FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – A class recently created in the University of Arkansas' Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences is preparing graduates for professional employment by examining the roles of character and behavior in the workplace.

Professional Growth and Critical Careers Skills was created by agricultural economics and agribusiness professor H.L. Goodwin, in part based on a recommendation from the college's Dean's Executive Advisory Board.

The class (AFLS 3993) emphasizes character, soft skills, leadership, attitude, values, priorities and corporate culture. The first three classes, beginning in fall 2015, were limited to 12 students, but capacity is increasing to 20 this spring.

"Members of the Dean's Executive Advisory Board said the biggest need for new hires is training in professionalism, critical thinking and soft skills," said Goodwin. "I had been injecting these topics in my courses for several years and this had always been a passion of mine — to prepare students to have a steep trajectory of success when they entered their respective career fields. So I seized the opportunity and prepared the class."

The fall and spring semester class, which was created for Bumpers students but has included students from other colleges, uses the MERIT Profile to help students identify core values and strengths, and develop weaknesses.

"It gave me the ability to step back and look at myself," said Joseph Hiltz, a poultry science master's degree student from Woodline, Maryland, who took the class in 2015. "I feel that without some of the character assessments, it was hard to see where weaknesses are, but with this class, we were able to find those soft areas, look at them and improve, and that's one of the most important things moving forward professionally is being able to look at your weaknesses and improve before you look at other people."

Topics include adjusting to mistakes, casting off negatives, verifying values, scheduling priorities, building character, framing decisions/choices and personal improvement plans. The acronym MAXIMIZERS guides students toward personal leadership, strategic thinking and behavior, critical thinking and problem identification, and communication to understanding concepts for success, including:

M - make things happen
A - achieve personal significance
X - x-out the negatives
I - internalize right principles
M - march to a mission
I - integrate all of life
Z - zero in on the needs of others
E - energize internally
R - realign rigorously
S - stay the course

"Students have the opportunity to really develop themselves for successful career advancement by focusing on internal character and presenting themselves based on their strengths and passions," said Goodwin. "They develop life mission statements and six-month personal improvement plans. In addition, they have the opportunity to learn about themselves based on both the Birkman and DiSC assessment, standards in industry for evaluating and placing new hires and appropriate advancement candidates."

Birkman and DiSC assessments are given by Goodwin and assistant course instructor Sandra Martini. Both are trained Birkman associates.  

Each class meeting includes interactive discussion with the lecturer or guest speaker, small group (three people) sessions expanding on the week's focus topic and written observations in the form of exercises or journaling. Students meet with assigned career coaches, present themselves to industry professionals in mock interviews and prepare six-month written personal improvement plans.

"Students have the unique opportunity to have four one-on-one career coaching sessions with industry and community stakeholders," said Goodwin. "These sessions are about two-hours in length and focus on life success, stress management, conflict resolution and developing their 'personal brand.'" 

Guest lecturers, either in person or through video conferencing, have included Donnie Smith, CEO, and Russell Tooley, head of continuous improvement, Tyson Foods; Mandy Kordsmeier, holiday buyer, Sam's Club; Steve Clark, executive director, Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce; Dan Ferritor, chancellor emeritus, U of A; Cosette Dixon, professional life coach; Jim Moore, founder of Watch DOGS (Dads of Great Students) and author of "Be a Man of Standing," a biblical guide to manhood; Doug Sprouse, mayor of Springdale; and Monty Henderson, COO emeritus, George's poultry company.

Smith discussed "zamura" with the class, a Kenyan/Rwandan word which means to lift up and encourage. "That's got nothing to do with being the CEO of a food company," said Smith. "Or does it? That's the real question. What is your life about? When you get out of here, you're going to get an opportunity to make an impact. So what is your life going to be about?"

"It teaches you foundational principles you need throughout life," said Bri Neumann, a 2016 master's degree food science graduate from Eureka, Missouri, who took the class in 2015. "It's about how you treat people, and that's what gets you far in life."

Recent Bumpers College graduates who took the class are now employed at Tyson Foods, Walmart, J.B. Hunt and Koch Industries, among others.

"This is my dream class," said Goodwin. "There is a high level of interest by industry stakeholders and community leaders. Every semester, every group of students, every set of speakers bring new thinking and energy. I love doing this course, so much so that I almost feel guilty that I get paid to do it…almost."

About the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences: Bumpers College provides life-changing opportunities to position and prepare graduates who will be leaders in the businesses associated with foods, family, the environment, agriculture, sustainability and human quality of life; and who will be first-choice candidates of employers looking for leaders, innovators, policy makers and entrepreneurs. The college is named for Dale Bumpers, former Arkansas governor and longtime U.S. senator who made the state prominent in national and international agriculture.

About the University of Arkansas: The University of Arkansas provides an internationally competitive education for undergraduate and graduate students in more than 200 academic programs. The university contributes new knowledge, economic development, basic and applied research, and creative activity while also providing service to academic and professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the University of Arkansas among only 2 percent of universities in America that have the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the University of Arkansas among its top American public research universities. Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas comprises 10 colleges and schools and maintains a low student-to-faculty ratio that promotes personal attention and close mentoring.