Goal 3: Outcomes-Focused Academics

Humanities, Interdisciplinary Studies, Natural Sciences and Social Sciences

Deliver a rigorous, practical, well-rounded and supportive academic experience through innovative programs and teaching methods that focus on student success and prepare our students for the workforce and graduate education.

• CAS will collaborate with career services to build a Career Exploration Page for each major that draws on a) market data and b) departmental/program alumni stories. This page would be usable by students, their parents, advisers, and prospective students and would be freely and easily accessible, as well as useful for making study plans and setting career goals. Integration of job skills (“CLAW” competencies) and linkage to job resources (Stepping Blocks) will be prioritized.
  
  
• CAS will create a database of professionals, especially UofM alumni, who could guest lecture, teach practice seminars during intersession, participate in career fairs and mentoring activities, or are willing to let students “shadow” them, as an alternative to internships (which are sometimes unrealistic for students with competing demands on their time).
  
  
• CAS will regularly distribute workforce needs assessments from the city and region to academic units to inform curriculum review and updates. Such updates might include the development of thematic courses around specific workforce needs (i.e. medical humanities, law careers, social justice, journalism, education, literacy, and criminal justice).
  
  
• CAS will collaborate with the Division of Student Academic Success to establish short and long-term strategies to support students experiencing preparedness gaps, including gaps associated with pandemic losses, to enhance the capabilities of our students and College.

Participants for Goal 3 Brainstorming Groups are listed below.

The participants met several times during the 2023 fall semester to collaborate and develop a proposal for actions that was submitted to the dean for final approval.