The University of Nevada, Reno first surveyed employers in 1993. The objective of the original survey was to more fully understand the job demands its students face upon graduation and how well the university is doing in preparing graduates to meet such demands. While the purpose of a university is much broader than only the preparation for employment, it is important that graduates are able to integrate the knowledge gained through a university education with a meaningful work experience. Therefore, it is necessary for the university to continue to collect information from employers to ascertain whether it is successful in preparing graduates for the work experience. It is also vital to the university’s educational goals to be able to discern whether the curriculum continues to be effective, or if further modifications are warranted.

The overall purpose of the 1996 employer survey was to determine how well the university prepares graduates for employment and successful career development. As in previous surveys it was designed to determine:

1. How relevant the graduates’ overall education and major are to employment.
2. What knowledge, skills, and abilities are considered most valuable for successful performance in the work force.
3. How employers perceive our graduates’ preparation in these areas.
4. How effective the university is in educating students to meet the needs of employers.
5. How graduates from the University of Nevada, Reno compare to graduates from other universities and colleges regarding educational preparation and other general characteristics.

Additionally, the 1996 survey sought to determine:

1. How responsive UNR has been to employers’ recruiting needs and how those needs could be better met in the future.
2. How important previous work experience, cooperative education, or a previous internship experience are in determining who an employer hires.

The 1996 survey is broadly representative of Nevada employers across all sizes of businesses and throughout all major sectors of the economy