Indiana University Southeast Chancellor Ray Wallace and One Southern Indiana President and CEO Wendy Dant Chesser spoke with business leaders from the Southern Indiana and metropolitan Louisville region during a Nov. 8 appreciation luncheon in New Albany.

The luncheon allowed IU Southeast leadership to thank employers who have regularly supported the university and employed its graduates. It also provided a platform for them to share how the university is developing a college-educated and work-ready workforce to meet the region’s challenges and pursue opportunities for the common good.

Highlights from the luncheon included:

• Uric Dufrene, executive vice chancellor for academic affairs, spoke about “The State of Employment: Regional Workforce and College Attainment.” The Louisville metropolitan area had more than 20,400 job postings over the previous 12 months and more than 6,500 job postings over the previous 90 days that required a bachelor’s degree or higher. Fewer than 25 percent of Southern Indiana residents, however, have a bachelor’s degree or higher.
• Danielle Leffler, director of the Career Development Center, shared six benefits to businesses and organizations establishing an internship program. These benefits include increasing the business’s or organization’s visibility on campus, developing a talent pipeline through student referrals and positive word-of-mouth, and gaining quality candidates for temporary positions or for completing “back burner” projects.
• Ashley McKay, director of student accounting services, spoke about the benefits of tuition-assistance programs for employers. These programs include tuition payment via vouchers and tuition reimbursement. Benefits to employers include lower recruiting costs because of reduced employee turnover and the development of a more motivated, loyal workforce.