By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
Just under 200 students from Missouri Western State University received their degrees during the recent winter commencement ceremonies.
President Elizabeth Kennedy says a recent analysis by the University shows that depending on the year, anywhere from 85 to 90% of Missouri Western graduates stay to work in Missouri.
Kennedy says that's important because it's part of the mission at Missouri Western.
"Helping not only the economic vitality of St. Joseph and our region, but of the entire state," Kennedy tells KFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr. "So, I think it's particularly important to students that they hear stories about here's what someone just like you coming in with a similar background, with some aspirations, with support from our faculty, from our staff with some guidance, here's where they can end up."
Kennedy also points out a recent Georgetown study of public and two-year universities looked at the value of a college degree.
Kennedy says based on that study, statistics show that students graduating from Missouri Western on average can make up to $850,000 more than those with just a high school diploma.
"So, there is a feal value added to getting a degree, particularly from Missouri Western, and that's the message that we want to make sure students, prospective students, their families understand," Kennedy explains. "That's the value that the University is providing to not only like I said St. Joseph and our region, but to the entire state."
Kennedy says over the last five years at least at the University there has been a shift to focus on the important intersection between students' interests and what the region needs in terms of workforce.
Kennedy says while the core of the university hasn't changed, what has shifted is showing students the tangible outcomes that come with a degree.
"So, when I can say to you 85 to 90% of our students stay and work and live in Missouri, when we can start to more closely examine graduation data to talk about what are the placement rates? What are the average salaries? Then all of a sudden, we are demonstrating to students and their families this is what it will do for you," Kennedy says. "So, the research like Georgetown University, that becomes critically relevant."
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