Governor Rick Scott Issues ‘Ready, Set, Work’ University Challenge

By  //  December 2, 2015

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Governor Rick Scott announced the “Ready, Set, Work” University Challenge, which challenges state-funded universities to get 100 percent of their graduates (not going on to graduate school) full-time employment within a year for those receiving each university’s two most popular degrees.

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Governor Rick Scott announced the “Ready, Set, Work” University Challenge, which challenges state-funded universities to get 100 percent of their graduates (not going on to graduate school) full-time employment within a year for those receiving each university’s two most popular degrees.

Governor Scott is encouraging universities to join the “Ready, Set, Work” Challenge by the first day of the legislative session (January 12th), by calling his office at (850) 717-9507.

“Parents dream of their children being gainfully employed in a career field of their interest. In order to achieve this dream, families save and plan for years to afford to attend a state university,” said Gov. Rick Scott.

Rick Scott
Rick Scott

“Yet, far too many university students are graduating today, some after spending years of their family’s savings and others after taking on decades of debt, not able to find a job. Our state-funded universities can and must do more to help graduates get a good paying job.”

“Today, I am challenging all state universities to better align their degrees with a student’s opportunity to get a job when they graduate. We must make a commitment to students that they will be able to get a job when they graduate, and that is why I am asking all our state universities to accept the challenge of ensuring 100 percent of graduates getting their two most popular degrees will be able to get a job within a year of graduation.

“We should be aiming for 100 percent job placement within a year of graduation – especially with a university’s most popular degrees. We fund state universities to help students get a job when they graduate. That is a family’s dream when they send their child through higher education, and I know all of our schools will rise to this challenge to help every student get READY and WORK,” said Scott

Currently, graduation/employment data from the Florida Board of Governors indicates that the average full-time employment rate for state university graduates (not including those going on to a graduate degree program) within their top two degree programs is around 60 percent.

The below chart outlines the current top two degree programs at Florida universities:

University Top Two Degrees by Sub-Discipline                                                                     (Ranked by Graduates Entering the Labor Force)
• UCF Psychology, General
• UCF Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse
• UF Business Administration and Management, General
• UF Psychology, General
• FSU English Language and Literature, General
• FSU Psychology, General
• USF Psychology, General
• USF Criminology
• FIU Business Administration and Management, General
• FIU Psychology, General
• FAU Accounting
• FAU Elementary Education and Teaching
• FGCU Mass Communication/Media Studies
• FGCU Business Administration and Management, General
• UNF Mass Communication/Media Studies
• UNF Psychology, General
• FAMU Criminal Justice/Safety Studies
• FAMU Business Administration and Management, General
• UWF Mass Communication/Media Studies
• UWF Health and Physical Education/Fitness, General