2026 Summer Institute Agenda
Institute #1: Moving With Clarity in Moments of Change July 16th 9:00am-Noon CST
The career landscape is shifting faster than ever. Are you equipped to lead the way? Join our upcoming workshop, Moving with Clarity in Moments of Change, designed specifically for career advisors. Together we will move beyond “survival mode” and focus on practical ways to help you and the people you serve to navigate changes in the labor market and economy.
Speakers will help you navigate the new normal with both confidence and care for yourself and those you serve.
Institute #2: Same Client, Different Theoretical Lens: How to Apply Three Theories to Your Practice July 16th 1:00pm-4:00pm CST
This interactive session challenges career advisors to move beyond a “one-size-fits-all” approach by examining a single client case study through three distinct conceptual frameworks. Participants will explore how to apply Social Cognitive Career Theory to build self-efficacy, utilize the Chaos Theory of Careers to navigate unpredictability, and integrate Sunny Hansen’s Integrative Life Planning to address holistic life themes. By comparing these lenses side-by-side, participants will gain a versatile toolkit for tailoring your interventions to the specific psychological and environmental needs of your clients.
Institute #3: From Barriers to Breakthroughs: Advancing Career Access for Those with Complex Barriers July 17th 9:00-Noon CST
Career service providers work with students and clients whose paths are often shaped by complex systemic, legal, and social barriers. In this Institute speakers will explore significant challenges many individuals face when accessing education and employment opportunities. We will talk about how you can be prepared and equipped to turn seemingly insurmountable obstacles into clear, actionable breakthroughs for your most vulnerable populations.
Institute #4: Evidence-Informed Resources to Guide Wellness and Skill Development July 17th 1:00pm-4:00pm CST
Learn about three new Center for Research on College Workforce Transitions (CCWT) resources from the Tune in to Strive Out curriculum. This curriculum helps students and clients strengthen their sense of belonging, develop sustainable self- and collective‑care practices, and cultivate balance throughout their career journey. The material from the curated toolkit serves as a guide for participants in reflecting on their identities and needs while building practical strategies for well‑being, connection, and thriving in academic and personal life.
The second part of the Institute will focus on competency-based assessments in Job Search Preparation & Individual Development Plans. Competency assessments aren’t just for measuring skills and growth. Learn how the CCWT used their evidence-informed instruments to help interns prepare for interviews and develop individual development plans.
Summer Institutes is hosted by the UW-Madison School of Education’s Department of Counseling Psychology and the Office of Professional Learning and Community Education (PLACE). This partnership was made possible by the generosity of the School of Education Dean’s Office.