Publication Date
Spring 2014
Degree Level
B.B.A.
Program
Honors
First Advisor
Ward, Stephanie
Second Advisor
Uhlig, Paul
Document Type
Thesis
Medium
Manuscript
Abstract
The cost of attending a public university rose 42% from 2000 to 2011 (National). This alarming rate, paired with the increasingly competitive employment landscape, forces universities to find unique differentiators when recruiting prospective students. Institutions, which students pay large sums of money to attend, have an obligation to prepare graduates for successful careers. Universities have no choice but to innovate, creating new programs and opportunities for students to attend college and gain the skills necessary to obtain a job upon graduation.
One such example of a program that meets both of these challenges is the Greehey Scholars Program (GSP). The GSP uses a three-pronged approach to develop students, going beyond the classroom environment and normal degree plans. In short, the GSP provides a solution to not only lower student debt but also to provide students the necessary opportunities to attain a successful career. This paper will discuss the issues that students face relating to both the financial burdens of education and challenges of career success upon graduation. Later sections provide solutions to these obstacles. The paper will outline elements of the GSP, one of these solutions, evidence of the program's success, and key features for adoption of similar models by other universities.
Recommended Citation
White, Matthew, "The Greehey Scholars Program as an Innovative Solution to the Student Debt and Employment Crisis of Recent Graduates" (2014). Honors Program Theses and Research Projects. 78.
https://commons.stmarytx.edu/honorstheses/78
Creative Commons License
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