Graduates of 2019 Report Successful “First Destinations”

Graduates from the Class of 2019 are finding success in their lives after Fisher, according to results from the First Destinations Survey (FDS) administered by the College annually to all bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate degree recipients.

Based on a 75.3% knowledge rate, 85 percent of those surveyed reported that their first destination outcome was either very or somewhat related to their career goal, and 87 percent said they were satisfied with their overall Fisher experience.

The FDS survey reports outcomes of employment (both full- and part-time, volunteering, military service, or a gap year), continuing education (the pursuit of additional education), and still seeking (still exploring options six months after graduation). For the Class of 2019, the all-College employment outcome was 79%, continuing education was 13%, and still seeking was 8%. At the undergraduate level, the results were 72%, 19%, and 9%, respectively. According to Dr. Julia Overton-Healy, director for career services, this is comparable to national data for undergraduate degree earners.

“St. John Fisher College is invested in creating an educational culture that is both academic and career-ready. From day one on campus, our students are afforded multiple opportunities to explore what’s next, and build skills and experiences to make them competitive in their chosen careers. In other words, a Fisher graduate is ready for whatever comes next,” said Overton-Healy.

The report also revealed that the top 10 industries where our graduates can be found working include health care, education, accounting, retail, human resources, insurance, food and beverage, non-profit, manufacturing, and public relations/marketing.  From a continuing education standpoint, they are pursuing advanced degrees in pharmacy, accounting, law, public health, business administration, dentistry, education, taxation, literacy, school counseling, mental health counseling, and library media.

Overton-Healy referenced a number of ongoing efforts at the College that are aimed at better preparing students for the work world. Among them are the use of the National Association of Colleges and Employers Career-Readiness Competencies to inform learning outcomes in a variety of academic majors; the addition of the job search tool Handshake to expand employer engagement as well as opportunities for students looking for internships and employment; the launch of the Fisher Flight Plan, a career immersion experience for students; and the Career Accelerator Award which provides funding for students’ out-of-pocket expenses for internships, conferences, professional clothing, and graduate school application fees. In 2018, the creation of the Center for Career and Academic Planning was instrumental in the College’s delivery of The Fisher Edge; an integrated approach to student success.