"Professionalism Basics" students during class. Photo/Kelli Anderson

UC turns 1819 Esports Lab into launchpad for IT careers

Professionalism Basics teaches skills to ace the co-op interview

By Stephen Kenney Email Stephen

5 minute read November 20, 2025

The information technology job market is tough, but University of Cincinnati students hold a critical advantage.

The school’s College of Cooperative Education and Professional Studies recently launched Professionalism Basics, a fast-paced class that sharpens the skills that help IT students secure co-ops and internships. It’s designed for students who want results, not just interviews.

The class doesn’t happen in a typical space. It unfolds inside UC’s Esports Innovation Lab, a 5,500-square-foot space in the 1819 Innovation Hub that reflects the university’s direction. With 40 high-end gaming stations, a livestreaming booth and a community lounge, the lab is central to 1819, where Cincinnati’s next wave of talent and industry is being shaped.

Even in a challenging job market, UC students continue to grow, adapt and earn elite co-ops. Professionalism Basics gives IT-focused Bearcats the momentum they need to succeed in UC’s nationally acclaimed co-op program.

Championing co-ops

Kelli Anderson headshot. Photo/Kelli Anderson

Students in UC’s School of Information Technology must complete three to five co-ops, which makes early preparation critical. Professionalism Basics was created to satisfy that need.

Professor Kelli Anderson says the one-hour elective focuses on “perfecting resumes, preparing for interviews, applying to a broad range of positions related to their major and networking.”

Students who want help with accountability, time management or a process-driven path find it here. Many describe the class, co-led by Anderson and Rich Hoyt, as a breath of fresh air during the often-stressful application season.

UC has long committed itself to career readiness. U.S. News & World Report ranks the university fourth in the nation for co-ops and internships, and this class shows how UC keeps that reputation alive. Students don’t just get prepared; they discover clear next steps for life beyond campus.

Esports lab expertise

The Esports Innovation Lab is one of UC’s most energetic learning spaces, giving students the chance to collaborate, compete and build community. Bearcat gamers and UC Esports Club members enjoy access to, among others:

Fortnite
League of Legends
Marvel Rivals
Overwatch
Valorant

But the lab offers more than gaming. It’s a modern environment where students learn through teamwork, communication and hands-on problem-solving. It also showcases how 1819 complements UC’s academic experience by blending innovation with real-world relevance.

During the first half of the semester, Professionalism Basics met in the lab’s community lounge for discussions and group activities. In the second half, students rotated through mock interviews and used the lab’s computers to work through each stage of the job search.

We wanted to expose our students to a space that allowed them to think differently.

Kelli Anderson, UC College of Cooperative Education and Professional Studies

“We wanted to expose our students to a space that allowed them to think differently,” Anderson says. “1819’s Esports Innovation Lab has such a collaborative vibe … We were also excited to open their eyes to the possibilities technology brings.”

Next lives at 1819

Anderson views the class as “another step toward living out UC’s Next Lives Here goals,” giving students an innovative and supportive way to develop their skills. They leave with interview experience, networking confidence and guidance from professors passionate about their success.

Students from the class in the 1819 Esports Innovation Lab. Photo/Kelli Anderson

And the class setting at 1819 brings something rare. The Innovation Hub is home to startup founders, AI innovators and leaders from companies like Procter & Gamble, Microsoft and U.S. Bank. Encounters with industry giants happen naturally at 1819, and the class will integrate these opportunities even more in the 2026 semester. It’s another sign that 1819 is becoming central to UC’s strategy and to Cincinnati’s growing innovation landscape.

No matter where students’ connections come from, Professionalism Basics keeps the focus on helping Bearcats land co-ops and internships with confidence. Anderson believes in the course and in the students taking it. “Our goal,” she says, “is that the combination of everything we teach, and the planned actions students take throughout the semester, will eventually get them hired.”

Featured image at top: "Professionalism Basics" students during class. Photo/Kelli Anderson

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