I’ve written in the past about the false dichotomy between a liberal arts undergraduate education and knowledge needed in the “real world” of work. Many wise leaders of industry know that the talent that their successors must excel at critical thinking, self-study, reflection, and synthesis of diverse facts. Fortunately, these are a key focus in a liberal arts education.
In contrast to vocational educational programs, however, a liberal arts undergraduate sometimes experiences a stark transition to the culture of business or, more generally, to the work of work.
We are blessed at Georgetown with thousands of alumni who have made the transition from a liberal arts degree into that world. Some of them have interviewed new Georgetown graduates for positions in their organizations. Unfortunately, they think our graduates are better than the impressions they give in interviews. Given the devotion to “men and women for others,” they want to help.
A great new program has been announced for all Georgetown students called Hoya Gateway (http://hoyagateway.georgetown.edu/p/main/about).
A set of volunteer alumni are giving their time to participate in informational interviews, to review draft resumés, and do mock interviews with students. Alumni create a profile for students, which lists their current professional and educational experience. The program matches students and alumni to maximize the value of the interchange to the student.
The program is designed to act as a bridge for students to learn new language and new behaviors that aren’t common to many of the interactions on Georgetown’s campus. It can provide insight into how to portray the value to a job of experiences from classes and extracurricular activities at Georgetown. It can help tailor resumé language to the needs of the job in question. It can give practical skills of how to deal with a deliberately challenging question from a job interviewer. It can help a graduate learn how to stay calm and describe his/her potential value as an employee.
Maybe most importantly, when the alumnus/alumna has deep knowledge of a firm or industry, the program can supply the graduate with key insights into the relevant history and current issues in the field. For a young graduate, the ability to interact with someone in the industry who wants to help them is a real gift.
The very existence of the program is a testament of the commitment of Georgetown alumni to their fellow Hoyas. The gift that it offers to young graduates can be priceless.
Dr. Groves has explained eloquently why a liberal education is and will always be relevant and important in the lives and careers of Georgetown graduates. In addition, the University does a good job providing students (especially undergrads) with internships and an increasing number of programs that puts them in touch with alumni, and which help them choosing a career and securing a job. Many applicants state that one of the main reasons they chose GU is that it provides “real life experience” and “a combination of theory and practice.” In terms curricula and course offerings the University also generally does a good job providing a pre-professional education.
However, there are gaps in courses offered that a quite noticeable. Examples of courses that are presently not offered at the undergraduate level but if offered could help students choose a career and obtain a job are as follows:
An increasing number of graduates go on to work of non-profit and non-governmental organizations. Yet there is no course offered at the undergraduate level in this field. Similarly, many students start their own enterprises, yet there is no undergrad course offered in starting up enterprises and managing small businesses. MBS could offer such courses and open them up to all undergrads. Also, the Economics Department does not offer a course in Managerial Economics. Many GU students have traditionally gone into state and local politics or worked for state and local governments. Yet there is no undergrad course offered in state and local government or in urban and municipal government. The field of biotechnology is a hot one, yet the Biology Dept. does not offer any undergrad course in that field at a time when even high schools do so. The Computer Science Dept. offers few applied courses that would be of interest to student non-majors. A planned course in computer graphics to be offered in Fall 2013 is a step in the right direction. Many GU graduates go into public service, yet there is no undergrad course offered in Public Management/Administration. Such courses could be offered by the Government Dept. and be open to all undergrads. New media and communication is a rapidly changing field, yet there is no course offered in communication at the undergrad level. Courses in this field could be offered by the English Dept, to complement its offerings in Journalism. Etc.
Adding such courses would make Georgetown more competitive. Obviously, it would take time and resources to do so. But not all would have to be taught by full-time faculty.
Hoya Gateway is a great program to connect alums with current students who want to explore their career options and learn more about the opportunities that are available outside of campus. I’m excited to be participating in the program and sharing my knowledge, experience, and network with current students interested in entrepreneurship!
It should be noted that this is geared toward undergraduates at Georgetown, not ALL Georgetown students.
The Hoya Gateway program will be expanded to include graduate students in the near future. Please stay tuned for many new developments with the Hoya Gateway program (http://hoyagateway.georgetown.edu/about)