In an engaging display of collaboration between higher education and the business community, leaders at Doane University recently partnered with local business executives for a full-day summit focused on shaping the future of college education.
The event, held on campus, aimed to define the attributes of the “ultimate graduate,” inform the design of a new academic building, and ensure alignment between academic programs and evolving workforce needs.
A Purposeful Partnership
The initiative brought together a diverse group of stakeholders — faculty, administrators, students and business leaders — with a shared goal: preparing graduates for success in today’s complex, fast-changing world. The day’s agenda was built to gather real-time insights from employers, explore essential skill development and spark conversation around how academic spaces can better support collaboration and innovation.
Heather Keele of Clark & Enersen underscored the importance of broadening students’ perspectives as they transition into higher education.
“Individual success is really team success,” she said. “Shifting that mindset — from ‘me’ to ‘we’ — is huge from a liberal arts standpoint. We need to think about how programming, whether through coursework, clubs or other experiences, helps students make that shift.”
Rich Claussen of Olsson echoed that sentiment, highlighting the kind of mindset today’s employers are looking for.
“We value people who are fearless. We value people who are not afraid to fail,” he said. “We value people who are competitive — who want to win, but who also want to help make others successful, even more so than themselves.”
Looking Ahead
While the day was a success, organizers identified opportunities for improvement. These include enhancing pre-event communication, better pacing of the afternoon sessions, exploring digital tools for capturing group input, and integrating student voices into all phases of the discussion. Follow-up efforts, such as structured surveys or calls to action, are also being considered to maintain momentum.
Doane’s leadership and its partners left the event with renewed commitment and a shared purpose: to create a transformative learning experience that equips students not only with knowledge, but with the character and adaptability to lead in a changing world.
