Physics & Employability

Texas Lutheran University’s Physics’ department chair Dr. Toni Sauncy shares why she’s engaging in the Essential Employability Qualities pilot:

TLU Physics Department Chair Dr. Toni Sauncy said one of the reasons TLU was selected is her involvement in professional development and career initiatives for undergraduate physics students throughout the past six years while also leading a National Science Foundation grant (now compete) with the American Institute of Physics.

“That work led to a number of resources for faculty and students and spurred follow-up studies aimed at making sure students are prepared for careers when they graduate,” Sauncy said. “This potential for having an external verification that we are doing a good job of preparing students with the kinds of knowledge and skills that are expected by employers is important since it would be another sign of the quality program we offer at TLU. As part of the pilot project, we are developing not only the list of ‘essential qualities’ for our graduates, but also the process by which programs would be certified and maintain certification,” Sauncy said. “Our selection into the pilot is a signal from those who are driving this effort that TLU Applied Physics is ahead of the game in terms of paying attention to the kinds of ‘beyond the curriculum’ experiences that are essential for our students to be successful once they graduate.”

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