Meyer: The changing face of today's students

When you cover as many conferences and conventions as we do at Rubber News, you get to hear more than your fair share of keynote speeches.

Some are meant to entertain. Others are inspirational. And some groups or organizations work hard to find speakers who are closely tied to the industry they are serving.

Once in awhile, though, you'll come across a speaker who delivers a message that is truly thought-provoking, one that will come back to your mind weeks or months later.

That is the type of keynote Brad Putman, the dean of the College of Engineering at Bucknell University, gave during the recent ACS Rubber Division Spring Technical Meeting. As drawing students into STEM educational programs—and later careers—remains a challenge, he said it's imperative to engage students and "meet them where they are."

He shared a series of observations and study findings—many of them quite sobering—to give a snapshot of what educators and later, employers, are faced with.

First, it appears the pandemic helped make students less prepared for college. Taking data from the standard ACT test, he said it showed only 31 percent met "college readiness" for math, and 41 percent for reading, down 6 and 4 percent, respectively from 2020.

Depression and anxiety clearly come into play at a level most of us would find staggering. Putman said one in three teenage girls seriously consider suicide, and 13 percent attempted it in the last year, about double the rate of teenage boys.

Each year there are about 1,100 suicides on college campuses in the U.S. About 40 percent of students know someone who has attempted suicide, and 25 percent know someone who has died by suicide.

"I don't do this just to be a downer. It's just to know where students are coming from," Putman said. "To have that compassion and patience, but also how can we help them get out of it."

At Bucknell, he said they are working hard to help students—along with faculty and staff—find a sense of belonging. In addition to technical skills, there is an emphasis on developing what educators call "essential skills"—communication, critical thinking and learning to interact in social settings. These are not in place of technical preparation, he stressed, but in addition to it.

There also is more focus on social consciousness and community-engaged learning, along with putting context into how such teachings will fit into future lives and careers.

They also ask students and faculty four basic questions that can help determine whether they are thriving or not:

• Are your basic needs met?
• Do you find a place of belonging at Bucknell?
• Are you aware of the resources available to you?
• Do you feel yourself growing in multiple ways?

Putman said the educational experience is adapting. It's something that can't be forced, but it is worth it, given the ever-changing needs of today's students.

Meyer is editor of Rubber News. Follow him on LinkedIn and reach him at [email protected].