High Impact Practices and Their Effect on Beginning Career Outcomes in Agriculture

Abstract

High impact practices (HIPs), which are offered to undergraduates at Auburn University, help build both soft and hard skills that these employers stated they are seeking from candidates in today’s job market. The Auburn University College of Agriculture invests resources into helping students become well-rounded individuals ready to enter the workforce or continue in academia. With a thriving job market for agriculture graduates, it is important to understand if HIPs help equip graduates for their next steps. The First Destination Survey is a conventional practice for colleges and universities across the world. It gives insight on graduates’ employment activities in the first six months post-graduation. It also may give insight on potential gaps in academic and professional development opportunities during college. Our research objective is to determine whether HIPs have a statistically measurable impact on the probability of College of Agriculture students becoming gainfully employed or continuing education through graduate or professional school within six months of graduation. HIPs in the First Destination Survey at Auburn University include e-Portfolios, study abroad experiences, internships, undergraduate research, and co-ops. We obtained First Destination Survey data from Auburn University College of Agriculture. The data consists of 730 observations on students who graduated from 2020 to 2022. We use a logit model where the outcome variables are securing full time employment or attending continuing education within six months of graduation. Our control variables include academic major, GPA, HIPs, and demographic information. Results will inform College of Agriculture students of the value of HIPs in successfully securing employment in their chosen field. The results of the study show positive statistically significant results for participating in at least one high impact practice for continuing education or becoming gainfully employed within the first six months after graduation.