STRATEGIC PLANNING COMMITTEE

FOCUS GROUP SUMMARY

DATE: April 5, 1999
TIME: 12:00 Noon
PLACE: CMU 208
FACILITATOR: Wade Swenson
NOTETAKER: Michelle Redepenning

STRATEGIC GOAL: Careers

          MSU will develop career sensitive education:

                   -Diversity

                   -Global Marketplace

                   -Collaborating Opportunities

1. Assessment of MSU's performance regarding the career goal?

-Student internships that expand opportunities

-Training students, how well do we communicate that to the Community

-Ex: NDSU research shows that _ % get jobs

-Question on how to find job opportunities

-Mentoring from advisor/faculty

-Need someone to talk to-career services may not be the best place

-Link between students, community, & business is the faculty

-Better at career advising than course advising

-Lack of enthusiasm of university feed back from students is lacking

2.     How could career preparation be improved

-1 credit course in career preparation talk about issues all at once Career & Business class to go interview those in your field

-Websites of Departments to answer questions and do some advising (uniform effort)

-Technology used to aid in career preparation

-Liberal Studies unnecessary for a career/job that a student comes to MSU for

-Not enough time in college to decide what they really want to do

3.     Barriers of Career Preparation

-Liberal Studies requirements that are not pertaining to the major

-How it will help in you major

-Find another way to get students to understand why they must take Liberal Studies

-Reverse effect of using "Liberal Studies" and how we advertise that, as opposed to how other universities require it as well

-Allowing freshman to declare a major

-Pressure from legislature to graduate in 4 years

-Need more communication skills & leadership roles rather than just what is in your major

*Change between goals of Dr. Barden and Dr. Dille that has not been communicated

4.     How can MSU excel in terms of liberal studies

-Language we use, well grounded education

-That employers are looking for well-rounded students (w/communication skills and leadership)

-Why use liberal studies vs. General Education easier for diploma not just succeeding in careers

-Interpersonal skills between faculty & students

5.     Excel in Professional Programs

-Good things happen to graduates and we need to promote that in more (newspapers)

-Goal of Student (or Graduate) Contact

-Recommendation of Additional Goals

-Term "Liberal Studies" may need to be reconsidered back

-Survey of asking students why they're here Ex. Go to NDSU for a professional career

-Just using the words?are we reaching students regarding career goals

-More specific communication of MSU to the community

Other Goals:

Goal 4 Technology- How to we compete? On line courses, nontraditional Students-ITV-CD ROM- Internet-Accommodate people

-Target programs that could meet once a week, total online

-Quick degree program (University of Mary)

-Assessments of Students, what they know and learn and the potential employers

-NDSU keeps in contact with graduates about current job openings

-Database a job listings

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