Among the priorities of Maine's state universities and community colleges are
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increasing the percentage of high school students who pursue a degree from higher education
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increasing the number of students who complete a degree as well as the speed with which they can complete their programs
Keeping students enrolled and getting a diploma in their hand are essential. On these metrics, Maine needs to do much better.
- about 60% of college-bound high school graduates get their college degree in Maine, but half leave Maine after graduation for better career opportunities
- though a majority of those considered "the best & brightest" (defined as high school students with As and Bs and whose parents attended college) earned their college degree in Maine, two-thirds leave the state and do not return
- two-thirds of Maine graduates working in business or technology live and work some place other than Maine
The not-so-subtle conclusion is that Maine college graduates with ambition for high-paying careers leave the state while those in the helping professions (e.g. health care, education, government, public agencies) tend to stay. We need to keep and attract more of the risk-takers (entrepreneurs) if we are to grow the economy.
So, what can businesses and our universities and colleges do to retain more of our most talented graduates in which everyone has so heavily invested family savings and public tax dollars?
Internships. Good old fashioned on-the-job learning opportunities.
There is only so much control our academic institutions can have on the outcomes of their students but business internships in collaboration with community colleges and the university campuses can measurably improve the prospects for career employment and graduate retention in Maine.
Internships are more than simply a good idea - they are imperative. Maine is not replacing it's aging workforce. Presently, our state has the next to lowest percentage of children under the age of 18 in the entire country (23%) and the second highest percentage of residents over the age of 65 (32%). Today, students are our most valuable export.
There are approximately 36,000 employers in the state of Maine. No matter what their enterprise, a majority of employers could find a way to put a student to work improving the bottom line of the enterprise while the intern learns a work ethic and valuable technical skills. It takes planning and commitment from both employer and student but the prospect of a full-time job is well worth the effort.
Internships can be paid or unpaid and often offer students academic credits. Committed students will earn valuable job references and build resumes - something most lack when they step off the graduation ceremony platform.
This opportunity does not require any government aid or regulatory legislation. What would be helpful is to have a majority of the Maine Legislature create a more business-friendly climate so that companies are encouraged to grow, create jobs that pay higher wages and offer long-term careers.
We urge all our readers to engage interns in their places of business by calling your nearest community college or university campus. You may discover the next high performer in your workplace and help turn Maine's most valuable export into an engine of organic growth. (click on the links in "Connect to Higher Education" in the box below to contact a college or university near you)
Good News in Old Town
According to a story in the
Bangor Daily News, one of Maine's internationally recognized brands got a boost from the parent company - 80 new jobs at
Old Town Canoe. The choice to consolidate operations was based on Old Town's tax incentives, the Old Town name and the highly skilled workforce that produces both canoes and kyaks. This is a good example of what can happen when you combine skill sets in value-added manufacturing. Let's hope that candidates for state office see this as an example and avoid legislation that would discourage this kind of high-value enterprise.
