Lost in Translation: Preparing Students to Articulate the Meaning of a College Degree
Michael J. Stebleton, PhD, University of Minnesota
Lisa DuRose, PhD, Inver Hills Community College
MCDA Conference, April 2016: Roundtable Discussion
Overview and Purpose: The speakers contend that many undergraduate students lack the ability to
deftly articulate the value of their college degree, including the work-related competencies they acquire
through classroom learning and experiential activities. Despite the positive impact of experiential
education opportunities such as civic engagement and internships, there is a significant gap between what
students have learned and how well they are able to articulate the meaning of these experiences to
external stakeholders, including employers. In this session, we contend that career development is a
collective endeavor. Advocating for a collaborative campus effort to address the problem, the presenters
offer their own perspectives based on their experiences as faculty members and student affairs
practitioners, and encourage a dialogue among participants.

Introduction to Topic and Personal Story: A Day on Campus…

Central Observation: Examining a gap what students have learned and how well they are able to
articulate the value of this learning to audiences.

Overarching Questions: Potential Roundtable Discussion Prompts
-Why is there a gap? Why the struggle?
-What is the role of instructors to facilitate supporting students through this challenge?
-Most syllabi include student learning objectives and student development outcomes: How well
do students (and faculty) work together to develop and then articulate these outcomes?
-How can faculty members collaborate with career development professionals on campus to
address these issues? Identify specific initiatives.
-What have been your experiences in assisting students to articulate and translate the learning
they acquire?
-What other ideas or resources might you suggest?

Generating Strategies and Possible Practices

Concluding Thoughts…
Reference:
DuRose, L.M., & Stebleton, M. J. (2016, in press). Lost in translation: Helping students articulate
the meaning of a college degree. Manuscript accepted at Journal of College & Character.
1
Additional Sources: Lost in Translation
Stebleton & DuRose: MCDA Conference, April 2016
Abowitz, K. K. (2006). The interdependence of vocational and liberal aims in higher education.
About Campus, 11(2), 16-22.
Adams, S. (2015, April 15). The college degrees and skills employers most want in 2015, Forbes.
Retrieved from: http://www.forbes.com/sites/susanadams/2015/04/15/the-college-degrees-andskills-employers-most-want-in-2015/.
Ambrose, S. A., & Poklop, L. (2015). Do students really learn from experience? Change: The
Magazine of Higher Learning, 47(1), 54-61.
Appiah, K. A. (2015, September 8). What is the point of college? The New York Times Magazine.
Retrieved from: http://nyti.mis/1QIGgQh.
Brown, K. E. (2015). Employability and the liberal arts: A career readiness initiative. Thought
and Action, 31, 49-56.
Brown, R. D. (2011). Educating the whole student: Our heritage and future challenges.
ACPA Developments 9(1). Retrieved from: http://www2.myacpa.org/publications/developments.
Dominus, S. (2013, September 13). How to get a job with a philosophy degree, New York Times.
Retrieved from: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/15/magazine/how-to-get-a-job-with-aphilosophy-degree.html.
Hart Research Associates. (2015). It takes more than a major: Employer priorities for college
learning and student success. AAC&U. Washington, DC. Retrieved from:
www.aacu.org/leap/public_opinion_research.cfm.
Jaschik, S. (2015, Jan. 20). Study finds big gaps between student and employer perceptions, Inside Higher
Ed. Retrieved from: https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2015/01/20/study-finds-big-gapsbetween-student-and-employer-perceptions.
Lemann, N. (2016, Jan. 8). What should graduates know? The Chronicle of Higher
Education. Retrieved from: https://shar.es/16K50v.
Savitz-Romer, M., Rowan-Kenyon, H. T., & Fancsali, C. (2015). Social, emotional, and affective skills
for college and career success. Change: The Magazine of Higher Learning, 47(5), 18-27.
Stebleton, M. J., & Aleixo, M. B. (2011). Reflecting on the past; shaping the future of student
affairs. CSPA-NYS Journal of Student Affairs, 11(2), 6-26.
Contact Information:
Michael J. Stebleton; Associate Professor; University of Minnesota-TC; [email protected]
Lisa DuRose; English faculty; Inver Hills Community College; [email protected]
2