Now imagine about 500 more packaged in the Memorial Hall in Over-the-Rhine. Put these two impressive crowds in your mind. You now have the understanding of the number of graduates that the University of Cincinnati sends in the workforce year after year.
As a university, there is no more precious contribution that we can make to society and the economy than that of a graduate of the university freshly struck and ready for the career which is ready to generate an impact on the workplace. In almost all the conversations I have with CEOs and business leaders, a message is clear: they need a constant talent pipeline.
If the American economy is motivated by human capital, then its fuel is the knowledge that these talented individuals acquire – through traditional higher education, yes, but also through labor development programs, technical training and, of course, experience of the real world. My point? Education and learning throughout life are as essential as ever to supply the economic engine and stimulate personal growth.