Kentucky Graduate Profile
The Graduate Profile
Nearly three in four employers say they have a hard time finding recent college graduates with the essential soft skills needed to succeed in the workplace.
As a response to this need, Kentucky public higher education is developing the Kentucky Graduate Profile. The Profile is a set of career-focused learning outcomes each graduate should demonstrate as part of their college curriculum.
Based on the 10 essential skills
Unlike traditional curricula, the Graduate Profile focuses on the workforce skills, as well as the specialized content knowledge they acquire from their major, that graduates need to thrive in their careers. Workforce skills are based upon the 10 Essential Skills identified by higher education organizations and workforce professionals as learning outcomes all graduates need for success in their chosen fields of study.
- Communicate effectively: Graduates will develop their ability to communicate effectively by listening, weighing influencing factors, and responding accurately and professionally. They will learn to express their thoughts coherently in writing, orally, and in formal presentations.
- Think critically in order to solve problems and create new ideas and solutions: Graduates will develop their ability to think critically by evaluating assumptions and assessing information to make informed conclusions. They will also learn to think creatively by combining ideas in original ways or developing new ways of addressing issues.
- Apply quantitative reasoning skills to analyze and solve numerical problems: Graduates will hone their ability to provide solutions guided by data and choosing the best methodologies for arriving at informed conclusions.
- Interact effectively with people from diverse backgrounds: Graduates will reflect on their own cultural identities, appreciate cultural and intellectual differences, and effectively interact with people from diverse backgrounds. They will have multiple opportunities to collaborate, communicate and work respectfully with people with different perspectives, ideas and cultural beliefs.
- Adapt to changing circumstances while leading and supporting others: Graduates will have learned how to accept change and find effective ways to work and thrive in different settings. They will learn to motivate others in the pursuit of a common goal and to coach others in the pursuit of this goal.
- Perform professionally within their chosen field of study or occupation: Graduates will have learned the importance of adhering to the code of ethics in their chosen profession and acting with honesty and fairness. They will have many opportunities to prioritize their tasks, manage their time, take initiative, and demonstrate accountability and reliability.
- Engage in civic life to improve society: Graduate will, throughout their college careers, learn from opportunities to engage in political, social and other activities to address issues that benefit society.
- Collaborate and work in teams: Graduates will have had numerous opportunities to collaborate with colleagues, become effective team members, and manage conflict.
- Demonstrate evidence of applied and integrated learning: Graduates will be able to articulate and apply the theoretical content of their academic preparation with relevant knowledge and abilities essential to their chosen career.
- Use information for decision making: Graduates will be able to identify, evaluate, and responsibly use information needed for decision making.
While this list is not inclusive of all the skills that employers value, it represents the most frequently identified qualities supported by research and advocated by the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U), the Quality Assurance (QA) Commons, and the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), among others.
Implementation: The Graduate Profile Academy
The Kentucky Graduate Profile Academy, which consists of three members and an alternate from each of Kentucky’s eight four-year public institutions and four KCTCS campuses, to assess the learning outcomes in Kentucky's degree and credential programs.
With funding provided by the CPE, the academy will review their institution's programs using CPE data and tools, including an employability scan, or EScan, a method for evaluating higher education programs based on how well they prepare students to succeed in a workplace.
Once program review is complete, the group will make plans for adjusting curricula to fully integrate the needed learning outcomes of the Graduate Profile.
Helpful links
2021-22 Academy Membership
The Graduate Profile Academy is coordinated by Janna Vice. If you have questions, you can contact her at janna.vice@ky.gov or at 859-893-8423 .
- Ashland Community and Technical College
- Team Chair: Dr. Todd Brand CAO
- Dr. Sara Brown Distance Learning Coordinator
- Ashley Vanderpool Director of Career Services
- Alternate: Dale Queen Instructor, Arts and Sciences
- Eastern Kentucky University
- Team Chair: Dr. Nicola Mason Chair, Teaching, Learning & Educational Leadership
- Dr. Chad Foster Associate Professor, Homeland Security
- Starr Wentzel Director, First Year Course
- Alternate: Dr. Russell Carpenter Assistant Provost
- Gateway Community and Technical College
- Team Chair: Frannie Bennett QEP Director, English Instructor
- Dr. Denise Fritsch Dean of Instiutional Effectiveness
- Paula Barnes Workforce Development Liaison
- Alternate: Dr. Amy Carrino, Dean of Business, IT and Professional Studies
- Kentucky State University
- Team Chair: Dr. Frederick Williams Acting Chair and Professor, school of Criminal Justice
- Bruce Griffis, Assistant Professor of Biology
- Dr. Tonika East Assistant Director, Office of Career and Professional Development
- Alternate: Dr. Charles Holloway Vice Provost for Student Success and Retention
- Madisonville Community College
- Team Chair: Felecia Johnson Coordinator of Special Projects
- Dr. Cathy Vaughan Dean of Student Affairs
- Dr. Brittney Hernandez-Stevenson Muhlenberg Campus Manager
- Alternate: Amanda Skeen, Associate Professor
- Morehead State University
- Team Chair: Dr. Laurie Couch Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education & Student Success
- Dr. Tim O'Brien Associate Professor of Mathematics and Co-Director of the Quality Enhancement Plan
- Megan Boone Director of Career Services and Director of the Center for Career Development & Experiential Education
- Alternate: Dr. Janet Ratliff Associate Professor of Management and Entrepreneurship
- Murray State University
- Team Chair: Ashley Ireland Assistant Provost and Director of Online Programs
- Dr. Firm Faith Watson Director of the Faculty Development Center
- Peggy Whaley Director of Student Engagement and Success
- Matt Purdy, Director of Career Services and Director of the Center for Career Development and Experiential Education
- Alternate: Bob Pervine Associate Provost
- Northern Kentucky University
- Team Chair: Dr. Bethany Bowling Associate Dean, College of Arts and Sciences
- Dr. Meg Hensley Unit Director for Student Support
- Dr. Jen Cellio Associate Professor of English
- Alternate: Dr. Abdou Ndoye Interim Vice Provost for Undergraduate Academic Affairs
- Owensboro Community and Technical College
- Team Co-chair: Dr. Meredith Skaggs, Faculty and Department Head, Humanities and Fine Arts
- Team Co-chair: Nicole Ralph Director of Experiential Learning and Title III
- Dr. Shane Armstrong, Dean of Academic Affairs, Arts and Sciences
- University of Kentucky
- Team Chair: Dr. Katie Cardarelli Senior Associate Provost for Administration and Academic Affairs
- Dr. Kirsten Turner Vice President for Student Success
- Dr. Beth Garvy Associate Dean for Biomedical Education
- Alternate: Dr. Katherine McCormick, associate Vice President for Student Excellence and Egagement and Acting Associate Provost for Planning and Assessment
- University of Louisville
- Team Chair: Dr. Beth Willey Vice Provost for UG Education
- Dr. Gail DePuy Vice Provost for Engaged Learning
- Bill Fletcher Director, University Career Center
- Alternate: Dr. Douglas Craddock Provost's Chief of Staff
- Western Kentucky University
- Team Chair: Dr. Molly Kerby Assistant Provost for Institutional Effectiveness, Professor of Sociology
- Dr. Marko Dumancic Director for the Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning; Associate Professor of History
- Dr. Molly Dunkum, associate professor, Colonnade Co-director
- Alternate: Jennifer Walton-Hanley, Associate Professor, Colonnade Co-director
Last Updated: 8/31/2022