optimistic about the future, but how well prepared? college students' views on college learning...

Optimistic About the Future, But How Well Prepared?

College Students’ Views on College Learning and Career Success

Key findings from survey among 400 employers and 613 college students conducted in November and December 2014

for The Association of American Colleges and Universities by Hart Research Associates

Methodology Online survey among 613 college students, all within a year of

obtaining a degree or, in the case of two-year students, transferring to a four-year college Sample includes 304 students at four-year public colleges, 151

students at four-year private colleges, and 158 students at two-year colleges

Online survey among 400 executives at private-sector and nonprofit organizations that have 25 or more employees Each reports that 25% or more of their new hires hold an

associate degree from a two-year college or a bachelor’s degree from a four-year college

2

Doing well in college and getting a good job are students’ top current goals.

23%

41%

44%

52%

53%

64%

67%

82%

85%

Very important* goal for me today

(all students)

Doing well in college

Getting a good job

Friendships/social connections

Making a difference by helping others

Being informed about news in the United States

Making my community a better place to live

Voting in elections

Being informed about news outside the US

Being involved politically

College is helping a lot/fair amountin this area

78%

74%

61%

53%

43%

49%

35%

42%

32%

3

*8, 9, 10 ratings on zero-to-10 scale, 10 = very important

Nearly two in three students are confident that they will be able to get a job that fits with their interests.

(all students)

Job prospects for recent college graduates in today’s economy:

Confidence that I will be able to get a job after I graduate from college:

Confidence that I will be able to get a job that fits with my interests and goals after I graduate from college:

Excellent/good

Poor/just fair

Very/fairly confident

Not at all/just somewhat confident

Ex 10%

Poor 13%

Very 34%

Not6%

Very 28%

Not 8%

54%

46%

73%

27%

65%

35%

Very/fairly confident

Not at all/just somewhat confident

4

More than three in five students believe that it takes BOTH specific knowledge/skills and broad knowledge/skills to achieve long-term career success.

15%

63%

22%

Which is more important for recent college graduates to have who want to pursue advancement and long-term career success when they enter the workforce?

Knowledge and skills that apply to a specific

field or position

Range of knowledge and skills that apply to a range

of fields or positions

Both field-specific and broad range of knowledge and skills

(all students)

SpecificBothRange

Four-year

public13%65%22%

Students by type of college

Four-year

private10%71%19%

Two-year25%50%25%

5

Students embrace a broad set of college learning goals, especially learning how to solve problems with people of different views.

36%

32%

39%

44%

65%

Strongly agree Somewhat agree

All college students should have educational experiences that teach them how to solve problems with people whose views are different from their own

All college students should gain intercultural skills and an understanding of societies and countries outside the United States

Every college student should take courses that build the civic knowledge, skills, and judgment essential for contributing to our democratic society

All college students should gain an understanding of democratic institutions and values

Every college student should acquire broad knowledge in the liberal arts and sciences

94%

87%

86%

85%

83%

6

Employers whostrongly/

somewhat agree

96%

78%

86%

87%

78%

(all students)

Large majorities of students deem broad, cross-cutting outcomes as very important.

68%

69%

71%

73%

73%

74%

75%

77%

78%

79%

79%Critical/analytical thinking

Applying knowledge/ skills to real world

Oral communication

Working effectively with others in teams

Written communication

Ethical judgment and decision-making

Analyzing/solving complex problems

Locating, organizing, evaluating information

Analyzing/solving problems with people from different

backgroundsBeing innovative/creative

Staying current on technologies

Proportions of students rating each skill/knowledge area as very important* for recent college graduates to have in order to be successful in the workplace


7

Fewer students rank other college learning outcomes as important.

35%

46%

49%

49%

55%

58%Awareness of/experience

with diverse cultures within the US

Working with numbers/statistics

Staying current on global developments, trends

Staying current on developments in science

Awareness of/experience with diverse cultures outside

of the US

Proficiency in language other than English

Proportions of students rating each skill/knowledge area as very important* for recent college graduates to have in order to be successful in the workplace


8

Students say their colleges have communicated with them about expected learning outcomes, opportunities for applied learning, and employer expectations.

Proportions of students saying their college has communicated with them about each

Required courses outside their major, distribution requirements

Specific skills/knowledge they are expected to develop in their major

Educational aims/outcomes of distribution requirements outside their major

Specific skills/knowledge the college aims for every graduate to achieve

Opportunities to apply skills/knowledge in real-world settings

Skills/knowledge employers are looking for in recent graduates

How to effectively communicate your knowledge/skills to potential employers

Allstudents

89%

82%

81%

77%

76%

69%

68%

Four-yearprivate

91%

89%

82%

83%

86%

70%

74%

Four-yearpublic

90%

84%

82%

75%

74%

72%

70%

Two-year

84%

72%

76%

75%

69%

63%

58%

By type of college/university

9

Students recognize that employers are more likely to consider hiring recent college graduates who have completed an applied or project-based learning experience.

23%

30%

36%

31%

38%

46%

Proportions of students saying employers are much/somewhat more likely to consider hiring a recent college graduate if they have had this experience, completed this course:

Internship/apprenticeship with company/organization

Senior project demonstrating problem-solving, knowledge,

research, communication

Field project in diverse community with people from different background/culture

Service-learning project with community organization

Research project done collaboratively with peers

Multiple courses involving significant writing

Study abroad program

95%

89%

87%

85%

82%

76%

71%

Much more likely 69%

(Four-year private 84%, four-year public 70%, two-year 53%)

10

Students’ participation in applied and project-based learning experiences varies by the type of institution they attend.

