FloridaACE 2026

Large-scale career fairs can be exciting—but also overwhelming—for students navigating high expectations, crowded environments, and performance pressure. This 30-minute roundtable will explore an innovative Standard Operating Procedure: the Care Spotter Team model implemented at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University during the Spring Career Fair and Fall Career EXPO. Participants will learn how cross-campus collaboration between the Center for Career and Professional Development, the ERAU Counseling Center, and trained Eagle-2-Eagle peer supporters creates a proactive response system for students experiencing mental health events or physical distress.

The discussion will outline identification protocols, peer-to-peer de-escalation strategies, escort procedures, and the implementation of a “Rest & Re-Set Room” equipped with calming resources and on-site professional staff. Attendees will engage in dialogue about staffing models, training considerations, risk management, and scalable implementation strategies. This session is ideal for institutions seeking to intentionally integrate well-being, belonging, and student-centered care into high-impact recruiting events.

As early-career hiring continues to evolve, employers and career development professionals are seeing shifts in interview expectations, candidate readiness, and communication skills. This roundtable will examine what employers currently seek in early-career talent, the interview questions being used across industries, and how students are performing in real-world interview settings. Participants will explore emerging student strengths, common challenges and habits that hinder interview success, and practical strategies institutions and employer partners can use to better prepare students for today's hiring landscape. Emphasis will be placed on collaboration between career services and employer relations teams to align student preparation with workforce expectations and support stronger interview outcomes for the next generation of talent.

Today's career decision making process is influenced by rapidly changing labor markets, competitive academic environments, and societal pressure to achieve. These factors may intensify student stress, burnout, and self doubt which directly shape how students select majors, engage in career exploration, and build professional identities. This roundtable will examine the deeply interconnected relationship between student well-being and career development in higher education. Career development professionals play a significant role in creating environments that support not only student career success but also student career wellbeing. By focusing more on building a supportive career development, higher education institutions can help this next generation navigate their paths with confidence, clarity, and resilience.The session invites participants to collectively rethink advising practices, program design, and collaboration strategies that contribute to a supportive career development ecosystem. Through shared dialogue, participants will explore approaches that emphasize balance, purpose, and student well-being related to the career decision-making process.

Student employment is one of the most accessible and scalable ways to engage students, yet it is often underutilized as a tool for career development. This interactive roundtable invites participants to explore how campus jobs can be intentionally designed to support career readiness, skill development, and long-term success. Through guided discussion, attendees will share current challenges, exchange ideas, and identify practical strategies to move student employment beyond transactional work experiences. Whether your institution has a centralized or decentralized model, participants will leave with actionable insights to better align student employment with career outcomes and enhance the overall student experience.

As AI becomes a foundational workforce skill, institutions must find ways to integrate practical AI experiences across all majors-not just technical fields. This roundtable explores how vibe Coding, a no-code, prompt-driven approach to building AI-powered tools, can be embedded into any course using the Base44. Participants will discuss strategies for incorporating AI skill-building into diverse disciplines, enabling students to move from ideas to functional prototypes-such as portfolios, business tools, or class-specific applications-without prior coding experience.This interactive session will engage attendees through guided prompts, peer discussion, and collaborative brainstorming to identify opportunities and challenges within their own courses. Participants will leave with practical ideas, adaptable frameworks, and strategies to integrate AI-driven learning into their curriculum, enhancing student engagement, creativity, and career readiness outcomes across disciplines.

Wellness in the Workplace is an interactive 30-minute roundtable designed for employers, career professionals, and organizational leaders committed to cultivating healthy, human-centered work environments. Together, we will explore how companies are supporting employee wellbeing through meaningful initiatives, ranging from mental health benefits and flexible work structures to creative perks that promote balance, belonging, and resilience. Participants will share current practices, discuss evolving employee expectations, and examine how wellness directly influences engagement, retention, and organizational culture. The session will also highlight how career professionals can empower students to prioritize wellbeing during the job search and evaluate employer wellness offerings. Attendees will leave with actionable ideas and a deeper understanding of how to integrate wellness principles into both workplace strategy and career development support.