What is (M)Talent?

What is (M)Talent?

There are three levels of (M)Talent, each with a point threshold and a special challenge. Meet the point requirement to unlock that Impact Challenge, and then earn points for it to receive the awards associated for that level. 

• (M)Talent Maize: 20,000 points; develop a challenge for other students to complete
• (M)Talent Blue: 35,000 points; reflect on the 8 career-ready competencies outlined in the Are You Career-Ready? module
• (M)Talent: 50,000 points; present at the (M)Talent Showcase

Students who achieve the (M)Talent distinction are recognized at graduation as well as on their official transcript. This distinction identifies students who demonstrate the characteristics of an exceptional employee who has gained the professional skills needed to excel in any setting.

What are "Challenges"?

In simplest terms, a Talent Gateway “challenge” is a task – do this thing, think about that, go here – and then answer a variety of questions that prompt students to reflect on how that task impacts their academic, personal, and professional success. By completing these challenges, students gain - and learn to articulate - the soft skills that employers seek in today’s graduates.

Because the Talent Gateway is a web-based, virtual program, students can submit challenges any time, any where. They choose which challenges to work on, charting their own paths of professional development. Submissions are read and responded to by the Talent Ambassadors, who are upperclassmen or graduate students.

Some challenges include: 

• Explore Diversity on Campus
• Career Scan: Informational Interviews
• How Career-Ready Are You?
• Participate in a Co-Op, Internship, or Experiential Learning Opportunity
• Student Organization Leader
• BEST: Creating a Career Action Plan. 

With each challenge submission, students earn points towards the (M)Talent distinction on their official transcript and recognition at graduation. Along the way, as students "level-up", they earn awards and digital badges. For example, by completing the 10K challenge, they earn a Talent Gateway water bottle; by completing a competency capstone challenge, they receive a digital badge.