Liberal Arts: Many Paths, Endless Possibilities

NACADA Annual Conference

October 2014

Andy Armstrong & Vince Hernandez

©2014 Hernandez & Armstrong

What We’ll Cover

• Perceptions of Liberal Arts Education

• Success Stories

• Mobility of a Liberal Arts education

• Strategies to Help Students Help Themselves

• Scenarios

Perceptions of Liberal Arts

I’ve Heard That Before….

• “My parents said……”

• “Will I even get a real job?”

• “I can make more money in…”

• “I don’t want to be a teacher.”

Negative Media Reports:

Gerber, S. (2012, September 24). How Liberal Arts Colleges Are Failing America. Retrieved fromhttp://finance.yahoo.com/news/liberal-arts-colleges-failing-america-154056435.html

Negative Media Reports:

Fottrell, Q. (2014, May 21). (More) bad news for liberal arts majors. Retrieved from http://www.marketwatch.com/story/more-bad-news-for-liberal-arts-majors-2014-05-21

Negative Media Reports:

Driscoll, E. (2012, January 27). What is a Liberal Arts Degree Worth These Days? Retrieved from http://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/2012/01/27/what-is-liberal-arts-degree-worth-these-days/

If They Can Do It, So Can You!

It’s Not All Linear

Hidden Gems:With a few suggestions…

Giang, V. (2013, August 29). Liberal Arts Majors Need These 8 Skills To Get Ahead. Retrieved from http://finance.yahoo.com/news/liberal-arts-majors-8-skills-155700319.html

Koba, M. (23, April 15). Why Businesses Prefer a Liberal Arts Education. Retrieved from http://www.cnbc.com/id/100642178

An Association of American Colleges & Universities (AAC&U) survey results:

• 95% hiring preference is given to innovation in the workplace

• 93% prefer a demonstrated capacity to think critically, communicate clearly, andSolve complex problems over an applicant’s undergraduate degree

• 74% recommend the AAC&U definition of a liberal arts education;

Source: It Takes More than a Major: Employer Priorities for College Learning and Student Success. 2013. Washington, DC: Association of American Colleges and Universities and Hart Research Associates.

Source: It Takes More than a Major: Employer Priorities for College Learning and Student Success. 2013. Washington, DC: Association of American Colleges and Universities and Hart Research Associates.

Strategies to Help Students Market Themselves

Pope, J. (2012, December 30). Liberal arts colleges forced to evolve with market. Retrieved from http://news.yahoo.com/liberal-arts-colleges-forced-evolve-market-154449347.html

Strategies to Help Students Market Themselves

Source: How Liberal Arts and Science Majors Fare in Employment

Strategies to Help Students Market Themselves

Suggested coursework:• STEM classes, including “Bid Data analytics”• Internships• Business and Economics courses• Theater Arts, specifically communication skills• Professional writing skills• Leadership studies

Grant, K. (2013, August 13). Six college courses that help grads land jobs. Retrieved from http://www.cnbc.com/id/100642178

Strategies to Help Students Market Themselves

Moton, Tony. (2014, July 1). The One Thing That Could Save Your Liberal ArtsDegree. Retrieved from http://www.university.com/saving_a_liberal_arts_degree/

Suggested programs:• Master’s in Business Administration (MBA)• Master’s in Health Care Administration (MHA)• Master’s in Psychology and Counseling• Master’s in Education Administration

Strategies to Help Students Market Themselves

Sharpen Career Focus

Know How To Articulate Skills

Supplement Skill Set As Needed

BE PROUD! BE PASSIONATE!

Adapted from Hansen, K., "Ten Ways to Market your Liberal Arts Degree" and McMullen, L., "4 Tips or Making the Most of Liberal Arts Degrees."

• Connection with Former Students

• High Impact Practices

• Seminars

• Career Center

• Intro Courses into the Major

• Outreach to Prospective Students

Opportunities We Currently Use

WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

• A student, comes to visit and is considering changing their major out of your Liberal Arts program because they do not believe they will be able to enter a career that he/she will be happy with both personally and professionally.

QUESTIONS?

Resources• Brooks, K. (2009). You majored in what? New York: Penguin Group.

• Driscoll, E. (2012). What is a liberal arts degree worth these days? Retrieved on September 2, 2014 from

http://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/2012/01/27/what-is-liberal-arts-degree-worth-these-days/.

• Fottrell, Q. (2014). (More) bad news for liberal arts majors. Retrieved September 2, 2014 from

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/more-bad-news-for-liberal-arts-majors-2014-05-21.

• Gerber, S. (2012). How liberal arts colleges are failing America. Retrieved on September 2, 2014 from

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/liberal-arts-colleges-failing-america-154056435.html.

• Giang, V. (2013). Liberal arts majors need these 8 skills to get ahead. Retrieved on September 2, 2014 from

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/liberal-arts-majors-8-skills-155700319.html.

• Grant, K. (2013). Six college courses that help grads land jobs. Retrieved on September 2, 2014 from

http://www.cnbc.com/id/100642178.

• Hansen, K. (n.d.). "Ten ways to market your liberal arts degree." Retrieved on October 11, 2013 from

http://www.quintcareers.com/marketing_liberal-arts_degrees.html.

• Humphreys, D., Kelly, P. (2013). How liberal arts and sciences majors fare in employment: A report on earning and long-term career paths. Retrieved on September 21, 2014 from http://www.aacu.org/nchems-report.

• It Takes More than a Major: Employer Priorities for College Learning and Student Success. 2013. Retrieved on September 2, 2014 from

http://www.aacu.org/leap/presidentstrust/compact/2013SurveySummary.

• Koba, M. (2013). Why Businesses Prefer a Liberal Arts Education. Retrieved on September 2, 2014 from http://www.cnbc.com/id/100642178.

• McMullen, L. (2011). “4 Tips for Making the Most of Liberal Arts Degrees." US News & World Report. Retrieved on October 11, 2013 from http://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/articles/2011/10/28/4-tips-for-making-the-most-of-liberal-arts-degrees.

• Moton, T. (2014). The One Thing That Could Save Your Liberal Arts Degree. Retrieved on September 2, 2014 from http://www.university.com/saving_a_liberal_arts_degree/.

• Pope, J. (2012). Liberal arts colleges forced to evolve with market. Retrieved on September 2, 2014 from

http://news.yahoo.com/liberal-arts-colleges-forced-evolve-market-154449347.html.

Vince HernandezSenior Academic Advisor II

Marco L. ValadezSenior Academic Advisor I

Andy ArmstrongDirector of Advising

College of Liberal Arts