life. As an institution expressly founded to advance the education of Mexican Americans and other underserved communities, our university is committed to promoting access for all. UTSA, a premier public research university, fosters academic excellence through a community of dialogue, discovery and innovation that embraces the uniqueness of each voice.
