Posted on 10/15/2021 6:45:46 AM PDT by karpov
Although there is no shortage of college graduates, a degree alone, unfortunately, does not guarantee students learned anything of substance while in college. The grade point averages listed at the top of many graduates’ resumes aren’t always reflective of students’ actual academic capabilities. University classes, particularly in the humanities, have become increasingly watered-down, making students’ “A-plus” grades virtually meaningless.
It’s no wonder employers have expressed concern about whether colleges adequately prepare students for the workforce.
According to a 2021 report by the Association of American Colleges and Universities, 60 percent of surveyed employers said that “critical thinking skills” is “very important,” but only 39 percent reported that recent graduates are well-prepared in this area. Similarly, 56 percent of employers consider “application of knowledge/skills in real-world settings” to be very important, but only 39 percent thought recent graduates were able to perform this task well. And 17 percent of employers below age 40 report having “very little confidence” in higher education.
Of course, employers aren’t the only ones who miss out when colleges fail to produce knowledgeable graduates. Many students and their families make significant financial sacrifices in order to finance a college education. The average federal loan borrower, for example, owes $36,510.
Unless held accountable, colleges will likely continue to charge high prices for a substandard education. What can be done?
Some have proposed the use of a college exit exam, a standardized test that students must take before graduating. The Tennessee Board of Regents, for example, requires students who attend its 40 community and technical colleges to take an exit exam, the ETS Proficiency Profile, as a condition of graduation.
(Excerpt) Read more at jamesgmartin.center ...
I’m sure someone would find that to be raciss
Any such test will be deemed "racist" and dropped.
I am sure there are multiple lawsuits against the Tennessee test that label it as "racist."
And the anti-testers will win, as they have against tests such as the SAT that (according to them) "only test how well one takes tests."
Can't wait until the military drops the ASVAB test (also deemed as racist) - they'll then have to assign any recruit anywhere, including maintaining the high tech equipment. That ought to go over well...
Sounds like a pretty stupid idea all in all.
It’s one of those progressive ideas to coverup for a series of bad ideas.
Do career planning first. Choose a career, then talk to people in that career and ask them what kind of training is needed to do well in that career. If college is required, they're the ones that know which degrees/universities/majors are for real and which ones are a joke.
No.
Not to mention that at exit time it’s way to late in the process. Nobody creates a major project without some milestone measurement, a 4 year college degree is a pretty big project.
no
Those making hiring decisions need to have knowledge themselves and the ability to evaluate others. That is quite different than taking some test what was devised by people who do not do. They make tests for a living.
Until colleges have a complete overhaul to return them to being educational institutions instead of indoctrination centers, nothing will change.
Can you imagine the number of modifiers for your final score?
Besides the obvious ones, there would likely be an academic counsel looking over your courses, judging your ‘worthiness’ and ‘value’.
Eliminating all HR personnel and letting managers of their respective fields do the hiring is what is needed.
no, even an all day test cannot cover 4 years of information and skills. I doubt those hiring know the information they need. Often times the only thing important to those hiring is to know how to say “yes sir” to any stupid request. That is the way to climb the ladder.
Solving the wrong problem
No. An exit exam or certification exam sort of thing is for a practical skill (be it welding or project management). Fine for its purpose.
College is for teaching people scientific and general inquiry and the means and methods of *how* to think, question, reason, and debate.
Since it’s completely infested by those that only want to inculcate *what* to think, the institution is corrupt and ruined for any purpose whatsoever.
The problem isn’t with unqualified graduates. The problem is with unqualified applicants.
Nope. As long as government is the major player in education, the left will be in charge.
No!
In computer science and IT degrees, they are called industry certifications.
I find most worthless degree programs follow the instruction method of “read and comment”. A reading of some type is assigned and then there is a required group chat participation or written paper due. Very little testing or actual performance requirement such as a lab or an industry certification.
That is why I switched over to WGU for my degree program. In order to pass many of the classes, your grade depends on your ability to pass the corresponding certification. For example, to pass the Linux class, you have to get your Linux certification.
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