| A baccalaureate education was once limited to an elite population of high school graduates in pursuit of guaranteed career success. Today, more than 70% of high school graduates opt to attend college to earn a baccalaureate degree, due to economic, global, and technological changes. While this percent has significantly risen, employers are increasingly dissatisfied with the outcome of graduates' education. Business and industry express satisfaction with graduates' technical skills, but there is a shortage of graduates who possess soft and leadership skills critical relative to employment success. Because the attainment of a baccalaureate degree does not guarantee gainful employment, with only 20% of college graduates employed in a job that requires a degree, other factors---specifically, leadership and soft skills---will increase the likelihood of employment opportunities.As the community college recognizes the importance of meeting employer demands, the study examined the outcomes of a leadership development program to determine if leadership deficits, once identified, could be improved through a change initiative that included a self-change study, mentoring, dual relationships, and self-help. |
