Viewpoints

For good reason, most of us consider a college degree a valuable asset. Labor statistics repeatedly affirm that the earnings of individuals with bachelor degrees far outpace those without.

The past year truly delivered on its promise for UWF’s spirited community of learners. We entered 2018 at an all-time high and moved up from there with continued top state rankings, student victories and historic philanthropic gifts.

The hours spent in class have given our students the academic preparation for their chosen fields, but in today’s world employers need more. They want graduates who have work experience to go along with their degrees.

They’re among the best and the brightest in the nation, and they’re brand new to campus. I recently had the pleasure of meeting a group of first-year students who are not your average freshmen. These nine young adults are an elite bunch known as UWF’s “Top Scholars.”

Launched in January 2018, AIMS increases the visibility of science, technology, engineering, art and math initiatives by creating a hub for students and faculty to work on innovative community projects.

If you ask Dr. Thomas Gilbar, associate chair for the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, to tell you where some of his recent graduates go to work after graduation, he will quickly rattle off an extensive list: Gulf Power, Escambia River Electric Cooperative, U.S. Air Force civilian positions, software companies, consulting companies and more.

Florida is one of the top three states for veterans in the U.S. with 1.6 million veterans. Our region has the highest concentration of veterans and military retirees in the state. We feel the connection strongly at UWF.

UWF is now a leader in online education in the state of Florida, with more than 42 percent of all enrollments offered online each academic year.

At the University of West Florida, we see ourselves as much more than an institution of higher education. We’re a central hub for the Northwest Florida region, with the resources, expertise and initiative needed to drive educational, cultural and economic partnerships that make an impact far beyond our campus.

As I talk to area business and industry leaders, they often tell me that graduates who are entering the workforce need more “soft” skills. They need students who have mastered the technical side but also can present ideas and concepts to managers and work in groups to solve problems. The challenge is to find a way to combine hard and soft skills. UWF seeks to blend these skills by bringing professors and students from many disciplines together to work on a common problem.

Globalization in education is vital for today’s upcoming graduates.

The U.S. is more diverse than ever before, and the world is changing all around us. Our workplace teams include people from many generations, faiths, backgrounds and parts of the world.