Highlander Pathways | Houghton University

Become career-ready with Highlander Pathways.

Gain industry-specific skills and critical competencies you need to be career-ready through general education requirements and co-curricular activities that will equip you for long-term success. To aid you in that core competency development, the Center for Student Success has developed the Highlander Pathways.

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Why These Pathways?

For many years, the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) has surveyed employers to identify the core competencies of successful new employees. Recent research has also shown that many U.S. students are also not as well prepared for the workplace as they should be. At Houghton, every student will have an opportunity to develop these core competencies through the breadth of their coursework and additional experiences at Houghton.

Build your core professional competencies as you complete these Highlander Pathways:

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Leadership & Teamwork

Refine your leadership skills through organization, prioritization and motivation while capitalizing on your strengths to achieve individual and organizational goals. A strong leader will exhibit the ability to build and maintain collaborative, Christ-centered relationships to work toward common goals while appreciating diverse viewpoints.

NACE Competencies*

Leadership: Recognize and capitalize on personal and team strengths to achieve organizational goals.

Teamwork: Build and maintain collaborative relationships to work effectively toward common goals, while appreciating diverse viewpoints and shared responsibilities.

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Creative Communication & Problem Solving

Identify and respond to needs based on an understanding of situational context and logical analysis of relevant information. Effective communicators and problem solvers will clearly exchange ideas, information, facts and opinions from a Christ-centered perspective.

NACE Competencies*

Professionalism: Knowing work environments differ greatly, understand and demonstrate effective work habits, and act in the interest of the larger community and workplace.

Communication: Clearly and effectively exchange information, ideas, facts, and perspectives with persons inside and outside of an organization.

Critical Thinking: Identify and respond to needs based upon an understanding of situational context and logical analysis of relevant information.

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Vocational Calling Development & Discipleship

Understand and demonstrate ethical work habits as you engage in continuous learning and act in the interest of the larger community. Compassionate disciples establish habits that promote continued spiritual growth.

NACE Competencies*

Professionalism: Knowing work environments differ greatly, understand and demonstrate effective work habits, and act in the interest of the larger community and workplace.

Career & Self-Development: Proactively develop oneself and one’s career through continual personal and professional learning, awareness of one’s strengths and weaknesses, navigation of career opportunities, and networking to build relationships within and without one’s organization.

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Global Community Engagement & Service

Meet the challenges and expectations of leading a fulfilling life in a global community. Globally-minded scholar-servants equitably engage and include people from different local and global cultures as they approach challenges and opportunities with a heart of service.

NACE Competencies*

Equity & Inclusion: Demonstrate the awareness, attitude, knowledge, and skills required to equitably engage and include people from different local and global cultures. Engage in anti-oppressive practices that actively challenge the systems, structures, and policies of racism and inequity.

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Applied Technology & Innovation

Leverage technologies and new ideas ethically to enhance efficiencies, complete tasks and achieve goals.

NACE Competencies*

Technology: Understand and leverage technologies ethically to enhance efficiencies, complete tasks, and accomplish goals.

Professionalism: Knowing work environments differ greatly, understand and demonstrate effective work habits, and act in the interest of the larger community and workplace.

Houghton Highlander Pathways badge for Ethical Decision Making and Critical Thinking featuring justice scale icon.

Ethical Decision Making & Critical Thinking

Understand, respect and advocate for diverse perspectives as you exercise strong reasoning skills to analyze issues, make decisions and solve problems with innovative solutions. Ethical decision-makers demonstrate accountability, integrity and Christ-centered behavior.

NACE Competencies*

Critical Thinking: Identify and respond to needs based upon an understanding of situational context and logical analysis of relevant information.

Professionalism: Knowing work environments differ greatly, understand and demonstrate effective work habits, and act in the interest of the larger community and workplace.

Current students, ready to get started?

Begin your journey to becoming career-ready and track your progress on the Houghton Hub.

Access the Hub

*As defined by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE).