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Most college students don’t feel prepared for work after graduation, but OC students do

Although 66 percent of college students feel they are unprepared for the workforce after college, Oklahoma Christian University works to prepare their students through projects, internships and career services.

A Gallup News study found 53 percent of college students believe their major will lead to a good job, and only 34 percent strongly agree they will graduate with the knowledge and skills they need to be successful in the job market.

According to a Twitter poll, 76 percent of 29 Oklahoma Christian students believe they possess the skills and knowledge they need to be successful after college.

The Gallup study said raising this percentage is important, due to the high cost of college and the fact 88 percent of college freshman say getting a good job is the main reason they enrolled in college.

“Encouraging faculty and staff to initiate conversations with students about potential career options may expose students to ideas and career options they had not previously considered, while perhaps also helping faculty to understand how they can make more direct links between students’ coursework and their future careers,” Gallup News said.

Don Leftwich, chair of the department of mathematical, computer and information science, said the mathematical and computer science programs work to make the courses directly relevant to what students will be doing in the workforce.

“At the senior level, we offer courses where our students are working very much as they will in the job force,” Leftwich said. “They’re on teams, working with real companies and doing real projects. I think it’s very helpful.”

According to Leftwich, the senior projects give Oklahoma Christian students an advantage, because they are able to see how things work outside of an academic setting. Companies they have worked with include Hobby Lobby and PayCom.

In order to meet real-world requirements, Leftwich said the companies’ employees visit campus and talk about requirements for the project.

“It’s up to our students to try to fulfill those in a corporate kind of a way, which is a different experience than just doing a problem out of a book or something we may have assigned as a classroom experience,” Leftwich said. “It lets local companies and large companies get to know our students and know what they can bring to the table. It’s a two-way street—it’s a benefit for our students and the companies. They’re able to make connections they may not otherwise be able to make.”

The senior projects enable students to use the same tools businesses use, and this helps keep the computer science department up to date with those kinds of applications, Leftwich said. In addition, Leftwich said the departments encourage their students to do internships, because of all the opportunities for both mathematics and computer science majors available in the workforce today. He said these internships often lead to jobs.

“American Fidelity insurance will take two or three of our students every year and plug them into an internship, which in many cases leads directly to a job,” Leftwich said. “That has happened several times—because of the projects we do at the senior level, students get connected to employers that are looking for students who know what they’re doing.”

Leftwich said he encourages his students to take advantage of the Career Services office on campus with Director Candace Owens. Owens helps students with resumes and interview skills, and organizes career fairs every fall and spring.

“Multiple times every year, she brings companies to campus to do meet and greet kinds of things,” Leftwich said. “She’s constantly providing those kinds of opportunities and we really encourage our students to take advantage of those when they come up.”

The demand for their skillset benefits computer science majors in their search for a job, Leftwich said. He said the kind of student Oklahoma Christian produces gives them an additional advantage.

“Our students are trustworthy, ethical and they’re going to show up on time and do what’s expected,” Leftwich said. “They’re not going to try to cheat or do anything that will get them into trouble. It’s rare when a computer science student doesn’t have something lined up when they graduate. And it might not be what they end up doing forever, but it’s a good start.”

According to the Gallup study, only 40 percent of liberal arts majors are confident their degree will lead to a good job. However, David Crismon, professor of art and design, said he believes art degrees might also give an advantage in the workforce.

“How would you prepare for a future where automation and AI may replace you?” Crismon said. “I teach three things—adapt, think and create from abroad base of knowledge and know how to make stuff from start to finish.”

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