Reality Check: Employer's Expectations for New Graduates

Group Discussion Comments (2/5/16)

"Are we obligated to work with employers to ease school-work transition? Who is responsible?"
"Workplace orientations help."
"Is it too late to teach soft skills (in college)? Isn't this really K-12?"
"We should encourage students to explore different career fields early in their college experience. (It may change their minds.)"

"We can help managers understand their roles for training by providing information and resources."
"We should talk with local high schools about the need for soft skills (in work and in college)."
"Work-based activities can be integrated into our classes and services."
"Curriculum should reflect these expectations across programs."
"Better Together is a good central Oregon resource."
"Have students do self-assessments in class or for projects."
"Have students do presentations of work in class."
"Informational interviewing is a useful tool for students (to explore both technical and soft skills requirements in the workplace)."

"Instructors see problems with students' Soft Skills in the classroom too."
"Local employers report these same issues - especially for younger workers."
"Our employers often complain about a lack of work ethic or specifically request a 'strong work ethic' when recruiting."
"Students need to know this."
"Do employers really expect colleges to change student's social behaviors (like addiction to social media)?"
"Teachers have a dilemma. Hold students to high standards, get poor reviews, have lower completion rates and grades, or 'go easy' on students."
"(Emphasizing) Soft skills might hurt completion agenda."
"Because students only take our classes (History) if they have to, or really LOVE history, it's sometimes hard to offer challenging classes."
"How can we (the college) solve these problems? I don't really have an answer."
"We need systemic changes if we are going to make a difference. (Like the "Drop Delete" policy.)"
"Employers are having a hard time finding people with good STEM skills also. They have to hire outside (of state and country)."
"The completion rate of STEM classes in high school is very low. (2%?)"
"Internships have had a big effect on our graduates' success (in Engineering & Science)."
"Students who need these (soft skills) most may not take liberal arts classes."

"Could we develop a list of suggested "Soft Skills" classes that students should take for the advisors?"
"Hold students to deadlines and schedules in classes."
"Pairing up older students with work experience with younger students in class, labs, study groups, etc. to share work culture values."
"Encourage students to go outside of class for resources to complete homework and projects. Use primary sources, not secondary."
"Share this presentation with the Advising Council."
"Let the administration know about this relative to the Completion Agenda and retention."
"Make this presentation to the deans."
"Please post the research."