Many students lack motivation because they do not see the connection between academic coursework and workplace applications. Often they graduate lacking skills demanded by employers in local industries. Even students with degrees in STEM disciplines such as chemistry cannot find jobs following graduation and require graduate education to control their financial destiny, pay off student debt and work in their chosen field. Unfortunately, universities are doing little to address these issues.  Several classes were developed, vetted by Atlanta's biomedical/pharmaceutical industry, and taught at KSU with the intent of connecting classroom theory with workpace applications. A15-credit hour Certificate Program in “Regulatory Affairs and Clinical Trials” was created from four of these courses along with an industry internship. Graduates from this program were highly employable and commanded excellent salaries even before receiving their degrees. Adjunct faculty with current industry experience taught most courses. Colleges can make their degrees more valuable (and marketable) by embedding skills-focused curriculum. Industry-vetted certificate programs consisting of four or more courses focused upon employers’ needs teach students in-demand skills that connect subject matter with workplace applications. These courses provide students with a career focus and reduce the skills gap when graduates enter the workforce. Mandated industry internships using these skills provide students relevant work experience before entering the job markets. Most courses require adjunct faculty actively working in the business sector since most faculty lack relevant experience. Adding certificate programs is not easy. Faculty will resist change. Most departments and colleges lack “champions” for certificate programs. They seldom see a need for certificate programs because their experience is in the academy, not industry or business. Additionally, if someone within a department is not qualified to teach the courses, there is fear an adjunct will displace an existing position.  The applied nature of certificate programs relative to the academy’s traditional theoretical focus presents another issue. Industry-focused courses are often unfairly viewed as “professional training” and considered by faculty as lacking rigor.  This presentation discusses the need, merits, and challenges of implementing and maintaining industry-vetted curriculum within chemistry and biochemistry programs.

Industry-vetted courses/certificates to enhance student learning and close the skills gap

ACS Fall 2021

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.