Shane Holbrook

ITMT 186
11/18/2014
In Why Arent Colleges and Universities Preparing the Workforce of Tomorrow? Dr. Saul
Fenster directs attention to colleges, universities, and toward the workforce in general. Starting first by
calling attention to the alarming, 2.7 million American workers, who have lost their jobs in
manufacturing due to reduction and/or outsourcing, Dr. Fenster then begins to explain what a majority of
the problems are. The problem according to Dr. Fenster is that, Engineering colleges and technical
schools are not preparing young men and women for the jobs that will be open to them. Which leads to
a reiteration of, They are not ensuring that they have the type of knowledge and hands-on technical skills
required in todays high-tech, high-precision, high-quality manufacturing operations.
Dr. Fenster also lists the exact competency gaps, in regards to recently hired engineering
graduates. They key points to take away is Dr.Fensters approach for jobs that go unfilled for months, that
we lack the skill sets to actually fill. In closing Dr. Fenster ends with an abrupt warning for the collegs
and universities, If colleges and universities dont step up to the plate, they will be the losers, along with
the manufacturing base, the economy, and the citizens of the United States.
Another article worth mentioning is, Credentials for the job, by Ronald A.L. Rorrer. Rorrer has
a simple approach by mentioning several things relevant in the hiring process of engineers. Stating that in
some regards, students are accepted due to the university they come from, based on previous company
involvement with students from the past. However, how does this relate to new graduates, and how does
the Manufacturing world interview, determine whether or not this graduate is right for the job?
In the article Rorrer does an amazing job of listing simplicities in which most engineering
employers hope to obtain such as, showing up to work, not just staring at the clock, and not going on a

killing spree after the first annual review. The entire focus of Rorrers article focuses around graduates
student project in which Rorrer refers to as, The capstone project. In which Rorrer reads so much from
this project such as, written communications, technical ability, what role the graduate had in the actually
project. Its an easy read which shows exactly what employees can/would use for a good example that
summarizes your work

Work Cited
Fenster, S. (2005). Why Aren't Colleges and Universities Preparing the Workforce of
Tomorrow?.University Business, 8(4), 100.
Rorrer, R. A. (2003). Credentials for the job. Mechanical Engineering, 125(8), 50.

Links
http://wwws.moreheadstate.edu:7564/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=b8c788d6-148chttp://wwws.moreheadstate.edu:7564/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=d43db249-c915-4185-8b28ad5254d693e5%40sessionmgr4002&vid=22&hid=4206