uiargonaut.com
Friday, May 6, 2016
In 2012, 48 percent of employed U.S. college grads were in jobs that require less than a four-year degree Austin Maas Argonaut
4 in 10 grads from the top 100 colleges couldn’t get jobs in their chosen fields
Patrick Doudy’s degree barely scratches the surface of his qualifications. Doudy graduated from the University of Idaho with Bachelor’s of Science in chemistry, but as an app developer, his job doesn’t actually require chemistry at all. “It’s sort of a crosssection of different kinds of techy and artistic things,” Doudy said. Doudy said as he was completing his college career, he found out there weren’t many career options for chemistry majors who hold
a bachelor’s degree alone — the options that are out there, such as running lab tests, are becoming increasingly automated processes. That’s when Doudy switched gears. He said he had dabbled in software development previously, and is primarily self-taught. He and a friend started developing apps together, and the rest is history. He said his success in a field unrelated to his studies has led him to be skeptical of the real value of a college degree. “Education is not something that comes from a teacher telling you something. It comes from applying
Doctoral $1,623 $1,623
1.7%
Professional $1,730
1.5%
Masters $1,341
2.4%
Bachelors $1,137
2.8%
Associate $798 Some college
3.8%
$738
5%
High school $678 diploma
5.4%
Less than a $493 high school diploma
8% U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
yourself and reading and learning and thinking and producing,” he said. Yet UI Vice Provost of Academic Affairs Jeanne Stevenson said
Fifth-year senior Nick Mitchell said he did not receive real advising until his fourth year. “The teacher just basically made sure I was registered for classes,” he said. “They just checked it off. No regards to whether it was a hard science class.”
Mitchell chose to take a chemistry class to fulfill his General Education requirement. Rather than advise him to take something less time consuming, his adviser did nothing. “If I had a lighter load (when) fulfilling General Education requirements then I would have been way better off,” he said.
open doors to certain career options that wouldn’t be accessible otherwise, as well as increased job security
pursuing a degree has a number of personal and professional benefits. She said getting a degree can offer higher earning potential and
Caution advised Tess Fox Argonaut
Unemployment rate
Median usual weekly earnings
Sophomore Adam Ream is a dual-degree student in percussion performance and mechanical engineering. He said his advising season is usually frustrating. “You walk in with a plan and he tells you that plan is dumb,” he said. “Then he gives you a new plan. Music is a little bit better. They’re not very understanding of
1 in 3 graduates of four-year colleges don’t think college prepared them to join the workforce
College education balancing act
SEE degrees, PAGE A16
UI students say advising is hit or miss double-majors. They kind of just ignore it.” Both of his advisers give him a full credit-load for each degree. “So you have to compromise and then they both get mad,” he said. Fifth-year senior Shayne Seubert is double-majoring in physics and mathematics. SEE advised, PAGE A15
In 2013, an estimated 120,000 graduates “settled” for jobs such as waiters, cashiers and baristas
53 percent of grads would have chosen a different major or different college
In 2012, 3 in 5 young college graduates in the Mountain West region were jobless or underemployed
Degrees of success
David Black | Argonaut
graduation
police
A voice of authority In the rearview mirror Army general’s commencement speech aims to challenge graduates Katelyn Hilsenbeck Argonaut
When Brig. Gen. Erik Peterson was a student at the University of Idaho, he found himself in the office of Bruce Pitman, then the Dean of Students. Although the violations were minor, Peterson said the encounter served as a turning point for him and the beginning of a mentorship from Pitman. “We hit it off pretty well,” Peterson said. “I consider Bruce Pitman one of my close mentors and friends.” Peterson, who will give this year’s commencement speech, said after that encounter he joined UI’s Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program and received his Army commission in 1986.
“In addition to my academic pursuits and ROTC, I was pretty heavily involved with Student Involvement in my last few years,” Peterson said. He also became a Resident Assistant and eventually a supervisor. “In addition to good solid academic foundation, I felt like I was given opportunity to grow as a leader, good problem solving skills, communications skills, the ability to resolve conflict, interact with people,” Peterson said. “I had some very, very good mentors and examples I was exposed to.” He graduated from UI with a bachelor’s degree in geography and cartography. He also has a master’s degree Business administration from Touro College and a master’s degree national security and strategic studies from the National War College. SEE Authority, PAGE A16
Life in law enforcement isn’t always easy
the sidewalk surrounded by medical staff. The first driver had been turning left while picking up an item he dropped onto the floor, while the second driver was at that corner going straight and had Diamond Koloski no time to swerve out of the path of the Argonaut distracted driver. At the start of every shift for Moscow It was just another night for the officers. police officers, there is a briefing meeting to They immediately went about their difpass important information between shifts. ferent duties — they have their routine On the night of April 30, that meeting down to a science. Traffic must be directhad just begun when the ed, insurance and family inforradios in the room echoed mation taken from the drivers, news of a two-car collision ARG ambulance and tow trucks with multiple injuries on called, interviews with witnesses For more news Styner Avenue. Just like that, content, visit and passengers, and communiofficers were running to their uiargonaut.com cation between officers all has to cars and rushing to the scene. happen quickly. Flashing lights, an ambuSergeant Art Lindquist has been in law lance, one car completely damaged with enforcement in the Moscow area for over 20 both air bags deployed and the windshield shattered, and one of the drivers sitting on SEE mirror, PAGE A15
IN THIS ISSUE
Ali Forde discusses future basketball career in Europe sports, B1 News, A1 Sports, B1 Opinion, B10
Graduates play important role in UI’s alumni network. Read Our View.
Stefan Montana remains a mysterious figure to this day
Opinion, B10 University of Idaho
RAWR Volume 115, Issue no. 62
Recyclable