Support the full range of careers both within and beyond academia.
Problem Statement
Historically, the predominant career path for PhD-recipients has been as a faculty member in a North American college or university. The reality has changed and doctoral education must catch up. In all disciplines more than half of new PhD degree recipients will work in roles beyond academia. We define diverse career pathways as those leading to business, government, and nonprofit sectors, as well as to academia. Roles in academia include tenure-line faculty positions, other teaching titles, and the great variety of administrative staff roles for which PhD-holders are well suited. We do not value or prefer one of these employment sectors over another.
Moving successfully into these positions requires that PhD students have the opportunity to explore the range of possibilities in conjunction with self-assessment of values, skills and interests; are able to prepare for their next career stage; and are then able to successfully pursue their careers of choice. It is not required that faculty members develop expertise in the requirements for each sector. Rather faculty advisors should support students as they explore, prepare for, and pursue their next professional chapter.