Proportions of students saying they have done/are doing each before getting their degree

Collaborative research project with other students

Internship/apprenticeship with company or organization

Advanced, comprehensive senior project that requires demonstrated depth of knowledge in major and acquisition of research, problem-solving, and communication skills

Community-based or service-learning project with community organization

Field-based project in diverse community setting with people of different culture/background

Study abroad program for semester/longer


Four-yearprivate

72%

61%

56%

56%

39%

21%

Four-yearpublic

65%

42%

42%

41%

27%

15%

Two-year

39%

21%

27%

23%

19%

15%

11

When we include those who plan to participate in applied/ project-based learning before graduation, differences are minimal.Proportions of students saying they have done/are doing or plan to do each before getting their degree

Advanced, comprehensive senior project that requires demonstrated depth of knowledge in major and acquisition of research, problem-solving, and communication skills

Collaborative research project with other students

Internship/apprenticeship with company or organization

Community-based or service-learning project with community organization

Field-based project in diverse community setting with people of different culture/background

Study-abroad program for semester/longer


Four-yearprivate

86%

85%

81%

72%

58%

31%

Four-yearpublic

78%

83%

76%

63%

50%

31%

Two-year

76%

79%

84%

72%

64%

52%

12

0.74

0.64

How well is your college/university doing in ensuring that graduates possess the full set of skills and knowledge that they will need for success in this?

Doing good job

Improvements are needed

Major 4%

Moderate16%

Minor 6%

26%

Doing good job

Improvements are needed

36%

Entry-level positions after graduating Advancement/promotion in the workforce

Major 6%

Moderate20%

Minor 10%

Most students think their college is doing a good job ensuring that graduates gain the skills/knowledge needed for success.

13

Majorities of students feel their college prepared them well in 11 of the 17 learning outcomes tested.

55%

55%

57%

59%

59%

62%

62%

64%

64%

65%

66%Critical/analytical thinking




Oral communication

Ethical judgment and decision-making

Applying knowledge/ skills to real worldAnalyzing/solving

complex problems

Being innovative/creative

Ability to work with numbers/statistics

Analyzing/solving prob-lems with people from different backgrounds

Proportions of students rating themselves as having been well prepared* by their college in each skill/knowledge area

*8, 9, 10 ratings on zero-to-10 scale, 10 = very well prepared

14

Fewer students feel their colleges prepared them well in the six remaining areas.

34%

42%

43%

44%

46%

48%Awareness of/experience

with diverse cultures within the US


Staying current on developments in science

Staying current on global developments, trends

Awareness of/experience with diverse cultures

outside of the US

Proficiency in language other than English

Proportions of students rating themselves as having been well prepared* by their college in each skill/knowledge area

*8, 9, 10 ratings on zero-to-10 scale, 10 = very well prepared

15

Some notable variations in students’ evaluation of their preparedness emerge by type of institution.

Critical/analytical thinkingWritten communicationWorking effectively with others in teamsLocating, organizing, evaluating informationOral communicationEthical judgment and decision-makingApplying knowledge/skills to real worldAnalyzing/solving complex problemsBeing innovative/creativeAbility to work with numbers/statisticsAnalyzing/solving problems with people from different backgroundsAwareness of/experience with diverse cultures within the USStaying current on technologiesStaying current on developments in scienceStaying current on global developments, trendsAwareness of/experience with diverse cultures outside of the USProficiency in language other than English

Proportions of students rating themselves as having been well prepared (8-10 on zero-to-ten scale) by their college in each skill/knowledge area

Four-yearprivate college

78%73%70%77%70%69%66%67%62%53%63%55%46%43%44%45%37%

Four-yearpublic college

66%66%65%65%61%66%59%59%57%57%55%48%51%46%44%43%34%

Two-yearcollege

56%58%55%52%56%50%51%53%53%56%48%39%40%41%38%36%31%

16

Employers give college graduates lower scores for preparedness across learning outcomes than current students give themselves.

57%

66%

65%

55%

62%

64%

62%

46%

64%

25%

26%

27%

28%

28%

29%

30%

37%

37%

Employers Students

Proportions who believe they/recent college graduates are well prepared in each area*

*8-10 ratings on zero-to-ten scale



Ethical judgment and decisionmaking


Oral communication

Working with numbers/ statistics


Critical/analytical thinking

Being innovative/creative

(continued)

17

Employers give college graduates lower scores for preparedness across learning outcomes than current students give themselves.

42%

34%

43%

55%

44%

48%

59%

59%

15%

16%

18%

18%

21%

21%

23%

24%

Employers Students

Proportions who believe they/recent college graduates are well prepared in each area*

(continued)

Analyzing/solving complex problems

Applying knowledge/ skills to real world

Awareness of/experience with diverse cultures/

communities in the USStaying current on

developments in science

Working with people from different backgrounds

Staying current on global developments/trends

Proficient in other language

Awareness of/experience with diverse cultures

outside the US*8-10 ratings on zero-to-ten scale

18