March 26, 2024
University of North Dakota’s ‘Learning’ core value empowers students to harness the immense power of experiences, according to the deans of the School of Graduate Studies and Nistler College of Business & Public Administration
The InternGF program, an initiative that pairs UND students with local businesses and organizations for hands-on learning opportunities, has been an annual endeavor. Here is a snapshot of a participant working at what was previously Airtonomy and is now Thread, sourced from UND’s archives.
Editor’s note: Serving as a guiding beacon for the community, UND Today is dedicated to steering readers towards the University’s objectives. In line with this mission, UND Today has dedicated a special issue on the final Tuesday of each month to illuminate the institution’s progress.
Today’s special edition of UND Today, the sixth installment in this series, delves into the core value of learning. Every feature in this issue, originally published in recent months in UND Today, revolves around a UND program or activity that embodies the Learning objective outlined in the Strategic Plan.
Continuing this thematic series, the forthcoming issue on April 30 will spotlight the “Equity” core value, followed by a focus on “Affinity” on May 28.
For inquiries or feedback, please reach out to Tom Dennis, the editor of UND Today, at . Thank you for your readership!
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By Amy Henley and Chris Nelson
During their academic journeys, both graduate and undergraduate students often ponder questions like, “How can I translate the knowledge acquired in my classes into skills that appeal to employers?” and “Employers emphasize the need for ‘experience,’ so how can I address this requirement?”
Adding to the complexity for students is the task of encapsulating their learning and exploration within the confines of a resume. How can students effectively convey to employers the value and potential of their educational background?
While these queries are common among university students, UND LEADS’ focus on experiential learning—both within and beyond traditional classrooms—equips students with a plethora of employer-desired solutions. The key lies in identifying which experiences serve as the bridge between academic learning and professional readiness, leveraging these experiential learning opportunities to the fullest, and articulating the value of these experiences in terms of skill sets.
At UND, Chris Nelson serves as the dean of the School of Graduate Studies, while Amy Henley holds the position of dean at the Nistler College of Business & Public Administration.
Fusion of Knowledge and Work-Ready Skills
Degrees, whether at the undergraduate or graduate level, signify a proficiency in technical knowledge within a specific field. However, the rapid pace of technological evolution necessitates continuous updates and adaptations in technical expertise across all domains.
Consequently, while technical knowledge forms the foundation represented by a degree, employers seek deeper insights into a potential employee before making a hiring decision.
What are employers looking for? In essence, employers seek to gauge how a prospective hire would navigate diverse workplace scenarios. Fortunately for UND students, they possess a rich tapestry of experiences to draw upon, showcasing their readiness for the professional realm.
Consider this: most employers expect their employees to stay abreast of the latest industry trends, innovations, and best practices. Remaining current in skills demands the ability to assimilate and adapt to new information—an exercise students undertake daily through reading, discussions, and research at UND.
Moreover, students encounter novel and intricate information regularly, both inside and outside classrooms. Their response to these challenges, particularly in assimilating and adapting information during individual or group assignments, offers insights to employers on their learning aptitude in a workplace setting.
The manner in which students leverage information to solve problems plays a pivotal role in determining their success in a professional environment. Whether through academic papers, exams, or classroom debates, coursework tasks students with observing patterns in information, formulating solutions, and making decisions by balancing varying inputs.
These experiences serve as a testament to employers of students’ problem-solving acumen.
Maximizing Opportunities for Growth
Transitioning from theoretical learning to practical application underscores the value of experiential opportunities provided at UND. Just as work thrives on collaboration, higher education mirrors this teamwork ethos. Effective communication and collaboration are vital skills both in academia and the professional sphere. Individual presentations in classrooms highlight students’ communication prowess, persuasive abilities, and aptitude for idea presentation. Group projects offer students the chance to hone their communication and interpersonal skills, fostering collaboration by aligning individual objectives with team goals, managing priorities, and devising solutions while empowering team members to excel.
Beyond the classroom, UND offers a diverse array of avenues for students to augment their classroom-honed skills and apply them practically. For instance, students can engage in internships, participate in student competitions, or delve into research opportunities alongside faculty members.
Recent MPA graduates from the Nistler College of Business and Public Administration, Shaylee Miller and Sierra Johnson, cherish their internship experiences, emphasizing how these experiences brought their classroom learning to life, transcending theoretical concepts.
Miller’s internships with CVIC and the University Park Neighborhood Corridor Project provided her with a blend of community engagement and administrative exposure, deepening her understanding of public administration in a real-world context. She highlighted how the internships allowed her to “apply theoretical knowledge, identify her niche in the professional realm,” ultimately leading to her current role as a Communication Strategist with Grand Forks Public Health.
Johnson, too, interned with the University Park Neighborhood Corridor Project—a collaborative initiative involving UND, the Community Foundation, and the City of Grand Forks. She underscored how translating classroom knowledge into practical scenarios elucidated the concept of “responsibility” in public administration.
For Johnson, the experience of collaborating closely with community members honed her decision-making skills, enabling her to navigate complex choices and priorities within a community setting.
In essence, learning at UND transcends traditional classroom boundaries to encompass a holistic student experience. UND LEADS underscores the integration of classroom teachings with experiential learning opportunities, thoroughly preparing students for success beyond graduation.
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QUERIES OR FEEDBACK regarding the ? We value your insights! Please reach out to , UND’s director of Special Student Populations, and/or , associate vice president for Strategy & Implementation, who co-chair the UND LEADS Implementation Committee.
You can also share your thoughts by visiting the and selecting the “Provide your feedback” option.
Thank you for your unwavering support of the UND LEADS Strategic Plan!
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About the Authors:
At the University of North Dakota, Amy Henley serves as the dean of the Nistler College of Business & Public Administration, while Chris Nelson holds the position of dean at the School of Graduate Studies.