A Mountain View College Executive Dean On Why Engineers Need Soft Skills More Than Ever
By Jill Randolph January 31, 2011
The following is an interview transcript with Dr. Karen Valencia, the Executive Dean of Science, Allied Health, and Physical Education Division at Mountain View College in Dallas, Texas. Dr. Valencia has worked at the college since 2005 and is also the Principle Investigator of Mountain View College's Department of Education College Cost Reduction and Access Act Grant.
Mountain View College has provided accessible, affordable, and accredited educational opportunities in southwestern Dallas since 1970. They offer flexible course scheduling and a broad range of educational opportunities. They provide a variety of academic, technical, cultural, and recreational programs, as well as more than 70 associate degree and certificate programs. At present, the college enrolls more than 10,000 students.
Jill Randolph: What areas should high-school students focus on to be accepted into a program like yours? How and when should they start working on their plans?
Dr. Karen Valencia: The earlier the better. Students who are pursuing engineering need to have a strong interest in math and science. Important areas in math include algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and calculus. For science, I recommend they focus on physics and chemistry. They also need to have a strong background in computers. A solid understanding of government, economics, history, and English is also essential.
In the past, engineers could work in isolation independent of their colleagues, but today, they need to have social skills and also be team players. Their communication skills should be sharp and they need to excel at time management and multitasking.
Young students should be learning math skills, working puzzles, and thinking spatially. They should develop those skills at an early age and throughout their school career.
Jill Randolph: Which qualities make a great engineer?
Dr. Karen Valencia: A great engineer has the ability to work within a team. Strong communication and listening skills are critical. Great engineers also need to be excellent problem-solvers, dedicated to understanding the mechanics of how something works and questioning not only what is known, but what is unknown. It is very important to be creative lifelong learners as well as developing strengths in math, science, and computers.
Jill Randolph: Should engineering students do anything out of the ordinary to stand out to employers?
Dr. Karen Valencia: Other than being excellent students, it is very important to demonstrate to a future employer their ability to work with a team, as well as independently. Communication skills and the ability to work well with others and creatively solve problems are all fundamental.
Jill Randolph: Which specialties or industries within the field of engineering are most in demand right now?
Dr. Karen Valencia: Environmental, biomedical, and civil engineering are experiencing the largest employment increases, and mechanical, aerospace, industrial, geological, and petroleum engineering are expected to do very well also. Civil engineering is also expected to grow, but all the areas of engineering have been good, solid employers. We specialize in mechanical engineering on our campus.
Jill Randolph: Is there a reason why you specialize in mechanical engineering?
Dr. Karen Valencia: We specialize in that area because of a newly developed compact in the state of Texas among universities and community colleges. It enables students who begin in a participating community college program in mechanical engineering to seamlessly transition to one of the signing universities. There are no concerns regarding transferability of courses. We are excited because it is a first for our state.
Jill Randolph: What are the most important ways your students can prepare for employment in the engineering field?
Dr. Karen Valencia: They need to concentrate on their schoolwork, excel in math and science, and learn computers. Acceptance to a good college is important, and obtaining summer jobs or internships in engineering is beneficial.
Jill Randolph: Do you help them find internship and co-op opportunities?
Dr. Karen Valencia: We do. We have a grant through the Department of Education -- The College Cost Reduction and Access Act Grant. We also work with local employers who talk with our students and offer advice. Employers do not actively recruit because our students are at the community college level, but it allows our students to get a first hand account of the field and assess if they are on the right career path.
Jill Randolph: What advice do you give to students regarding social networking and traditional networking?
Dr. Karen Valencia: The technological world has changed radically. It is essential for students to be conversant with blogs, wikis, RSS feeds, instant messaging and email. Because these are all tools that engineers use for their work, students need to be comfortable with these technologies.
Jill Randolph: Do you recommend any books or websites related to careers in engineering?
Dr. Karen Valencia: We recommend engineeringjobs.com and citytowninfo.com. We also utilize career fairs and recruiters to help our students discover all existing opportunities.
Jill Randolph: Because the engineering field is strong, are employers recruiting students, or do students still have to market themselves to make an impression?
Dr. Karen Valencia: It is very important in this competitive economy for students to have good resumes and interview skills. We have instructors who rehearse these skills with our students. Our instructors work through practice questions and help students think critically on their feet.
Students also need to present themselves well. They need to dress appropriately, speak clearly, and listen carefully because recruiters are looking at them as potential employees and assessing their ability to communicate and represent their company.
The recruiters are actively looking for good employees, but it is up to students to portray themselves as the best available. If a recruiter asks, "why should I hire you?", they should have a good answer prepared. Students need to be knowledgeable and capable of communicating their skills and capabilities.
Jill Randolph: Do you offer certificate programs for mid-career students coming back to specialize in a certain area of engineering or for high school graduates who want to take a few courses to assess their interest level?
Dr. Karen Valencia: We are designing an engineering technology certificate to accompany our Pre-Engineering Associate of Science Emphasis Degree in Mechanical Engineering. It will give students a foundation in pre-engineering and help them determine if mechanical engineering is the right direction or if they want to transition to another area.
Jill Randolph: Are associate level classes more cost effective than those at a university?
Dr. Karen Valencia: Absolutely. At this juncture our tuition is $45 a credit hour without any additional fees such as lab or parking fees. This is phenomenal in today's market. We offer the second lowest cost in the State of Texas, which is attractive to a student looking to stay at home, conserve their resources, and attain a good education. Also, these courses are fully articulated and fully transferable to universities.
We hire the same instructors as the universities. Often instructors work at both a university and a community college, which reaffirms the equality of education between the two. Classes are very small, and we have tutoring, libraries, and computer labs.
