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Employer Quotes

The quotes below are from employers in this industry: Manufacturing

They are talking about this topic: Educational Partnerships

 

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The quotes below are about this issue:
Employers offer various recommendations for improving MnSCU manufacturing programs, such as standardizing program and occupation titles, increasing support for community colleges, and training professors on new technology.

Employer Quote Region
"At the technical level—from a college standpoint—we either need to teach them or screen them out, so groom them or ruin them. Let them act. Don't expect us to be the screeners. Don't give them a degree, if they don't have the skills. And I think that we can help quantify what those expected skills are. So, how do you turn something subjective into something more objective in order to screen out those people that are going to fail?" Southeast
"I don't know how to quite articulate this, but as I look at MnSCU over the past decade or so, I think they keep trying to be all things to all people. Sometimes I think there's a lack of focus. You know, I've asked in different forums, 'Why are we still teaching French? Do we really need to have that program everywhere?' That takes resources and energy and funds that could be used for other classes. You think of Wisconsin where they've kind of said, you know, the [out-of-state college] is going to have these industrial kinds of programs. In Minnesota, it seems like we're trying to be all things to all people.

I'm a proud alumni of [MnSCU college], and we love [MnSCU college], but they're not really interested in southern Minnesota. They like it when we send our kids there, but we don't get a lot in return as far as [MnSCU college] being as prevalent and present in southern Minnesota for four-year programs. So, I'd really encourage MnSCU to try to figure out where they are going to try to put some of these Centers of Excellence. We can't do everything at each university. I'm sure each university wants to be all things to all people, but it's a model that I don't think is going to serve us well going forward because they just don't have the funds and the resources to be good at everything."		 Southeast
"Employer 1: I also think that community colleges are the red-headed stepchild. They're closest to all the employers in the region.

Employer 2: Yeah, I would lead with the community colleges. I think the community colleges really need to be helped to be put in the forefront, especially working with manufacturing. I don't know if others agree with me.

Employer 3: Absolutely.

Employer 2: I think Chancellor Rosenstone needs to get that message that there has to be more funding and more focus.

Question: So, that they're really the employer's partner?

Employer 1: I'm afraid the four-year colleges are going to revoke my degree. The four-year colleges just don't seem that interested.

Question: In working directly with employers?

Employer 1: Correct."		 Southeast
"Employer 1: The other thought is that all of us will invest internally in different training programs, and it would be nice if MnSCU would be a little flexible to say, 'Hey, you know, this individual went through a pretty robust green belt program. That's going to be worth X amount of credits to help them get a sheepskin at some point.' Because I think there's a tremendous amount of effort and energy and dollars that are spent on training that never gets above the waterline or helps that employee achieve a diploma or certificate because MNSCU, again, has these rules that, I think, are somewhat antiquated.

Employer 2: Maybe that training could replace a course, so they don't have to take a certain course or something."		 Southeast