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
In addition to the specialized content knowledge students acquire from their major, the Graduate Profile focuses on the workforce skills that graduates need to thrive in their careers. The following 10 Essential Skills are 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 a four-member team from each of Kentucky’s eight four-year public institutions and all 16 KCTCS campuses, provides a framework for campus-to-campus collaboration as each institution works to embed the 10 Essential Skills in each degree and certificate program.
Each Academy Team is committed to reviewing its institution's programs with the support and guidance of CPE staff, data, and tools. The Academy Teams’ ultimate goal is for continuous improvement and to ensure high quality, relevant education for all Kentucky students.
The Graduate Profile Academy is coordinated by Dr. Janna Vice. If you have questions, you can contact her at janna.vice@ky.gov or at 859-893-8423.
Helpful links
Academy I Membership
Academy I Membership includes the first 12 institutions to join the Graduate Profile.
- Ashland Community and Technical College
- Team Lead: Dr. Todd Brand - CAO
- Dr. Sara Brown - Distance Learning Coordinator
- Ashley Vanderpool - Director of Career Services
- Dale Queen - Instructor, Arts and Sciences
- Eastern Kentucky University
- Team Lead: Dr. Nicola Mason - Chair, Teaching, Learning & Educational Leadership
- Dr. Chad Foster - Associate Professor, Homeland Security
- Starr Wentzel - Director, First Year Course
- Dr. Russell Carpenter - Assistant Provost
- Gateway Community and Technical College
- Team Chair: Frannie Bennett - QEP Director, English Instructor
- Dr. Denise Fritsch - Dean of Institutional Effectiveness
- Paula Barnes - Workforce Development Liaison
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- Dr. Katherine McCormick - Associate Vice President for Student Excellence and Engagement 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
- 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
- Jennifer Walton-Hanley - Associate Professor, Colonnade Co-Director
Academy II Membership
- Big Sandy Community and Technical College
- Dr. Lisa Music - Division Chair, Math and Science
- Rachelle Burchett - Director, Community, Workforce and Economic Development
- Liz Cole - Professor and Counselor
- Mark Wells - Division Chair, Business, Social and Behavioral Sciences
- Bluegrass Community and Technical College
- Jon Thrower - BCTC Teaching and Learning Center Director
- Kausha Miller - Assistant Dean of Student Success Initatives
- Colleen Merrill - Associate Professor of Art Teaching and Learning Center Coordinator
- Melanie Williamson - Academic Dean
- Elizabethtown Community and Technical College
- Darrin Powell - Acting Provost/Chief Academic Officer
- Jacqueline Hawkins - Professor, Division Chair of Arts and Humanities
- Benjamin Whitlock - Director of Student Success Hub
- Y. Kae Cooper - Associate Professor
- Hazard Community and Technical College
- Dr. Amanda Spencer-Barnes - Professor of Mathematics/Faculty Chair
- Dr. Ella Strong - Chief Academic Officer
- Lois Puffer - Director of Institutional Effectiveness
- Bryan Barger - First Year Exp/Online Learning Coordinator
- Hopkinsville Community College
- Dr. Chris Boyett - Chief Academic Officer
- Angel Prescott - Chief Student Affairs Officer
- Norman Godwin - Instructor
- Taylor Carlisle - Professor
- Jefferson Community and Technical College
- Dr. Kara Schotter - Dean of Allied Health and Interim Associate Vice President of Technical Education
- Dr. Brittany Inge - Associate Vice President of Institutional Effectiveness, Research, and Planning
- Grant Gamble - Dean of Trade and Industry and Interim Associate Vice President of Technical Education
- Dr. Nicole (Nickie) Cobb - Associate Vice President of Workforce Solutions
- Maysville Community and Technical College
- Dr. Angela Fultz - Professor of Chemistry; Faculty Assembly Chair; Math and Natural Science Division Chair
- Sharon Wilson - Professor of Biology; QEP Director
- Rebecca Morton - Director of Work-Based Learning
- Missy Bishop - Associate Professor, Administrative Office Technology
- Somerset Community College
- Dr. Ron Meade - Dean
- Daniel Aaron Bradley - Professor
- Catherine Tackett - Student Affairs Supervisor
- Jon Burlew - Dean
- Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College (SKYCTC)
- Chris Royse - Dean, Business and Information Technologies
- Dr. Angie Harlan - Dean, Allied Health & Nursing
- April Harris - Assistant Professor
- Carmen Gaskins - Professor
- Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College
- Dr. Erin Reasor - Dean of Healthcare and Technial Programming
- Dr. Sandy Holbrook - Professor of Psychology
- Melvin Dixon - Workforce Solutions
- Heather Lewis - Dual Credit Coordinator
- West Kentucky Community and Technical College
- Sanci Teague - Interim Director of the Student Success Center
- Brent Taylor - Associate Professor of History
- Mary Jo Campbell - Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy
- Gary Reese - Professor
Last Updated: 9/6/2023