I developed this program for a private college. It is based on my understanding of best practices in student success and in studying how 7 other colleges are approaching this concept. I share it here in the hopes that some other colleges will adopt something similar. If you would like help in studying its efficacy at your college, I’ll be happy to help. Note – I chose a unique mascot to help the example come alive and make it easy for another college to replace the “Penguin” with their mascot.
The Penguin Promise is a guarantee from Private University that students who follow the simple steps needed to prepare for a career after college, will get a full-time job after college, at an appropriate salary, or else Private University will help them with their college loan payments, secure them a paid internship, and/or provide them with free additional coursework.
While extensive learning, life-long friendships, and abundant opportunities for involvement are reasons students often attend college, the number one reason most students attend college today is to get a good job.
While Private University prides ourselves on our robust liberal arts education, we recognize that many students don’t understand the value of a liberal arts major in preparing for a career.
Private wants to prove to our students our belief in the value of our degree by telling students that if they choose The Penguin Promise, Private University is guaranteeing them a full-time job within months of graduation.
What’s unique about this approach is that Private University is one of the only colleges in the nation demonstrating integrity to what all 4,000 universities in the nation are expected to do – help their graduates find good jobs.
This guarantee will set Private University apart from other colleges and boost enrollment and retention. Instead of working extremely hard and hoping for the best, the Penguin Promise differentiates Private University by increasing our value proposition to students.
Below are the main reasons Private University should consider The Penguin Promise, the colleges that are offering similar programs, and the expectations of Private University and students who opt in to the Penguin Promise.
Why The Penguin Promise – 6 Main Reasons
#1. In a shift among the nation’s graduating college students, national data shows that “job security” is the #1 issue on their minds.
2. Showing prospective students that Private U. is guaranteeing them a job after graduation sets Private U. apart from almost all other universities in the US and would be a unique attraction to parents & prospective students. Currently there are less than 10 universities (0.2%) in the nation offering such a program.
3. Based on the hundreds of students who do follow the Private U. Career Center’s guidance for job searches, we know that these students almost always secure a full-time job within 6 months of graduating.
4. Universities have been trying for decades to get students to get involved in and take more advantage of their career centers – this plan creates expectations that students will do so.
5. The increasing attention on job placement data is only going to increase in the coming years. In fact, the U.S. Government and accrediting agencies require all institutions to publicly share their job placement rates. Should this information be inaccurate or missing, “The Department of Education may initiate a fine, or a limitation, suspension, or termination of federal aid eligibility.”
6. Because in an era where trust in higher education, particularly private higher education, is at an all-time low, it is the right thing to do. If higher education wants to be the gateway to an educated society then we need to show that the gateway has an exit to a better path than the one a student was on when they entered.
What business would take $50K from a customer and tell them that if they get the product, it will be up to their initiative – we are just giving them access inside the store to find it?
Derrick Anderson, senior vice president of Education Futures, a division of the American Council on Education, shared that:
“Job guarantee programs serve as not only a pledge to students and their families but also a promise to employers that a university will produce graduates who have the skills they need. In addition, job guarantees signal that the university has a close relationship with employers in its neighborhood, in its region, and is messaging to its community that we are here and we care. As a consequence, we’re going to do the legwork to make sure that individuals who come here and complete their degrees are going to be able to have a job.”
Expectations of Private University
- Students who sign up for The Penguin Promise receive priority housing selection for residence halls and rooms. (this costs the university nothing but staff time)
- Students who do not have a full-time job or are not enrolled in graduate school within 6 months of their graduation from Private U. will:
- receive up to $200/month assistance towards payments of federally subsidized student loans for a period of up to 12 months or until offered employment.
- receive assistance from the Career Center in securing a paying internship to provide more experience and improved hireability or receive an additional 12 academic credits free of charge.
Expectations of Students Who Join the Penguin Promise Program
- Successfully complete an internship or employment consisting of at least 150 hours in chosen field
- Document and submit a record of participation in varsity athletics, student organizations, arts performances, intramurals, community service, etc. each semester at Private U.
- Participate in 3 Career Center or similar programs a semester focused on career and life preparation.
- Meet with a Career Advisor once a semester for an update on progress in the Penguin Promise.
- Maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 (one probationary semester below 3.0 permitted)
- Declare a major, join a student organization, & apply for The Penguin Promise before 15 credits earned
- Graduate within four years and be in good financial standing with Private University
- Be open to travel or relocation to obtain employment within field
- Be legally eligible for employment in the U.S. and not have a criminal background
- Complete 1-2 goals each semester, with assistance, that equip students for a full-time job at graduation. Goals may include:
- Creating, seeking feedback on, and improving a resume
- Creating, expanding, and improving a LinkedIn website
- Set up a Handshake account and demonstrate familiarity with the resources available there
- Meeting with several different Private U. alumni who have careers in areas of interest
- Applying for internships and summer jobs that can strengthen a student’s candidacy
- Building a list of references and seeking reference letters
- Create a personal budget post college and identify smart financial behaviors
- Preparing for job interviews and completing mock interviews
- Building and maintaining an e-portfolio of a student’s best work and achievements
- Applying for at least 50 jobs in the graduating semester
7 Current Universities with Similar Programs
“We’re so confident that a degree from Rider will prepare our students for future success that we guarantee that Rider graduates will gain an entry-level position or acceptance into a graduate or professional program in their field of study within six (6) months of graduation.”
2. Thomas College (ME) Guaranteed Job Program
“If you have not been employed within six months of graduation, we’ll provide reimbursement of the amortized monthly loan payment amount of all federally subsidized loans for a period of up to 12 months or until the you have secured or been offered employment.”
3. Misericordia College (PA) Guaranteed Placement Program
“Any student, who fully participates in our program for all four years of their college experience, does not receive a job offer or is not accepted into graduate/professional school within six months of graduation, the University provides that student a paid internship in their chosen field.”
4. Curry College (MA) Commitment
“If a student does not have a job within 6 months of graduation, the college guarantees the student will have their student loans paid up to 12 months; or the student will be given a paid internship in their field for up to 12 months. In both cases, the student will work with a Career Advisor.
5. Capital College (DC) Commitment
If you graduate with a qualified bachelor’s degree, you’ll find a position in within 90 days of graduation. If you don’t, Capitol will provide up to 36 additional undergraduate credits — tuition free — while you continue your job search.”
6. Davenport University (MI) Employment Guarantee
“Davenport offers a 100% employment guarantee for a growing list of bachelor’s programs. Students who meet Davenport’s requirements will be eligible for additional education benefits if they are unable to obtain employment within six months of graduation.”
7. Texas State Technical University (TX) Money Back Guarantee
“Students who are not hired in their field within 6 months after graduation are eligible to get a tuition refund for their time at TSTC. So far, 270 students have signed up for the program with no money given back.”
Estimated Budget
Joining The Penguin Promise program
A staff would need to be designated to oversee this program as a part of their role at Private University. I would think this would need to be at least 10 hours/week or 25% of a full-time job.
Operating The Pirate Promise program
Most of the expectations placed on students for joining The Penguin Promise are behaviors that most Private Universities already offers based on existing Career Center and Student Life programming. However, there would likely be some degree of additional administrative operational overhead needed if the program expands as hoped. I would work involvement in this program into the job descriptions of the career counselors.
Completion of the Pirate Promise program
Texas State Technical College has offered a similar program for almost 10 years, and in that time, they have not had to pay back the tuition of any student in the program. In other words, while not every student completed the program, those who did all secured full-time employment within 6 months.
The most recent National Associate of Colleges and Employers (NACE) employment data indicates that career centers estimate a job placement rate within 6 months of graduation at 86%. Assuming that 25% of incoming students sign up for the program, it is probably safe to suggest that only 15% of those students complete all the expectations of them over the course of their 4 years.
As an example, in a class of 1,000 incoming students, 250 students would opt into the program and only 150 of these incoming students would complete the expectations of them in the program (and be retained at Private U.) of these 150 graduates, 86% would have a full-time job or be in graduate school within 6 months of graduation. In short, there is the potential that 150 x 14% = 21 students may qualify for the Penguin Promise.
However, the reality is that any student who does what The Penguin Promise outlines will have a job before they graduate, and if not then, soon after. This is the beauty of the Penguin Promise – we believe that if students follow the guidance we suggest on making the most of their college experience and job prep will find a full-time job or be in graduate school within 6 months of graduation. To be safe, we could estimate that of these 21 students who completed every step of the expectations in the Penguin Promise, maybe 7 (1/3) don’t have a job within six months.
The additional cost of these 7 students to The Penguin Promise would be $200/month of federal loan payments that would max out at $2,400 if it took an entire year to find a job. For seven students, this would total $16,800, a paltry sum in light of the financial aid offered students, the positive marketing of the program to incoming students, and the likelihood that the actions of the program fundamentally prepare students for great jobs after college.
The costs to Private University of finding some students a paid internship or providing up to 12 credits in classes are not easily measured, but should focus on a few addition hours a week of staff time that could be added to job descriptions. The additional classes offered could focus on seats in classes that are not filled, thus costing the university nothing.
Deep Thoughts on Higher Ed and Life 