The Art of Skill-Building

Salisbury University’s Approach to Empowering Graduates for Diverse Career Paths Beyond the Studio

The French impressionist painter Edgar Degas once said, “Art is not what you see, but what you make others see.” As students prepare to enter the workforce, they are faced with the challenge of how to represent their skills, potential, and value to prospective employers. Many students feel at a loss as to how to do this, or have a narrow interpretation of their experience: “I am a Literature major – I know how to read long books and write long papers;” or “I am an Art major – I know how to draw or sculpt or paint.” The truth is, however, that students are developing a whole host of robust career-relevant skills throughout their college experience. Many of these skills are found within their major’s curriculum, and Salisbury University’s Art Department is an exemplar.

Through the EEQ CERT program, the Essential Employability Qualities (EEQs) that Salisbury Art students graduate with have been collaboratively identified, along with opportunities to continue to strengthen workplace preparedness for future graduates. Throughout the Spring 2024 semester, QA Commons worked with the Salisbury University Art Department faculty to perform a deep dive into their curriculum and resources, aligning key elements of the program with each of the eight EEQs employers look for in a high-quality member. The certification findings were that not only are students developing strong workplace-relevant employability skills, but they are also graduating with business acumen that often comes to the surprise (and delight) of students, their families, and employers.

The EEQ CERT evaluation identified Salisbury University’s art program as highly effective in cultivating the following skills:

• Communication
• Teamwork
• Critical Thinking
• Creativity & Problem Solving
• Learning & Adaptability
• Responsibility & Professionalism
• Motivation & Initiative

Salisbury’s Art department provided example after example of how their students develop critical skills that help them succeed in their coursework and, in turn, benefit their future. The ability to give and receive constructive feedback is often lacking among new members of the workforce, but art students have years of practice through their rigorous studio art critique process. Employers routinely point to feedback exchange as a skill that fosters strong communication, collaboration, and continuous improvement in a professional and respectful environment.

Problem-solving is inherently creative. Throughout the artistic process, students encounter obstacles, such as technical issues or creative blocks, requiring them to develop problem-solving skills that are transferable to any workplace. As noted by faculty, “The creative process is not just artsy magic. It is an intellectual exercise requiring discipline, flexibility, and grit.” Resilience and adaptability are required to battle through any robust creative problem.

Relevant business skills were found in courses like the Design Seminar, in which students are introduced to the concept of workflow, a critical element to business productivity and efficiency. This workflow is then practiced further in courses like UX Design, where students form a user-centered mindset, accelerating the development of their understanding of the complexities of the business world. In Global Contemporary Art History, students examine and analyze contemporary art and its contexts, including how political, social, and economic situations influence the creation of works of art and their function, audience, meaning, and significance. Art students’ ability to meticulously analyze visual and textual content can enhance quality control, branding, and content creation in a business context.

The experience of working together to identify successes and opportunities has celebrated the excellence of Salisbury’s Art faculty and administration, inspiring them to further enhance their program to build transferable skills. The next challenge is the exciting part: awakening the consciousness of the students and their networks as they embark on their professional journeys. QA Commons recommends all EEQ Certified programs engage in Student Employability Badging – either through QA Commons’ badging process on the Credly platform or using their institution’s own platform. Through digital badges, students can showcase their “human skills” on platforms like LinkedIn, as well as in resumes, cover letters, and interviews.

Let’s face it: most students who declare an Art major don’t go in with the intention of being anything other than an artist. Everyone should be able to follow their dreams, whatever they may be. A large part of the value of higher education is the diversity of skills and experiences that prepare students to have choices after graduation. The Salisbury University Art Department has equipped its graduates with the ability to pursue careers in not only art but a wide variety of strong business fields. With the rise of AI, the need for creative skills is gaining value; now is the time for art students to capitalize on their skills. As these Salisbury artists bring together a series of brush strokes to create a greater picture, they now have the tools to make others see the extraordinary depth and breadth of their talent.