Making Degree Value Visible

AHA Learn Webinar: Helping Students Articulate the Value of Their Degrees

In this recorded AHA Learn webinar, hosted by the American Historical Association, five faculty members share their experiences participating in QA Commons’ EEQ Certification and Employability Skills Badge project. The panel explores what they learned about integrating employability into the history curriculum—and how to better support students in recognizing and communicating the value of their degrees in the job market.

Faculty takeaways with respect to EEQ CERT value and program impact include:

• Improved communication of program value: Faculty reported a shift in how they talk about the history major, moving away from abstract defenses toward clearly communicating the degree’s employability value to students, parents, and employers.
• Curriculum enhancement: Several faculty members revised student learning outcomes and course syllabi to explicitly include employability objectives aligned with the EEQ framework, making the skills students gain more transparent and intentional.
• Reflective practice and self-assessment: The EEQ process prompted faculty to become more introspective and systematic in their approach to program offerings, leading to better alignment between teaching practices and real-world skills.
• Faculty collaboration and program innovation: Participation encouraged deeper collaboration and discussion about program structure, including efforts to restructure introductory courses to build essential skills earlier in students’ academic journeys.
• Connection to student outcomes: Faculty reported improved tracking and articulation of practical course outcomes, including examples of students highlighting learning outcomes on resumes and stronger integration of internships and alumni engagement into the student experience.
• Increased focus on career readiness: Faculty became more proactive in preparing students for the job market through internships, career days, and alumni engagement – embedding career preparation more intentionally into the curriculum.

Reflections on the certification process include:

• Ease of process: Faculty reported that the process was less difficult and time-consuming than they had initially expected, delivering significant value relative to the time invested.
• Collaborative approach with QA Commons: Faculty described QA Commons as a thought partner rather than a traditional evaluator, emphasizing the supportive, asset-based coaching style throughout the process.
• Utility of certification report: The final report was viewed as a valuable tool for showcasing departmental employability efforts to provosts, deans, and other institutional leaders.