By BRENT MARTIN
St. Joseph Post
A Missouri Western State University vice president says helping prepare students for employment must go beyond academics.
Dean of Students Brett Bruner says internships still play an important role in getting students ready for the working world.
“We encourage all of our students to do internships,” Bruner tells host Barry Birr on the KFEQ Hotline. “They’re part of that applied learning experiences. There are some students who will do multiple internships throughout their time.”
Bruner says a key to preparing a college student for the working world is teaching the “soft skills,” such as how to work as a member of a team and how to communicate effectively. He says those are learned in social settings, such as working within organizations on campus.
Bruner says the college has a renewed vibe now that students have returned to the St. Joseph campus after a year of virtual learning due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“Our students are excited to be back on campus,” Bruner says “They’re excited for the student experience. They were excited to see a lively event of homecoming activities that took place in October. My staff and I are continuing to ask that question: what’s the pulse on the students and how can we continue to enhance that experience?”
Bruner says his office is actively seeking experiences that will make for a more rounded student.
“We are taking a group of students on an alternative spring break experience,” Bruner says. “So, we’re going to take students to Starkville, Mississippi during spring break and build a house for Habitat for Humanity at Starkville, Mississippi. They’re also bringing a group of students to a leadership challenge competition and so we have five students we’ll be taking to Washburn University in Topeka in March to compete against other college students.”
Bruner says those experiences and just the day-to-day interaction with other campus groups help students prepare for the working world.