Predictive Characteristics of Adequate Employment in Baccalaureate-Prepared Graduates

Authors

  • Cynthia Kiefer University of Virginia
  • Laura Kottkamp Virginia Commonwealth University https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4365-8262
  • Jana McQuaid Virginia Commonwealth University
  • Justin Moses Norfolk State University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5195/ie.2022.216

Keywords:

predictors, employment, undergraduate, internship, STEM

Abstract

Underemployment, which occurs when baccalaureate degree holders are employed in occupations that do not require or fully use a college-level degree (Lederman, 2018), challenges the notion that a college degree alone adequately prepares a student for a satisfactory level of employment based on education level. During 2018 and 2019, the higher-ed capstone team conducted this study to identify predictive characteristics of underemployment among undergraduate alumni from a large, public, urban, Tier-1 research university. Although identifying underemployment characteristics was the primary impetus for the research, the team instead discovered three primary predictors of adequate employment from the analysis. Higher education institutions and policy leaders may be able to better ensure students gain employment, particularly during challenging economic times, by encouraging student participation in internships, extracurricular activities, and the selection of STEM majors.

Author Biographies

Cynthia Kiefer, University of Virginia

Director of Admission + Financial Aid
University of Virginia School of Architecture
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Laura Kottkamp, Virginia Commonwealth University

Exec Director, VCU Foundation, College of Enginnering Foundation, School of Business Foundation

Jana McQuaid, Virginia Commonwealth University

Assistant Dean, Student Resources and Enrollment Management
School of Business

Justin Moses, Norfolk State University

Vice President for Operations & 
Chief Strategist for Institutional Effectiveness

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Published

2022-11-17

How to Cite

Kiefer, C., Kottkamp, L., McQuaid, J., & Moses, J. (2022). Predictive Characteristics of Adequate Employment in Baccalaureate-Prepared Graduates. Impacting Education: Journal on Transforming Professional Practice, 7(4), 26–32. https://doi.org/10.5195/ie.2022.216