DEGRESS OF CERTAINTY: LOCAL SCHOOLS BOOST EFFORTS TO PREPARE STUDENTS FOR THE WORKFORCE.

• Author: Caley, Nora
• Position: EDUCATION REPORT

Employers want the whole package in their fresh-from-college hires: young people who can write well, problem-solve, work effectively with a team and have a strong work ethic to boot, according to a recent survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers.

And Colorado colleges and universities aim to give them just that.

"Various sectors have expressed the same desire to have graduates of our program be ready to fit into their companies and their cultures," says Robert Park, Ph.D., director of the Advanced Manufacturing Sciences Institute at Metropolitan State University of Denver, "not just providing them with technical knowledge appropriate for their fields, but soft skills."

For Metro's new Advanced Manufacturing Sciences (AMS) Bachelor of Science degree, students learn machine tool programming and product design, as well as problem-solving, teamwork and leadership. "Our partners are not looking for people coming out of school and saying, 'I learned everything I need to know,'" Park says. "By indicating this is what's happening, this is what you can expect, we are preparing our students accordingly."

Companies are seeking graduates who can critically think, be independent, work efficiently on their own and do not need micromanagement, says Brent Vogel, director of the Center for Career and Professional Development at Regis University. "Employers say, 'Give me students who are polished in those areas, and I can train them in software or sales.'"

Vogel says Regis University offers a core curriculum that encourages students to reflect on social justice issues by analyzing literature or movies through writing exercises, among other ways. Regis also expanded its Health Professions Career Fair and Pharmacy Career Fair and added a virtual career fair where students can log in, click on different "booths" and chat online with employers.

For some students, it's never too early to prepare for the workforce. At Colorado State University, a faculty member worked with the career center to establish a for-credit summer workshop for rising sophomores. Employers offered case studies for the students, who gave presentations at the end of the session. "They took these theories and principles from the academic side of the house and applied them to a real world problem," says Katie Flint, director of Employer Connections and Career Center Operations. "It also fulfilled their advanced writing composition requirement."

Writing skills are important...