Letter: Career preparation is key for colleges
John S. Nader, President of Farmingdale State College, speaks at the college in Farmingdale, Aug. 25 2016 Credit: Ed Betz
The message behind the Dec. 13 news story “Job struggles for educated LI millennials” is an important one.
As part of their mission, colleges should educate students for good-paying jobs that will contribute to the economy. Yet, it is also important to note that many colleges already do just that. A survey of the May 2015 graduating class from Farmingdale State College revealed that 90 percent were employed within six months of their graduation — and many had arranged their employment even before graduation.
Academic programs that focus on the applied skills discussed in the article — engineering, architecture, health care, as well as science, technology, engineering and math — are essential if the brain drain is to be reversed, and if Long Island’s economy is to remain vibrant.
John Nader, Farmingdale
Editor’s note:The writer is president of Farmingdale State College.
